16 Random Essentials to Add to Your Backpacking Packing List
Carrying my overall pack on my back and my everyday one on my front while backpacking South America
Where are my Type A folks at? Yeah, this isn’t the comprehensive list we all love and adore BUT I believe it’s just as important of one - it’s the random s**t that you don’t always think to pack but praise yourself when you do. During my two months backpacking South America, from Ecuador through Peru, Chile, Argentina, and finally Brazil, here are a few rando odds and ends I *self-fived* myself for having on-hand during my trip.
This is the number one spot for a reason. Let me tell you about these South American buses. They advertise air-conditioning - um, no. Personally, I never felt even a wisp of wintery air hit my body on any bus. Not to mention they drive like they are being chased. If you even get the slightest bit of motion sickness, this is a must.
Not so random but I realized a lot of people don’t pack earplugs. I for one am a sensitive sleeping girly so I always have them on hand but for backpacking it’s a must. You’re likely sleeping in bunks with a minimum of 3+ other people snoring, farting, coming in and out at all hours around you. Not to mention, who knows, maybe they have band practice at 7 AM at the local school? Yes, this did happen.
Anti-Diaherria Medication + Probiotics
Thank. Me. Later. I have a tender tummy for sure but I knew so many people who got some level of food poisoning during their time in South America. Do yourself a favor and go ahead and get a prescription for anti-diaherria and some probiotics.
You know that likelihood we talked about above… your anus will thank me later for this one too. Go get yourself a travel-approved size squeeze tube of jelly or Vaseline and save yourself the literal pain later. Also, you’re going to be traveling through lots of different altitudes and climates… your body in general is going to get dry. This stuff is amazing for chapped lips (not to mention other chapped areas).
You’ll find that plenty of hostels have filtered water. Where you can, save on the plastic bottle waste and pack a reusable water bottle. For occasions like backpacking, I love my collapsible one - which literally rolls up to the lid and has a strap that I can hook to my fanny pack or around my wrist.
You know those nights spent in the airport we talked about? Probably inevitable that you’ll get one or an overnight bus or a really early morning. Having an eye mask for those bright airports or your neighbor’s overhead light will grant you a few extra hours? of sleep. Personally, I love my eyemask with the slight puff (aka bug eye look) over the eyes, cause I hate feeling my lashes fluttering.
Remember how I mentioned you’d get damp? This was a stank-saver for me (cause my clothes stayed dry and I wasn’t packing damp). Having a lightweight, waterproof jacket that you can roll up and squish into your bag (and bonus points if it has its own bag with a drawstring to hang off your bag if needed), will be a comfort-changer for your travels.
See the aforementioned dampness. I can pretty much guarantee that you will catch yourself outside, with your pack(s) on, in some kind of rain. Prepare ahead with one of these waterproof covers. They’re easy to store in your pack, weigh next to nothing, and save you from a soggy bag (with soggy contents).
This is a nice to have for me. Depending on your day-pack and your plans, you honestly may not need this but if you’re going to be in a wet climate or say visiting the Iguazu Falls and want to take a boat ride - it’s not a bad thing to have handy for extra water protection of your valuables. The one I bought is literally for parents with children but, hey it worked great for me!
There are going to be times when a pen just ain’t it. Enter the permanent marker. Having a permanent marker on hand to mark your food in the fridge at a hostel well, pays for itself. Plus, it takes up like no room so - recommend it.
Ziploc/Reusable Bags
I don’t know how it happens but without fail, there is always a need for a random reusable bag. Socks get soaked and won’t dry in time? Bag it. Like to collect rocks when you travel? Bag them. Bought some nuts at the store but don't want to carry a carton? Throw them into a bag.
Fanny Pack (with lots of space)
I cannot tell you how much I love this fanny pack. It fits my phone, camera, wallet, lip balm, keys, Kindle, portable charger, and more. Plus it slings on tightly and you can wear it under your jackets easily, while still being very functionally accessible. Get one.
Carabiner Clips with Screw Gate
Talk about an item I honestly rarely travel without, even just on local weekend trips. Whether you bought souvenirs and you need to put them in a bag that hangs off your pack or you want to clip your shoes to your bag or you simply don’t feel like carrying your water bottle that day - carabiners are a traveler's BFF. I love these screw ones, especially for extra security when it comes to affixing anything to any item.
A crucial packing item. You’ll need to lock up your items in your hostel but these are also nice for clipping the zippers of your pack together, etc. during your travels. Having the wirey locks is the key part as most of the lockers I came across had really tiny holes and anything larger than the wire wasn’t likely to fit. You don’t want to get somewhere and not be able to secure your belongings… unless you like to cuddle your pack and you want to bring it everywhere with you.
Ok, this one isn’t completely random but definitely essential (in my humble opinion). While many backpackers simply tie their shoes to their packs, when they don’t fit inside - I was always worried about them coming untied and/or falling off. Having a reusable shoe bag offers some durability (and protection) to safeguard your shoes while you’re slinging your pack around planes, trains, and, ya know, automobiles. Plus, you can easily wash and reuse from trip to trip.
These are amazing, whether or not you’re a germaphobe. You’re going to come across plenty of “bathrooms” while backpacking that don’t have soap. These sheets are perfect to have on hand - and compact - for those moments. A little goes a long way though. You probably could use just half of a sheet but don’t grab more than one thinking you need it. Depending on how much water is running out of the tap, you don’t want to get stuck with soapy hands.
Whether you’re backpacking South America, Asia, Europe, or down the street, I wish you direct flights, steady stomachs, plenty of bag space, sunshiney days, and more but just in case not, I hope this list helped you! Have an amazing trip and tag @accentgolden in your posts if you take any of these items - I want to see how you fair with them out in the wonderful wild.
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Food poisoning sweats on a four-hour bus ride from Banos, Ecuador to Quito, Ecuador.