Preparing for an extended trip can be daunting, especially when that trip involves living out of a backpack. The amount of strategy involved should be enough to classify it as an olympic sport.
This was my "Osprey Farpoint" after two weeks of European Travel. I had to pack for climates as different as Sweden and Spain!
From one wandering soul to another, here are some items you might forget that I've found to be especially helpful.
Travel Sheets
If you're planning on hostel jumping, a set of travel sheets can be comforting. Most hostels are actually very nice, despite their bad reputation. However, every stereotype comes from somewhere, and sometimes you show up to accommodations that look nothing like the Trip Advisor profile. Travel sheets like those made by "cocoon" pack up small and reassure you that you have a clean place to rest your head.
Flexible Water Bottle
Trekking around a new city tuckers you out and leaves you parched. But that shouldn't mean that you spend an arm and a leg on water (in lots of countries besides the U.S., restaurants charge for water like soda and there aren't public fountains). Nor should you have to carry around a clunky touristy water bottle. A flexible water pouch, like this "platypus soft bottle", can fold and fit into a purse, saving you money and space.
Dryer Sheets
Let's be real, backpacking can be a smelly activity. You're walking all day, often with all of your belongings strapped to your back. But that doesn't mean that you should surrender to the stink! Showering regularly, using deodorant, and washing clothes every chance that you get are all things you should do - I'm looking at you stinky dude from the night train - but it doesn't hurt to have some tricks up your sleeve should all else fail. One trick is to stash some dryer sheets in your backpack. These babies will help keep your luggage smelling fresh, and in a pinch you can rub them on a smelly shirt after a long day of adventure.
Universal Power Converter
This is a tech necessity! Electrical outlets and wattage vary from country to country. American plugs won't fit, or they will but they will start a fire. Don't ruin your phone, set off a fire alarm, and make everyone evacuate the building in the middle of the night like it's freshman year and someone burned popcorn. Save everyone the trouble and buy a converter. (Also helpful, a portable charging block.)
Tiny Absorbent Towel
The nightly cost for a hostel is cheap, so they rack up the bill any way they can. That means you shouldn't expect free towels. Instead of rolling out the doe for a towel that's been used by lots of other stinky backpackers, pack your own. I got one that packed up into a 2x2 mesh bag and it saved me money and space and hygiene. You can find one at your local sports and outdoors store, or here is one on amazon that comes in lots of different sizes. If you find yourself without a towel, you can still avoid the fees by just using a t-shirt.
Hopefully these tips and tricks help you travel smart! So pack light and pack right, and best of luck to you all on the adventures ahead!
