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5 Things Not To Pack
Packing Tip
Here is a bit of advice that you most probably have heard before and most definitely will ignore: When packing, you only need half of what you think you do. That other half of useless crap will probably be left to fester in a damp sweat at the bottom of your pack only to finally emerge when you unpack your bag upon your return.
But I soon came to realize that sharing this advice was a waste of both of our time and would never, ever be followed. A polite nod or an outright guffaw would let me know that my advice was being overlooked like that third pair of jeans they thought were vital. So now I have employed a new tactic that will hopefully yield to better results: The 5 Things Not to Pack
- A Laptop. Unless you have a job and are working from the road, a laptop is completely unnessasery. You will be worried that it is going to get stolen or smashed, it will add unneeded weight and you will probably open it a total of three times on a two month trip. Most of us have smartphones that can do anything you need done while backpacking.
- More Than One Pair of Jeans. One pair is fine. There is no reason to have two – especially if you are travelling in the summer. They are heavy and notoriously difficult to dry. Some say not to bring a pair of jeans at all, but I do. I like jeans. they’re rugged and versatile – but more than one pair is totally unnecessary.
- More Than Three Pairs of Shoes. Boots or sneakers, sandals and shoes to go out in. That’s it. And for me, three is even too much. If you don’t plan on hitting any nightclubs, then two will be fine.
- A Pillow. This may sound ridiculous, but I have seen people with their own pillows at hostels. Totally unnecessary and frivolous, not to mention a huge waste of space. Every hostel this side of Minsk supplies pillows. And if they don’t? go somewhere else.
- A Guitar. Or other large instruments. I once met a guy who packed a didgeridoo! If you really can’t get through the day without strumming a few chords, lots of hostels have house guitars, but there is no reason trying to navigate trains with a large, expensive musical instrument of your own.
I dont totaly agree with the last 2 things not to pack…
I havent take any big backpacking trip yet but I can think of lots of way a pillow can be usefull ( maybe im wrong…)(Plane,train,having a second pillow in hostel,sitting on it while waiting for a train, even bring it while relaxing close to water…) I admit it takes spaces but I will bring a air pillow that I can simply just blow air in it when i actualy want to use it.
Speaking of guitar, it is TOTALY stupid to bring on in a plane, unless you have a hardcase i wouldnt trust airplanes with my guitar, but hardcase are realy not usedfull to travel so…
I realy need to play atleast 1 hour of guitar per day and sing some songs, what i plan to do is simply buy a guitar and a case in Europe and strap my daypack on it when im traveling and I want it with me or just put it at the hostel. ( I wont be afraid to have it stolen or nothing since i dont need a expensive one)
One of those blow up neck pillow thingies should definitely be okay. If you are a serious musician I get wanting to have a guitar – but did you think about how you’r going to carry it around when you are travelling with your regular pack?
I am currently in Paris France since yesterday for the first time! I did not bring my guitar but if i would have i would have bough a case backpack that can fit couple of cloths and my camera and stuff, so my guitar would be part of my daybag ( or keep it in the hostel while I travel the day )
To speak of the pillow I only spended a single night in a hostel and I already regret not bringing one.It would take like 3 pillow of what they gave me for me to actualy concider it a pillow…I guess it does depend on what hostel you stay in!
It all depends on what comfort level you require, I guess. But I do have to say that for me a pillow would take up a hell of a lot of room in a backpack – let alone a guitar case.
I agree with 4 other, but from I experience I can tell that I have travelled with a guitar for 5 years. Backpack and guitar in a guitar bag over my shoulder. I made money on the street while playing guitar, I met countless people and made countless friends, just because I had guitar. I hitchhiked and guitar was my wingman. Music connects people faster. Oh and flying with Ryanair, you can buy extra seat for music instrument. If the ticket costs 15 or 30 euros, then I can afford to buy second seat for my guitar too.
There is hard case guitar bag and really soft fabric bag, but I bought myself guitar bag from harder fabric. Does the job of protecting guitar very well.
Just sayin’
And travelling with a small laptop too.