Backpacking is one of the most rewarding and exciting ways to travel, but it also requires the ability to travel light and find ways of keeping yourself entertained in between sightseeing. Here are some tips on the best things to pack if you want to keep the weight down but also stave off boredom throughout your backpacking adventure.
Stash an E-Reader
Reading is a great activity if you’re stuck on a bus for long periods travelling or you want to enjoy some downtime when it’s no longer light enough to walk. But instead of lugging a paper book around with you, opt for an e-reader instead. This way, you can carry multiple books with you at once, the battery stays charged for a long period of time and it’s much lighter than a book. Also, many are back-lit so you won’t need to waste your headlamp battery for hours if you want to stay up reading.
If you want, you can also use an online ebook creator to write about your experiences in the lush outdoors. These are pretty easy to use, so there’s no need to check any additional tutorials as well.
Download Playlists and Podcasts
Smartphones are great for condensing a lot of different tech and they shouldn’t be ignored when it comes to music either. A pair of decent noise-cancelling headphones and a carefully-selected playlist is a great way to pass the time on long trips and you’ll forever associated certain tunes with your trip for a nostalgic benefit once you’re back home. Podcasts are also a great way to pass the time and there are so many to choose from that you can always find something to suit your mood, from comedy to facts to interviews. Just remember to charge up your phone at any available opportunity to ensure you have sufficient battery when you need it.
Pack a Deck of Cards
Entertainment doesn’t have to be tech-based – a pack of cards is lightweight and doesn’t take up much room in your backpack, and there are plenty of games you can play with a single deck of cards. Plus, if you’re looking to make friends on the road, there’s no better way than card games and drinks, most people will opt for free bets at a hostel, but some of your travel pals may be interested in upping the steaks.
Browse the NextDraft App
The NextDraft newsletter is a great addition to your inbox each day, but there is also an app that you can download to receive ten quick summaries of the most interesting news stories of that day. The information is always witty, relevant and entertaining, plus it’s a great way of staying up to date while you’re on the go.
Learn a Language
This one is particularly useful if you’re backpacking in an area where you don’t speak the language. There are numerous language-learning apps you can download to your phone now that will enable you to pick up words and phrases to help you along your trip, plus it’s a great way of passing time when you have long stretches of downtime ahead of you. One of the most popular options is DuoLingo, which makes learning languages fun – each lesson is simple, short and there are plenty of languages to sift through. If you’re looking for a productive form of entertainment, it’s a great choice.
