Fly Fishing Backpacker Packing List- low budget travel

This is the packing list I used to travel in New Zealand as a fly fishing backpacker for 6 months.

Having been asked how I prepared myself for the fly fishing trip to New Zealand, I decided to publish the packing list. This list is thought for backpackers, who are traveling the world, but still want to go fishing and even consider tramping or staying outdoors overnight. Thus, it is very limited in comfort items and tries to cut weight as much as possible. Moreover, I have to admit that as a blogger, I was not able to leave some posh electronic devices at home. However, other travellers might easily live without a tablet and travel even lighter.

The fly fishing backpacker packing list consists of the following subcategories: transport devices, clothes, general items, documents, hygiene, fishing gear and electronics.

Transport devices

• Large Backpack 1
• Small Backpack 1
• Hip Pack 1 (can be combined with the small backpack as cabin luggage)

Clothes

• Underpants 4
• Socks 4
• Undershirt 1
• T-shirt 2
• Pullover 1
• Shirt 1
• Down Jacket 1
• Wading jacket 1 (functions as rain jacket)
• Long underwear 1
• Scarves 1
• Gloves 1
• Beanie 1
• Hat 1
• Trekking Trouser 1
• Pants 1
• Running shoes 1

General items

• Cord few metres
• Headlamp 1
• Tissue 1
• Eagle Creek Ultralight Compression Sac 2
• Sun glasses 1
• Pen and paper 1
• First-Aid Kit 1
• Sewing Kit 1
• Swiss Army Knife 1
• Ducked tape few metres (attach around rod tube)
• Insect head net 1

Sleeping System

• Outdoor Research Aurora Bivouac Sac or a small tent/tarp
• Sea to Summit Spark II Sleeping Bag
• Meru Inlay Sleeping Bag Silk
• Thermarest Neoair Xlite Sleeping Pad

Documents

• Passport
• Credit Cards 2
• Insurance documents
• Spare passport photographs to use for visa’s
• International driver’s license
• Vaccination pass
• Flight/accommodation information
• Emergency contacts in every bag
• Student ID

Hygiene

• Toothbrush
• Toothpaste
• Contact lenses (+some water) or glasses
• small shampoo bottle
• Earplugs
• Travel towel
• Shaver
• Deodorant
• Nail scissor

Fishing

• Fly rod 1
• Fly reel 1
• Waders 1
• Wading boots 1
• Nipper 1
• Amadou 1
• Small fly box 1

Electronics/Film equipment

• Mobile phone
• Surface Tablet
• Sony A5100 with large SD memory card
• External hard drive
• Rollei Tripod
• Headphones
• Charger for Tablet/Camera Mobile phone
• Skross World Adapter 1

Summary of the fly fishing backpacker packing list

In total, my backpack and the cabin luggage weighed 18 kilograms. This is a lot, but when keeping in mind that it was all I needed for 6 months it is a reasonable amount. However, other backpackers might cut weight by leaving heavy things like the tripod, tablet and wading equipment at home. For example, if you plan to fish only during the summer months in New Zealand wet wading is possibly the best thing to do. Moreover, I have to mention that the sleeping bag, bivouac sac and the fishing net was bought abroad. That is another way to reduce weight: buy overseas.

Now, I wish you all the best with your travel plans and I hope the fly fishing backpacker packing list was useful to you.

Safe travels!

Do you have anything to add to the ExpediTom fly fishing backpacker list?