Our friends at the Gap Year Travel Store have put together a quick guide to help you prepare for your travels!…
Ensure you leave for your volunteering experience equipped with everything you need to make your trip as stress free and simple as possible. Our handy top 10 of travel gear essentials gives you the low down on the kit you should not leave for your trip without!
1) Travel Backpack
You will most definitely need a decent backpack for your trip and this 60 litre travel backpack by Vango is a great choice. The backpack comes with a padded adjustable back system for optimum comfort and also features a detachable 20 litre daypack for shorter trips.
2) Sleeping Bag
Many volunteer projects are based in countries with warm, tropical climates, the Vango Planet 50 sleeping bag is perfect for these conditions and even comes with a built-in mosquito net in the hood. Suitable for use in temperatures ranging from 10°C to 25°C.
3) Travel Towel
Compact, lightweight and quick drying, a travel towel is a must have item for your trip! This Trespass towel comes with an anti-bacterial treatment which helps prevent odours and mould from developing, even in those hot and sticky climates. A fraction of the size of a normal towel, saving you masses of packing space in your backpack.
4) Insect Repellent
You will without a doubt come across mosquitoes, sandflies and other pesky biting insects during your trip, so a good quality insect repellent is paramount to avoiding painful and irritating bites. Mosquitoes can also transmit deadly diseases such as Malaria, so preventing mosquito bites is extremely important.
5) Sterile Needle Kit
When travelling to remote areas, you may find that the medical facilities are extremely basic and lacking in sterile equipment – this can become an issue should you require urgent medical attention. This sterile needle kit can be handed to a medical professional in an emergency and contains sterile needles and syringes, so you can ensure you don’t contract AIDS, Hepatitis B and other blood borne diseases.
6) Mosquito Net
Protect yourself from Mosquitoes and other insects during the night with an impregnated mosquito net. This Sea to Summit mosquito net comes with Permethin impregnation and is easy to hang. Travel mosquito nets are usually supplied in compact storage cases, so they won’t take up too much space in your backpack.
7) Water Treatment
This Care Plus chlorine based water treatment comes in liquid form and can be added to water in remote areas to ensure it is safe to drink. Drinking contaminated water can lead to stomach and intestinal upsets, something you can definitely do without during your trip!
8) Wash Bag
Keep all your favourite toiletries and wash gear in one safe and secure place! A wash bag is a must for travelling, the Alpha wash bag by Gelert is the perfect choice with several storage compartments and a handy hanging hook.
9) Waterless Shampoo
Keeping clean in remote areas can be a nightmare but this waterless shampoo can make life much easier! Simply apply it to your hair, massage it in and towel dry for fresh and clean feeling hair.
10) Shewee Extreme
If you’re struggling to find toilet facilities out in the wilderness, this portable urinal device by Shewee is a lifesaver. The Shewee Extreme allows you to urinate standing up with a handy extension tube and a sturdy plastic case for storage.
