How to pack for 5 days on an island

5 essential items for your Island vacation

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You’ve been working so hard at your job and it’s time to clock out. Congratulations! You booked a relaxing 5 day island retreat for yourself to unwind, recharge, and recuperate. It’s time to pack for your island vacation. Not sure what to bring? I’m here to help guide you with 5 essential items you need to check off your packing list for an unforgettable trip.

1. Backpack

When it comes to packing for short trips, investing in a good quality backpack is the best option for many different reasons.

A well-fitted backpack should have a hip belt that sits on your iliac crest, or the top of your hip bones so most of the weight will be carried on your hips instead of your shoulders. Check out your local outdoor gear store like REI, LLBean, or Eastern Mountain Sports for an experienced associate to help fit you.

Bringing only a backpack will also save you the cost of checking a rolling luggage- this can mean hundreds of dollars!

Public transport can be crazy! Carrying only a backpack can save you those precious minutes when making flight connections or catching a train. I’ve experienced this benefit on multiple occasions and only made my flight connection because I was able to move through a crowd easily.

When choosing a backpack, there are a few things to consider. What size pack do you need? How versatile do you need the pack to be? What type of weather will you encounter? How much money do you want to invest in a backpack?

I’ve chosen 3 highly rated backpacks for you to check out:

Maelstrom Hiking Backpack $47, Amazon.com
-50 Liter capacity
-Adjustable Shoulder Straps
-Waterproof Cover Included
-1.09kg empty weight

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Kelty Redwing 50 $150, Amazon.com
-50 Liter capacity
-Carry-on Size
-Fully adjustable shoulder and hip straps
-Soft inner frame
-1.79kg empty weight

I personally own and have been traveling with this backpack for over 4 years for trips of every length and climate. It has withstood every test and I will continue using it!

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Osprey Aura AG 50 $199-$315, Amazon.com
-Fully adjustable fit
-Comes in a women’s specific fit
-Carry-on size
-1.88kg empty weight
-Integrated rain cover
-Sleek minimalistic design

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2. Water bottle

When traveling to an island, you may not always have access to clean drinking water 100% of the time, but staying hydrated is important, especially if you aren’t used to being in the sun for extended periods.
Bringing your own refillable water bottle can help reduce your negative impact on the environment by reducing the amount of single-use plastics you would otherwise throw away.

My go-to water bottle for any trip is the Lifestraw GO water filter bottle. With its integrated stage 2 water filter, you can be sure you have clean and safe drinking water anywhere you are.

Other great options like Brita and CamelBak make it worth the investment to get a bottle with changeable filters so you always know you are safe.

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3. Stay charged on your island vacation

Something I never used to think about until I started traveling to more remote places was how I would charge my phone in case of emergency. These days, we are so reliant on cell phones to navigate, book reservations, check the weather, communicate, etc. Basically every part of our lives resides in our ability to stay connected.

Anywhere I go, one of my packing essentials is a power bank to charge up my phone, GoPro, headphones, or other devices. This is especially useful on an island vacation.

My personal fave is this Solar Charged Power Bank from Blavor, from Amazon.com. It recharges itself using only the sun and can also be charged with a wall outlet. Additional features include a very bright flashlight and a small compass, and can be attached to the outside of your backpack to charge itself. There are multiple output types to accommodate all different devices.

Don’t forget to stay connected with Airalo, a digital SIM card. It’s inexpensive, easy to install, and super reliable!

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4. Quick dry towel

If you look at any type of travel content about beautiful beaches on your social media accounts, you have probably seen ads for products like Sand Cloud Beach Towels. These towels have become increasingly popular amongst backpackers and luxury travelers alike, and now I understand why.

I was on the fence about purchasing a quick-dry towel for a trip to Central America last year, and I’m so glad I decided to do it. Sand Cloud stands out as the leader in this product, however I have started seeing comparable brands in my local outdoor supply stores such as Sierra and my local trading post.

My quick-dry towel takes up very little room in my pack, dries incredibly quickly, and doesn’t smell if it’s been used a few times, making it perfect for an island vacation. You can expect to spend anywhere between $20-$70 for this.

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5. Reef friendly sunscreen

Now that you’re on your way to the most idyllic island getaway, it’s time to think about sun protection. Sunscreen should be on the front of every traveler’s mind no matter what conditions they live in. If you are traveling to an island, chances are the sun will be much more intense than you are used to.

Taking steps to protect our planet:

It is more important than ever to think about the protection of the ocean’s reefs and the thousands of species that call it home. Sadly, Humans have invaded this beautiful rock we call Earth and left it in a precarious state. We as Humans are solely responsible for caring for the planet and every life form on it, who can’t advocate for themselves.

You may have thought it harmless to enter the ocean wearing your regular, chemical-loaded sunscreen without a care in the world. The condition of our ocean’s reef systems is declining.

Wearing reef safe sunscreen is just a small step we can collectively take to help stop the decline of this fragile ecosystem. An option that comes already TSA approved is Hook Ya Hawaii reef safe sunscreen.

Another alternative to wearing chemicals is to pick up a UV protective rash guard like this one from Roxy.

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Now that you have a few staple items to bolster your carry-on only beach seeking vacation, here are some
BONUS TIPS for island vacation packing:

–Comfortable shoes. Leave the heels at home. Islands are laid back and casual. I usually pack one pair of well-worn sneakers for travel days and one pair of sandals in a neutral color.
–Linen pants/long sleeve top. Linen is ideal for hot days and you’ll love the extra coverage if the nights get chilly. It can be dressed up for a beach club dinner or worn casually during the day.
–Wide brimmed hat. Wearing a hat protects your face, shoulders, and scalp from harmful UV rays all while looking stylish. Let’s be honest, who remembers to put sunscreen in their hairline?
–First aid kit. If you are on an island, there’s less chance you can get basic first aid products, especially at reasonable prices. It’s always smart to pack a small but effective first aid kit.
–Dry bag. For the adventure seekers who might choose to go on a boat or snorkeling tour, having a dry bag is a great way to make sure your valuables are safe and will survive the trip.

Happy island hopping!

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