Five Backpacking Gift Ideas
Thoughts on backpacking gift ideas that will keep your backpack light and your friends happy
Are you a world traveler and you like to let your friends and family know that you are thinking of them when you are on your adventures? Souvenirs and gifts from a country that you are visiting are a great idea but what about when you have limited room in your luggage or when you are backpacking?
Should I even be buying gifts?
Yes, of course, BUT…
This is an issue I have been struggling with ever since I first started travelling. On my first travels, I tried so hard to bring at least a small gift to all of my friends. It didn’t really matter what it was or who it was for, it was more of a friendly gesture to let them know I was thinking of them when I was away from home.
Gift Ideas
Soon I started to notice that the gifts I had given them they ended up in the bottom of a drawer or even on a shelf full of dust. The necessity of bringing home souvenirs every time I traveled soon became a nuisance so I established a new way of thinking that I now stick to:
The souvenir that you might think is fantastic because it reminds you of a particular adventurous day on your travels is only an object to your friend who wasn’t there with you. Just keep in mind that the souvenir is of special value to you so don’t feel offended it your friend is not as excited as you are.
Only buy souvenirs that you think your friends need. Buy it because it instantly made you think of your friend and your first thought was something like: “Omg, Katie would love it!” Those are the kind of gifts that friends really appreciate because they understand that you put some thought into it, that the gift was meant only for them and that you know them through and through.
Buy from locals and avoid commercialized gift shops. There is a big possibility that the artist is selling his own products. Find out what their story is and tell it to your friends. A souvenir from a local has a bigger value than a souvenir with a “made in China” stamp on the back.
Important factors when choosing a souvenir
light, not fragile, small
avoid anything on the list of prohibited carry-on items (foods, liquids, sharp objects etc.)
quality over quantity
Gift ideas you can easily put in your backpack or carry-on luggage
#1 Jewelry
Jewelry is definitely my personal favorite. It is a unique piece of art, it can be worn, it is usually very affordable, it is light and small. It can be bought on street Handmade Jewelerystands, where you can chat with the artist and learn about what inspires them and how the piece of jewelry that you are buying was made. Necklaces and bracelets can be a nice gift for men, while earrings and rings are usually women’s favorite.
#2 Paperback books
Books can be souvenirs as well, and they are perfect for your bookworm friends. Paperback books are very light and come in small sizes. Rather than sightseeing, I spend hours in bookshops and always walk out with at least two books. I prefer secondhand bookshops; the books have a different smell and they are sometimes full of handwritten notes, plus you can buy two or three books for the price of Paperback Booksone new book. First thing I do when I buy a book is open the book on the first blank page and write down the date and the city where I bought it. When choosing a book, my preference is always a local author and cultural and historical topic of the place I am visiting.
#3 Stones and Sand
Little stones or a small test tubes of sand are lighter than a large size T-shirt or a coffee mug! Stones can be found in different shapes and colors and we can also write on them with a permanent marker. To make this souvenir a bit more special, take a photo of the place Stones Road Tripwhere you found the stone. In fact, it can be anything found in nature, as long as it is in small quantity and legal to take home. When I lived in Sicily, I took little pieces of lava rock from Mount Etna volcano but for example taking a piece of coral from a beach in Thailand would be illegal.
#4 Banknotes and coins
To get around the country that you are visiting, you will most probably have to exchange some of your money into a local currency. Keeping a banknote or a coin in your wallet does not cost you anything, it can be of small value and it Travel Giftscan mean a lot to a friend who is a collector or a friend who is living vicariously through you. Not a lot of money currencies are available in your country’s banks so getting a banknote or a coin from a remote country is very unique!
#5 Photos
By photos, I don’t mean a million photos on your smartphone that will make your friends yawn after five minutes. Take photos for your friends exclusively! Take a piece of paper and write them note then take a picture of yourself holding it while you are standing on the rim of the Grand Canyon. Find a stick and write in the sand on a beach in Indonesia. Get local vegetables or fruit and form a word. Use your imagination! This literally costs you nothing and it is a wonderful way to show affection. You can later on print the photo and put it in a nice frame.
