You’ve read countless wise words about what to take with you when you go backpacking. Now read our guide to what to leave behind: your shoulders will thank you.

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What not to pack Jess Fitch writes... "Matching suitcase set First things first: you really can’t beat a backpack. Andrew, 22, knows this from experience. 'I once travelled with a girl who brought all her stuff - and it was a lot of stuff - in a suitcase, thinking the wheels would make it easier to cart around. Seeing as we were travelling in Thailand, I spent much of the trip carrying it over sand - wheels and unspoiled beaches don’t mix!' Aeroplane no-nos Sam, 21, made a common mistake when travelling to Chile 'I stocked up on gas canisters for my little camping stove before I left, and had to throw them all away at the airport when I wasn’t allowed to take them on the plane'. You can buy canisters suitable for British stoves in most countries, but if you’re unsure, don’t buy the stove ‘til you’re out there. Check with your airline for other banned items - though you’ll probably find they’re things only a wally would think of taking on a plane, like guns, fireworks or live animals... A little light reading As a book addict, the thought of being stuck in the Himalayas with nothing to read gives me cold sweats. I once lugged a whole term’s reading-list, including the controversial and - more to the point - heavy Satanic Verses, around Europe in a backpack. Not recommended. Take two books at the most (not leather-bound first editions inscribed to you by your great granny on her deathbed) and swap with fellow travellers along the way. Posh togs You won’t need them. True, you might meet a hot member of the minor Italian/Nepalese/Canadian aristocracy who wants to wine and dine you in a five-star establishment, but remember that old Wash ‘n’ Go advert. You know, the one where the two travel-worn lasses wash under a pump in the piazza so the snooty waiter will let them into the restaurant. You can do a lot with a sarong. Take one small item that makes you feel special - earrings or a lipstick or whatever and only wear it for special occasions. Jimmy Choos Trust me, your favourite shoes will become your worst enemies after three months of carrying them around on your back. You will find that - far from being spangly and gorgeous - they are in fact heavy, bulky and ridiculously-shaped, that stuffing them with knickers is not an effective space-saving device, and that in fact they are only fit to shod the cloven feet of Satan himself. And still, you won’t quite be able to find it in you to throw them away Avoid the problem altogether and make do with a pair of flat sandals and a pair of walking-boots. Wear the walking-boots on the plane to save space and weight. This season’s coat Interrailing veteran Shirley, 22, says: 'It doesn’t feel right, going out without your coat, but they take up so much space and unless you’re going somewhere silly you won’t need one'. Take a fleecy jumper and waterproof cagoule, which you can wear separately or together to cover all eventualities. Big soft towel Sam recommends that you take a sarong instead - 'It dries quicker and takes up much less space'. It's possible to buy specialist travel towels that are the size of a hanky and soak up pints of water. These are a case of love 'em or hate 'em. While Sam claims that, 'They ming, they stink, they’re impossible to get clean, and they don’t dry you', Jessibug argues: "I couldn't have survived without my pack towel and I certainly would rather use that than a sarong!'. Travelkit favourites There are certain things that everyone tells you you’ll need, but everyone might be wrong. The key is to adapt your kit to suit your trip. You won’t need water purification equipment if you’re staying in cities, where bottled water is cheaply available. Andrew advises that you don’t need a travel adaptor if you’re backpacking, as 'You don’t tend to encounter power points, and if you did, what would you plug in?' You won’t need a big, fat sleeping-bag in a hot country - make do with a one-season one or, if you know it’s going to be roasting (check with a reliable source), just a sleeping-bag liner. Just remember... Above all, remember that you don’t need to bring everything from home. Unless you’re a hardier traveller than I, you’ll be going somewhere where there are shops. You really can buy clothes, washing-powder, alarm-clocks and CDs pretty much anywhere you go. The walking-boots I bought on an Indian market stall have lasted me admirably to this day. Having said that, they probably don’t do Kit-Kats in Kazakhstan... and you’ll want to pack just a weenie jar of Marmite... and your teddy-bear (can’t leave Cyril at home)... and maybe just one extra book, in case your fellow-travellers all turn out to be carrying Harry Potter..." Click here >> for female-specific advice on what to pack Click here >> to buy travelkit in our online shop

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