Updated 2026
Books are heavy. Dead weight. They take up valuable pack space. And yet RTW travelers constantly struggle with this - wanting books while carrying limited space.
The Weight Reality
A guidebook can weigh 500g (1 pound). Multiple books quickly add kilos. Your backpack capacity is finite. Every book is space something else isn't.
For long-term travel, minimizing weight matters. Your body carries your pack constantly.
The Digital Alternative
E-readers exist now. Kindle, Kobo, and other devices hold thousands of books and weigh nearly nothing.
For RTW travel, e-readers are the practical solution. You get unlimited reading without weight.
Paper Guidebooks
Guidebooks are the main book weight issue. Lonely Planet and similar guides are heavy and specific to regions.
Online information is more current anyway. Websites, blogs, and travel apps provide better real-time information than printed guides from last year.
Even if you want paper guides, you don't need entire regional guides. Just relevant sections or specific city guides.
The Book Exchange Reality
Many hostels have book exchanges. Drop off books you've finished, pick up new ones.
This is practical and community-building. You reduce the weight you're carrying while keeping reading material.
Book exchanges are most common in backpacker-heavy areas (Southeast Asia, Central America, backpacker towns).
What About Actual Reading?
For novel reading, e-readers are vastly superior. You carry thousands of books. You can download new titles from anywhere with internet.
For reference (guidebooks, specific information), online resources beat books.
Why Some Carry Paper
Some people prefer paper. It doesn't require charging. It's tactile. It feels like reading.
The trade-off is weight. If reading is central to your travel experience, carrying a book might be worth it.
The Compromise
Carry a lightweight e-reader. When you want paper reading, use book exchanges. Rotate books instead of carrying multiple.
This balances reading with practical travel.
The Emotional Reality
Books feel different than digital. There's romance in carrying a novel. It feels more "real" travel.
But RTW travel is about packing light and moving efficiently. Books are the first thing to minimize.
Making the Decision
If reading is important to you, get an e-reader. It solves the problem elegantly.
If you want paper occasionally, use book exchanges.
If you must carry paper, carry minimal weight - one or two books maximum.
The Practical Path
For most RTW travelers, books are unnecessary weight. Use digital reading. Use book exchanges for paper. Keep your pack light.