Adventure Travel Family

  • Blog
  • Home Education
    • Popular Home Education Blog Posts
    • Unschooling
    • Montessori
    • Activities For Children
  • Gentle Parenting Tips
  • Travel With Kids
    • Bali
    • Bulgaria
    • England
    • Greece
    • Sri Lanka
    • Thailand
    • Tunisia
    • Our Travel Stories
    • Travel Gear You Need
  • Press & PR

10 Backpacking Travel Essentials For Asia & Beyond (Budget Travel Gear That WORKS!)

Backpacking Travel Essentials For Asia & Beyond (on a budget!)

To see all of our travel blog posts, click here.

Our family travelled around Asia on our family gap year, visiting Thailand, Sri Lanka and Indonesia. We only took four average-sized backpacks and one suitcase with us as we’re a minimalist family, but even then we packed some things we didn’t end up using (as well as missing out some things we really wish we’d taken- see below!)

This post is about our top essential backpacking travel items for Asia & beyond; our in depth product-specific travel gear guides can also be found linked here:

10 best travel toys for toddlers (ideal for airplanes!)

10 best travel strollers for families (who want durability and great value!)

10 best travel irons

Simple packing list of Thailand backpacking essentials inc with eco-friendly items

After a year of travelling full-time with three young children we have pretty much nailed the backpacking travel essentials for Asia and other warm climates and we can recommend what great value, budget travel gear you need for a safe and comfortable trip. Here are our top 10 backpacking travel essentials that we wouldn’t be without:

1. A GREAT Backpack

Having a good backpack can make or break your trip. Going super-cheap and getting a flimsy one will cost you long-term as they will either break or put your back under so much strain that you end up with an injury. We use the most incredible backpacks from Osprey, the Farpoint 40. They are the biggest possible size that you can take on as hand luggage, so we can stuff them full without having to wait at the baggage carousel at our next desitnation- pop them in the overhead locker and you’re good to go!

We love the side-opening feature so you don’t have to unpack everything to find something at the bottom, as it packs like a suitcase on its side. It has a padded laptop pocket, lockable zippers, padded adjustable straps and a great padded waist belt to take the strain off your shoulders. We’re not sponsored by Osprey or anything, this is just a genuine rave about how amazing we think their backpacks are. They come in three colour ways- red, blue and black- and we have one of each!

Our top pick, the Osprey Farpoint 40:

Osprey Packs Farpoint 40 Travel Backpack, Volcanic Grey, Medium/Large
Click here to see the latest prices on the Osprey Packs Farpoint 40 Travel Backpack
 

2. A travel towel

There are plenty of travel towels out there but we’ve found the best ones to be Mountain Warehouse. We have a few in different sizes; they are super compact and come in their own little waterproof bag, and they dry out in no time. Definitely do not bring normal towels with you when backpacking; they take up a TON of space and may not dry out depending on how humid the country is!

Our top pick, the Mountain Warehouse:

Mountain Warehouse Large Microfibre Travel Towel - 130x70cm, Light, Comfortable, Absorbent, Soft, Quick Drying Hiking Towel - Ideal For Gym, Beach & At Home Purple
Get the latest prices on the MW Large Microfibre Travel Towel
 
 

3. A Travel Kettle

We thought briefly about packing a travel kettle for our family gap year but decided not to- BIG mistake. Buying tea and coffee at cafes eats into your budget fast, and cheap guesthouses or hostels and even mid-range hotels often have no facilities for hot water in your room. When you get to your destination late at night or early in the morning it can make a world of difference to everyone’s mood to be able to have a hot cup of coffee or hot chocolate on tap.

A travel kettle is also really handy for cooking instant noodles in your hotel room; if you’re on a budget this is a major plus point. The Gourmet Gadgetry collapsible travel kettle is our favourite as it’s high quality and collapsible so takes up hardly any room in your backpack. We’ve made a complete guide to the best 10 budget travel kettles depending on your needs, here.

Our top pick, the collapsible Gourmet Gadgetry kettle:

GOURMET GADGETRY TRAVELKETTLE Electric Collapsible Travel Kettle
Get the latest price on the Gourmet Gadgetry Collapsible Travel Kettle
 
 

4. A sleeping bag liner

These have come in handy for us in several ways- they’re usually comfier than the sheets in a guesthouse; they protect you from any dirt that might be on sketchy beds, they offer extra protection from mosquitoes (check out how to prevent Zika here) and they’re great when you’re staying somewhere that’s too hot for a blanket (like most of Asia!) but you still want a light cover.

Our top pick, the Mountain Warehouse super-compact hygienic liner:

Mountain Warehouse Microfibre Mummy Sleeping Bag Liner - Easy to Carry Travel Sheet, Hygienic Camping Bag Liner, Comfortable Bed Sheet - Ideal For Camping Outdoors Light Grey
Click here to see the latest prices for the Mountain Warehouse Microfibre Mummy Sleeping Bag Liner
 
 

5. Packing cubes

I don’t know where we’d be without our packing cubes, but the answer is pretty much “a mess”. We LOVE our packing cubes; they help keep backpacks organised, they make it easy to separate different clothing items or clean/dirty laundry and they are great for keeping hotel rooms organised. As well as our packing cubes for our clothes we have BUBM packing cubes for our electronics, which have been invaluable for keeping wires, SD cards and the like organised and protected on our journey.

Our top pick for packing cubes, the tough and good-looking eBags:

eBags Packing Cubes - 3pc Set (Raspberry)
Click here to see the latest prices for the eBags Packing Cubes – 3pc Set (Raspberry)
 
eBags Medium Packing Cubes - 3pc Set (Aubergine)
 Click here to see the latest prices for the eBags Medium Packing Cubes – 3pc Set (Aubergine)
 
eBags Small Packing Cubes - 3pc Set (Grasshopper)
Click here to see the latest prices for the eBags Small Packing Cubes – 3pc Set (Grasshopper)
 
eBags Packing Cubes - 6pc Value Set (Raspberry)
Click here to see the latest prices for the eBags Packing Cubes – 6pc Value Set (Raspberry)
 

Our top pick for electronics and wires organisers, the one and only BUBM:

3 x BUBM MULTIPLE FUNCTION ACCESSORIES STORAGE CARRY BAG CASE USB cable memory card power cord battery storage mobile disk bag case Triple Set large, medium small
Click here to see the latest prices for BUBM MULTIPLE FUNCTION ACCESSORIES STORAGE CARRY BAG CASE Triple Set
 

BUBM 3-piece Padded Gear Case, Ultra-compact Electronics Organiser for Camera Gear, Data Cables, Chargers, Plugs, Memory Cards, CF Cards and More--Double Layer Compartment with Zipper Closure, Dark Blue
Click here to see the latest prices for the BUBM 3-piece Padded Gear Case, Ultra-compact Electronics Organiser
 

6. A toiletry bag

Don’t be like 20-year-old me, and find a cockroach eating the bristles of your toothbrush in a Thai backpacker hostel bathroom. We love our fold-up water resistant hanging travel toiletry bag; it has several pockets including a see-through window, water resistant fabric and zippers, as well as a hook that you can use to attach it to a shower rail or door hooks.

Our top pick for travel toiletry bags, the eBag:

eBags Pack-it-Flat Toiletry Kit (Raspberry)
Click here to see the latest prices for the eBags Pack-it-Flat Toiletry Kit (Raspberry)
 
eBags Pack-it-Flat Toiletry Kit (Titanium)
Click here to see the latest prices for the eBags Pack-it-Flat Toiletry Kit (Titanium)
 

7. Travel Water bottle

Having your own travel water bottle means that you can save money by purchasing a large bottle of water for your hotel room and top it up, rather than repeatedly buying smaller bottles of water each day (it’s much more eco-friendly, too!) We’ve tried several travel water bottles and our favourites are the stainless steel bottles or the collapsible versions.

Our top picks, the Nomader collapsible bottle and the 12-hour hot / 24-hour cold stainless steel bottle:

Nomader Collapsible Water Bottle - Foldable with Reusable Leak-Proof Twist Cap for Travel Hiking Camping Sports Outdoors and Gym - BPA-free 650 mL (Gray)
Click here to see the latest prices for the Nomader Collapsible Water Bottle – Foldable with Reusable Leak-Proof Twist Cap 650ml
 

Extsud Ultimate Vacuum Insulated, 500ml Double Walled Stainless Steel Water Bottle & Drinks Bottle - 24 Hours Cold & 12 Hot - 100% BPA Free Thermos, Non Leak Sports Water and Drinks Bottles (Blue)
Click here for the latest prices for the Extsud Ultimate Vacuum Insulated, 500ml 24-hours hot/cold Bottle
 

8. A travel purse / wallet

While backpacking around Asia or other countries you’ll be carrying passports, boarding passes, credit cards and goodness knows how many odd bits of currency. You need a good travel purse or wallet to keep everything organised and secure. Increasingly travel purses / wallets offer RFID blocking to ensure your credit card details remain safe and we would highly recommend this kind of wallet (the one below has a phone pocket, double win!)

Our top pick, an RFID blocking travel purse / wallet:

Premium Travel Wallet Organiser with RFID Blocking. Perfect Passport Holder for Women & Men. Made of Nylon & Soft Cotton Blend. Phone Pocket, Space for Plane Ticket, Credit Cards, ID, Papers
Click here for the latest prices on the Premium Travel Wallet Organiser with RFID Blocking
 

9. A great pair of sandals

Do not- I repeat, DO NOT- underestimate the importance of quality footwear on your backpacking adventures. When Patrick and I backpacked through south-east Asia before we had kids, we visited some incredible islands in Malaysia, the Perhentian Islands. I had insisted that my cheap flip-flops were completely fine- until they fell apart the moment we landed on the islands, and it started to pour down with rain.
Investing in just one pair of good sandals means that you can stay comfortable and active throughout your backpacking trip; it’s also a lot more eco-friendly than buying cheap plasticky flip-flops as you go. I’m a big fan of Crocs, our youngest lives in hers and I have a pair of sturdy rubber sandals very similar to the ones below; Patrick prefers velcro straps and a more sporty sandal.
Dunlop Men's Sports Beach Trekking Walking Hiking Hook & Loop Sandals Sizes 7-12 (8 UK, Navy/Yellow)
Click here for the latest prices on the Dunlop Men’s Sports Sandals
 
Crocs Women Cleo V Open-Toe Sandals, Blue (Navy/Grey (Light Grey)), 4 UK (36-37 EU)
Click here for the latest prices on the Crocs Women Cleo V Open-Toe Sandals
 
Crocs Unisex Kids Classic Clogs, Orange (Tangerine), C6 UK (22-23 EU)
Click here for the latest prices on the Crocs Kids Classic Clogs

10. Waterproof smash-proof phone case

I would estimate that I’ve dropped my iPhone, properly (enough to smash it) at least 15 times on our trip. I’ve also accidentally dropped it in the water (our swimming pool) and had it get wet during rain and from drips off sea-soaked kids. My LifeProof case is worth its weight in gold; I’ve been able to film underwater and fling my phone around with no damage whatsoever (but it’s lovely to take underwater pics and videos while snorkelling). If you’re embarking on a backpacking adventure or even just to protect your phone wherever you are, I’d highly recommend getting the LifeProof (it has an excellent warranty and customer service). There are options for iPhones and Samsungs as well as iPad minis.

LifeProof Frè Series for iPhone 7/iPhone 8 - Night Lite
Click here for the latest prices for the LifeProof Frè Series for iPhone 7/iPhone 8 – Night Lite
 
 
LifeProof Fre for Samsung Galaxy S8 - Asphalt Black
Click here for the latest prices on the LifeProof Fre for Samsung Galaxy S8 – Asphalt Black
 

map of the world with travel gear and kids

So that’s our list of must-take backpacking travel essentials. Of course if you’re travelling with kids we wouldn’t be without our favourite travel toys (that are perfect for airplanes!) and depending on the age of your kids, a great travel stroller (see our guide on the best strollers here). If you are off on a shorter trip or travel for business and you need a travel iron check out 10 of the best travel irons, and if you want eco-friendly travel items such as steel or bamboo straws, click here.
 

uk homeschooling coachWelcome! My name is Hannah and I’m a home education parent and coach. I’ve been home educating for 11 years and I provide information about home education, unschooling & gentle parenting. I also backpacked Asia for a year with my kids when they were 6, 5 and 2! Find out more about us here.

Search our site

All Content Owned & Copyright of Adventure Travel Family