Backpacking Essentials & Packing List for First-Time Backpackers

My favourite backpack. Ever.

Not only does it fit (almost) everything I need in easily, but it has different compartments, opens the entire way around, and has wheels!

Sometimes the last thing you want is 15kg weighing your back down, and I’ve found I’m using the wheels way more often than carrying.

The handle can be easily tucked away if you do need to put it on your back, but it’s great for tired days or when your bag is at maximum capacity.

You can buy the Osprey 65L backpack here.

🎓 PRO TIP: Always, always buy a backpack that opens at the front or all the way around. Bags that open just at the top are a HUGE no-go!

If you think you can fit your luggage in a smaller bag, do it.

This 55L backpack is Tom’s regular, and he loves the fact it has an extra detachable daypack for ease of access.

His is still going strong after four years, so it’s pretty reliable to lug around the world with you!

You can buy the Osprey 55L backpack here.

🎓 PRO TIP: Osprey is a popular brand due to its durability and capacities, so you’ll see a lot of them at the airport. Tie on a ribbon or sew on a badge to make sure you can see yours first on the luggage belt.

Yes, I love pink.

Give me a pink suitcase to stroll through the airport with any day.

This is my trusty hand luggage companion, although I’m weening myself off taking this with me on EVERY trip. I just love her, ok?!

This backpack can carry roughly 34L of luggage, and is accepted as a carry-on case for most major airlines (just check the small print, those like RyanAir will try and catch you out).

It’s perfect for overnight or weekend breaks, or if you’re like me, having an extra 34L of shoes as well as your 65L backpack 🙃

Buy your pink bestie suitcase here.

Looking for a new carry-on backpack? I’ve got you!

I could not recommend this bag enough.

Forget big brands.

I was a bit reluctant to buy this bag as I was worried the material might be cheap and flimsy, but it’s the total opposite.

Plus, it holds absolutely everything I could want to fit in a hand-luggage backpack.

There are endless compartments and zips (I’m still discovering new ones now), a handy laptop sleeve with padding for extra protection, and it’s so comfortable!

The only downside is it doesn’t have a water-bottle pocket, but there’s enough space to hold a water bottle in one of the front compartments.

Buy my favourite hand-luggage backpack here.

I’m quite new to the packing cube world, but if you’re an over-packer like me, I’d recommend them.

If you buy compression packing cubes, you’ll be able to squeeze in a few extra items as they eliminate the air between your clothing.

Being a bit reluctant to believe the magic of the cubes at first, I ran my own test.

I packed my bag with and without the cubes, and guess who was totally wrong. I could fit nearly DOUBLE using the cubes than without!

They’re quite expensive for what they are, but they’re a good investment.

These packing cubes are the ones I bought, and they’re high-quality and super light!

Whilst most accommodations will provide you with towels, it’s still good to have a handy dry towel in your backpack.

They’re fab for days on the beach, or for hostels that require deposits or payments for towel use.

Plus, squeezing a damp, large towel back into your backpack is pretty gross and will make half of your clothes smell.

My go-to is the Dock and Bay (pink, obviously) an easily foldable, quick-drying, super-absorbant and compact travel towel.

Buy your own cute Dock & Bay travel towel here!

Even if you’re planning on visiting a warmer continent, having cosy socks is a godsend when you’ve had a long day walking and exploring.

They’re perfect to wear around your hostel room or to run to the bathroom late at night.

Grab my favourite comfy socks here.

Whilst they don’t need to be branded, having slip-on sandals is such a lifesaver when travelling (and not just because they’re comfy).

There have been many times, especially camping or glamping, when I haven’t had the energy to put my hiking boots back on just to go to the bathroom or to grab more water from the shared kitchen.

The same goes for hostels. The floors (even in clean hostels) can be pretty grubby.

If you have an easy pair of slip-on sandals (preferably ones without the Y-shape flip-flop strap so you can wear them with socks) you’ll thank yourself!

Buy your slip-on sandals here.

Whatever climate you’re in, you want to be comfortable travelling.

Having a wired bra is the last thing you want to wear during long days of travelling on buses, planes, boats and whatever other mode of transport you end up on.

They’re also fine to sleep in if you have an overnight flight or sleeper journey.

They’re wearable for the entire day, won’t dig into your skin and you’ll forget you’re even wearing it!

Most sports bras now don’t even look like bras, and they can double up as crop tops in hotter weather.

Say no to the bra strap!

I wear a variety of brands, including H&M, Primark (they’re cheap!) and Amazon.

Check out my faves bras here.

Ok, this one is a bit niche, but essential to me.

If you suffer from ear pain when you’re flying, these are a total game-changer.

After a flight last year, I decided I’d had enough of the excruciating pain I feel every time the flight lands. My ears can’t take the pressure, and I end up burying my head in a pillow for the last 20 minutes before descent.

Ear-planes have been the single best purchase I’ve made in the last 12 months.

Whilst the pain doesn’t completely disappear, it’s less excruciating and milder. Put it this way, I can hold a conversation rather than bury my head in a pillow fighting back the tears.

If you suffer from ear pain during flights, I highly recommend buying a few packs of these. They only last a few flights (something to do with the pressure), but they’re only cheap!

Stock up on ear plugs here!

Having wireless earphones on the plane helps to block out any annoying baby cries (sorry parents, but it’s the single most annoying thing on a plane).

They’re also convenient when you need to pack them away quickly.

Obviously, Apple Airpods are the most popular option and are what Tom uses, but I actually use Tozo Earbuds (purely as they were cheaper), and the sound is still pretty decent!

They’re perfect if you’re on a tighter budget.

• Apple Airpods: buy here.

• TOZO Wireless Earphones: (my cheaper alternative!): buy here.

I can’t count the amount of times a portable charger has saved out butt, and I won’t fly anywhere without one.

Arriving in a new country is daunting in itself, and if you don’t have any phone battery because you’ve rinsed it all on Netflix on the plane, you’re going to be screwed.

Always carry a portable charger. Always!

This is our favourite, as the power and charge lasts for days.

We’ve charged our phones solely from this charger over a period of 4 days and it’s still not been totally dead. It’s a game-changer!

Buy your portable charger here.

The last thing that’s a backpacking essential in your hand luggage is a water filter bottle.

In many countries, tap water is unsafe to drink (always check this when arriving somewhere new!) so having a water filter bottle has helped us out on so many occasions.

It’s also saved us money not buying plastic water bottles everywhere we go (go turtles! 🌎)

The Water-To-Go bottle purifies water in seconds, so it’s perfect if you’re on a long trip camping or hiking.

I love this one as it’s not too big – it fits perfectly into a small bag and isn’t too heavy to carry.

Grab your water bottle here.

🎓 TOP TIP: It’s annoying throwing away your water at security, but did you know most airports have free drinking water stations dotted around? You just have to hunt them out! Or, you can ask any bar or restaurant to fill up your bottle with free tap water.

If you’re new to drone photography, I’d recommend starting out with this guy.

‘Drogo’ is our first drone and he’s perfect. It’s easier to use for beginners and is stored immediately on your phone without needing to download it yourself.

Flight time is limited to 30 minutes, so I’d recommend buying a spare battery (& that’s why I’ve linked to a combo). We started off with only one and found it to be a nightmare to keep charging!

The quality of the DJI Mini is unbeatable, and your photos and videos will store in crystal clear 4K resolution.

Grab your drone here.

🙋‍♀️ Ok, ok. Having a drone isn’t essential, but it’s great if you want to take better photos. The majority of my travels were without a drone, but now I wouldn’t go anywhere without it.

I could list off the cameras we take travelling.

The best mirrorless and DSLRs.

But for a first-timer backpacking, all you need is a decent camera.

And this can be your iPhone.

Some of my best shots were taken on my iPhone, and if you’re travelling for the first time, it’s enough. Plus, it’s all about the editing anyway 😉

However, if you DO want to invest in a decent camera, I’d recommend starting off with the Fujifilm X-T100. It’s at the lower end of the photography world budget, is small enough to fit in your bag, and produces high-quality pictures. You can grab yours here.

🎓 TOP TIP: Download the Lightroom app if you want to create dreamy aesthetics for your Instagram feed. It’s how the majority of content creators edit their photos, and it will make such a difference (regardless of your camera!)

Oh my gosh, how this little pink hanging wash bag has saved me.

It’s practically a tardis it’s that big inside.

I hold ALL of my toiletries inside this wash bag, and hang it up whenever I arrive at my accommodation (unless it’s a shared dorm, as people will steal your things. Don’t do this).

It’s a great one, and absolutely a backpacking essential (regardless of brand or pattern!)

Get your hanging wash bag here.

One thing I always missed whilst travelling was an electric toothbrush.

Then I was scrolling through Instagram and this neat little invention popped up on my timeline!

Sonisk portable electric toothbrushes are run by battery, so they last for AGES.

They’re small enough to pop in your wash bag and have a portable carry case to keep your toothbrush clean, too.

Buy your portable toothbrush here.

An extension lead is essential when travelling. More often than not, you’ll be given one plug maximum in a shared dorm room, and you’ll probably have quite a lot to charge each night.

Plus, taking an extension lead also means you only need one travel adapter plug. Winning!

You can buy your extension lead here.

You don’t need to spend any money on this one, but it’s vital to have it on your travel prep list.

iPhones are pretty crap when it comes to storage, and if you’ve got a phone like me, or shoot your photos in RAW, it’s going to fill up pretty quickly.

I’ve used Google Photos for 7 years, and it’s not let me down once.

Change your settings to upload to Google Photos immediately after taking the picture or video and you don’t need to worry about backing it up all the time.

It can be scary to ‘delete’ all of your content off your phone, but I promise, if it’s backed up in Google Photos, it’s safe!

You can download Google Photos here.

If you’re planning on staying in hostels, you’ll need a padlock.

Most hostels will give you a drawer or locker, but few come with locks. Having your own padlock will ensure you have somewhere to keep your valuables overnight and when you’re out of your room.

You can grab a cheap but reliable padlock here.

Whether you’re a Fitbit lover or an Apple Watcher fan, it’s a good idea to have a waterproof watch on whilst you’re on the road.

Most backpackers wear a fitness watch or a simple old-school Casio (which is a total winner as it’s only £15!)

I wear a pink Fitbit (buy here), but I’m also going to buy a cheap Casio for my next trip so I’m not needing to charge it all the time.

You can get your vintage Casio here.

I was gifted my world travel adapted back in 2016 and it has come EVERYWHERE with me.

If you buy an adapter that’s easily interchangeable between countries, you’ll only need to invest once and can take it on all trips in the future.

And if you’ve taken my advice and bought an extension lead, you’ll only need to buy one as well!

Get your world travel adapter here.

If you want to make friends in hostels, bring speakers.

Music is the key to a good pre-drink in a hostel room, and if you’re the one who can supply the music, you’re winning.

I’ve taken my trusty Wonderboom all over the world with me, and it never fails to get everyone ready for a night out in a shared dorm room.

The Wonderboom is perfect as it’s waterproof, is super durable so it can take a lot of rough and tumble (which you definitely need if it’s coming in your backpack with you) and the battery lasts for a good few days of music.

Grab your Wonderboom here!

Travelling means you’re going to have a lot of time waiting in airports, long bus journeys and lazy days on the beach. 

Having a Kindle is perfect for quieter days when you need to rest, or need company on those long journeys. 

I’d recommend the Kindle Paperwhite as it can still be read in direct sunlight, is waterproof and the battery lasts for weeks!

You can purchase your kindle here.

An eye mask is one of your most important backpacking essentials when staying in shared dorm rooms. Trust me!

You WILL experience someone clunking around in your dorm room with their phone light on at 3 AM because they’re drunk and think they’re in their bedroom back home.

You may always experience early risers opening all curtains and blinds at 6 AM when you’ve had a few drinks the previous night.

Get an eye mask. Seriously.

Buy here!