In 2019, I landed in Medina looking like I was planning to colonize the desert. I had a 65-liter backpack stuffed with things I thought were ‘essential’ because some blog written by a travel agent told me so. I had a specialized ‘Ihram belt’ with twelve pockets, a portable humidifier, and three different types of prayer mats. By day three, I wanted to throw half of it into a dumpster behind the Clock Tower. I was carrying 14.2kg of gear when I really only needed about 6kg.
Most Umrah packing lists are written by people trying to sell you something or by people who haven’t actually felt the 114-degree heat of a Meccan afternoon. You don’t need a ‘comprehensive’ list. You need a survival list that keeps you mobile and sane.
The Ihram situation (and why I hate ‘kits’)
I’m going to say something that might annoy some people, but I think those ‘Umrah Essential Kits’ you see in Islamic bookstores are a total scam. They charge you $60 for a box containing a cheap tasbih, a tiny bottle of unscented soap that smells like wet cardboard, and a thin Ihram that feels like sandpaper. Don’t buy them. Buy your pieces individually.
What I mean is—actually, let me put it differently. You need two sets of Ihram. Not one. Because if you’re like me and you accidentally spill hot lentil soup on yourself in the hotel cafeteria two hours before you’re supposed to leave for the Miqat, you’re going to want a backup. I spent four hours trying to scrub a turmeric stain out of white cotton in a bathroom sink. It didn’t work. I looked like I’d had a biological accident for the entire Tawaf.
- 100% Cotton Ihram: Don’t get the polyester blend. It doesn’t breathe. You will bake.
- Large Safety Pins: The ‘belts’ are often bulky and annoying. A few heavy-duty pins can hold everything in place if you know how to fold.
- Unscented Vaseline: This is more important than your passport. If you are a man, the friction from walking miles in an Ihram will destroy your inner thighs. I’m not being dramatic. I tracked 22,400 steps on my first day in Mecca, and without Vaseline, I would have been walking like a crab for a week.
Vaseline is non-negotiable.
The ‘Wrong’ Opinion on Footwear
I know people will disagree with me on this, and they usually scream about ‘arch support,’ but I refuse to wear expensive hiking sandals for Umrah. I’ve bought the same pair of $15 rubber flip-flops for my last two trips. Why? Because shoes get lost. Or stolen. Or stepped on by three hundred people in the shoe racks of Al-Haram. I once watched a guy spend twenty minutes looking for his $120 Tevas while his group left him behind. I’d rather lose fifteen bucks than my dignity and my ride back to the hotel.
I might be wrong about this for people with bad backs, but for the average person, just get something broken-in and cheap. Just make sure they aren’t brand new. My biggest failure was wearing a pair of ‘walking shoes’ I bought at the airport. By the time I finished Sa’i, I had a blister the size of a riyal coin on my left heel. It was agonizing. Every step felt like a needle poke.
Anyway, back to the point. If you must bring ‘real’ shoes for walking around Medina, fine. But for the actual Umrah? Keep it simple. Keep it replaceable.
The stuff you’ll actually use every day
This is the section where I get a bit picky. I used to think a money belt was a great idea. I was wrong. It’s sweaty, it makes a weird bulge under your clothes, and it’s a pain to get into. Use a small, cheap crossbody bag that you can pull to your chest in crowds. It’s much more practical for holding your phone and your hotel key card.
The Pharmacy: Do not rely on finding a pharmacy in Saudi that has exactly what you want. They have plenty, but when you have a ‘Mecca cough’ (and you will get one), you don’t want to be translating ingredients at 11 PM. Bring a pack of Strepsils, some high-strength Ibuprofen, and those electrolyte powder packets. I drank four liters of water a day and still felt dehydrated until I started using the electrolytes.
Power Bank: Get a 10,000mAh one. Anything bigger is too heavy to carry all day, and anything smaller won’t survive the amount of Google Maps and video calling you’ll be doing. I tested three different brands and the Anker ones are the only ones that didn’t overheat in my bag when it was 40 degrees outside.
One more thing: Uniqlo Airism. I know everyone raves about them, but I actually hate the ‘mesh’ version for this trip. The texture feels weird against your skin when you’re sweating. Get the regular ‘Cotton Blend’ Airism undershirts for when you aren’t in Ihram. They are the only reason I didn’t melt into a puddle in Medina.
Total life-saver.
The ‘Deep’ stuff I forgot to pack
I spent so much time worrying about the weight of my towels and the brand of my sandals that I forgot to pack a decent way to record my thoughts. I brought a laptop thinking I’d write long blog posts every night. I never opened it once. I was too exhausted. I should have just brought a tiny pocket notebook and a pen that actually works.
It’s funny how we obsess over the physical gear. We buy the best luggage and the fastest chargers as if we’re trying to insulate ourselves from the discomfort of the journey. But the discomfort is kind of the point, isn’t it? You’re supposed to be a bit tired. You’re supposed to feel the heat. If you’re too comfortable, you’re probably not paying attention.
I still have that oversized 65-liter backpack in my closet. It’s covered in dust. Every time I see it, I’m reminded of that guy in 2019 who thought he could buy his way into a ‘perfect’ spiritual experience with enough gear. I wonder if I’ll ever actually learn to travel light, or if I’ll always be trying to pack my insecurities into my carry-on.
What’s the one thing you packed and never used? I genuinely want to know if anyone actually used those ‘stone collecting bags’ for Hajj/Umrah.