shouldiuse.io

VERDICT

Should I use The Broke Backpacker?

Stretch your comfort zone, go deeper than typical guidebooks, and explore the world on your terms with stories and insights from the road, off the trail, and everywhere in between. - thebrokebackpacker.com

Depends. A free budget-travel blog that's genuinely useful for backpackers planning routes, shortlisting gear, and eyeing offbeat destinations. Don't treat it as neutral buying advice or official safety guidance — it's an affiliate-funded media site with almost no independent reviews.

Confidence

Medium. Based on ~20 public sources; user-review evidence is thin (single Trustpilot review, truncated Reddit mentions).

Ratings

  • Value for money
  • Ease of use
  • Feature depthContent site, not software
  • Support qualityContact form only; no support promises
  • Security postureNo security findings in sources

Pricing

Free

All content

ModelNot disclosed
Monthly feesNot disclosed
HardwareNot disclosed
Free tierYes

Best for

  • Budget backpackers planning routes
  • Offbeat destinations (Pakistan, Egypt, Iran)
  • First-time solo travelers
  • Gear shortlist research

Not for

  • Shoppers wanting neutral, lab-tested gear verdicts
  • Luxury or resort travelers
  • Risk-region travelers needing official safety guidance
  • Anyone expecting accountability, updates, or support — it's a blog

Gotchas - check before you buy

medium

Guess: gear and booking links likely earn affiliate commissions — cross-check prices and reviews elsewhere.

medium

Safety guides for high-risk countries age fast; verify against current government advisories.

low

Independent feedback is nearly nonexistent: one Trustpilot review at time of review.

low

Multiple contributors over the years; author depth varies by article.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Free long-form guides to budget and offbeat destinations
  • Covers rarely documented countries like Pakistan and Mozambique
  • Founder's budget travel tips earned Business Insider coverage
  • Hands-on gear reviews, e.g. extensive Arc'teryx Beta AR testing
  • Newsletter delivers ongoing budget-travel tips

Cons

  • Only one Trustpilot review — independent reputation unproven
  • Gear verdicts are experience-based; no testing methodology disclosed
  • Site required a WP Engine overhaul to fix performance issues
  • Terms place responsibility for travel decisions entirely on you
  • Safety advice is editorial opinion, not official guidance

Sources & method

Analyzed 9/24/2026 - 7 sources - No known vulnerabilities found in the sources reviewed.

official x2review x2news x3

Key stats

  • Value for money: 5/5

    Rating

  • Free

    Starting price

  • 7

    Sources

  • Analyzed

  • Value for money: 5/5. All guides free; no paywall
  • Ease of use: 4/5. Ordinary blog, zero learning curve
  • Feature depth. Content site, not software
  • Support quality. Contact form only; no support promises
  • Security posture. No security findings in sources
  • Free Price Ad/affiliate-supported blog
  • 1 Trustpilot reviews Minimal independent feedback
  • Business Insider 2016 Media coverage Founder's cheap-travel tips profiled

Pricing

All content

Free

  • Destination guides and itineraries
  • Gear reviews
  • Email newsletter

Security

No known vulnerabilities found in the sources reviewed.

What users say

Reddit travelers casually recommend it as one budget-travel resource among many, while independent review coverage is essentially absent.

“check out the broke back...”
Reddit, r/backpacking
“I've used the broke back...”
Reddit, r/backpacking
Full analysis

Based on ~20 public sources; user-review evidence is thin (single Trustpilot review, truncated Reddit mentions).

Free budget-travel blog: solid inspiration, affiliate-slanted gear picks, near-zero independent reviews. Read, then verify.

Methodology

Based on ~20 public sources; user-review evidence is thin (single Trustpilot review, truncated Reddit mentions).

Sources

  1. The Broke Backpacker - Adventure Travel Blogthebrokebackpacker.com
    official
  2. About The Broke Backpackerthebrokebackpacker.com
    official
  3. The Broke Backpacker Reviews - Trustpilottrustpilot.com
    review
  4. Where and how long can I travel with $10000? - Redditreddit.com
    review
  5. The Broke Backpacker Explains How to Travel Cheaply - Business Insiderbusinessinsider.com
    news
  6. Cleaner Code, World-Class Performance - WP Engine Case Studywpengine.com
    news
  7. Beyond boundaries with The Broke Backpacker - Hostelworldhostelworld.com
    news

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