You might be really excited to start your adventure, but you also dread packing for the trip. Maybe you have never packed a backpack before, or you don’t even know what kind of backpack to get. Don’t worry! I’ve prepared 10 hacks for you to ensure you can pack as effectively as possible!
1. PACK LIGHT!
The most important tip: pack light! Take less than you think you will need because you’ll likely still be bringing too much, especially clothes. Avoid packing things “just in case” as you will be able to buy most things down the road if you really need them. You will also likely be wanting to buy things like Souvenirs and clothes along the way so keep in mind to not fill up your bag completly.
Always remember that you will need to carry all of it. Choosing lighter pieces of clothing and shoes can help reduce weight.
2. Be Carefull When Choosing Your Backpack
There are a few things to consider when choosing the right backpack. One is weight. You might find yourself walking around in 35-degree heat for half an hour with your backpack on, and trust me, it will get heavy really quickly. To be more comfortable, you want to keep things as light as possible. Selecting a lightweight backpack will help keep the overall weight to a minimum.
You also want to make sure that your backpack has multiple compartments and that you can access it through a zipper, not just from the top. This feature will make reaching items and packing much easier.
Lastly, you want to make sure your bag is comfortable. Every backpack is different, and so are our backs. Before purchasing, be sure to load some weight into the bag and walk around with it for a while to ensure it will be comfortable.
3. Use Packing Cubes
Using packing cubes has been a game-changer for me. They help you keep your bag as organized as possible, maximize space, keep your clothes cleaner and less wrinkled and they make it way easier to just grab a piece of clothing quickly. They are also great if you want to semi-unpack in a hostel. I like to just take out the packing cubes and put my empty bag under my bed or in a corner and then I just put the packing cubes in my locker or besides of my bed.
4. Roll Your Clothes Instead of Folding Them
This is pretty simple. Rolling your clothes will take up less space than just folding them.
Here’s how it works: you fold your clothes as if you were putting them away in your closet, then roll them up as tightly as possible to stack them into the packing cubes. It might take a few tries to find the best technique that works for you, but you will get the hang of it.
5. Put the Heavy Items in the Centre
To avoid having to unpack half of your bag just to reach essentials like your battery pack, ensure you pack them on top for easy access during your travel days. This way, you’ll easily be able to reach them.
6. Put the Essentials on Top
It will be easier to reach things on top oneces you have finished packing. It is as easy as that. Having to unpack half your bag just to reach your battery pack, nobody wants that.
7. Stuff the Corners
You want to make use of all the space you have because it isn’t much. Once you have packed your bigger items like packing cubes and toiletry bags, you are usually left with some small empty corners. You can stuff some lighter jackets or small soft items in there.
8. Get a Toiletry Bag
This will come in handy for a lot of things. First of all, as much as you might try to avoid it, you might open your bag after a flight and find your shower gel has spilled. As much as it sucks, when using a toiletry bag, you at least avoid things spilling all over your clothes and keep the damage to a minimum.
Also, in hostels, you will often have bathrooms located outside the rooms, so having a toiletry bag is a super convenient way of just picking up your things to head over to take a shower.
9. Get a Laundry Bag
A laundry bag will allow you to store your dirty, smelly clothes away from the clean ones. It will also come in handy when handing in your laundry, as you can simply take it out of your bag and hand it in as is.
10. Use a Protective Cover for Your Big Backpack
During flights and bus rides, your bag gets tossed around in various places. I’ve had instances where I got off a bus, only to find my bag already unloaded and lying on the dirty, wet ground. Your backpack will get dirty; it’s just part of the game. But to keep it in shape for as long as possible and also avoid getting your things wet, I would highly recommend a protective cover.