Packing Your Backpack For a Long Travel: This is How You Save on Weight

Packing Backpack

Tips For Weight Saving

How Much Can A Backpack Weigh?

First of all: how much should a backpack actually weigh? It may be a bit of an afterthought, but of course that depends entirely on what you like. If you can carry around for hours with 23 kilos on your back, that’s completely fine of course. But keep in mind that that may not be so good in the tropics. I myself try to keep a maximum of 10 kilos for my backpack and 5 kilos for my daypack.

Choose a Small Backpack

How can you best save on weight in your backpack? Sometimes things can make sense: travel with a smaller backpack! It fits less, so you automatically have to pack your backpack in a different way. In addition, a smaller bag is often a bit lighter by itself, so that also saves weight.

Everything Digital

Avoid carrying half a paperwork with you, because travel guides, books, magazines and printed reservations can weigh quite a few kilos together. I myself am a big fan of my e-reader, with which you can carry around a complete library without noticing. You can also store your digital travel guide on this, although I personally prefer to have it on my phone. In addition, it is smart to download the apps from Booking.com and your airline on your phone, so that you can search all your confirmations digitally.

Secure Your Photos With a Cable

You do not need an additional device or hard drive to secure the photos on your camera. Instead, you should bring a card reader for your phone. We use this handy gadget when traveling. With this you can easily copy the photos from your SD card to your phone, and then upload them to the cloud (e.g. Dropbox or iCloud). You no longer have to worry about loss or theft when it comes to photos.

Clothes Can Be Washed

While packing your backpack, you can save a lot of space by critically going through your pile of clothes. In any case, leave those jeans at home and you really don’t need that many t-shirts. You can have your laundry done anywhere in the world and especially in the tropics you often pay a pittance at the local laundromat. It is therefore better to pack a clothesline with which you can occasionally dry a hand wash, than an extra pair of pants. Moreover, in practice you often wear the clothes that fit the best and there is a good chance that you regularly wear the same set. A good rule of thumb is to bring clothes for a maximum of one week and it’s smart to pack as many neutrals as possible.

Layers Are The Solution

Do you cross different climates during your backpacking trip? Layers are the solution! It is better to wear a few layers than one thick sweater. Because how often will you actually wear those warm clothes? You save a lot of weight and space in your backpack by not packing too much ‘bulky’ clothing.

Multi-usable Garments

Opt for multi-purpose garments that you can put on over each other as much as possible. My favorite items for travel? Sportswear! Good sports leggings are nice and comfortable on the plane, but are also ideal if you are going to make a longer hike. Another nice basic is my black running shirt from Nike. Because of the quick-drying material, it is perfect for traveling in warm climates, but I also use it during sporting activities when traveling.

How Many Shoes Do You Actually Need?

Not so much. Try to limit your footwear as much as possible, because it takes up a lot of space and you can only wear one pair at a time. I always do everything in my hiking boots and Teva sandals, but you may prefer sneakers and flip-flops.

Buy Your Toilet Items On The Place

Are you going away for a longer period of time? You really don’t need to pack extra cans of deodorant or a second bottle of shampoo. You should keep those kinds of groceries for your holiday destination. It is a shame if half your bag is full of large packages of care products, especially if you can also buy those products on the other side of the world. In fact, you can also pop to the local drugstore on the first day of your trip and not pack any shampoo, shower gel and face cream on the outward journey. This is definitely recommended if you only travel with hand luggage, because then you don’t have to worry about liquids in your hand luggage.

It is also advisable for women to bring some tampons for home use, because you cannot obtain them everywhere in the world. If you also want to save that weight, it is best to choose a menstrual cup when packing your backpack. You are then provided for the rest of your trip.

Leave Your Towel At Home

How often do you really need your own towel when you are backpacking? View your travel plans and make an estimate. In hotels and apartments there is standard one ready for you and even in most hostels you can rent a towel. Do you want to bring a towel to take to the beach, for example? Choose a quick-drying item such as this beautiful one from Buvanha or bring a hammam towel. These towels are a lot thinner and lighter than a normal towel and therefore take up much less space.

You Can Always Rent Things

Are you planning to make a trekking through, for example, the Himalayas or the Andes during your trip? Those kinds of travel plans often require equipment that will add quite a bit of extra weight to your backpack. There is also a solution for that. In many places where many tourists come you can also rent the necessary items. Handy, because then you don’t have to bring that sleeping bag, walking sticks or down jacket from the Netherlands. You pay a small price for the rental of the materials and can return it after the draw.

Or Exchange Goods With Other Backpackers

Are you not able to rent stuff or do you want to get rid of something from your backpack yourself? You can also contact other travelers. Speak to people at your hostel or join Facebook groups for backpackers. Calls are often placed in this in which people offer things such as superfluous camping gear or travel guides for sale. Ideal if halfway through the trip it turns out that you have packed too much.