What You Don’t Really Need in Your Travel Pack

If you’re backpacking overseas, it’s incredibly tempting to pack as much as you can in your bag. You don’t want to get to your destination and find you’re missing something useful, right? Honestly, though, a lot of people end up packing stuff they don’t really need.

A New Camera

Tons of people buy shiny, brand new cameras for their trips overseas even though they have no photography experience. They’re bulky, heaving and easily broken, so unless you’re a pro, just stick with the camera on your smartphone. You’ll get the same quality as you would on a DSLR unless you know advanced techniques anyway.

Too Much Clothing

Even if you’re backpacking for months at a time, you should never pack more clothes than you’d wear in a week. Washing machines exist overseas and, even if you can’t find one, scrubbing your shirt in a sink is always an option.

Towels

Towels take up valuable space in a small pack, and you can usually find one to use overseas in a hostel, Airbnb or hotel. If not, just let yourself air dry. Hopefully you’re not backpacking someplace where the weather is reaching sub-zero temperatures.

Makeup/Cologne/Etc.

You’re traveling, not entering an international dating tour. You don’t need to look your best when trekking through the Amazon or even when hitting up the tourist attractions in Rome. Save space by eliminating unnecessary toiletries whenever possible.