To ask those of you who have been backpacking

[hmga90]

For your experiences?

On a whim last night I’ve booked a 3 month trip around the USA. I leave next week. Will be entering places with different climates- some will be very hot (Vegas for example) and some I imagine will be cooler towards the end of my trip (eg the trip ends in Chicago)

My packing list so far

3vest tops
3 short sleeved t shirts
1 long sleeved t shirt
Pair of shorts
3/4 leggings
Jeans (travel in to save space)
Short and long pyjama bottoms- 1 of each
2x dresses for night outs/more formal says
Hoodie (travel in to save space)
Lightweight cardigan
Pack a Mac
Trainers, pair of sandals and hiking boots (travel in to save space)
Rucksack, cross body bag and a foldable larger hold-all (thought would be useful to pack dirty laundry in etc)

Travel hairdryer
Travel hair straighteners
Hairbrushx2, hair ties/Kirby grips

iPad/phone, chargers.

Will buy toiletries etc over there as needed.

Will be camping most nights- not overly looking forward to it but will cope. What’s the best way to stay comfortable while camping? Sleeping bag or cheap duvet keeping in mind I will throw it away after the trip. Will buy some cheap pillows. Is it worth me buying an inflatable mattress or shall I just settle with a foam one?

What is the best way to spend money over there? Don’t want to take a load of cash but likewise don’t want to be wasting a lot of money on bank charges

Any advice will be appreciated!

Ps didn't take cash last time, just used my card. I would recommend a bit for incidentals maybe but just draw it out of a cash point

Due to the difference in voltage / current UK hairdryers are basically useless in the US. You’d dry your hair quicker going outside and spinning in circles really fast.

Hairdryer and straighteners . Ditch them. Also can't imagine backpacking lugging a duvet around!!

You will need a torch and sleeping bag liner and pack a loo roll. Believe me, you will be thankful of it. Pack up your rucksack then go for a long walk with it, see how the weight feels. I ended up dumping quite alot of clothes at the first opportunity.

Would you consider renting a van you could sleep in? The transport infrastructure varies wildly from state to state so if you are relying on public transport with a lot of luggage it could feel very knackering very quickly.
The benefit of a van is you have a place to sleep and store stuff and if you don’t quite hit your targets to get to the next campsite you can park up en route to sleep rather than trying to set up a tent in dark/ bad weather. Also means you can be more selective about where you chose to camp going for the more beautiful places.

Micro rucksack for putting shopping in

Take photo of your rucksack incase stolen

Sleeping bag liner thin

Don't take jeans. You won't be able to get them dry.

If you are backpacking, as in carrying your bag around, you need to reduce what you take. 3-4 outfits tops. The best backpacking trips I had I just took a daybag size rucksack. You can wash things as you go.

Are you carrying camping stuff? That is a drag! Do you have any other options? Hostels can be very good, and are also good for meeting people.

Not sure if anyone's already suggested this but packing cubes are the backpackers best friend.

I have been on many backpacking trips in my younger years and I've got so fed up of having to rummage through my whole back back every time I wanted one or two items.

We went backpacking around New Zealand last year and used packing cubes for the first time. They are magic! They enable you to separate your items into different categories so you only have to find the right cube in your backpack rather than getting everything out. Everything else stays neat and organised. Saves sooooo much time and frustration!

They're called cubes but they're actually soft fabric containers. Loads of different ones available online. For a long trip, I'd get quite a few, at least 8 or 10.

Hope you have a great trip!

Ditch the hair straighteners & hair dryer. Total waste of space. If you're bothered about your hair, get it cut into a practical style. And TWO hairbrushes? crikey. I have very long hair & can camp with a comb (tie it up in pony tail or plaits & forget about it for about 4 days).

Ditch the jeans - they're bulky & hot. Take softer cotton trousers, or better still trousers/sweats that can do double duty as pjs. Ditch one of the dresses. Take more pairs of underpants than you think - I pack at least 12 pairs for a month long trip. Nothing like clean pants when you are travel-tired. I do tend to take more PJ bottoms than I think I need - about 3 pairs, but for a carrying-everythig-on-my-back trip, I'd pull that back to 1 pair.

I don't think you need a hoodie and a cardigan. As PP say, take a shawl or large scarf (I have a travel pashmina) which does duty as a scarf, a wrap, and a pillow.

Make sure that every thing you carry does double duty.

If you're packing hiking boots, then why the trainers as well? In the UK, I use bulky (to pack) all-weather walking boots as I'm usually walking in the fells in Cumbria; but when I did a wilderness trip in the US, I bought a pair of walking shoes (ie cut low like trainers), which can double as trainers. They had the sure grip of walking boots, but looked OK with trousers to go into towns.

You could try a keratin straightening treatment on your hair (do it at home - takes a couple of hours) & take a small tube of serum to keep it smooth
Roll up wash bag with a hook
Head torch (look stupid but keep hands free)
Travel washing line (with hooks & ties at the end Add your own ties if you have to)
Waterproof cover for the rucksack/waterproof bags to make sure clothes stay dry
Padlock for the bag zips

Gaffer tape - you can roll some off a big roll - good for fixing holes in clothes/tents & loads of other things

The less you take the better time you will have.

That should be your mantra.

Be ruthless. There is no way you need most of the stuff on your list.

You cannot imagine how pissed off you will get having to repeatedly unpack and repack - never mind lugging around and keeping safe - a bunch of junk you don't need.

Plus if the bag is too heavy to comfortably lift alone you'll end up injured, in pain and when travelling between destinations, eg airports or bus stops, you'll need somebody to stay and babysit the bag(s) to go to the toilet or to buy a drink or for a wander - or a bit of exploration in between accommodation. With a small bag you don't have that problem.

Everything you need that isn't camping kit should fit in a 40litre bag max.

As for taking a duvet and hair straighteners camping, what?!

1 pair of shorts?!!

Do you actually have a backpack?
Pack it all in a nice big backsack (make it all fit) and walk 2 miles. In the mere 20 degree heat of Britain. Then come home & decide what you don't feel like lugging after all.

Better, weigh the bag, jump on a cheap return flight to somewhere hot for a day, buy water bottles to achieve the same weight as your fully packed bag, and put them in your bag. Walk around at 35 degree heat for 2 miles with all that stuff.

And then come home & decide what you really wanted to pack.

A revolut card is handy for travelling abroad. You load it up through your phone and can convert to dollars. You can also withdraw cash with it but there is a limit to how much you can lift.

I think you need proper walking clothes - fabrics used for these will dry much quicker than jeans and t shirts.

Is food provided? You don't mention cooking utensils. Again a good camping shop can help you here.

I would take camp pillows and sleeping bag, as well as an inflatable mat.

As someone mentioned, have you the flexibility to start further north rather than finish there when it is cold?

And like everyone says, ditch hairdryer and straighteners.

Chicago will be freezing in December. You will need gloves, hat, scarf etc unless you do that first and end in Vegas. Cut out hair straighteners as I don't think backpacking/camping lends itself to that. Just one dress and more shorts. Swimming costume if you are going near the ocean?

Washing liquid, so that you can clean your clothes! Extra phone battery pack.

Forget the hair gear!

Where is the OP ? Calling @hmga90 Lots of good advice here - if you respond, we can help you more effectively.

Bear spray🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻

No hair straighteners, no hair dryer, no fancy dresses and yes a sleeping bag!

Are you sure you know what you are doing? Are you glamping or camping?

Have you considered your actual tent- you know, that thing you are going to sleep in!

Also December for Chicago etc- thermals, thick jacket, hat, scarf, gloves, jumpers.

Are you still camping then???

This is not backpacking.
I think you need to have another look at what you have booked.
Was there alcohol involved?
Its great that you took a leap. Now you need to check it out properly because you will not find a use for those hair straighteners

More information is required on the logistics of your holiday.
Chicago in November could potentially be below zero, and anywhere mountainous could be very cold at night.
You haven’t even got a jumper in your list (though I appreciate the young don't feel the cold).

Buy stuff for Chicago when you're out there. There's no point in lugging it around for two months when you don't need it.