I was at a bit of a loss when I started packing for my first solo backpacking trip. I had no idea how I was going to fit everything in my backpack and how to pack it in a way that I could easily access everything! Below are the items and tips that I’ve found most useful as I made my way through the U.K. in a variety of hostels. While the links below are affiliate links, I did purchase each of the items with my own money and I was not paid to review any of these products. So, I have no motive to give bad advice! This is simply my first hand experience.
Here are my top 10 packing list items for your solo backpacking trip!
1.) The Backpack – WASING
Why I Love It:
This is a great beginner backpack. It’s sturdy, comfortable and roomy. I love all the pockets on the outside and the pocket located at the top of the bag comes in very handy as you can fit quite a lot in there. I really liked the way the straps sat on my shoulders and the zipper at the bottom of the bag made it very easy to access whatever I was looking for. This is a very reasonably priced bag for what you’re getting!
Why You Need It:
If you don’t know, we may need to have another kind of chat. haha
2.) Travel Microfiber Towel
Why I Love it:
It’s really inexpensive and it fits easily in the side pockets of your backpack. The micro fiber has you dry within minutes and the towel is fast drying once you’re done with it! I also love the little straps attached because a lot of the hostel bathrooms were very small and I was able to hang this on the hook provided, since there was no actual towel racks. You may not even realize how much you really need to bring your own towel.
Why you need it:
Some hostels do not provide them at all and some will even charge you to use one! Do yourself a favor and pick up this affordable and incredibly helpful tool. Click the link below to purchase now!
3.) Travel and Camping Sheet
Why I Love It:
This sheet is incredibly soft and feels like home. Not only that, but on nights when I was overly hot, I could simply sleep in this sheet without blankets for a much more comfortable, but still modest sleep. It’s light weight and like the towel listed above, fits perfectly in the mesh outside pocket of your backpack.
Why You Need It:
I stayed in some places where I just wasn’t all that confident in the cleanliness of their bedding. This provided a barrier to keep my skin from touching their sheets directly and most importantly, kept my face clean from the pillows!
4.) Make Up Wipes:
Why I love Them:
I’ll be honest with you, there were days when these served as a shower or at least a way to freshen up on long travel days. It’s also great for, obviously, removing make up when you’re not able to get to a sink or shower.
Why You Need Them:
If you arrive very late at a hostel (or ahem come in very drunk, not that I EVER did that! haha). This is a great way to still remove all your make up or even just freshen your face at the end of the night before bed. I kept a pack under my pillow, this way I could use them each night without disturbing any of the other hostel guest.
5.) Cheap Throw Away Shoes:
Why I Love Them:
Ok, I’ll admit it, I have a slight fetish for shoes. I find it very difficult to limit the amount of shoes that I bring on a trip. However, after a few days or weeks that backpack starts to feel pretty heavy and you may even acquire a few things along the way. One of my tricks – I buy a few cheap pairs of flats that I can wear on light travel days. Days that I’ll be sitting on trains or in airplanes most of the day. Then if I want to lighten my load or if I acquire new things, I simply drop these into a local donation box or if they’ve taken a real beating, I toss them.
Why You Need Them:
Because…. shoes!
6.) Ear Plugs
Why I Love Them:
Because someone might have accidentally booked two party hostels in a row.
Why You Need Them:
You never know what you’re going to get in a hostel. Someone who snores all night, or face times with their girlfriend at 2am or screaming drunk 18 year olds. All of which I did encounter. Trust me, buy them
6.) Travel Tooth Brush Cover
Why I Love it:
A clean toothbrush, is a happy toothbrush!
Why You Need It:
There are some hostels where you can barley turn around in a shared bathroom. You’re going to knock your toothbrush off the sick or you may not even have a place to set it when you’re done.
7.) Portable Iphone Charge:
Why I Love It:
Because, I like having my phone charged!
Why You Need It:
Picture this, the entire train station gets shut down due to some technical difficulties and your phone is about to die, because you forgot to charge it overnight. Ok, maybe you were playing too many games, either way it’s dead. This is not the airport, there are no outlets just laying around. What do you do? Well, you buy this handy dandy portable charger and whip that baby right out!
8.) Mesh Laundry Bag
Why I Love It:
You’re going to need a place to store your stinky dirty laundry for when you’re unable to get to a wash. Please for the love of humanity, DO NOT just use a plastic bag? Why? It’s totally disturbing in a hostel to pull out plastic bags, it’s the worst sound since chewing. Also, having you’re laundry already in this washable bag, makes it so easy to pop into the machine when you’re able to.
Why You Need It:
You can tie this on the outside of your backpack or put into one of the outter mesh pockets. Trust me when I say you don’t want to mix your hiking socks with your clean close inside your backpack. Everything has a way of absorbing smells in there. Keep your stinky stuff in the open air.
9.) Tinted Moisturizer:
Why I Love It:
Normal cover up can be too heavy for travel. You’re carrying this giant backpack, you’re sweating and it’s just too much. Do yourself a favor and use tinted moisturizer instead. It feels light and you still get a bit of coverage to even out your skin tone, with the added benefit of SPF and moisture for your skin.
Why You Need It:
Because, we just like it… Ok? 
10.) Hanging Toiletry Bag:
Why I Love It:
It’s cute, waterproof and affordable!
Why You Need It:
As I mentioned before, hostel bathrooms can be very small.Typically, there is no counter space and no shelves where the showers are. So, your only option is going to be to put your bag on the floor of the shower OR to hang it on a hook.
I hope some of these suggestions are new and useful to you! If you found something that you can use, I’d love if you would purchase through the links above as I will receive a small percentage of that.
Other suggestions or questions? Comment!
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