For an entire year, you’ll be living out of a single bag. You are literally going to be a bag lady — even if you’re a guy — so clothing choices matter a lot
First rule: Keep it simple. There’s no such thing as a sartorial backpacker, and looking chic may even work against you when sticky fingers are shopping for wallets.
Style though is meaningless. You’re going to be with people who truly don’t care how they look, let alone how you look. Those casually fashionable bitches you follow on Instagram who make backpacking look glam? Lies. All lies. Their photos are posed and they travel with six garment bags of fashion with the sales tags still attached.
Second rule: Prepare to mix-and-match. You’re going to have seven outfits max, so make them stretch with clothes that work interchangeably. You’ll also be throwing out and replacing clothes much faster than you think, and basics make this easier.
If you think that sounds dull, eventually you’ll have a half dozen bracelets around your wrists, a funky scarf and a hat you’d never wear back home. No backpacker stays plain for long.
Third rule: Dress respectfully. In any foreign place, there’s a way to offend locals with clothing. From nuns to nudists, locals care what you wear. We discuss this below.
Most backpackers “chase summer,” which means no heavy coats or thermals, mostly short sleeves, lighter shoes, etc. If this is your plan, follow the standard list. If your plan includes cold places though, here’s what you’ll need.
In the very recent past, athletic clothes and shoes were too tacky to wear anywhere. This has suddenly changed but — important caveat here — only for younger travelers. Anyone over 40 will just look like like a tourist and scream “I’m carrying cash. Please take it.”
In parts of Central and South America, fatigue green is the color of militant guerillas. If you’re traveling through smaller towns by land, then camo is a bad look.
Tsetse flies are drawn to blue, so don’t wear that in sub-Saharan Africa if you want to avoid sleeping sickness and an uncomfortable demise.
Clothing patterned with the flag of your country of origin is often considered disrespectful, and clothing with profanities (in any language) or depictions of religious figures is outright illegal in others.
With only a few exceptions, jeans are acceptable, just make sure that denim isn’t torn. In most places, it’s seen as trashy and in others, like the Korean DMZ for example, it’s outright prohibited.
Swimwear presents almost limitless invitations for trouble, so what to wear in the sun?
Ladies, you can’t go wrong with a modest bikini and a one-piece/maillot.
Men, the rules have changed. Like many Yanks, I thought European and Latin-American men wore Speedos like an International Male catalog. That’s why they called it International Male, right? Wrong. Shorts are now the standard.
What length, you ask? It’s up to you, but people tend to aim somewhere comfortably above the knee. So those long, baggy Bermuda trunks that make you look like Guy Fieri at spring break in Pensacola? Leave those at home… at the Goodwill.
Nomads have, of late, developed a nasty reputation for disrespecting sacred spaces. Don’t be one of those assholes.
Most of this is just bad behavior, but clothing is to blame too. Generally speaking, it’s all about coverage or shoes. Check out the rules and make sure your wardrobe includes clothes that allow you to easily do the following general rules:
• Cover your legs with pants or a skirt with hems lower than the knee.
• Wear a shirt with sleeves that covers your shoulders and most of your upper arm.
• Be prepared to remove your shoes.
• Men, remove hats. Ladies, cover your hair with a light scarf.
Dressing nicely is the one thing we can all do to make travel a better experience for everyone. In the distant past, people automatically dressed their Sunday best, but somewhere between Pan Am and Spirit Air, we lost our way.
So what’s a traveler to do? For one, planes get cold and trains get hot. The floors are always filthy even when they look clean. You’ve got to prepare for both.
Want an upgrade at the counter? Dress the part. Want to simply change seats? Passengers don’t like having the empty spot beside them filled with a slob, and flight attendants know it. Wanna flirt with the cute girl across the aisle in 14C? Start with good hygiene.
If you watch any of Drew Binksy’s videos from Afghanistan, you see he buys a local wardrobe immediately after he arrives. This might sound frivolous, but this is the ultimate way to blend in and make travel through iffy areas safer.
To do this, first examine what people wear on the streets and ask the hostel staff where to shop cheaply. Don’t be surprised if they suggest you have the clothes custom-made. In many countries, that’s the norm.
Does this sound expensive? It’s not. Any place where you’d want to blend in for safety is likely poor, so the cost of a few outfits is likely very low.
When you depart, of course feel free to keep whatever you like and can carry, but leave the rest behind and ask that it be given to charity.
My privacy policy is simple: I don’t share your information.
Yea, it’s just a name, email and nationality, but I’m sure there are people who would pay for it. My thoughts on that: fuck those people and fuck those fuckers who sell personal information to them. You’ll find none of that monkey business here.
If I get hacked and your info get stolen, I’ll shoot you a note to let you know. I don’t deal in passwords, credit cards or anything like that though, so there’s almost nothing for anyone to take.
To see the full privacy policy — it’s pretty boring and cost me a lot of money — you can follow the link at the bottom of the page or in the confirmation email.
Nothing fancy, just something comfortable and presentable to wear on a plane or at a sit-down restaurant.
Look for neutral colors that don’t show stains, like black or khaki, and choose low-maintenance materials like blended cotton. The more pockets, the better.
One for the city and another for the outdoors.
For city shorts, something presentable, like cotton chinos with zippers or buttons to secure the pockets. For outdoors, something comfortable and durable, like stretch nylon with an elastic waistband and lots of pockets.
Holds up your pants and hides a stash of cash.
Should be indistinguishable from an ordinary, casual belt and be a neutral color that works with your shoes and clothes. Leather or woven nylon is best.
Your comfortable and unfussy below-the-waist uniform.
Comfort and durability are key. Get something that you can wear all day that will hold up to lots of walking. Emphasis on the ‘blue’ here. White will stain; black will get hot.
Go from bed to the hostel lounge to the beach to yoga.
Should be lightweight and loose but not oversized. Get quality cotton, not cheap ribbed wife-beaters. You’ll wear it in the sun, so don’t choose black like I did.
Your everyday shirts that you’ll wear literally everywhere.
Light, neutral colors. No words. Choose mostly cotton, but one fine Merino is good for long travel days because they don’t absorb smells like synthetics do. You’ll replace these a lot.
Perfect for cooler days when a sweater is too much.
One that’s a nice thick cotton for cool days and another that’s lighter weight and lighter color for blocking the UV on clear days when the sun burns hot.
The go-to when the temperature drops.
Should be lightweight and layer nicely under your jacket. Lightweight Merino works great. Colors don’t matter, because it’s for colder days and has to be individually washed anyway.
The shorts for sleeping in, working out or lounging around.
Lightweight and whatever color you like (clearly I’m dull as fuck). A sacrum pocket is great for your hostel room key card, so you don’t lock yourself out when you wake up to pee down the hall.
The little piece of fabric you’ll use for everything.
Cotton all the way. It’ll sop up sweat, protect your neck on sunny days and cover your eyes when you nap on a bus. I’ve tied up my yoga mat and vomited in mine — not at the same time.
Enough for a whole week… or two if you wear twice.
Antimicrobial coatings are useless and wear off. Cotton cotton cotton. Don’t get white or it’ll stain from sweat and look like you have a hygiene problem.
Warm your neck on cool days and cover yourself in a pinch.
Lightweight, but not sheer. Should hold up to getting wet when you use it to cover up at the beach and be wide enough to descend almost to the ankle to cover the legs at temples.
Your lifesaver in chilly hostel dorms and other cold places.
Should be lightweight but warm. Stretch is essential. Choose a material that freely moves under your pants and bedsheets.
The basic, good-for-everywhere swimsuit.
Girls need a basic one-piece (but see below). Guys need mid-length, unlined board shorts plus a racing suit (ex. a Speedo). Do not get solid black or it’ll get hot in the tropical sun.
The only way to stay dry in a monsoon.
Should be durable, not some disposable piece of shit or it’ll blow all over the place in windy weather and fall apart. A carrying pouch is great and makes it easy to just bring it everywhere.
The do-everything layering jacket to explore cities, hike, sleep on a plane, etc.
Lightweight with synthetic fill that stays warm even when wet. Waterproofing is unnecessary since your outer jacket will protect from the elements. I got black — a mistake — lighter is better.
Good for days when the poncho is overkill or as the outer layer in wintery places.
Waterproofing is the whole point here, but breathability is still essential. Ample pockets are great, so is a lighter color. Note: This is not for monsoons. For those, you have a poncho.
Protection from desert, mountain and tropical sun is essential.
Cheap plastic (not metal) frames with lenses that fully protection from harmful rays. Glass shatters and polycarbonate scratches, so get polarized CR-39 lenses. Plus a hard case!
A little extra warmth in cold places and a quick disguise for messy hair in a rush.
Something lightweight and not too chunky, otherwise it won’t get used. I got black, but, again, a lighter color would probably be better.
Easy to slip on and off for late-night toilet runs or just hanging in a drafty lounge.
Ultra-light and non-slip. Bonus if they can be washed easily and have a little bit of a tread, so you can wear them on hostel terraces and rooftops.
Footwear for hot, muggy places where your feet would sweat and ruin your shoes.
Pure preference. I like a closed-toe fisherman style and cup heel so they stay on. Leather is most durable and wears well. A good tread is essential — even if you have to have a cobbler put one on.
Footwear that goes from city to mountain and airport to jungle.
Sturdy is essential for 20k-step days. Waterproofing is too for gross city streets. If you’re outdoorsy, boots rule. Otherwise, a sneaker with a good tread should do you right.
Different socks for different reasons: town, hikes, cold weather, etc.
No seams over toes. Sturdy blended materials. Get four short lightweight, two short mid-weight and two long warmer pairs.
A single-garment outfit for warm days in sunny places.
Style is up to you, but every woman needs one dress that goes to the ankle for places with modesty laws. Choose a fabric that doesn’t need ironing or steaming.
Essential for blocking the sun and keeping hair back without a band.
Nothing so big that it will be annoying to carry with you between cities without wearing it. If it can be stuffed into a bag and still look good when pulled out, that’s ideal.
An obvious essential for people who have breasts.
Everyone has different needs, but a mix is essential for different activities. Ex. Sports bra for active days, T-shirt bras for everyday, bralette that can be worn as a top, etc.
In addition to a basic one-piece, a bikini is essential for tropical places (and tanning).
It’s all about personal preference here. Just be aware that very tiny string bikinis are seen as offensive in some place and outright banned in others.
The obvious everyday (non-backpack) bag to carry essentials.
A cross-body strap will discourage snatch-and-grab theft. Zipper closures will prevent pickpocketing. A strap that can’t be easily cut with a small knife is helpful too.
The obvious easy-breezy alternative to shorts.
At least one long one for visiting places where legs have to be covered, like temples or some conservative countries. Choose a material that doesn’t need ironing or steaming.
Domestic American air travel is a racket run by three major companies and a few smaller ones who effectively collude on prices to screw passengers and support their bloated executives and corporate structures.
Even regional jets, which are technically independent, are fucking death traps that I literally never, ever fly.
It’s not this way in other countries, because most people are sensible and see transportation as akin to a public utility. It’s therefore common to find flights on foreign carriers for under $100. I frequently see fares less $50.
Booking far in advance is therefore unnecessary, except of course in places where tickets sell out. Avoid the temptation to book months or weeks out if you’re just trying to save money. Not only will doing so lock you into dates you might regret, you may end up paying. Why? Booking sites now sniff for your computer’s location and display higher prices for foreigners.
Rude, right? Blame the mirror. We invented that.
First, some bad news for most Americans: automatic transmissions are as rare overseas as manuals are in the US. Unless you want to seriously overpay, make friends with someone who owns an old Miata and learn.
Second, anyone who wants to rent a car should obtain an international driver’s permit. This is easy — just 30 minutes at AAA.
When it’s time to rent, don’t get tempted by lower prices with small, local companies. Go with a big multi-national.
Understand your insurance situation through-and-through. Know the limits of your credit card’s automatic coverage and have a printout of the policy. If you can get a translated copy, even better. If you’re still in doubt after all that, just pay for their coverage.
Research the scams. Before you drive off the lot, walk around the vehicle and video record it. When you return the car, do the same. Also record yourself locking it and depositing the key in the night box if you return after hours.
If you get a notice from the rental company later saying you owe for damage or not returning the car, you can send them those videos with an E-vite to go get fucked. You might also copy tourist law enforcement, so they get fined to oblivion.
It’s tricky, but you need to basically study each country’s road laws and signs like you’re getting your student driver’s permit again. Most places have tricky rules, and they love to fine gringoes like us for violating them.
In Cyprus, for example, you can be fined for eating or drinking anything behind the wheel, even a Snickers. In Denmark, you’re legally required to look under your car before you get inside to ensure no one is underneath. In Spain, drivers with poor vision have to carry a spare set of glasses. Dirty cars are illegal in Russia, as is splashing pedestrians on a rainy day in Japan.
In some places, driving is really difficult. I pity any fool who tries to drive in Cairo. You can also very swiftly kill yourself on a German highway if you’re untrained. Driving at 120 MPH is far more complex than simply pressing the accelerator further.
Fare classes are highly inconsistent.
First class in one country is generally different to first class in any other. The same is true of second, third and so on. They vary wildly by country and system.
If it’s fiscally reasonable, I choose first for early mornings and overnights. They really are better, even just for security of your belongings.
The one time I settled for a second-class overnight, I had to physically fight a mouth-breathing Russian girl who was sweating vodka and wouldn’t stop burying her face into my lap to huff my underpants like Whip-Its. I wish I was making this up, but it’s true. I arrived sleepless, angry and ugly. It ruined my first day in Lisbon and I only had five. First class would have been worth the cost. Second class is my usual go-to. For shorter trips or anything after 9 a.m. I go second.
If I want an adventure, I go even lower. Some agents won’t sell those tickets to tourists though unless you insist.
Nomads and backpackers who don’t do the travel hacking thing usually buy cheap flights. Be careful of taking that too far.
For starters, you need to observe weight limits on baggage. In the US, no one gives a shit, but elsewhere they care. The care deeply. Never buy a ticket that forces you to pay weight overages.
Seats are also important, but not for comfort. I never take bulkhead or exit-row seats unless I pay for early boarding. Both offer less (or zero) under-seat storage, so being in a later boarding group puts you at risk of having nowhere to put your carry on — or as you’ll hear them called “cabin bags.”
I’ve even been on a flight where the attendant nearly made me check my personal item. I shut that down by threatening to create a scene and de-board, but I could have avoided it by paying $8 for priority boarding.
Countless people have asked if I used an around-the-world plane ticket for my first trip.
My simple response: Don’t ask dumb fucking questions. Also, no, I didn’t.
ATW tickets are nearly useless. They typically require you to book your stops in advance, so there’s too little flexibility. The fine print is also brutal and changes constantly.
Last time I researched them, the price was based on allotments of miles. The number of stops also changed the equation. All of them required you to choose a direction (east-to-west, for example) and none permitted travel in the reverse direction even slightly. Some airlines even insisted all departures had to occur from the same point as arrival, meaning if you traveled by land elsewhere, the airline penalized your mileage allotment.
I said airline there, but ATW tickets come come from a single carrier. Instead, you buy into an alliance, of which I believe there are still only three. Quite the lack of competition there.
ATW fares do lend themselves marvelously to itineraries where you go to a different city each month and make it the base from which you explore the region. This is something we’ll talk about later when we discuss hub-and-spoke travel.
If you have status with a particular airline, you may want to consider their ATW option — emphasis on ‘may’ — but be warned that flying everywhere robs you of some great experiences.
Domestic American air travel is a racket run by three major companies and a few smaller ones who effectively collude on prices to screw passengers and support their bloated executives and corporate structures.
Even regional jets, which are technically independent, are fucking death traps that I literally never, ever fly.
It’s not this way in other countries, because most people are sensible and see transportation as akin to a public utility. It’s therefore common to find flights on foreign carriers for under $100. I frequently see fares less $50.
Booking far in advance is therefore unnecessary, except of course in places where tickets sell out. Avoid the temptation to book months or weeks out if you’re just trying to save money. Not only will doing so lock you into dates you might regret, you may end up paying. Why? Booking sites now sniff for your computer’s location and display higher prices for foreigners.
Rude, right? Blame the mirror. We invented that.
The beauty of hub cities is the slow pace. How slow you take it will vary according to the number of side trips as well as your pace. If you commit to a month though, this introduces the possibility of renting an apartment. Even if you don’t plan to stay the full 30 days, apartment rental is generally very cheap. It can also make cooking easier, which also saves cash.
Cooking for yourself doesn’t have to mean eggs for breakfast and chicken dinners. You can dial up the adventure full throttle if you sign up for a greenmarket food tour and a cooking class right after you arrive. Not only will you know what to do with the local ingredients, you’ll eat better. Plus if you know what you’re doing, the vendors may screw you less, which will offset the price of the guide.
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