As many countries around the globe are rapidly removing restrictions and letting tourists in after a break of a few years, during which the COVID-19 pandemic took place, all of us can get back to our habits and start exploring the world again.
The best thing is – travel has never been so easy to plan and book. There are countless ways to outline your trip, sites like omio.com are there to provide you with good and cheap options for your chosen location, whether that’s by plane, train, coach or ferry.
All that is left for you to do is pack your backpack, and we are here to give you the best tips on just that.
Invest in a good backpack
First and foremost, a good quality backpack will be absolutely essential for your trip. This is definitely not the time to try and save some money with cheap alternatives – do your research and invest in the most suitable option for you.
When looking for a new backpack, there are a few things to keep in mind. These include the size, weight, shape, and comfort of the backpack. Ideally, you want your travel bag to be as light as possible as well as suit your body shape for the most comfort.
You should also consider what kind of purpose you will be using it for – are you going hiking and need to pack a sleeping bag, or do you go on many business trips and would rather have space for a laptop?
Make a list of all essentials
It is always a good idea to make a packing list before you start buying new things to take while traveling. This is where you should be as minimal as possible with your stuff, especially with clothes. Travelling with a backpack is much more comfortable than traveling with suitcases, however, it does mean compromise in certain areas.
It is always smart to bring clothes that will be as versatile as possible. For instance, bring clothes that you can wear every day, but also easily dress up when going to a fancy restaurant. Avoid bringing more than two pairs of shoes – typically, that will be a pair of trainers and a pair of comfy sandals.
Do the same with all of your toiletries and electronics. Try to think about what essentials you use every single day and which ones you only tend to pick up once every few weeks. Chances are, you will realize that certain “essentials” are not as essential as you thought, and you can easily go without them.
Be as organized as possible
There is nothing more frustrating than not being able to find anything in your backpack when you need to. That is why you should try and pack it as organized as you possibly can. This will mean different things for everyone, also depending on what you typically tend to need during your trip the most.
However, a great tip is to get some good quality packing cubes for your backpack, which will help you organize your belongings in an efficient way. That way, you will not have to worry about lots of little things falling out while you’re searching for something specific – it will all be in a few compressed smaller bags.
This is the case for any category of belongings that you think may get easily lost in your backpack, including toiletries, electronics, important documents, and other travel gear. Ideally, by the time you’re packed, all of your essentials will be easily accessible, the backpack will still be comfortable to wear, there will be a good balance in terms of weight (typically heavier stuff would go to the bottom of the bag), and you will be happy with how much you’ve been able to fit in.
Do a practice pack
Once you have a list of things you want to take traveling, doing a practice pack is the best way to test it. Don’t leave this until the day of your travels – otherwise, if you realize you are missing something or need to exchange certain things for others, you won’t have the time to do it anymore.
More often than not, a practice pack will show you certain flaws in how you packed your backpack and will make you rethink a few decisions.
Also, don’t worry if you are still going to buy new things for travel after you do your practice pack. Simply take those items into account and pack an equivalent item to them in terms of size, shape, and weight. This will give you an idea of the final pack.
Always leave some space
While you want to be able to fit as much essential stuff as possible in your backpack, completely maxing out your space is not the best idea either. You never know when you will have to purchase something last-minute or unexpectedly during your travels.
In such a case, you will be extremely grateful for that empty bit of space you left at the top of your backpack, so you don’t have to carry things around in your hands.
A bit of empty space is also very handy in terms of packing healthy snacks during your travels. Food can be easily forgotten when making a packing list. However, you may end up in a situation when there are no restaurants or shops around and having some snacks in your backpack that you bought beforehand may be your only option.