(1st and 3rd image are not mine)
Packing for a trip can be difficult, let alone when you have limited space and need to carry it all on your back. So, I'm going to share with you some alternative items you can opt for to save yourself some space in your bag and make packing a little bit easier!
Towel
The standard bath towel when folded or rolled, is rather bulky. Most hostels, hotels and b&b's will provide towels BUT, some don't, and it's not worth the risk of being stuck in a hot country not being able to dry off after a shower. To combat this, I've got myself a microfiber travel towel. You can get them online and in most 'outdoor' shops. They roll up a lot smaller than a regular towel and they also dry quicker due to the material they are made from. They come in a range of sizes, from a small face cloth to an XL body towel, they've got you covered.
The compact microfiber towel is also great to carry with you for day trips, as they come with carry cases where they can be folded in to and placed into your bag.
(1st picture- Normal bath towels: Good Housekeeping. 2nd picture- Monster Microfiber towels: amazon).
Cutlery and tupperware
Not everyone will take tupperware and cutlery with them, but as I am travelling for so long and plan on making A LOT of my own lunches and dinners, I wanted to find a smaller alternative to the standard tupperware box. On amazon I was able to find collapsible tupperware, so when it's not in use, you can fold it down to half it's size and slide it into your bag. The one I purchased came with a double ended spoon/fork situation, but I didn't like how flimsy it felt so I purchased a camping cutlery kit. A fork, knife and spoon all stacked together into a carry case. Hygienic and space saving.
The tupperware is also great to have when you do go to eat out, any leftovers can come back with you to be eaten the next day!
(1st picture- Collapsible tupperware: We Are Global Travellers. 2nd picture- cutlery set: amazon)
Pac-a-mac
If you've never heard of a pac-a-mac, it's basically a fold away waterproof jacket. They either come with a little bag that the jacket folds into or the pocket of the jacket doubles as the bag, and you fold the jacket up into the pocket. The latter is the one I have gone for as I wont have to worry about losing the little bag! I got my pac-a-mac from sports direct, there are some available online but with items like this it's best to try them on.
(1st picture- Ladies packaway jacket folded: sports direct. 2nd picture- Ladies packaway jacket open: sports direct)
Multi-country adapter
This may not apply to everyone, but I am covering 5 countries while I'm backpacking and there was no way I was going to lug around all those different adapters! The multi-country adapter is the perfect solution, covering up to 160 countries with a UK plug on the front and 3 USB ports (meaning I'll be able to charge everything at once and not need to take an extension lead). I did a lot of research into the adapters available, as some of them are not able to handle the high voltage of some hair dryers or to withstand multi charging (why offer multiple USB ports then?), anyway I found one on amazon (MyTravelPal) which came highly rated and is voted as the safest one on the market.
(1st picture- multiple travel adapters: Travelffeine. 2nd picture- one multi country travel adapter: amazon)
Cordless hair straighteners
Again, not one for everyone, but still a great space saving alternative for bulky hair straighteners. You can get small, travel sized hair straighteners, I've had some before. However, the thickness of my hair defeated the tiny little things rendering them useless. So for me, a better alternative is a larger straightening iron but cordless! No bulky wire or plug, no need to find a plug socket in decent distance from a mirror....I could even do it on the go!
(1st picture- mini travel straighteners: amazon. 2nd picture- cordless straighteners: Ubuy UK)
Solid shampoo and conditioner
I've talked about this multiple times on my blog. It's an awesome eco friendly and travel friendly swap. I've got two solid shampoo bars and a conditioner bar packed, taking up less room than one bottle of shampoo. When solid shampoos first appeared on the market they came with a hefty price tag, but now there is a range available at B&M for a much more budget friendly price, and they are a 2 in 1! Both shampoo and conditioner in one little bar...talk about space saving.
(1st picture- traditional shampoo and conditioner: amazon. 2nd image- 2 in 1 shampoo and conditioner bars: B&M)
Kindle
I love to read. I love getting lost in a book and becoming part of the characters lives. What I don't love, is carrying around heavy paperbacks that can get easily damaged. The easiest alternative, for me, was a kindle (kindly donated by my mom!) but you could also download e-books to your phone if you prefer. A lot of e-books and kindle books are much cheaper in price too so it helps out with the budgeting!
(1st picture- a stack of hardback books: FreePik. 2nd picture- a kindle: How-to Geek)
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