Lately, I have been getting a lot of questions about packing for a trip. What do I bring? What should they bring? How much stuff should you take? One backpack or two? Where do you put all your electronics? Lots of questions. Well, here is my answer: I take as little as possible. If I really need something, I buy it. I try to stick to the same climate wherever I go to avoid carrying lots of different clothes. If I do change climates and need something, I buy it there. Forgot sunscreen? Pick it up cheap or borrow from a friend. In fact I pack so light, my current backpack is too big and, for my next trip around the world, I am going to downsize. So what do I pack? What do I suggest you pack besides “as little as possible?” Here’s what is in my backpack:
Toiletries/Misc.
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Razor
- Shaving cream
- Soap
- Shampoo
- A few medicines
- Earplugs
- Tylonol/IB Profin
- Small pair of scissors
Clothes
- 1 pair of Jeans
- 2 pairs of shorts
- Boxers
- 1 long sleeve t-shirt
- 5-6 t-shirts
- Flip-flops
- Sneakers
- 1 bathing suit
- 1 light jacket
- Socks
- 1 quick dry towel
Gear
- Camera
- Extra Battery
- Ipod and charger
- Plug converter
- Moleskin journal
- Global cellphone and charger
- Clock
- A guidebook for reference
- Laptop (Not needed for everyone!)
That’s what I carry around the around when I go away. Not much at all. If you are a woman, you could (and probably do) add some feminine products into the mix. However, I don’t really see what else you would need on the road and a non-flashpacker wouldn’t even need all that gear. Pack light, shop on the way if you need too. Packing light is the ultimate travel packing tip. Your back will thank you and you’ll learn to live with just the essentials. You’d be surprised just how little stuff you really need.
Sounds like a pretty good list. I’m curious about one thing, though. What kind of camera do you have? I just bought a DSLR, so packing that and its lenses will be tricky.
My list is more or less similar though would add a few feminine things. Also instead of shorts, I would add 1 one more pair of jeans & 1-2 skirts.
In gears, I also take some SD memory cards that I have. I also take along a small notebook, credit cards and international driving license.
Why do you need a clock ?
What type of cell phone do you use? What are the associated costs?
Of course it depends on where to go too. For some places I would also add a mosquito bed net (maybe hydrocortisone for eventual bites too) and a pocket flashlight.
A GPS Navigator – either in the cellphone or a stand alone – isn’t wrong to have either
Man, I realized that even after I took loads of stuff out of my pack when I left on my trip, I still took too much stuff. I’d like to stick to the one jean policy next time and maybe take a smaller pack. And not go to South America in the winter (had to buy extra clothes for that down there).
Great list and very similar to mine. I always carry a Swiss Army Knife, cap, sunglasses, a small torch, two sets of photocopies of key documents and a decent medicine kit (depending on the country) to add to your list. Also a sturdy water bottle if I plan to walk much. There are a couple of excellent packing lists on the net which helps prompt for things that may be important to you and you may have forgotten – simply search on “travel packing list” or similar.
It always reminds me of getting to a hostel and watching a huge bloke weighed down with an even larger back-pack, bulging at the seams, drag out a dressing gown and pillow. And I thought I’d seen most silly things in a hostel.
I’d recommend ‘borrowing’ one of those little pillows from the airline on your way, they make long overnight bus journeys much more comfortable!
My wife and I recently spend the better part of a month in Europe. I think my bag weighed maybe 12 pounds. I bought a couple pair (next time I’ll take only one) of REI adventures pants (on sale, but they’re worth the full price). We found it immensely amusing to watch the people 30 years younger who slogged around with backpacks front and rear, insisting on dressing in the most impractical travel attire possible – jeans.
They’re heavy, prone to stains, and impossibly slow to dry unless you have a clothes drier or hot sun (in which case you have another reason to discover why jeans suck). But I guess for some people that’s a small price to pay for the benefit of looking the same as everyone else.
A Wanderlite Pack worked out great for day trips and shopping.
I also took a handful of CDs with Michel Thomas French and German review courses, and a cheap portable CD player we had lying around. An iPod (I gave mine away a couple years ago) would have been better, but perhaps better still would have been a cheap portable mps cd player – fewer discs to carry, and who is going to steal it when the jean-clad pack animals in the next compartment all have iPods more worthy of stealing?
Mark H, I also used to carry a Swiss Army knife, but if you can fly with one carry-on bag, why be forced to check it and take chances with airline baggage mishandlers?
Also, general hint for travel packing: two lists – ‘wear’ and ‘carry.’
Also, assess your potential sense of loss when packing your camera and iPod. I took stunning photos with a Fuji FinePix a couple years ago in Argentina. I purposely bought an older one off eBay so I wouldn’t be overly concerned if it got lost or stolen – the photos I published immediately on my blog.
You don’t need 20 megapixels to create snapshots. (BTW, I used to teach photography and spent time as a professional photographer).
Also, Matt, do a little experiment: dump the shaving cream. The next time you shower, pull out your razor and shave, if not in the shower (no, a miror isn’t required to shave) immediately after.
I discovered this long ago, and have perhaps used shaving cream twice in the last 20 years.
I also note that your list neglects to mention shoes or reading material. Flip flops are great for hostels and such, but provide no arch support, which won’t be a problem until it is, some years later. I’d dump the guide book and take something more interesting to read. Your best info comes from other travelers, research in advance, and online forums.
(Did you know that Lonely Planet writers are forced to ‘dump’ listings when a new edition comes out, just to make it ‘new’?)
I meant ‘mp3,’ obviously.
The difference between me and you? I Absolutely NEED mascara. And my hair straightener. And 5 pairs of shoes.
Is it obvious I’m not a backpacker?
Interesting read. Makes me feel so materialistic. But, hey, I NEED that straightener to disguise my big, crazy hair!
Jessica N.
P Riehl: I almost mentioned that the Swiss Army Knife doesn’t always make it anymore because of the carry-on bag issue. Thank you for pointing out. Coming from Australia, most o/s holidays involve flying a fair way and I do check luggage then.
Very similar list to mine: I’m a girl so delete razor add skirt instead of 1 pair of shorts and tampons. Usually about 5 books too and it still weighs less than 10kg and is a 30l day pack! I just bough a Asus eee pc which is so tiny it can come too on the next trip
I try to travel as light as possible and i avoid cosmetics..I sometimes carry my laptop and a pair of sandals
Yea, seems to be our one issue, picking a place with one season.
That being said, I had convertible pants made so now I can take one pair of pants, that will convert to capris and shorts.
Oh, and don’t forget the hat, sunglasses, and a small flashlight. Many camps especially in Mongolia may not have lights to guide you to the bathrooms and showers.
Thanks for the insight!
I’ve got a post on all the little things entitled, “What’s in my Bag? that others might find useful.
pack one wonderful rubberband, a safety pin, and a weird length of strong string. also, a needle with a bit of black thread, and if you want to splurge, white thread, too. those foolishly flimsy and teeny travel scissors in throw-away kits have come in handy, too….also, a ziplock baggy, containing a couple of handy-wipes. something sticky is going to happen, and you will be glad to have them.
also, i hand-write all flight/itinerary notes into a small journal, where you can also tuck-in a photo or two of loved ones from home. when you are away for months, and someone asks where you are from, you can show them a picture, and exclaim “Mama!”
discussions of shoes and T-shirts all been said and done….remember: your luggage, if not packed lightly, becomes your enemy.
you forgot your deodorant Matt, or is this a trick for always having extra seating space on planes ?
Tell us the truth, Matt !
I would strongly recommend also including a travel light set of scales also for weighing bags.
Many friends have experienced some issues in Spain with regards to the settings on the check in scales for baggage. Despite measuring themselves it is often 3-5 kgs heavier of the check in scales and this has incurred extra costs.
Duct tape is wonderful. and you never know. I take a working but cheap pen and wrap duct tape around it…maybe about a yard. Up to you. And take it with you. It’s about the size of a pen instead of a huge roll of duct tape and you can patch, attach, close, etc. on the run. I’ve even used it to temporarily patch clothes. Try it once when you pack. And if you don’t use it? You can use the pen
) –hope this helps all you travellers! aloha, maria