Whether you’re jet-setting around the world, hostel hopping through Europe or backpacking around Asia, there are a few travel essentials no intrepid backpacker should leave home without. Packing for a long trip can be intimidating as you don’t always know where your adventure might take you, but beyond clothes, passport, plane tickets and a trusty travel guide, there are a few other essential items guaranteed to make your trip easier.

Here is a list of 15 items I always make space for in my backpack:

1. Earplugs and a Sleeping Mask

Hostel hopping is a great way to see the world, travel on a budget, and meet incredible people while you do it. What Hotels are not good for, however, is a getting good night’s sleep. With people coming and going throughout the night, the novelty of shared dorms can quickly ware off, and without a few tricks of the trade, you’ll never catch your beauty sleep. A pair of cheap foam earplugs work brilliantly to block out the chatter of other residents and reduce any noise from the street, while a sleeping mask will stop you being woken up when someone inevitably turns the light on at 3 am. Small, light, and easy to stuff into a pocket, these cheap accessories will save you hours of restless sleep and tired mornings.

2. Shampoo Bar

Spill resistant, compact and light, these seemingly never ending bars make it so you never have to worry about an accidental luggage shampoo explosion again. Companies like Lush, MEC and Rocky Mountain Soap make these compact little cakes of shampoo that fit in your pocket and double up as body wash, conditioner and even dish soap! They also reduce plastic bottle waste, so you can feel good about yourself while saving on space, weight and smelling great.

3. Flip-Flops

Even if I’m travelling in winter, planning a hiking trip or going city sightseeing, flip-flops are always on my list. Perfect for giving your feet a rest after walking all day, light and easy to carry, and ideal for those Hostel showers, when you might not want to step on the floor in your bare feet. They are also great any time you need to get your feet wet but don’t want to be walking in wet boots for the rest of your trip. Use a carabiner to clip your flip-flops to the outside of your bag, so they take up no space, dry as you walk and are easy to grab when needed.

4. A Small Padlock

Most hostels have lockers available where you can store valuable items, which makes bringing a small padlock a must. Though it’s recommended to keep your most valuable possessions on you at all times, like your passport, it’s great to lock away items you don’t want to carry around all day, such as cameras, laptops, phones and extra money. I find a combination lock is more practical than a key lock, as you don’t risk losing that all-important key.

5. WiFi Mode

Access to the Internet is a must when you’re travelling, letting you find and book hostels, research where to go next and find the best places to visit whilst you’re there. But when you’re hopping from country to country, you don’t want to rack up roaming charges or purchase overpriced data. A great way around this is to carry a WiFi-enabled device, like a phone or tablet, and only use it in WiFi mode. So many places have free public WiFi, such as airports, train stations, cafes, shopping malls, public transport and libraries, making it easy and FREE to plan your trip on the go.

6. HostelWorld and Booking.Com

Now, these might not technically be items, but I never travel without them. In my experience, HostelWorld is better for finding accommodation in Europe and Australasia, whilst Booking.com works better for North America and Japan. But whichever you prefer using, finding your next hostel and planning your adventures is so much simpler with these tools. You don’t need a travel agent and you don’t need to plan your entire trip before you start. All you need is a starting point and these apps will help you book the rest.

7. Flip Phone

Yes, I can hear you laughing! Who even has a flip phone these days? But hear me out. In many countries, a flip phone will work out far cheaper than making calls on your foreign device, and as you can use free WiFi to access the Internet, a flip phone will allow you to make calls and send texts in country far cheaper than your regular provider. Buying minutes for a throw-away SIM card can save you big bucks. I purchase minutes for South Africa, New Zealand, Australia and Europe whenever I travel there, and it saves me money every time.

8. Solar Charger

These innovative devices are perfect for hiking/camping trips, but they are also very handy for a hostel hopping backpacker. A solar charger lets you charge your devices as you are travailing, either strap it to your bag whilst you walk around or catch the sun through the window on a train or bus trip. They hold their charge for ages, give your device that extra boost when you really need it, and release you from the restriction of finding a café every time you need to charge your phone when you’re out. BioLite makes a brilliant solar panel if you want to invest in the best.

9. Universal Travel Adaptor

Why countries make their wall sockets so different is beyond me, but you don’t want to find yourself in the middle of nowhere with no way to charge your devices. Nor do you want to carry around 8 different plugs. Universal adaptors can be bulkier and a little more expensive than one-way conversions, but they will save you hours of headaches if you’re going to be crossing borders on your adventures. And once you have one, you won’t need to buy another one ever again.

10. Microfiber Towel

These babies are perfect for cutting down on weight and saving every inch of space in your bag. Microfiber towels pack down small, can easily clip to your bag and dry in minutes, so you don’t have to wait hours after every shower for your towel to dry. Think of all that space you’ll save no lugging around a bath towel. So much space for souvenirs.

11. Head Torch

Another piece of camping equipment that can be exceptionally helpful for backpacking. This trusty tool stops you from being the annoying roommate who needs to turn the light on at 3 am to find their phone, lets you pack and catch that early flight without waking up the rest of the dorm, and is helpful when you’re crossing time zones and you forget you will arrive at your destination after sunset. Small to pack and its batteries will last years, a great essential to chuck in your bag.

12. Pre-Paid Credit Card

Changing your currency into local cash can be cumbersome, easily pickpocketed and will sting you for extortionate exchange fees every time you do it. And the alternative, using a credit card abroad, will cost you even more on foreign currency transaction rates. Companies like Wise and Stirling, as well as many larger banks, offer pre-paid cards, that function the same as regular credit cards but won’t charge you a fee to use them abroad. You load them with money before your trip and you can make transactions in any local currency, only paying the current exchange rate and no more. They are cheap (sometimes free) to open and easy to use, and I have yet to find a country that doesn’t accept them.

13. A Few American Dollars

Having said that, I always pack a few American dollars into the bottom of my backpack. You never know if you’re going to have your wallet stolen, lose your cards or simply run out of funds. American dollars are a great currency to keep as your ‘emergency fund’, as they are accepted at most international banks and can be used in many countries as an alternative to the local currency. Hopefully, you won’t need to use them and they can stay in the bottom of your bag for years, but when you need them, they’re there! And they can be a life saver!

14. Aero Press and Travel Mug

Now, this is a personal one, but for any of you that like a good cup of joe in the morning, this might be a good one to add to your list. This little coffee filter makes barista-level coffee in just one minute, can be used hot or cold, and is portable, robust and fits in your pocket. Pair it with a good travel coffee mug and you won’t have to wait in line for the Hostel kettle to boil or spend money every day on takeout coffee. Great coffee, less waste, and a quick caffeine fix to start your day off right.

15. A Good Book

Unfortunately, no adventure is complete without a little waiting around. Be it waiting for a greyhound, a connecting flight delay, or a long train ride to your next destination. Pass the time on those long journeys without burning battery or costing you data. Learn the language from a phrase book, or get lost in a little fiction. Books may seem like unneeded weight, but they’ll repay you tenfold when that 2-hour train turns out to be a 22-hour train. Trust me, I’ve made that mistake.

Bonus Item: An In-Date Passport

A passport might seem like a no-brainer, you won’t be getting very far without it! But before you set off, there is something important to check about your little book of dreams! Check when your passport expires before you leave, as many countries won’t allow you across the border without a minimum of 6 months left on your passport. So when you see that expiry date approaching, be proactive in registering for a replacement, and don’t let this seemingly minor detail disrupt your adventure before it begins.

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So there you have it! 15 things to put on your packing list next time you’re planning a backpacking adventure. Most of these are small items, easy to stuff into a side pocket and forget about until you need them, but they will elevate you from hostel rookie to seasoned travel pro.

You don’t need much when you’re travelling, a few basics go a long way, and with this tried and tested list of backpacking essentials, who knows where your next adventure will take you!