Hostel Essentials Packing List 2026: 35 Must-Have Items

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Staying in a hostel sometime soon? This hostel essentials packing list includes all the things needed for any hostel trip — and a few luxury items too!

Indeed, staying in a hostel is a fantastic way to experience places for less money. Not to mention the chance to meet a lot of cool people from around the globe that will ultimately become a part of your journey.

I’ve stayed in hostels all around Europe, Asia, and Australia (and counting!). I’ve slept well in amazing places, and I’ve slept not so well in noisy, poorly-lit, dingy buildings. That being said, staying in hostels is one of my favorite ways to explore new destinations.

Here’s my packing list for hostels: necessities I always take along with me, whether I’m staying for a night or a month. Check this list, and then check it again — because you don’t want to forget any of the things required for staying in hostels!

The Right Bags & Organization

Backpack

Now that you’re getting all the hostel essentials, let’s not forget — you need somewhere to put them!

No matter the length of your trip, a 40-45L backpack is usually a good bet. That will give you enough space to pack all the basics with room left over for souvenirs.

Seeing that theft can be an issue, make sure your bag can be locked! Many of the hiking backpacks actually have cloth zipper pulls rather than metal ones. Also, they sometimes have multiple ways to access the main compartment. Thoroughly inspect your pack for these features that are easy to miss.

A wonderful backpack option is the Osprey Fairview/Farpoint series. These packs incorporate travel-specific features like that important lockable main compartment and a zippered cover for the straps when not in use.

• Check out the Women’s Fairview 40 or Women’s Fairview 55
• See the Men’s Farpoint 40 or Men’s Farpoint 55

In any case, a lock is a deterrent. A thief is looking to work quickly, so I always feel like if I have a lock, he (or she!) won’t really look twice.

If you prefer to use a suitcase, we recommend using a carry-on size, hard sided case.

Packing Cubes

Living out of a suitcase — or backpack — isn’t the easiest. Even if you love to travel, digging in the bottom of your pack because you can’t find your passport before your 4 am flight isn’t ideal.

Our solution: packing cubes.

Packing cubes are must to help keep you organized.

It’s particularly easy to become disorganized when you’re traveling a lot. You’ll pick up souvenirs, forget to throw away receipts, and start accumulating dirty clothes, for instance.

Until you get the hang of it, you’ll also find that you keep losing daily necessities to the bottom of your pack, like Chapstick!

Aside from frustration and wasting time searching for misplaced items, you can find things quickly when arriving late at night. Rather, you won’t disturb others by turning on lights and digging around in your stuff, which won’t be looked upon lightly.

But, I personally love using dry bags. They keep moisture out and easily to latch or hang anywhere. I even use one as a toiletry bag if I’m really traveling light.

Choose which packing solution you like in your budget, and give it a try!

Foldable Daypack (Sightseeing)

Your 40L travel backpack is perfect for hostel hopping, but it’s overkill — and often unwelcome — at museums, tapas crawls, and beach days. A ultralight, foldable daypack (around 15–20L) packs down to the size of a sandwich and expands when you need it.

In Europe, you’ll use it constantly: stashing a water bottle, carrying your sunhat and guidebook through Park Güell in Spain, or hauling market purchases back to your hostel.

Look for water-resistant fabric and lockable zippers. If you’re bringing a tripod, make sure you measure first to make sure it fits (I’ve made that mistake)!

When I’m traveling ultra-light, I bring the Osprey collapsible stuff pack. But any backpack you like will do. If you’re traveling to Europe, you can always buy one at Decathalon for under $10.

Sleep & Comfort Essentials

Contoured Sleep Mask & Loop Ear Plugs

Arguably the two most crucial hostel traveling essentials, get a sleep mask and ear plugs if you want to get a good night’s sleep.

To explain, there will be people making noise at all hours of the day and night.

And why shouldn’t they? A hostel is communal, after all. Think about it — even if people take extra care, they still need to open and close doors, leave early for flights, or brush their teeth before bed.

Additionally, there’s the dreaded snoring and sleep talking to deal with!

If you’re still not convinced or feel like it will be okay because you’ve chosen a quiet hostel (i.e. no partying), there will nevertheless be street noise and building noise like running fans and creaky floors.

Pro Travel Tip: If you are staying in a historic city center like Madrid, the party often doesn’t stop until 4 AM. Even if your hostel is “quiet,” the street noise from the plaza below can be intense. Loop earplugs can be a lifesaver for blocking out the late-night chatter and scooter engines!

Trust us on this one.

I’m now testing Loop Earplugs. Unlike foam, these are made of soft, flexible silicone and come with multiple tip sizes to ensure they stay in your ears while you sleep — or just need some quiet time to destimulate.

Plus, they are reusable and come in a tiny keychain carry case so you won’t lose them in the bottom of your backpack.

Sleeping Bag Liner

A sleeping bag liner (sometimes called a sleep sack or travel sheet) is another useful items to bring to a hostel.

To explain, most hostels do offer sheets, blankets, and pillows at no extra charge. Still, do your research ahead of time because in certain places, you are expected to provide your own travel sheet or pay to rent them.

Even if your hostel does provide sheets, a sleeping bag liner is a worthwhile investment. This lightweight, breathable liner promotes airflow and wicks away moisture that will help you stay cool in the summer. Conversely, it can add a little warmth if used along with provided sheets and blankets during the cooler months.

Moreover, perhaps you’ll sleep more soundly in your own travel sheet. Even though sheets and pillowcases are washed, germs are still a concern for many people. Oh, and it also has a built-in pocket for a pillow for added protection against your face, which we absolutely love.

Another key point is that you can put your belongings inside the sleep sack with you. For example, your phone can hide right under your pillow inside the pillow pocket. It won’t get lost in your sheets or fall off your bed, making it a tad harder to steal in the night!

I am happy with this sleep sack. But, if you want to splurge, be sure to look at a silk sleeping bag liner. Silk liners are thought to be the best to help you get a good, cozy, and hygienic night’s sleep!

Noise-Canceling Headphones

When you need some down time, noise-canceling headphones are a good choice. Some people even prefer to listen to music to help them fall asleep.

I love using my Bose QuietComfort headphones on planes and trains. But, I do worry about them getting stolen in hostels.

On the positive side, there are lots of types of hostels. At digital nomad hostels and luxury hostels, you may very likely have less to worry about than at cheap backpacker hostels.

Noise-canceling earbuds also work well and are less conspicuous. Just don’t lose them!

Electronics & Connectivity

eSIM Data Plan (Airalo)

Relying on hostel WiFi alone is tricky, especially when you need Google Maps at midnight in Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter or want to video-call home. A pre-loaded eSIM keeps you connected from the moment you land, without the hassle of hunting down a local phone shop on your first day of travel.

Airalo offers unlimited data plans with solid coverage across, with single or multi-country packages. You can activate directly from your phone before departure so you have coverage when you land.

Apple AirTag (Luggage Tracking)

Hostel life means your bag lives in shared storage rooms, under bunk beds, and occasionally in overhead racks on trains or busses. An AirTag slipped into your backpack lining or suitcase pocket gives you real-time location tracking without draining your phone battery or requiring WiFi.

For solo female travelers, it’s less about theft and more about anxiety reduction. Knowing exactly which locker room your pack is sitting in while you’re out exploring for six hours.

Travel Adaptors

When bringing any sort of electronics, you need to keep them charged. It sounds easy enough to do, but there aren’t always a ton of wall outlets available at hostels or hotels, even. In contrast, there are hostels where each person gets their own outlet in their bunk.

At the very least, you’ll need to grab a travel adapter. Make sure you get one with the correct USB or USC-C connections for your devices. A universal adapter works well if you’re going to multiple countries with different plugs (e.g. the UK and Spain).

For specifics, I cover what plugs are needed for several countries like these: Spain travel adaptors and Portugal travel adaptors.

Provided that you have a phone or other electronics, consider bringing a wall adaptor with multiple USB ports. You will quickly realized just how nice it is to charge multiple devices at once with one of these.

Bonus: you can share your ports with other travelers if you have multiple ports.

Portable Battery Pack

We recommend getting a lightweight portable charger (battery pack). Surely we all know what it’s like to be without a charge, especially on days when you’re trying to access your travel plans!

What’s more, it’s imperative to have your own battery pack as a backup if all the outlets are in use and to charge at night. To emphasize, it’s not wise to leave your phone charging at the wall outlet overnight and risk it getting stolen. Instead, charge it overnight with your battery pack in a secure place (i.e. inside a locker).

Pro Travel Tip: Should you lose your adaptor or forget to bring one, ask the front desk for one of these. They often stock extras that people leave behind (or as a courtesy).

Toiletries & Hygiene

Quick-drying Microfiber Towel

A quick dry microfiber towel is without a doubt a must for staying at hostels and for backpacking.

To describe, microfiber travel towels are soft, absorbent, and durable. You can dry off quickly by running the towel across your body to absorb water. Then, effortlessly hang your towel to dry with the attached hook before you head out to sightsee. Within hours, the towel will be dry—even faster on a hot, sunny day.

I have several of these towels from Wise Owl and even use them for drying my hair at home!

Equally important, microfiber towels pack down super small and are lightweight. Many brands come with their own mesh carrying case. Seeing that sometimes you will need to head out before the towel is completely dry, you can attach the carry case to your luggage.

Finally, when choosing a microfiber travel towel, be sure to check the sizes. While none of them are particularly large, some are as small as dishtowels.

Hanging Toiletry Bag

Given that not all hostel bathrooms or showers have a place for you to put your things, it’s important to bring a hanging toiletry bag that you can hang wherever needed.

We assume you don’t want to set your toiletries on a hostel bathroom or shower floor. (Then again, maybe you do…)

In any event, this hanging toiletry bag has a lot of capacity, pockets, and sturdy waterproof fabric. I also like that this type of bag sits upright to avoid spills.

Don’t forget to bring travel-size toiletries, too. There simply won’t be room for full-size bottles.
You can easily buy travel size toiletries at your local Walmart or drugstore. However, this convenience kit is a good, affordable option. If you can’t find your favorite products in smaller sizes, you can always buy a set of reusable containers.

Shower Shoes

Owing to that fact that hostels are shared facilities, you definitely need a pair of flip flops to wear in the shower and around the hostel.

Despite the facts that hostels are pretty clean, we shudder at the thought of what might be on the floor.

For that reason, a simple pair of shower shoes will do.

Furthermore, you can also wear flip flips around the hostel when it’s more convenient. For example, when going to the bathroom in the middle of the night or when your feet need a break from your walking shoes.

Reusable Silicone Toiletry Bottles

Hostel bathrooms are notoriously short on counter space — and dropping a glass perfume bottle on tile at 7 AM will not go well with your dorm mates. Silicone travel bottles are unbreakable, TSA-compliant, and refillable at any supermarket once you arrive.

The sustainability angle matters here, too. Buying full-size products in country and dividing them among friends locally reduces single-use plastic and lets you experiment with fun brands that you won’t find at home.

Hostel Security & Safety

Security Pouch

One of the top safety concerns as hostels is petty theft. Therefore, this hostel essentials list wouldn’t be complete without this advice: keep your valuables on you at all times.

Even if you lock your luggage, bring some sort of small security pouch. Look for one that’s comfortable to carry with you and tuck inside your bed at night (assuming you don’t have a locker).

Here are a few ideas to explore to add to your list of hostel essentials:

• Money belt or pouch – Wear theses styles under your clothing
• Crossbody/waist pack combo – Widely available in lots of brands, styles, and colors for women and for men. This one from Travelon (for ladies) has locking mechanisms and is slash proof.
• Day pack – Use whatever day pack you like, or take a packable day pack.
• Dry bag – Another favorite of mine, it’s inconspicuous and can latch to anything!
• Simple tote bag – Packable and lightweight with a multitude of uses.

Over the years, we’ve tried all the pouches and small bags listed above. In the end, it really comes down to preference–just take something to store your valuables.

Locks for Hostel

Unquestionably, a travel lock is one of the things to carry with you to any hostel—or on any trip, for that matter—to prevent theft.

Some hostels provide and/or rent lockers, locks with keys, or combinations. The YellowSquare Hostel in Rome even provides safes!

But, there are definitely times when you need to provide your own lock. For me, the best lock for hostels is this cable TSA-approved luggage lock as the cord gives me a little more flexibility as to how and where I can loop it.

This super cool retractable cable lock has a cable that’s long enough to loop several times or lock multiple bags together. (This is what I always do if I’m traveling with someone else.)

Certainly, these locks could be cut. But in reality, it’s not likely a thief is going to have the time to cut locks. He or she is more likely to grab things that are easy targets.

If your hostel doesn’t provide a locker, they often have a safe at the front desk. You can always ask to store something if you really need to. Just make sure you get some sort of return ticket to be able to collect your items!

In short, have a plan to keep your possessions safe.

Portable Door Lock (Solo Safety)

Even the safest hostels in Spain can’t control who has a key to every door—and budget hotels or pensiones sometimes have locks that feel more decorative than functional. A lightweight portable door lock (like the Addalock or DoorJammer) adds a physical barrier between you and anyone entering from the hallway, no tools required.

For solo female travelers, this is a non-negotiable psychological safety tool. It takes up less space than a hairbrush, weighs under 100 grams, and works on inward-opening doors—which covers the vast majority of Spanish hostel and budget hotel rooms.

Special Circumstances

If you’re going to wash clothes

It can be useful to do laundry now and again during your trip. Typically, hostels with laundry facilities will offer dryers, racks, or clotheslines. But not all hostels have laundry and not all laundromats are open when you need them. Nor do you always need to do a whole load!

Consider traveling with a travel clothesline. I usually bring a retractable line and have found them especially helpful when washing a few items in the sink. A travel soap (Dr. Bronner’s or a dedicated laundry soap like Sink Suds) and a universal sink stopper can turn any hostel bathroom into a functional laundry station.

If you’re working on your holiday

The digital nomad scene in Spain especially is booming, and hostels have adapted. Many now offer dedicated coworking spaces and high-speed fiber. But working from a hostel dorm is still a challenge.

A padded laptop sleeve protects your machine when it’s shoved into a shared locker. More importantly, a multi-port USB-C charger (65W or higher) lets you charge your laptop, phone, and power bank from a single outlet. This is perfect for when your dorm bed has only one socket and it’s tucked behind a bunk frame or so you can share with others.

If you’re worried about unexpected issues

Travel is fun, but cobblestones, hill towns, and 30,000-step days don’t care how good your itinerary is. Blisters are the most common trip-ruiner I see — and they’re entirely preventable with the right gear.

Compeed blister bandages (or hydrocolloid patches) are non-negotiable if you’re walking through places like Seville’s Triana neighborhood. They cushion better than moleskin and let you keep walking while the skin heals.

A personal safety alarm (130+ decibels) is also a lightweight confidence booster for solo female travelers walking back to a hostel at midnight.

If you’re worried about Bed Bugs

Unfortunately, bed bugs are a reality not only at hostels, but hotels worldwide. And it’s not always the hostel’s fault. With so many travelers, people can easily bring bed bugs from place to place.

To avoid getting bed bugs, you can treat all your hostel items with Permethrin repellant before travel. Preventative effects will last about six weeks. Some say that a silk liner will also repel them.

For a more natural approach, try a bed bug spray. While it may be true that sprays and even essential oils may be an option, note the use of these is up for debate.

Spraying fragrant items in a closed, shared space is considered taboo for many guests. Similarly, others dispute the efficacy of natural products against the prevention of bed bugs. Use cautiously.

If you want to relax

Undeniably, you travel to see the sights, but there will be times when you’re exhausted and need a break. For instance, when you’ve traveled non-stop for a 24 hours, when the weather isn’t cooperating, or when you’re waiting for a tourist attraction to open.

Bring your favorite devices to entertain yourself: kindles, or tablets are good choices to put on your hostel items list.

By the way, did you know Amazon offers a one month free trial for Kindle Unlimited? Get all the books you need for your trip by starting your free Amazon Unlimited trial now. I often just pay for one month so that I can download a ton of books to read during the length of my trip.

Should you prefer physical books, cards, or magazines, donate them to hostels when you’re done. Or, exchange them with other travelers so you’re not carrying more than one at a time and weighing down your pack!

Women’s Hostel Packing List

Sarong

The ultimate travel accessory for women, a sarong offers multiple uses. That’s why I recommend adding it to your hostel packing list.

Originally known as beach apparel, a sarong can offer much-needed privacy at the hostel and while traveling just about anywhere.

As a matter of fact, you can use it as a dress when you’re washing all your other clothes, as a towel, sheet, or hang it across your bunk for privacy.

We just can’t say enough good things about sarongs!

Hair styling tools

As we mentioned in our article on what to expect when staying in hostels, it isn’t always easy to find a place to do your hair. I’ve done my hair in dark hallways with no mirror before, to illustrate what the hostel situation can be like.

On top of the space situation, hostels don’t always provide decent hair dryers, let alone straighteners or curling irons.

We recommend you go without, especially if you can air dry in the summer. But, we recognize that’s not always possible. I myself have a head of hair that likes to do its own thing!

Here are my favorite travel-size hot tools to add your essentials list:

• The BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium Travel Dryer packs small and dries hair quickly for such a small size.
• I’ve used the Travel Smart by Conair 1” Ceramic Mini Curling Iron for years all over the world. It does a great job if you just want to add a few waves and is ultra compact.
• The BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium Mini Straightening Iron is a good choice if you have thin hair or want to straighten your bands or the hair that frames your face.

Make sure any hot tool you bring is dual-voltage so that you don’t need to use a voltage converter. In the case that you’re going to be traveling a lot, you can also buy hot tools abroad. I have a European curling iron and hair dryer, but I really had to hunt for decent prices!

Ladies, be sure to check out my full women’s backpacking packing list.

Follow this list for hostel packing, and go!

Don’t struggle when it comes to getting yourself ready for a trip where you’re staying in hostels. Follow this hostel packing list, and you’re sure to have an unbelievable adventure, wherever your journey takes you!