Backpacker

Wikipedia says backpacking is:

woman backpacker enjoy the view at mountain peak cliff

“A form of low-cost, independent international travel. It includes the use of a backpack or other luggage that is easily carried for long distances or long periods of time”

We agree with that completely. But there is so much more to backpacking. What is backpacking and who is the backpacker?

A backpacker has an adventurous spirit and has usually given something up to pursue a lifestyle of travel and experiences. A backpacker doesn’t have a home and never knows what to write on the visa forms under “home address”. A backpacker often travels for long periods of time, which sets him apart from a traveller who may only go on short trips or vacations. A backpacker travels on a budget and tries to find places where few other people ever go. The only way a backpacker would ever stay in a five-star resort is if someone else was paying for it. A backpacker eats local food almost exclusively and enjoys finding new favourite dishes in each country he visits. Backpackers generally travel for a longer period than most other tourists, and they tend to travel in several different countries during their time away. A backpacker can be on the road from a few weeks to several years.

What is backpacking?

Backpacking is a very loose definition – there are backpackers who go tramping in the forests sleeping in tents and on the beach and hitchhike their way around the world.

And there are those who backpack with roller-bag suitcases, sleep in hotels and rent a car to get around a country.

These are two completely different types of traveling, but they both like to call themselves backpackers.

What kind of backpacker are you?

Here are different kinds of backpackers that will help you distinguish what kind of backpacker are you?

The Spiritual backpacker

Usually white, western, and sometimes young.  A spiritual backpacker travels to find himself. Exploring local religions and customs, a spiritual backpacker spends his time reading books on Buddhism, Kabala, or Yoga and talking about how connected life is. Spiritual backpackers forgo material possessions, except for their computer, which they use to blog about the healthy snacks they are eating and telling people how much freer they are now that they have been to six retreats in Bali and went on a juice cleanse.

The Hippie

Not wanting to be held down by the man, the hippie backpacker can be found wearing fisherman pants, dreadlocks, and lots of necklaces with a distinct “I haven’t showered in two days” smell. Hippie backpackers use local transportation, eat local food, and talk about cultural imperialism while watching the latest Hollywood movies on their MacBook and trying to beg for money to get to the next place. They usually avoid most tourist destinations or areas because “it’s too commercial, man.” This species is often thumbing a well-worn book on social justice. Mostly found in developing countries (because they can’t afford anywhere else).

The Gap Yearer

This type of backpacker is usually college aged, English, Kiwi or Aussie. This backpacking species tends to be traveling for exactly one year right before or after university. Gap Year backpackers like to party a lot, see the main sights, sleep in dorms, and tend to stick to the beaten path. They also drink a lot. Found wherever around the world ticket will take them

The Partier

Sporting sunglasses, shorts, flip-flops, and a beer logo t-shirt, the backpacker partyoholic spends most of his time getting drunk in every country. Most of their day is spent nursing the hangover from last night while avoiding loud and lit areas. Very loud, these nocturnal creatures bounce from one party destination to the other.

The Couple

The backpacking couple spends most of their time sightseeing, touring, and doing activities. Participating in various activities along the way, they avoid most of the backpacker ghettos, parties, and tend to gravitate towards other couples or older backpackers. The younger version goes the opposite route and tends to party a lot while breaking up about ten times on the road. They are found worldwide.

The Better Backpacker

While sipping on a coke and eating McDonald’s in a hostel, this backpacker will tell you how insincere and hypocritical all other backpackers are and how they really are just tourists and not trying to find the local culture. This backpacker will speak about his experience, taking local transportation, and living in a village for one day. This backpacker waxes on about the death of local cultures and how he’s out there traveling to be part of the world and not force his culture down other people’s throats.

The Digital Nomad

Carrying laptops, cameras, video cameras, and iPads, this type of backpackers spend much of their time behind their computer touting their free lifestyle and/or recent start up. Their first question is always about the Wi-Fi. They stick to themselves and make witty observations about cultures they haven’t really seen while also lamenting about how hard their “job” is. Found behind their computer, talking into their phone, and wherever there is Internet access.

Top 5 Cheap Backpacking Tips

Pack light

With backpacking, your mantra should always be packing light. Four pairs of jeans are just going to weigh you down when you’re hiking or running for a train. You need to leave stuff behind and streamline what you’re bringing with you. Leave your favorite jewelry or your grandfather’s watch at home too; bringing valuable or sentimental stuff with you is asking for a disaster. Only pack what you can replace and save money of overweight luggage fees when you fly.

Camp out

If you can, you should really camp out for part of your backpacking trip. In a lot of countries, there are plenty of comfy campgrounds that won’t drain your monetary resources. This is a great option if you have some experience camping and you have the option of carrying your own tent. If you’re ready and willing to embrace your inner Bear Grills, you can make camping work just about anywhere. Make sure to stay safe, though, especially if you’re backpacking solo.

Get a hostel with a kitchen

Camping isn’t for everyone. You might not be able to bring all the gear you’d need, or you might just want the comfort of a bed. Try one of the hundreds of backpacker-friendly hostels across the world. The best ones have free breakfasts, or even a communal kitchen with access to cooking stuff. If you buy groceries and make a couple meals in the hostel, you can save a ton of money over a long trip. Bonus; you make new friends in the hostel kitchen

Bring your own snacks

Being on an adventure and living out of your trusty backpack can really drain you. Snacks might seem like a silly addition to your gear, but it can really help you keep energy levels high between meals and rests. Even in the cheapest countries to visit, local vendors know that snacks are necessary during travel, and they tend to jack up the prices on quick bites to eat; dodge this unforeseen expenditure and bring your own protein or granola bars.

Avoid tourist traps

Watch where the locals go. Eat lunch where the locals eat. Spend Friday nights where the locals do. Keep a running list of the cool stuff to do in a location that doesn’t cost anything; going to a parks and gardens or doing some window-shopping. Take advantage of free walking tours, but remember you’re supposed to tip your guide. Find the attractions that have deals for students or discount days. Museums and playhouses are the best source of these.