What there is on my backpack when I travel around Asia?

My luggage during my three weeks in Xinjang.

One of the questions that I receive from the readers that are coming to China is:

“What the hell should I put on my backpack?”

My answer usually is:

“Unless you are planning to climb the Everest, the same things that you would bring to any other place. Just remember that the Chinese winter is cold, so bring a couple of warm clothes.”

Today I want to share what I bring when I travel around China or South East Asia and how I organize my stuff.

p.s. This is also what I would bring to America, Africa or Oceania.

How do I travel?

I always travel with a 70 liters Ferrino backpack ( the grand-parent of this one) that I bought in 2000 (yes, it’s indestructible!) and a smaller backpack North Face that I bought in 2011.

In the sequel I will call the North Face “frontpack” (maybe a neologism?) for distinguishing the two of them.

Why frontpack? Because I usually carry it on my front side while I wear the backpack on my shoulders (see photo below).

My frontpack contains electronics (laptop, camera, lens and so on) and documents. It always travels with me.

When I say “always,” I mean it. I bring it to the toilet and, when I sleep, I use it as a pillow (unless I’m in a private room).

The backpack contains clothes, toiletries and random stuff (such a tripod that I often bring and never use).

I could maybe buy a bigger backpack (100 liters) and avoid to carry two items all the time. However I like this set up (backpack + frontback) for a simple reason:

Every time I need to leave my backpack (as when I take a plane or a bus) I don’t have to worry for my stuff (basically laptop and camera) or lose time for taking off a smaller bag from my huge backpack.

I just put the backpack – which only contains cheap stuff as underwear or the tripod – on the trunk and keep my frontpack – which carries all the important things – with me.

See? I can take photos while carrying ALL my stuff

Backpack versus suitcase

If you are just taking a plane and then staying at the same hotel for your whole vacation, I don’t see any difference. I may even argue that a suitcase is better as it doesn’t crumple your clothes.

Also, maybe you are forced to bring a suitcase because you have some physical problems.

In all the other cases, the advantages of a backpack are obvious.

Look at the photo above. I can carry my whole luggage for kilometers in whatever ground I want (try to bring a suitcase up to a mountain). Also, I keep my hands free so that I can take photos or eat the fruit that I find on the road without changing set up.

There are people that hate backpacks and prefer travel with a suitcase because “backpacks are too heavy.”
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