5 Best Travel Accessories for Backpackers
Backpacking
around the world is a good time, no matter what you bring or how you bring it.
Nobody should stress too much over how to pack or what travel gear to
bring. Unless you're scaling Mount Everest
chances are you'll survive. But there are a few items that are designed help you
stay light and mobile, which means you'll spend less time dealing with life's
basics and more time making new friends and creating new adventures. So here
are the five best travel accessories for backpack travelers:
First: A Travel Backpack
By far the
best accessory you can bring is also the most basic - a backpack designed for
travel. Of course, any backpack will due. But if you want to grab your stuff
quickly and easily and keep everything organized, a travel backpack is the best
way to go. The main advantage is travel backpacks open like a suitcase.
Traditional backpacks open at the top with a drawstring. So if you need to grab
something at the bottom of a traditional backpack, you have to take everything out
first and then repack it. A complete hassle if you're in the middle of a train
station. With travel backpacks, you have all the same features, but you can
open it from the top or side and have access to all your stuff quickly and
easily.
Second: Quick-Dry Travel Underwear
Nothing can
ruin a trip faster than a little fungus in your nether regions, if you know
what I mean. Stuffing damp, cotton underwear in your pack is a recipe for mildew,
fungus and odors. With quick-dry, anti-bacterial underwear, you can just wash
it in the sink, hang it to dry and it's ready to pack or wear by the time the
next bus arrives. And it's anti-bacterial coating helps fight fungus between
washings.
Third: Packing Cubes
I didn't
even know what these were when I first started traveling. Now, I don't pack
even for a weekend without them. Packing cubes, or compression packers, are
essentially mesh or nylon squares into which you pack all of your gear before
putting the cubes in your backpack. Not only do they keep everything organized,
but they allow you to pack way more stuff in the same space by compressing the
materials before putting them in your pack.
Fourth: International Plug Adapters
It's a
wired world and you have to stay plugged in. Each continent, essentially, has
its own electrical wall outlet configuration, so you have to bring an adapter
to fit it if you want to plug in your electronics. There are a couple of ways
to do this. If you're going for a worldwide trip, or aren't sure where you'll
end up, bring an all-in-one universal adapter that will fit no matter where you
go. If you're going to be in only one continent, you can also buy an adapter
set that includes individual pieces, so you can bring only what you need.
Fifth: Travel or Luggage Locks
I hate to
break the positive travel spirit by mentioning security, but you're a long way
from home and it can be a major hassle and time-eater to replace things that
are stolen while traveling. So you want to take a few precautions. The best
type of locks for backpackers are travel cable locks that include flexible
cables to reach multiple zippers. These locks allow you to secure your pack and
exterior pockets while in crowded places prone to pick pocketing, or when you
are separated from your pack. Some locks with longer cables also let you secure
your pack to a chair or other fixed object. Travel locks are small and
lightweight. They aren't going to prevent every theft. But if someone has just
a few seconds to pick through a few backpack pockets, these locks will make
sure they don't pick through yours.
So,
remember, travel should be low stress and great times. No need to get bogged
down in too many how-to guides. You'll have a blast no matter what you bring. But with a few key accessories you'll stay
light, mobile and have more time to spend exploring the world.
