This list is designed to be a general guide and is not intended for a particular country. Obviously, this list would be altered depending on your destination, time of year you’re traveling in, importance of comfort, amount of money you will have and length of time you will be away. As well, you will need to take more than one of some items (such as socks and underwear). Again, this will depend on how important cleanliness and appearance are to you. Almost everything is optional! Remember that in our modern world, you can buy almost anything anywhere. Leave something at home if you are in doubt about taking it.
Each traveler will have their own priorities and will thus develop their own list, but this is a start and offers some considerations. To check out equipment and equipment-information available online, see our travel links.
NOTE: Print this list and use it as a pre-departure checklist. Feel free to copy this list for your own personal use. Paste it into a word-processing program and edit it to suit your own needs.
Essentials
- backpack
- day pack
- sleep sheet
- toiletries bag
- money belt
- neck wallet
- travel guide
- small first-aid kit
Finances and documents:
- passport
- visas (if necessary)
- train pass (if Europe-bound)
- money
- drivers license
- Visa and MasterCard (and PIN)
- bank card (and PIN)
- hostel card
- student card (if you are a student)
- international drivers license
- copy of important documents (like your passport)
- passport photos
- vaccination certificates
- copy of prescriptions (ie. medicine/eye-glasses)
Clothing:
- rain/wind jacket (preferably Gore-Tex)
- warm jacket (ie. fleece)
- long sleeve shirt
- button-up shirt
- t-shirts
- jeans
- nylon cargo pants (quick drying)
- khakis
- belt
- underwear
- synthetic sox
- white sox
- hat (baseball or other style)
- shorts
- swimsuit
- dress or skirt
Shoes
- approach (light hiking boots)
- sandals
Toiletries
- toothbrush
- toothpaste
- shampoo
- soap
- skin cream
- sunscreen
- Gravol
- Pepto Bismol tablets
- deodorant
- lip balm
- gel (hair)
- floss
- nail clippers
- alcohol pads (germ killers)
- razor
- shave cream
- Tylenol (or Aspirin)
- feminine hygiene products
- birth control
Extras
- quality map (pick them up as you go from tourist offices)
- Swiss Army knife
- flashlight
- camera
- film
- thin cable and lock
- binoculars
- bandanna
- sunglasses
- mesh bags
- Ziploc bags
- journal
- pen/pencil
- first-aid kit
- book (to read - can be traded as you travel)
- swim/pack towel
- string or rope (5 meters)
- duct tape (wrap around a pencil or film canister)
- gloves
- sunscreen
- luggage locks for zippers
- travel clock
- watch
- compass
- mirror
- toilet paper
- earplugs
- large envelope (for maps, etc.)
- pictures of important friends or family
- sink stopper (like a racquetball)
- backpack cover
- drinking cup
- small sewing kit
- language guide
- garbage bag (many uses)