1.Silk Sleeping Bag Liner Let’s face it – some hostels aren’t hygienic, so a quality sleeping bag liner is a must. This silk one is both very comfortable and practical for any climate. As silk is such a breathable fabric, it’ll regulate your body temperature whether you’re in Southeast Asia or Scandinavia, keeping you comfortably warm or cool wherever you are. There are lots out there but Lifeventure’s version, with comprehensive anti-mosquito, anti-bed bug, and anti-bacterial qualities, stands out from...

7. Sell your used gear to finance new gear purchases. If you’ve bought and used gear but want to replace it with something different, sell the old gear to help finance the new. Good backpacking gear retains a fair amount of value if it’s taken care of and you’ll be able to use the money towards your next purchase. 8. Don't buy backpacking gear at Walmart. Don’t buy useless crap from Walmart: you will regret it after carrying something too heavy...

1. Borrow gear from friends or rent it before buying. Don’t buy anything right away if you don’t have to. Renting and borrowing is a great way to experiment with gear before you spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on it. It’s best to try a few different tents, backpacks, and sleeping bags before you spend a chunk of change on something that might not be what you really need. 3. Buy gear from stores with good return policies. Buy...