Most guidebooks and backpacker sites will suggest the same old stuff on their kit lists, and although security belts and universal sink plugs may seem useful and sensible - they're forgetting that useful and sensible can rarely be used to describe a typical backpacker.
So we've put together this alternative and eco-friendly kit list, featuring stuff that can get you out of jam, fix dripping faucets and keep your cash safe - most of these items are recycled or reusable items, and have been tried and tested during our own round the world travels.
Anything missing? If there are any items you can't do without when exploring the globe, let us know - add your 'must pack' items to the comments section below.
Hiking Sock Plug Universal sink plugs are great, but not when you realize it's still in a plughole 100 miles behind you. Instead, use a nice old, thick hiking sock to block up your plughole - one size fits all. It works just as well and you won't give a crap if you forget to grab it before you head on out to the next hostel. Just don't use the socks you're planning on wearing the next day. |  |
Liquid Skin When it comes to humid climates, Band Aids, AKA plasters, are about as handy as a cocktail umbrella in a thunderstorm. The sticky strips will simply slide off your sweaty skin, leaving your gaping wound a prime target for infection. Liquid plasters on the other hand, are ideal for sealing up small cuts and grazes - just slap it on, wait for it to dry and head off out to that disease infested destination without fear of picking up too many bugs. |  |
Dirty Underpants Security belts are great in theory - but a pain in the ass to use in reality, and they make things very easy for muggers. We prefer to spread the wealth and keep small amounts of cash in several locations - and if you can't use a locker at your hostel, hide notes in dirty, smelly underwear, as prospective thieves won't search through your stinky pants. |  |
Digital Vault Unlike memory sticks, online, digital vaults can't be left behind in internet cafes, or slip out your pocket on the bus. There are a few to choose from, but our favorite is 123-vault, which is free, offers unlimited storage and neatly sorts files into photo, music and document folders. You can also choose to share your files with friends - so your mates back home can see your pics. |  |
Fishing line and needle If you're planning a long trip then you have to expect a little wear and tear on your gear. Thread is fine for clothes, but if your rucksack rips you'll need something a little stronger, so try fishing line instead with a curved, heavyweight mattress needle. Alternatively a glue stick and lighter can be handy for making watertight repairs. |  |
Beach Book You always need a good book to read on the beach, coach or train, but you only need one - as when you're done you can swap it with a fellow backpacker or at hostel book swap. Must reads for backpackers include The Beach, On the Road, Celestine Prophecy, The Alchemist, and of the course, the all time classic, the Hitch-Hikers Guide to the Galaxy. |  |
Soap Strips Toilets in Asia can be a shock to the system when you first come across them, and toilet paper can be rare, so these paper thin leaves of soap are ideal for such a situation. All you need is a little water and they dissolve into a soapy lather, and the packs are small enough to keep in your pocket. Laundry leaves are also available - which are great for washing clothes in sinks and basins. |  |
Solarsafe Wristbands The sunblock you use back home may not be much good once you reach a tropical island, and no matter how beautiful the beach, getting badly sunburnt is guaranteed to ruin your stay. Solarsafe's wristbands therefore can be a life saver. Simply cover the wristband in the same suncream you cover yourself, and it will soak up the rays at the same rate as your skin, and change color when you need to re-apply sunscreen or seek shade. |  |
Ziploc Bags Ziploc bags are quite simply, endlessly useful little bags. As well as storing your airline sized toiletries for flying, they're great for stuffing wet clothes in if you don't have time to dry them; sealing leaky bottles of sunscreen to prevent a backpack full of goo; claiming your food in the hostel fridge and for keeping valuables dry and in sight while you take a shower. |  |
Canvas Bag Just as smoking bans seem to have swept round the world, plastic bag bans look set to be the next big thing. Cities including Dar Es Salaam and San Francisco already have bans in place, and you could even get a fine for using plastic bags in Zanzibar - so don't get caught out on your trip to the market, take a canvas or jute bag instead. |  |
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