So, you’ve decided to join the world of backpacking and want to travel in a more minimalist, organised and hostel-friendly way. The big question is simple: what do you actually need to pack for staying in a hostel?
This hostelling packing list is built from years of trial and error across city breaks, interrailing trips, road trips and trekking expeditions. The essentials have changed over time depending on the trip style, but the goal has stayed the same: pack light, stay organised, keep valuables secure and avoid carrying gear you never use.
This guide focuses on a practical male-oriented hostel packing list, covering backpacks, clothes, electronics, travel accessories, toiletries, security items and small pieces of kit that make hostel life much easier. A female-focused version is planned for a future Canada Road Trip packing post, but many of the core hostel travel essentials here will still apply to most backpackers.
Whether you’re planning a weekend city break, a longer backpacking route, an interrailing trip or a hiking-focused hostel adventure, this packing list will help you decide what deserves space in your bag.
Hostelling Packing List: The Backpack
The trusted workhorse over the last 6 years has been an Osprey Farpoint 40 backpack. I first used this Backpack on my First Solo trip after researching different backpacks that are cabin-compatible for flights, comfortable to carry and have plenty of storage. It quickly became clear that there was a favourite among Backpackers, and that was the Osprey. I have since collected many Osprey bags for packing my kit away and will rank my favourites in a future post along with a guide for how to best pack a backpack.
It cost £80 back in 2018 and has joined me on adventures all over Europe. It’s been thoroughly used, shoved into lockers and under seats, with the only casualty being a zip talon. The features I appreciate most are the waist and chest straps, which help spread the weight onto your torso. The horizontal compression straps pack the bag smaller, and then the different organisational compartments with a large laptop mesh sleeve. The top and side handle make it easy to carry on transport, and the perimeter zip allows large access to clothes compared to top loading. There are so many small features such as a key clip, a whistle and water meshes are Osprey trademarks.
Hostelling Packing List: Clothing
- Rain Jacket x1 – North Face
- Down Jacket x1 – Rab Alpine
- Fleece / Zip Jacket x1
- Jumper x1
- Trousers/Jeans x1
- Chino Shorts x1 (Summer)
- Sports Shorts & Active T x2
- T-Shirts x3
- Over Shirt x1
- Trainers x1
- Sliders x1 – For Hostel bathrooms, the best piece of advice I got before going
- Running/Hiking Shoes (Optional)
- Caps x 2
- Beanies x 2 (Cold Weather)
- Gloves (Cold Weather)
- Buff/Neck Gaiter (Cold Weather)
- Boxers x Days
- Socks x Days +1 pair
- Swimming Shorts x1
- Belts x1
Hostelling Essentials
Hostelling Packing List: Equipment
- Wallet – keep minimum cards and passes in plus a little cash
- Glasses -Prescription or Sunglasses for summer
- Padlocks – One of the best purchases, the flexible cables make life so much easier and are lighter too
- Collapsible Day-Pack – Osprey Ultralight Dry Stuff Pack was a worthy investment from carrying food shops to day hikes when trekking!
- Water Bottle – Tip: empty it before security, then refill it in the airport at a fountain, easier than buying bottled water on a hot day.
- Day Backpack – Osprey Daylite 26L to take during the day
- Travel Journal / Sketchbook – My latest hobby of writing daily journals and sketching my travels
- Pencils, Pen, Rubber – for travel journal
- Fiction book / Kindle – See Bookshelf for Travel Book recommendations
- Quick Drying Towel – No one likes a wet towel when travelling, much more compact and lighter too
Where this packing list earned its keep
This hostelling packing list has been refined across city breaks, interrailing routes, road trips, mountain towns and trekking adventures.
Hostelling Packing List: Technology
- Phone – Stating the obvious here: Camera, music, boarding passes, social media… and your lifeline
- Watch – Garmin Venu 2 to track my walks & runs
- Plug Adapter – very useful and means not relying on power banks
- PowerBank & Charging cables – Anker 20000mha capacity, can get 4 full phone chargers
- Fujifilm X-T30 Camera – for capturing those precious travel moments. Camera batteries & Spare SD Card
- Wireless Headphones – Jabra Active 75t or wireless overhead headphones; the noise cancelling is handy on planes
- Bluetooth Speaker – Creative Muvo or Tribit Stormbox are handy when wanting to play music out loud socially.
Hostelling Packing List: Docs & Miscellaneous
- Passport – stating the obvious
- Travel Insurance
- Reservations & Boarding Passes
- Travel Debit Card (Revolut/Monzo/Chase etc)
- Playing Cards – A great way to meet people and become popular quickly
- Cash – It is always handy for tipping, and I usually withdraw from a Travel card or order beforehand
- Earplugs and eye mask – To help get a great night’s sleep
Hostelling Packing List: Toiletries
- Toothbrush
- Shampoo
- Shower gel
- Deodorant
- Toothpaste
- Paracetamol
- Collapsible Toothbrush
- Hydration tablets
- Suncream
- Insect repellant/bite cream
- Lipbalm
- Aftershave
- Contact Lenses
What was overkill?
- Money belt – I was worried about storing cash, but the belt was annoying under my shirt and wasn’t used after 2 days.
What did I wish I had packed?
- Packing Cubes – At first I was packing clothes using a rolling technique, but as soon as I got some Osprey cubes, it helped my organisation and freed up more space for other gear! Not the cheapest version but I appreciate the lightweight for trekking.
Hostelling Packing List: Summary
A good hostelling packing list is not about packing everything you might possibly need. It is about choosing reliable, compact and versatile gear that makes travel easier without weighing you down. Hostels are brilliant for budget travel, but shared dorms, limited storage and constant packing and unpacking mean organisation matters more than most people realise.
For me, the biggest upgrades have been simple items: packing cubes, a reliable travel backpack, a collapsible day pack, padlocks, a quick-drying towel, a power bank, a travel adapter and a few layers that work across different climates. These items make hostel travel smoother, whether I’m staying in a European city, heading into the mountains or using a hostel as a base during a road trip.
The exact gear for a hostel packing list, you need will depend on the destination and trip style. A city hostelling trip needs different clothing and electronics compared with a trekking expedition, but the same principles apply: pack light, keep valuables secure, stay organised and choose kit that can serve more than one purpose.
If you are new to hostelling, start with this packing list for hostels, the essentials and refine your packing list after each trip. You will quickly learn what you actually use, what stays buried at the bottom of your bag, and what upgrades genuinely improve the way you travel.
FAQs
What should I pack for hostelling?
For hostelling, pack a travel backpack, day bag, padlock, microfibre towel, packing cubes, toiletries, sleepwear, earplugs, eye mask, flip-flops, charging cables, travel adapter, power bank, laundry bag and important travel documents. These items cover the basics for shared dorms, hostel bathrooms and budget travel.
Do you need a padlock for hostels?
Yes, a padlock is one of the most important hostel travel essentials. Many hostels provide lockers, but you often need your own lock. A small combination padlock is usually the easiest option because you do not need to carry a key.
Are packing cubes useful for hostelling?
Yes, packing cubes are very useful for hostelling because they keep clothes organised inside your backpack and make it easier to unpack in shared dorm rooms. They also help separate clean clothes, dirty laundry, underwear, layers and small accessories.
What bag is best for hostel travel?
A 40L travel backpack is ideal for most hostel trips because it is large enough for longer travel but still compact enough for trains, buses and carry-on travel. A small day pack is also useful for city exploring, hikes and keeping valuables with you.
What should you not bring to a hostel?
Avoid bringing bulky luggage, too many clothes, expensive valuables, loud speakers, large toiletries and anything you would not want to store in a shared dorm. Hostelling is easier when your kit is compact, organised and easy to secure.
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