IN THIS POST:
– Backpack
– Clothes
– Shoes
– Food
– Toiletries
– Medicines
– Electronics
– Miscellaneous
– Packing Tips
There are a lot of travel opportunities for backpackers, both within and outside Pakistan. From short weekend trips to long hiking expeditions, there is only one rule of backpacking that never changes – travel light! This backpacking checklist for beginners will help you do just that! You can then use our packing tips for backpackers to make sure that you can carry all of your essentials without over-packing for the trip.
Basic Backpacking Checklist
About to head out on a trip for the weekend? Planning to backpack across northern Pakistan during your annual leaves? No matter how long your backpacking expedition may be, here are some essentials for backpackers that should always be packed before starting your journey:
- Backpack
- Clothes
- Shoes
- Food
- Toiletries
- Medicines
- Electronics
- Miscellaneous
Let’s cover each of these travel backpack essentials in detail below.
Backpack
Of course, if you are backpacking around the country, or even just in the northern areas, one thing that you’ll need is a heavy-duty, high quality, and sturdy backpack. While there are many styles available, most people prefer a pack that can be carried on both holders using the shoulder straps provided. Some backpacks might even provide a harness that buckles around your waist to keep the pack on your back during a steep hike.
In terms of size, a backpack should be 18 inches in length for a short trip and must be able to carry around 40 to 50 litres. Ideally, it should be weatherproof, so that it does not get drenched when it rains or snows and can protect your belongings from the weather.
Clothes
Weekend backpacking trips can easily be completed even in a single pair of pants, a couple of shirts, two pairs of undergarments, a cap, and two pairs of socks. However, for a trip that extends from 10 to 20 days, pack at least 5 pairs of undergarments, 4 to 5 shirts, two pants (one of which will be worn), and at least 5 pairs of socks. This is all the clothing you’ll need, provided the weather is good.
If you are travelling to colder regions or backpacking through northern Pakistan during the winter season, you will also need one thick jacket or coat, a winter hat, thick socks, and gloves. You might also need to layer your shirts during the trip to stay warm or require a lighter sweater inside the jacket, depending on your tolerance for cold weather.
Shoes
Comfort should always be your priority when you are choosing shoes for your backpacking trip. While some people prefer to carry a pair of flip-flops along to give some relief to their feet while they are camping, you might require both jogging shoes and heavy-duty hiking boots based on where you are heading and how far you have to travel on foot.
If you are buying new shoes for your hiking trip, wear them at home and make sure that they will not bite and cause blisters on your feet during the journey. There’s nothing more painful than being forced to keep moving with blisters on your feet. A single pair of jogging shoes or hiking boots is durable enough to last you during the trip and even afterwards so you might not need to carry any spares at all for a short trip.
Food
For those who are backpacking with a tour group, food might not be a concern as the tour operators will provide you with the meals as committed in the itinerary. However, solo backpackers need to think about their next meal while having the current one. You will find hospitable locals in the northern areas who will be happy to feed you a meal upon payment or even for free, but whether you are travelling alone or not, it is always recommended that you carry some snacks along.
Things like nimco, chips, biscuits, and chocolates, might seem unhealthy but will help you in a pinch while being lightweight to carry. Of course, if you plan to catch and cook your meals in the wilderness, you will need a lot of hunting experience as well as the right utensils to enjoy a tasty meal. Here are some more tips to consider if you’re travelling to the northern areas of Pakistan.
Toiletries
For longer trips, fill small plastic travel bottles with your shampoo, face wash, shower gel, and conditioner as needed. But for a short trip that extends to just a weekend, you can simply carry a toothbrush, a tube of toothpaste, sunscreen, deodorant, mosquito repellent, hand sanitiser, wet wipes, and a roll or two of toilet paper.
Your pack of toiletries can also include a small hairbrush or comb, a hair tie, hair clips, a spare frame of glasses if you wear them, as well as basic makeup essentials if you think you might need them. Don’t forget to pack a small mirror if you want to look your best during the trip.
Medicines
Even while backpacking in Pakistan, you should be able to find basic pain medications in any small town. However, if you’re about to spend a week in the mountains after heading out from the nearest village, we’d recommend packing a basic first aid kit for your travels. You should also remember to pack sufficient doses of any prescription medicine that you take so that you do not have trouble getting a supply of it during your backpacking trip.
Some of the conditions that you should carry medications for are fever, pain, indigestion, acidity, allergy, and nausea. Along with these, don’t forget to carry some bandages, antiseptic cream, alcohol wipes, and scissors in your first aid kit for emergencies.
Electronics
Most travellers only carry their cell phones, earphones, chargers, and power banks with them on hiking expeditions, especially if they are aware of the fact that they will get little to no cell reception and internet service in the remoter parts of Pakistan, but of course, your needs can vary based on your destination.
Moreover, if you are a travel blogger or a professional photographer, you may feel the need to carry a high-quality DSLR camera, a camera stand, or maybe even just a selfie stick if your cell phone camera is good enough. The amount of electronics you carry is thus dependent on your needs, personal preference, and duration of the trip.
Laptops and tablets are fairly fragile and while we would not recommend taking them on a trip where the terrain is uneven, many backpackers take their digital gadgets with them everywhere they go so that they can capture every sight and sound that is worth sharing and even make multiple copies of all of the images on the go.
Miscellaneous
Some of the other backpacking essentials you may need during your travel include:
- A torch and some batteries
- A sleeping bag
- A hand towel to dry yourself after a wash
- Padlocks of various sizes to protect your pack and belongings
- A small knife that can be used to open cans as well
- A small sewing kit in case urgent repairs are needed for torn clothes
- An overnight tent
- Sunglasses
Packing Tips for Backpackers
Now that we’ve talked about the backpacking checklist for all of your essentials, let us share some tips that will help you make the most of the space available in the backpack and stay organised while travelling. Some of the packing tips for backpackers that should not be overlooked are:
- Avoid over-packing your backpack and pack only as much as you can carry
- Plan your trip before you leave so that you’ll know exactly what kind of weather and travel conditions you’ll face
- Ask for packing advice from someone who’s been to the same destinations
- Follow the backpacking checklist we’ve given above to make sure you’ve covered all of the essentials before your journey
Now you have a backpacking checklist in hand and know the backpacking essentials that must be carried on a hiking trip into the wilderness. Please note that this list is focused on beginners but advanced hikers might feel the need to carry a lot more than just these essentials for longer and solo trips into remote areas.
You should check out some of these outdoor camping tips before heading out on hiking and camping trips. Solo female travellers should also take care of a number of factors while travelling up north. Stay tuned to Zameen Blog for more travel tips and advice. We look forward to hearing your feedback on our posts at blog@zameen.com.
