There are loads of different ways you can travel. You can float from 5* resort to 5* resort, take day trips in fancy coaches and eat at beach restaurants for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Or you can take yourself and a backpack filled with a tent and some spare clothes.

These are both excellent ways to view the world, and there is no ‘wrong’ way to travel: it’s all down to personal preference. But if you do choose to go backpacking, there are some things you need to take in order to be prepared as you can be for any weather and situation that might arise.

Invest in some good walking boots.

If you’re going to be spending a lot of time hiking, walking, and travelling, you need good sturdy walking boots. It would also be helpful if they were waterproof. They need to provide maximum comfort, and need to last the whole trip.

Take lots of layers and breathable fabrics.

When you’re travelling, the weather can change, especially between the morning and the evening. It can be 30 degrees when the sun’s out, but once it’s gone down, the temperature can drop more than 10 degrees. You’ll need to take some fabrics that breathe, especially if you’re walking a lot, and also some thicker jumpers and trousers. Chums are a fashion brand that offer cargo shorts to fleece-lined trousers.

Take a platypus (not the animal kind)

A platypus, if you haven’t seen them before, is a water bottle that is made of flexible plastic. You don’t have to constantly take them in and out of your backpack thanks to a handy plastic tube that you use as a straw. They’re lighter than metal water bottles, they take up less space in your bag, and you don’t have to stop and start every time you want a drink. They’re a must have for any hiker.

Buy some thermal clothing

Thermal clothing is perfect: keeps you cool when you’re hot and hot when you’re cool. I don’t think anything more needs to be said.

Bring lots and lots of socks

I don’t think there is a worse feeling in the world than soggy feet. Wet socks can make your shoes rub, even if they were fine when your feet were dry. This will make you more likely to get blisters. Your socks won’t dry out overnight, unless you’re camping somewhere really warm, so it’s best to take 3-5 pairs that you can circulate. Whilst ½ pairs are drying out, you have another 2 spare pairs. They don’t take up much space, so you won’t regret it.

Those are my tips for what to take and wear whilst you’re travelling on foot.