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Anonymous
This is backpacking, not holidaying. You should be expecting (and prepared) to live like more of a grot than you normally would at home. That means recycling t-shirts and underwear for a few days at a time and not showering every day. It also means you shouldnt expect to take great care of your hair. Only prissy girls take hairdryers with them (or really weird guys).
Dont bother with a sleeping bag or sleeping sheet or any of that crap unless youre actually intending to sleep in a tent occasionally. Most hostels can provide you with sheets if you want them, either for free or for a small fee. Personally Ive never bothered using them. Sleeping on dirty mattresses is part of the fun. Its good for your immune system, too.
Passport pouches and carriers are generally a waste of money. Just keep your passport and wallet in your pockets and be mindful of them. If you have pants with zippers on the pockets, even better. I used to carry around my valuables in a pair of cargo pants that had 6 zipped pockets and had no problems. If youre a good clothes shopper, you should be able to find clothing thats not only practical, but stylish. Just because youre a dirty, smelly backpacker doesnt mean you cant at least look nice.
Its a good idea to use a day pack, either separate or adjoined to your travel pack. They let you carry around whatever you may want during your sightseeing and day-to-day stuff, such as your camera, MP3 player, maps and whatever else. Theyre also a good place to keep your pocket knife and other gadgets, especially if you dont have many pockets in your pants or jacket.
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