I did the whole gap year thing back in the day – South East Asia for two months for those wondering – and I was wholly unprepared in what I took with me in terms of clothes. That is, the clothes I took were pretty dreadful: lots of unflattering H&M basics in a variety of bland colours, and only two vest tops. I was in 30-degree heat. With two vests. And a single pair of shorts. Now, when you’re backpacking you’re not going to be able to take a massive amount of clothes with you – instead, what I learnt from the last time I went travelling (and what I’m implementing for when I’m backpacking this summer) is versatility. I’ve compiled this backpacking checklist as a guideline for anyone going backpacking in warm weather (don’t let this fool you, though. It will be cold at some point, and you will be grossly unprepared for this. Take a long-sleeve and jeans with you, please!).
I’d say you’re good with two crop tops/strappy camis, two basic t-shirts, and a vest as your basics. Shops like Weekday, Monki, and the recently re-launched American Apparel are great for this. This American Apparel one is a classic and comes in loads of colours.
Weekday has these great camis in at the moment that have customisable straps:
Chances are, you will be going out at some point – there’s really no need for a full-on club outfit, so just take a simple lacey slip cami (or two) with you! This ZARA one will be great for day and night.
Having learnt from my mistake, I’m taking one pair of ‘soft’ loose shorts and one pair of denim shorts (you can find great vintage Levi’s/similar denim shorts anywhere nowadays – Urban Outfitters always stocks them, but you can find them for cheaper in vintage and charity shops). These Monki shorts are super comfortable and great for long days of sightseeing.
These Levi’s are from Urban Outfitters. Remember to take a pair of jeans with, too! Trust me, they will come in handy. A pair of leggings is a must as well: you don’t want to do a 10 hour bus/train ride in jeans or shorts.
You’ll manage with two dresses – a big t-shirt one (great for tossing over a swimsuit), and one nicer one that you can easily take from day to night. Weekday is your go-to for both. This dress comes in tonnes of colours and is so comfortable (and affordable).
Alternatively, take a cute playsuit with you:
It wouldn’t be a summer backpacking checklist without florals. This longer dress (also from Weekday) is great if you’re visiting temples or churches that require a more conservative outfit. Adding in some florals to your backing checklist will add some variety to your look.
I love the bright colour of this slip dress from Weekday, and it’d go great as evening wear, too:
Get a cheap pair of flip flops from Primark, but invest in some good walking shoes – you’ll be doing a lot of this, so this is not something you want to scrimp on. These Air Max Thea’s from Nike are light, comfortable, and good for your feet.
The MD Runner by Nike is a slightly more affordable but still comfortable option:
You can manage with one set, but if you know you’ll be doing lots of swimming, it’s a good idea to bring two sets with you! This Monki swimsuit is really summery and affordable. Backpacking checklist items have to include swimwear of course!
These Weekday bikinis were recently featured in their body positivity campaign called ‘My Body My Image’ – the set’s sustainable, too. Shop the top here and bottoms here.
I mean, you will be sweating most of this off. There isn’t really any way around this. If, however, you are planning on wearing makeup, look at anything waterproof/intended for hot weather. Take waterproof mascara and lash curlers and leave the lipstick at home (it will melt. Don’t even try – unless you’re bringing a liquid lipstick). And for the love of god bring powder. And bronzer – towards the end of your trip this will be your powder. The Urban Decay De-Slick Shine Control Complexion Primer is fantastic for stopping your foundation from slipping off during the day. Only issue is that you need a full face of foundation with it – a light or sheer coverage doesn’t really sit right on it. If you’re bringing foundation, MAC’s Pro Longwear Nourishing Waterproof foundation is your best friend.
MAC does a waterproof eyebrow gel – the Pro Longwear Waterproof Brow Set – that works fabulously in hot weather. (Maybelline should be bringing out their own waterproof brow gel, but we’ve still not gotten a UK release date for this). This is one of the backpacking checklist essentials that is small and easy to keep with you in any bag, but it will make a big difference!
This is a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.
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