23 Items You NEED in your Philippines Packing List (2024)

Best Suitcase For The Philippines: Nomatic Carry-On Pro

Backpacks not your thing? That’s ok. Our friends at Nomatic are back again with a great alternative to their badass Travel Bag; the Nomatic Carry-On Pro. 

This suitcase is ultra-durable, sleek, and comes with a handy tech compartment for transporting your laptop and other electronic bits. Nomatic has been an industry leader when it comes to travel gear and that reputation is reflected in the quality build design and functionality of the Carry-On Pro suitcase. 

Check out our Nomatic Carry-On Pro review to learn more about this epic suitcase.  The Nomatic is a great for packing for the Philippines.

Best Camera For The Philippines: GoPro Hero9 Black

For most of us, our smartphones now feature cameras with stunning photo capabilities.

But… if you are an aspiring photographer who wants to take next-level photos and video beyond iPhone selfies, I recommend going with an action camera like the GoPro Hero9 Black.

It does deliver pro-quality video and gives you a bunch of a different angle options and shooting speeds to work with for photos (including a selfie-mode).

Think of a camera purchase like this as a long term investment that will have you capturing epic shots well beyond your time exploring here.

If you are looking for something cheaper for video specifically, check out these epic GoPro Alternatives.

Salomon X Ultra 3 Low Aero

Visitors to the Philippines have a tendency to underestimate the amount of walking that is part the experience. But it is not all beaches and hostel life. Some of the cities are bloody huge, the trekking opportunities plentiful and the sheer amount of ground the average visits covers commendable! Therefore you need good shoes!

I admit that most shoes that are also good for hiking are not the most attractive pieces of footwear. But they are some of the most comfortable and deliver good ankle support for a long day of walking about town. If you rent a bike or scooter, it is always a good idea to wear proper closed shoes when riding it,

Check out the women’s Salomon X Ultra 3 Low Aero.

Arcteryx Beta AR

Did you know that the surface of the earth is over 70% covered in water? And you know how that water got there? Yep because it tends to here rain here on planet earth quite a lot! If you are visiting the Philippines in June to October, then it is the wet season which can see intense rains fall most days.

There is no such thing as bad weather, only the wing gear for it. Don’t let a bit (of a lot) of rain ruin your trip and make sure you are ready with some top notch rain gear.

This is our pick of the many rain jackets we have tried. It’s reliable & stylish and looks good worn out in the mountains or in city bars.

Swimwear

Any time of the year there is a beach, pool or jacuzzi waiting with your name on it in the Philippines. I mean, a country of 7000 islands boasts an insane amount of ocean.

Whether you go diving, surfing, snorkelling or just paddling in the waves, your swimwear will get plenty of use.

Travel First Aid Kit

You don’t need to tote around half a pharmacy, but a well-stocked first aid kit should be in all our backpacks. Stuff happens on the road and it’s inconvenient and embarrassing when you can’t manage small situations like a cut finger or hangover migraine.

You can tuck this lifesaver away in a forgotten pocket – and it’ll be there when you need it.

Tip: Add a few bits and pieces to the first aid kit after you purchase it, like extra headache medicine, any personal meds you need (like allergy pills), whatever you take to calm your stomach and a few more plasters.

Travel Insurance From World Nomads

Suncream: Thinksport Safe SPF 50+

By now, all of us are as pasty as the driven snow from sheltering in place for the last six months. Am I right? This means we are even more vulnerable than usual to the sun’s fierce rays. Packing sunscreen for the Philippines may seem like a no brainer, but you would be amazed how many sun-burned cocktail-toting people you see wandering around. 

Thinksport Safe SPF 50+ sunscreen gives folks strong sun protection in a non-oily formula that’s free of gluten, paraben, phthalates and biologically harmful chemicals.

OluKai ‘Ohana Flip-Flops

Circling back to the footwear question, now we are going to talk about sandals. Chances are that a lot of your Philippines trip will be spent beachside or hanging around you hostel where “proper” shoes may feel like overkill. I absolutely smashed these whilst exploring the beaches of Panglao, let me tell you!

Your feet will be tired and sweaty from those long days wearing shoes so do yourself a favor: pack sandals and give your feet some well-deserved cushion and fresh air. These Olukai flip flops are ultra-comfortable, well-made, and come in a variety of colors. 

Check out the women’s OluKai ‘Ohana Flip-Flops. 

Money Belt By Pacsafe

Whilst the Philippines is not particularly dangerous, crime can still happen and tourists are sometimes targeted.

In particular, Manilla does see its share of bag snatching, pick pocketing and even muggings.

Therefore it is always a good idea to use a money belt to hide your cash just in case something does go wrong. The one we have selected from Pacsafe is built to last too.

Osprey Daylite Plus

If you intend on doing any hiking, camping or day then you will need a daypack. They are great for carrying water, hat’s and gloves and for packing sandwiches for lunch. We love Osprey products and this daypack is our personal pick.

The Osprey Daylite Plus has a mesh-covered panel to keep your back cool and fresh by minimizing contact with the back of the pack itself and allowing air to get between you and the pack.

Check out our full review of the Osprey Daylite plus for more details.

Additionally, you can attach it to other Osprey packs in case you want to add more capacity and carry just one piece of luggage… but the reviews on this feature are mixed.

Hydroflask Vacuum Bottle 32 oz. 

Packing a reusable water bottle is probably the best thing you can personally do to combat single-use plastic bottle use whilst traveling. There is simply zero need to buy plastic water bottles. Whilst you should not drink the tap water, you can but big, reusable water bottles and fill this each morning.

We love the Hydroflask Vacum Bottle for its quality and because it keeps cold water cold for many hours and vice versa for hot beverages. This bottle is the ideal water bottle to get not just for your Philippines trip but for daily use. Please don’t be that person buying plastic water bottles. We are all judging you…especially mother earth. 

If you go with the Hydroflask, you’ll probably never need to buy another waterbottle again.

MSR Hubba Hubba 2p Tent

There are some awesome camping possibilities in the Philippines. Not only do you get outdoors but you can save a few bucks here and there by sleeping inside your tent.

This is more the choice for those in the market for budget backpacking gear. It’s got all the perks of a top-notch backpacking tent without all the freakishly high numbers on the price tag.

Yeah, it may not quite make the cut as ultralight backpacking gear but think of what you’re getting! The MSR Hubba Hubba 2p  is mega-roomy and has multiple of pockets for keeping your self organized when settling in for the night.As far as budget backpacking tents go, this is one of the best. It’s a happy medium between the ‘prepared for anything’ mode and the ‘I wanted to go for a trek so I bought this for 2000 rupees’ afterthought.

Petzl Actik Core Headlamp

Headlamps are great for traveling for many reasons. Firstly, they are useful as hell if you go camping or on an early sunrise mountain hike. Then, they come in useful for finding your way to your hostel bed at 3am without having to turn the lights on. They are also a Godsend if there is a power cut (pretty common in India, Nepal or Venezuela) and great for navigating darkened alleyways in Turkey & Spain.

Not all headlamps were created equal and this is one of the best. The Petzl Actik Core comes with a USB rechargeable battery (full recharge in 3 hours or less); however, it is compatible with AAA batteries. Water-resistance is another critical feature. This product can withstand splashing; but keep in mind, water-resistant does NOT mean waterproof.

On top of the essential items listed above, here is an additional suggested checklist of what to pack for your trip:

• 1-2 pairs of comfortable pants/jeans
• 1-2 pairs of shorts (summer/late spring)
• A few pairs of socks
• (Sexy) underwear x 2/3
• Ladies: a few dresses, pants, outfits, or desired lady apparel for a night on the town. Whatever makes you comfy! 
• Dudes: A few collard shirts or something half-way decent for a night on the town. Whatever makes you comfy! 
• Smartphone with a good camera for photos if you are not bringing an actual camera
• Portable power bank for charging your phone on the go
• Phone charger
• Amazon Kindle for reading by the pool
• Copy of your passport just in case
• Cash (not too much, there are ATM machines everywhere
• Packable Towel