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Most hitchhikers '''carry''' a backpack with them wherever they go. The backpack should be sturdy, yet comfortable.
First of all, you need '''as little as possible'''! The longer you travel, the less you want in your bag!
Large rucksacks are great, but maybe taking a smaller bag will encourage you not to take useless items!
If, after a trip, you decide an item really is useless, then don't be afraid to get rid of it.
==Most important==
#:An A4 writing pad turned out to be very handy. You can make a lot of signs with it and it's quite stable. It's also good to have some paper clips with you, in case it's windy and the sheets are flapping.
For people who like it safe:
#A mobilephone for sending SMS to a friend, to inform them about the numberplate of the car you jumped in. Remember the battery recharge adaptor! Sometimes a service station will have a spare wall socket you can use to charge your phone. Remember to bring the right adaptor for the country you are in.
==Quickly accessible during rides==
It's also good to make things you might need on the road ''easily accessible'':
* all possible maps you might need* clothes in case of rain or sudden chill (like when going a tunnel when you're in the back of a van).* a plasticbottle plastic bottle of waterTry and pack similar items close to each other (eg. toothbrush next to the toothpaste).
==After that==
*A large towel (doubles as a blanket, shawl or pillow). Specially-made camping towels are light, small, and dry very fast.
*Hygienic products such as:
** toothbrush - even better in your pocket!** A small bottle of liquid peppermint soap--the kind which can be used as toothpaste or mouthwash as well. Try to stay reasonably clean. Dr. Bronner's Pure Castille Soap is recommended, though the containers it comes in are not very sturdy (wrap it in a bag at the least). Make sure it can't spill inside the rest of your bag!**Baby-wipes work well too for cleaning skin, they're light and easy to store. Maybe a service station restaurant (such as a KFC) will have little packets of them, to give you for free...**Toilet paper or tissues. Don't forget to bury it at least a foot down!**A stick of deodorant and/or spray bottle of cologne. Alternatively essential oils, as of lavendar, pachouli, grapefruit, etc.
*A [[sleeping bag]]. It can be useful to have a good, waterproof Compression Sack as well.
*An extra set of clothing, at the minimum, 2 extra pairs of socks and underwear, and an extra T-shirt.
* A nice warm jacket or hooded sweatshirt. It's possible to do wonderful things with the right layers; good camping longjohns and thermals are worth their small weight in cold weather, and are comfortable to wear to bed.*Something to drink, food, fruit, nuts. You don't want your [[food]] and drinks to be all over your stuff, so make sure that this is carefully packed. Canned food is entirely can be too heavy - better is often dried bulk food, etc. is better. Try not to take things that have a strong smell. Remember to drink lots of water, and that most other drinks (like coffee, soda, orange juice, etc.) will actually dehydrate you.
*Reading material, for waits and quiet rides. (such as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/On_the_Road On the Road] by Jack Kerouac, or [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evasion_%28book%29 Evasion] by Anonymous).
*A pack of cards.
*A small medikit - cheap, and may suddenly be '''very''' useful.
*A small sewing kit is crucial for longer trips (especially if you have only one pair of pants - hitchhiking with a hole in your crotch is quite difficult) Recommended: at least one pair pants and one shorts. Conventional thread is really dreadfully weak, many travellers prefer to use dental floss because of its vastly superior durability. Some flosses are better than others, with the standard being Johnson & Johnson Reach brand. Good floss can also conveniently be burned/melted down onto a knot.
*A torch. Wind-up ones are good because they're lighter, and you don't have to waste batteries on them. The RAC one (available in the [[UK]]) is excellent.*A journal and/or camera is always a good choice to keep track of where you've been and who you've met, and to later add useful information to this wiki!
*Some basic tools to make jewelry with, or other such, will keep you in pocket change and give you something to do on lazy afternoons in the park, and will provide you with an answer if the police ask what you're doing in town. Also good for starting conversations.
*A [[harmonica]], pennywhistle, kalimba or the like is also nice.
*A small amount of change (in the local currency), for buying public transport tickets, and any other items you suddenly need.
*CDs or casettes, to offer drivers for entertainment during quieter rides, and even to give as thankyou gifts.
*If it makes you feel safer: a film-canister full of pepper--kept in your most accessible pocket. You probably won't need to use it, but you should have it handy to be able to pop the lid and toss it in the face of an attacker.
*An aluminized mylar "space blanket" is an exceptional survival tool, and weighs only an ounce or two.
*A tarp. There are a few varieties, my preference is actually a coated nylon rain poncho that doubles as a tarp. Good to separate you from the ground, or to rig up a shelter with, or to cover your pack when stashing it somewhere if it might rain. The new "siltarps" made with siliconized Cordura are extremely waterproof, ridiculously lightweight, and very surprisingly durable.
*Rain gear. As mentioned above, a poncho works well and doubles as a tarp, but even just a contractor trash bag tucked away is a good idea. If considering a rain jacket, remember that you'll want to keep your pack dry as well as not end up with your pants/skirt soaked.
*Small gifts for any [http://www.hospitalityclub.org HospitalityClub] or [http://www.couchsurfing.com CouchSurfing] hosts who help you on your way.
===Camping===
If you decide on camping you may want some more stuff:
