The Boujie Backpacker's Wishlist
A-levels are just about done – now is the time to plan your Gap Year. Although travelling is usually associated with an element of hardship – making money last, sleeping rough or in dodgy hostels, eating cheaply, washing in station toilets, and having to work bar shifts to make ends meet - there’s no reason why you can’t at least start with some nifty travel accessories to keep you as comfortable as possible. Our guide gives you the perfect gap year wish list that you can share with loved ones on the off chance they’ll help out.
· Step one – get a summer job (so you can pay for it all)
· Step two – figure out how to fit everything you’ll need into a backpack you can actually lift!
The way we see it, the more you can compress your essentials, the more space you’ll have for the nice-to-haves.
Toiletries
The trick here is to opt for solid toiletries rather than liquids, which are heavy, prone to leaking, and, unless they are travel-sized, must go in hold luggage, which adds a whole level of faff to any trip. It means you’re also taking single-use plastics to countries that really don’t want them. Look for options that come with storage tins, so you know you’re using the correct kind of container. You do need to let them dry out before you put them back in the tin, so plan on an evening shower rather than a morning one. And you may need to label them – the tins tend to look the same – especially if you buy more than one product from one supplier. We like:
Kinkind Shampoo & Conditioner bars; lovely to use and available in a range of options to suit different hair types. Each bar is the equivalent of two bottles, so they should last a good while. Vegan and cruelty-free, and supplied in tins.
Folk Soap Travel Soap Bars are also sent out with a storage tin. Handmade using natural products, they are sulphate and cruelty-free
Toothpaste tablets get around the liquids and gels rule that applies to toothpaste in a tube. Sonisk tablets are supplied in a tin – simply chew one and brush your teeth as usual for a foamy, fluoride-enriched cleanse. They also offer a compact electric travel toothbrush that has a 90-day battery life, supplied complete with an AAA battery and a spare toothbrush head. Alternatively, the Wisdom Travel Toothbrush takes up minimal space, packing away into its own handle.
Stick deodorants offer another leak-proof option; we love the Wild Natural ones, which can be bought as a pack with a funky case and a refill. They offer a wide choice of fragrances and designs. They’re also vegan and gentle on the skin.
Towel
Microfiber is the way to go – it’s lightweight, quick-drying and far less bulky that a terry towel. It doesn’t hold onto sand and grit either – one good shake, and it’s good to go. Consider:
· Coziya Microfibre Towel – a generous 120 x 80cm towel that folds down into a pouch the size of your hand (ditch the pouch and you’ve saved even more space). It’s lightweight and dries really quickly.
· Dock & Bay Beach Towels are bigger than the Coziya, but still fold down much smaller than a standard beach towel. They come in a range of funky colours and patterns, and offer different sizes.
Clothing
We’re not going to tell you what clothes you’ll need – it will very much depend on where you’re going and whether it’s all about the party or if you’ll be trying to find work. What we can suggest is saving space and weight with things like travel underwear (yes – it’s a thing).
For the girls, Paire offers Classic Bikini Lipstick Underwear – briefs so lightweight they take less space than a lipstick. They also dry in 60 seconds under a hairdryer, so you don’t need to take many with you. Alternatively, Rohan Aether Knickers are made from a super-soft blend of technical fibres which provide natural odour inhibition combined with excellent durability and very rapid drying times. The seams are all flat-locked, so they won't chafe or irritate, and the anatomic panels give a really comfy fit. For the boys, Rohan Aether Boxers are soft to the touch, adding comfort across a broad range of activities. You might also want to check out Biofit Boxers, which are made from bamboo – naturally softer than cotton – in a quick-drying mesh fabric.
Laundry on the go needn’t be a challenge; Wablu Travel Laundry Sheets dissolve instantly in warm water, making clothes washing on the move really easy – even if you’re making do with a bathroom basin. Vegan and cruelty-free with zero microplastics or plastic packaging, they weigh next to nothing.
Packing
When it comes to choosing your backpack, there are hundreds of options. This bag is going to contain your life for a while, so you need to invest in a good quality one that won’t split or suffer a zip malfunction. Choose one tailored for your gender, so the straps are placed to suit your body.
The Osprey Fairview Travel Pack (women’s) and Farpoint Trek Travel Pack (men’s) are rucksack and day pack combos – the rucksack part fits in overhead lockers while the daypack fits under the seat. The day pack clips to the front of the backpack or to the shoulder straps to be worn in front of you, which means you can adjust the load to suit. It also means that if you are staying put for a few days, you don't need to take everything with you when out for the day.
You might like to try compression packing cubes – pack clothing into the ‘cube’, sit on it to squish the air out, and use the secondary zip to keep it compressed. A low-tech option that saves space and stops you from having to unpack everything to get to a specific item. Again, avoid cheap options if you can. Try Eagle Creek's Pack-It Reveal Compression Cube Set or the Highlander Compakta Ultralight Packing Cubes Set.
Health & Safety
Unless you’re staying in Europe and sticking to reputable hostels, you’re likely to find yourself in a place where safe drinking water can’t be found in a tap. Take a reliable portable water purifier with you. We recommend the LifeSaver Liberty, which stores 400ml of water and purifies up to 4,000 litres on one cartridge. It can also be used as an inline pump, which means you can fill other water containers and, if you’re using river or lake water, a scavenger hose gives easy access.
Avoid getting bitten by wearing a mosquito repellent band (sprays = liquids which you can’t take on a plane as hand luggage). Pestects offers a range of bands and patches, and a handy insect bite relief pen for those that sneak through. You could also look at taking a mosquito net. Purple Turtle makes one that covers the whole bed with a pop-up dome frame. The Care Plus Pop Up Head Dome Mosquito Net folds down to the size of a dinner plate. If you’re travelling as a couple, there are bigger versions that cover a double bed.
A first aid kit is essential, but you’re better off building one that suits you rather than buying a standard kit. Things to include are pain killers, antihistamines, indigestion tablets, diarrhoea relief, plasters, anti-septic wipes, comfort eye drops, lip balm, and any regular medications you take.
Sunscreen is another travel essential that’s also available in leak-proof stick form, choose from trusted brands such as Ambre Solaire, Soltan and Clarins.
Security
They’re not sexy, but a money belt or body wallet is a no-brainer. Keep your passport, cash, cards and insurance details close to you at all times. If you don’t want to wear something around your waist, you can opt for a Chest Wallet that hangs around your neck under your t-shirt. Protect your backpack with a Scout Travel – Smart Luggage Tag, Finder and Alarm from Knog. It combines digital ID, tracking and a motion-sensitive 85dB alarm which tells you – and everyone around you – that your pack is being tampered with. Keep your phone safe with a lanyard or retractable tether.
Extra security tips:
- Print out any tickets and boarding passes. It’s tempting to leave them on your phone but if that dies on you, you don’t want to end up stranded. Have emergency contact details written down. Keep them in a waterproof wallet or resealable polybag
- Have at least a rough itinerary and share it with someone at home. Agree a contact schedule to let them know you are safe
- Take paper maps – don’t assume you’ll have access to the internet wherever you go
- Research the countries you are visiting. Understand their laws around drinking, recreational drugs, public displays of affection and the local attitudes towards different sexualities and genders if relevant. Respect their religions and customs. Ladies – take a light scarf if you’re going somewhere that expects women to cover their heads, and modest clothing options
- Take a small personal alarm and keep it on you at all times
- If you’re travelling alone, tag along with other people that are going in the same direction
Other useful stuff you might like
- Solar phone charger
- Portable WiFi
- Eye masks and earplugs
- Plug Adaptor
- Cocoon travel sheet or sleeping bag liner
- Inflatable travel pillow
- Instant door lock
- Waterproof playing cards
- Head torch
Useful websites:
https://www.gapyeartravelstore.com/
https://www.gapyear.com
https://www.thebrokebackpacker.com
https://www.hostelworld.com
https://www.truetraveller.com
