What not to pack in your backpack
Here is a fresh way to look at packing. There are dozens of lists telling you about what things to take with you and what you must have. Well, here is something different!
Here is a list of what you do not need.
When you leave, you need to make certain you have packed everything you need so that you have your home comforts.
But it’s worth keeping in mind that most of the places that you travel to you will be able to purchase anything you need.
Money belt
You may have seen convincing adverts about the necessity of using a money belt. This is mostly superfluous. Keep your money in your pocket, the same way you do at home.
These belts can be quite uncomfortable to wear and unpacking your money in a shop is another complication.
The only time you need to consider this money safeguard is if you expect to be traveling in an area where petty crime is a serious problem. In most places, however, you can keep your money in your wallet.
Bed liner
Contrary to some horror stories you may have heard, hostels are not filthy, bug and vermin infested hovels. Bedding in these places is regularly changed and they are kept quite clean.
It would be a useful exercise to read reviews of hostels before you do your booking. The silk sleeping bag and bed liner really will not be necessary.
Travel clothes
There are plenty of items designed for travel. There is travel clothing designed with all sorts of unnecessary features which look dorky, are expensive and are really not worth buying.
Wearing these is like wearing a big label saying, ”tourist” and this can make you vulnerable. You need to blend in with the crowd. Far better to wear the clothes you are most comfortable in when at home or pick up some clothes in teh local area you are visiting.
Medications
It is really not necessary to pack a whole apothecary of medication. You will not need to take bulk boxes of anything. Medication is generally for emergencies and if you do need such a large numbers of pills, maybe you should reconsider and stay closer to a hospital.
One or two headache pills, antihistamines, a couple of Imodium and two sticking plasters is probably all you will need. The basic medication needed by most people is readily available in stores across the world.
Duct tape
You may have been told that duct tape must go everywhere with you. This is true, but you do not need 500 yards of the stuff. It is something that is a good idea if you are on a survival hike, but when you are traveling in the cities of the world, you most likely will not need this. If you do, you can head to a local store where you can buy some. While duct tape has a thousand uses, most will not occur when you are backpacking in cities.
A small sewing kit will probably be more useful for fixing things. Buttons do come loose while you are traveling as they do at home and it is a good idea to have the means to do this sort of minor repair.
If you have any comments then please drop us a message on our Outdoor Revival Facebook page
If you have a good story to tell or blog let us know about it on our FB page, we’re also happy for article or review submissions, we’d love to hear from you.
We live in a beautiful world, get out there and enjoy it.
Outdoor Revival – Reconnecting us all with the Outdoors