Backpacking around Asia is in the bucket list of many. However, traveling to a foreign country, especially if you do not have a lot of experience and with a limited budget, is actually challenging. If you still want to push through with your plans to backpack across a foreign country or an entire continent, here are some devices that will be useful and keep you safe.
Satellite Internet
Your regular iPhone or Samsung will not be reliable if you are traveling for a long time. If you end up in the middle of nowhere where there is no cell tower insight, you will have no means to contact your loved ones or call for help.
This is where a satellite internet hotspot comes in handy. When you are in a remote area, this device will be able to connect you to the internet even if the next cellular base station is located far away. It will be useful when you need to have access to a digital map, find helpful tips online, communicate with first responders, or share a photo with your followers on Instagram.
Satellite internet is portable; it will be easy to carry around in your bad and will not add to the bulk.
Solar-Powered Charger
A solar-powered charger is an important item to have for everyone, but most especially to those who plan to have a long-haul journey. A solar-powered charger will be your friend when your smartphone battery drains in the middle of the day and you do not have access to an electric plug. It relies on solar energy so you will always be able to charge your devices even if you are in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Get one that has a battery backup so that you can use it when the light goes out because of an incoming storm.
Durable Flashlight
It is always good to have a portable light source when you are going out somewhere unfamiliar. A flashlight with its own solar panels and rechargeable battery will be useful when you are walking toward your campsite in the middle of a forest or looking for your hostel in a poorly-lit part of town.
Reusable Water Bottle with Filter
When you are backpacking, you may not always have access to clean drinking water. You will need a water bottle that, not only carries enough water to keep you hydrated throughout the day but has a filter that will ensure that you are drinking clean and safe water. This is ideal if you know you will be trekking to an area where there are neither restaurants nor hotels nearby to refill your reusable water bottle.
Pocket-Sized Multi-Tool
When you are short of luggage space, pack something that has a ton of uses. A multi-tool is great for travelers because it offers a ton of different functions but is small and easy to carry. A multi-tool usually has a knife/scissor, tweezer, bottle opener, screwdriver, and more. It will be useful when you need to open canned foods during a camping trip or you need to repair a malfunctioning gadget.
Backpacking will not be a walk in the park. However, all the challenges you will encounter will be worth in the end for all the culture you will get to experience, natural wonders you will see, new friends you will meet, and the life lessons you will learn.
