What Backpacking IS and IS NOT
Backpacking is a great way to see the world on a budget. However, I sometimes feel that people have the wrong impression as to what backpacking is all about. Therefore, I’d like to provide my thoughts and advice on what backpacking IS and IS NOT. What’s your definition of “Backpacking”? Please feel free to leave any thoughts in the comments section below.
Backpacking IS:
- A budget travel strategy that stresses blending in, and living like the people to develop a better understanding of the culture.
- A mobile and flexible way to travel, where the traveler is free to change plans as much as they like.
- An activity that requires you to pack light and live on the essentials. A few changes of clothes, and whatever gadgets or daily essentials you have is enough. Like point 2 says, you have to be mobile, don’t weigh yourself down with a bunch of crap.
- By definition an economic way to travel. The idea is that you travel on a budget so that you can extend your travels as far as your budget can take you.
- Moving slow, and getting off the beaten track. You are one (or maybe two) people with no deadlines, responsibilities, etc. Take advantage of that.
- Sometimes a stationary activity. If you find a place you really enjoy, stay there for a couple of weeks, months, years! Learn more about it, and have fun. Why not?
- A learning experience. You can learn so much about yourself, others, the world, what’s really important, and a lot more. It’s very important to remain open and allow yourself this growth.
- Whatever you want to make it.
Backpacking IS NOT:
- An activity exclusively undertaken by hippies, hobos, or other people that don’t understand the importance of personal hygiene. You are free to bathe as much as you like.
- An activity for large groups of friends. I would say it is best to either travel independently or with one friend. This allows you greater mobility, and a much better opportunity to blend in.
- An activity that even requires a backpack. I know the word “backpacking” kind of implies that you have something strapped to your back, but personally I think those 100 gallon backpacks that you see people toting around the world kind of defeat the purpose. In my opinion, you don’t need all that stuff, it doesn’t all need to be carried on your back, it makes moving around extremely cumbersome, and it makes you stick out like a sore thumb.
- All fun. It’s an adventure. It’s not uncommon to get robbed, lost, stuck out in the rain, pissed off, homesick, etc.
- Just hitting all the major sites, then going home. DO NOT simply hop from site to site, it is an unnecessarily expensive and exhausting way to travel, that prevents you from being able to experience and enjoy each individual area.
- Spending all day in the internet cafe.
- A waste of time or a hole in your resume. I personally feel that traveling has helped me to learn about myself as a person, understand my strengths and weaknesses, develop a better understanding of the world and how it works, and even develop many applicable skills like fluency in foreign languages, ability to operate under adverse conditions, creative thinking, etc. In my experience most employers feel the same way.
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agree with ur attitude
Thanks Peter, at least one person does!
Great definition Rob. Interesting point regarding the need for a backpack - I wonder if the term “backpacker” should be reconsidered?
Good article. That’s usually the way I try to travel - taking my time, chilling out, no pressures. And with as small a pack as I can too!
Exactly how I feel!
Sydney is the same as London - get off the beaten track and explore for real!
Thanks for the comments everyone.
Eric - thank you for bringing up the point on the backpack. It seems to be a somewhat controversial point based on a couple of emails I have received about the article. So let me expand:
IN MY OPINION, the most important aspect of “backpacking” is the backpackers ability to be blend in, interact with locals, and learn first-hand what life is really like in the areas they travel. In most regions of the world, people do not commonly walk around with 50 lb. bags strapped to their back. Personally, I cringe when I see travelers make their onto a crowded city bus with their huge backpacks, bumping into everyone, getting stuck in the door, guarding the bag with their life, etc. They are NOT blending in at all. To the majority of people on the bus, they look awkward and goofy, thus the traveler will be treaty in that way - as somebody who just plain doesn’t know what is going on.
I like to travel with a small, school sized backpack, and a reasonably sized duffel bag. I feel that it makes me much more mobile, and that I am given much less attention for being foreign, making it easier to learn a little bit about life as a local.
Excellent post! You pretty much hit the nail on the head. Luckily, I haven’t had to use many in the “IS NOT” section. I think it’s because I don’t associate myself with people that would make those assumptions.
One thing I think you are missing in the “IS” section is “a culture.” A major part of backpacking is meeting new people and sharing experiences with them. Go out on the town, tell each other stories, trade books, go drinking, even go to a few different cities together.
Try to picture staying in a normal stuffy hotel and walking up to strangers in the lobby asking if they wanted to go grab some dinner. You can’t. You’d get some dirty looks, or worse, they’d complain to management about the “creepy person.”
Haha, very good point Jes. The backpacking culture is a unique one, and definitely deserves mention.
Loose your dualism, free your mind.
[…] Backpacking is independent travel with minimum travel gear, and an eye on the budget. Beyond that, it requires an exploratory mindset to seek and to understand the world. GoBudgetTravel has tried to come up with a definition for backpacking. Here is the list on what backpacking IS and IS NOT […]
Totally agree with you on the backpack issue. After a year travelling around the world I realised it wasn’t as ‘convenient’ as everyone makes out. Firstly if you have to do a bit of walking with it, it can really really hurt your back / shoulders and it’s just so cumbersome. In the past Ive seen ones with wheels on them, but they don’t seem to be about so much any more. Would be great if these were brought back.
i was just wondering if someone would be able to tell me if it is easy to find places to leave your wheelie suitcase at lockers or the like through out the day or do most people cart it around with them all the time and is it expensive to hire lockers?
Hi, I am a 59 yr old Malaysian retired Police Officer and in good health. Rob’s view of ‘what is and what is not’ on backpack travelling is very informative and helpful. To me, one don’t have to spend their fortune to visit other countries. Putting aside too much comfort; I would travel like this: staying in bed and breakfast places, buying meals from supermarkets, visiting museum and historic places, getting free rides to move locations etc. But what I am concerned is the risk involved of being mugged, getting sick or injured, do you need an insurance? Can someone who have the experience share your views. Regards
Backpacking is packing light…
I have never meet a traveler who, after five trips, brags, “Every year I pack heavier.” The measure of a good traveler is how light he travels. You can’t travel heavy, happy, and cheap. Pick two.
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