The Ultimate 2025 Hostel Packing Guide: What to Pack, What to Skip, and How to Pack Smart

Master the Art of Hostel Packing: Travel Light, Stay Smart!

So, you’re staying in a hostel? Awesome choice! Whether you’re a budget traveler, solo backpacker, or just hostel-curious, staying in a hostel is one of the best ways to meet people and explore the world affordably.

But let’s face it—hostel packing is an art. Pack too much, and you’ll hate dragging your bag around. Pack too little, and you might end up borrowing someone’s shampoo at 2 AM.

Fear not! This 2025 hostel packing guide covers everything you need (and don’t need!) to survive and thrive in shared accommodations. Let’s pack like a pro! 🚀

What to Pack for a Hostel Stay 🎒

?The Travelling Light

Embarking on a hostel adventure? 🏨 Whether you’re a seasoned backpacker or a first-time traveler, packing the right essentials can make your stay both comfortable and enjoyable. Here’s a lighthearted yet informative guide to ensure you’re well-prepared for your next hostel experience.

Packing smart is key to a smooth hostel experience. You want to be comfortable, prepared, and secure—without overloading your bag.

1. Toiletries & Toiletry Bag

Unlike a hotel, you will not get any complimentary bars of soap or bottles of shampoo, so remember to bring your own. You can find travel-sized toiletries at your local supermarket. Also, hostel bathrooms often have limited space—a hanging toiletry bag keeps everything organized.

Some of the basics:

✔️ Shampoo & conditioner

✔️ Soap or body wash

✔️ Toothpaste & toothbrush

✔️ Deodorant (yes, please)

✔️ Bug spray

✔️ Hairbrush

✔️ Sunscreen

2. Flip Flops/Thongs

Sharing showers doesn’t have to mean sharing foot fungi too. If you aren’t wearing flip flops (or ‘thongs’ if you’re an Aussie) as your primary travel shoes, remember to include a pair to use as sanitary shower shoes.

3. Quick-Dry Towel

Not all, but some hostels will charge you to rent a towel. Even if they don’t, you’ll need one for the beach if it’s that type of destination. Avoid the risk and potential expense by bringing your own lightweight, quick-drying travel towel – these also fold up super small!

4. Entertainment

No matter how hectic your travel schedule, you’ll still have some inevitable downtime at the hostel. A deck of cards in a hostel will always prove a hit. An iPad or Kindle is another backpacking essential, or if you’re old school, a book, which can often be swapped at the hostel’s ‘library’.

5. Padlock

While on the road, you’ll frequently need to store your bag at hostels, train stations, and airports. In these cases, having your own padlock can save you the expense of renting one and give you the confidence that you’ll find your bag where you left it.

6. Sleep aids

In a shared dorm room, everyone will inevitably be on different schedules, including a few late night partiers. If you need a good night’s sleep, pack a sleep mask and earplugs, especially if you’re a light sleeper!

7. Adapter

Don’t be the one who can’t contact anyone for days because you forgot an adapter. It’s a good idea to invest slightly more in a universal power adapter which can be used in every country so you don’t get caught out.

8. Reusable Water Bottle

Stay hydrated and save money by bringing a reusable water bottle. Bonus points if it’s foldable to save space.

9. Portable Charger (Power Bank)

Out sightseeing all day? A portable charger ensures your phone never dies when you need Google Maps, hostel check-in details, or that all-important travel selfie.

10. Comfortable Sleepwear

You’re sharing a dorm, so pack modest and comfy sleepwear—leave the silky robes and boxers-only look at home.

What NOT to Pack for a Hostel Stay ❌

Town House 373 Saigon in Ho Chi Minh

1. Sleeping bag

You don’t need a sleeping bag! It’s a common question, but almost all hostels provide sheets and linen for sleeping, so unless you’re camping as part of your trip, you can leave this one out.

2. Hair dryer/straighteners

Come on – you’re travelling! Not only are these bulky, heavy, and take up a lot of space, but in many of the fancier hostels hair dryers are provided. And sometimes, there are even special areas with straighteners and other hair products for you to preen yourself before a big night out.

3. Expensive gadgets

Unless you’re a travel blogger and you just NEED your laptop, best leave this one at home – you’ll be worrying about it 24/7 otherwise. Cameras are a must for many travellers, but always be super savvy about how you wear it and where you pack it to avoid any mishaps. And expensive jewellery and watches should DEFINITELY be left off your hostel packing list.

4. Full-Sized Toiletries

Big bottles take up space and might spill all over your bag (been there, done that). Opt for travel-sized products or buy them when you arrive.

5. Valuables

Expensive jewelry and high-end electronics? Risky business. Keep it simple—your smartphone and a small lockable pouch are all you need.

How to Pack for a Hostel Stay 📦

?@alexjacksonvisuals

It’s not just about what you pack—it’s how you pack that makes all the difference!

1. Choosing a backpack

To avoid having to dump out your bag every time you need something, choose a front-loading backpack to make unpacking easy. Unlike hiking bags, which typically only open at the top, front-loading bags give you access to all of your stuff without having to unload the pack first.

Then, when packing your bag, be sure to compartmentalize. By choosing a bag with multiple compartments or using compression bags or packing cubes, you can easily segment all of your clothes and gear, so you always know where everything is stored.

2. Security

When packing your bag before staying at a hostel, remember: safety first. The vast majority of travellers are good, honest people, but a bit of precaution never hurts. All of your valuables, and ideally all of your belongings, should be in zippered, padlocked compartments of your bag. One look at your bag should make somebody with sticky fingers think, “not worth it.”

A few extra items and some common sense can make your hostel stay just as comfortable as a hotel stay – and probably a lot more fun too!

3. Use Packing Cubes

Packing cubes are a game-changer—they compress clothes and keep everything organized so your bag doesn’t explode every time you open it.

4. Roll, Don’t Fold

Rolling saves space and reduces wrinkles—especially useful when you’re living out of a backpack.

5. Stick to the 5-4-3-2-1 Rule 📏

✔️ 5 tops (mix of short & long sleeves)
✔️ 4 bottoms (jeans, leggings, shorts)
✔️ 3 pairs of shoes (walking, casual, flip-flops)
✔️ 2 bags (backpack + small daypack)
✔️ 1 hat (sun or winter)

6. Vertical Packing Method 📦

Instead of stacking, pack clothes vertically so you can see everything at a glance—no more digging through your entire bag for that one T-shirt.

Special contribution for this article:

Fred Perrotta is the co-founder of Tortuga Backpacks, the makers of the ultimate travel backpack. He is also the editor-in-chief of the company’s backpacking travel blog.

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What other items are on your hostel packing list? Have we missed any out? Let us know in the comments below! ?