How To Pack For Travel: Packing for any journey can be daunting, but preparing for a long-term trip can feel outright nerve-wracking! After years of traveling for extended periods, we’ve learned a lot about what to pack and what to leave behind. We’re here to alleviate your stress by sharing our top tips, tricks, and an ultimate packing list!
How To Pack For Travel: Ultimate Packing List for Long-Term Travel
Packing for a trip is always a challenge. You want to be ready for anything, yet avoid being burdened by overpacking (a constant struggle!). When your trip spans several weeks and takes you through various climates and situations, packing can feel almost impossible.
But don’t worry—we’ve got you covered! Cue superhero theme music.
We’ve spent the past five years traveling the world, navigating different climates—snow, mountains, beaches, deserts—and experiencing various situations. Whether at swanky rooftop bars in Europe, beaches in Southeast Asia, or trekking in the Himalayas, we aim to be comfortable in every scenario.
We’ve packed, unpacked, and repacked countless times, learning a thing or two about what items are essential and which are unnecessary.
We’re sharing exactly what we packed for a yearlong trip, along with our top packing tips and favorite travel gear. (Yes, we have some handy hacks to help you fit everything into your bag!)
And the best part? This packing list is designed for both men and women, so everyone can benefit.
Crafting Your Ideal Packing List
While it would be nice, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all packing list for every person and every trip.
The best way to create a packing list that works for you is to gather ideas from trusted sources and adapt them to fit your needs based on your travel style and destination.
Considerations When Making a Packing List:
- What climates will you be traveling through?
- How long will your trip be?
- Will you be staying or dining in fancy places?
- How many outdoor activities do you plan to do?
Before embarking on our year-long, round-the-world journey, we asked ourselves these questions and started to feel a bit overwhelmed.
- Climate? Multiple climates; both tropical and wintry.
- Duration? Nearly a year.
- Fancy? Not many fancy places, but we wanted to be prepared for the occasional splurge.
- Outdoor activities? We usually plan our travels around outdoor activities.
So, how exactly do you pack for a year of travel across different climates? How do you ensure you’re ready for a fancy dinner and a 2-week trek? How do you find eco-friendly travel gear that doesn’t take up too much space in your backpack?
Packing List Contents
We’re going to walk you through exactly what we packed for a year-long trip around the world.
We hope this serves as a starting point and provides the information and inspiration needed to create your perfect packing list for long-term travel.
Below are all the different categories of gear you’ll need to pack. We have recommendations for both men and women, so this list is useful for anyone!
- Travel Backpack
- Women’s Travel Clothes
- Women’s Travel Accessories
- Women’s Travel Toiletries
- Men’s Travel Clothes
- Men’s Travel Accessories
- Men’s Travel Toiletries
- Essential Travel Gear
- Travel Electronics
- Health/Medical Backpacking Supplies
- Travel Documentation
- Travel Apps
- Travel Guide Books
- Fun Travel Books
- Destination-specific packing checklists
Travel Backpack
- Osprey Women’s Backpack
- Osprey Men’s Backpack
- Osprey Day Pack
- Packable Day Pack
Let’s start with the most important item: the backpack that will carry all your gear.
Backpack vs. Roller Suitcase
We strongly prefer backpacks over anything with wheels. They offer more freedom when traveling and help prevent overpacking. However, everyone is different. If you have a bad back or tend to pack heavily, a traditional roller suitcase might be better for you.
What about hybrid backpacks that convert to a roller duffel? We’re not huge fans of this style. These tend to lack the back support of a traditional backpack, and people often end up wheeling them around most of the time.
The models are improving, so we might consider trying one in the future.
Our friends at Banana Backpacks have a great guide on how to choose the right backpack for every type of trip.
What Size Backpack Should I Get?
We believe in the “less is more” philosophy and that smaller is better. The more space you have, the more stuff you’ll collect to fill it. Also, decide if you’ll carry your bag on the flight or check it in.
For most airlines, a carry-on bag should be no larger than 22 inches long, 14 inches wide, and 9 inches tall. Anything over 60 liters usually needs to be checked. We think a good size is between 50-60 liters. Check your airline’s carry-on size requirements before heading to the airport!
What Backpack Brand Is Best?
There are many great brands out there, so it’s worth doing your research.
We really like the Osprey brand because their backpacks are made with quality materials, have plenty of side pockets, and feature an anti-gravity suspension system for extra comfort.
If you’re a socially-conscious traveler, check out Banana Backpacks. This small company, started by backpackers for backpackers, makes intelligently designed and ethically manufactured backpacks that meet all your travel needs. Each backpack purchased helps support a young Cambodian student with two meals a day for a year. It’s a great company supporting a great cause.
The best part? They’re not much more expensive than a regular backpack. Use the code “TWStravel” for 10% off your purchase at Banana Backpacks.
Do I Need a Smaller Daypack Too?
Whether or not you choose to have a day pack is personal, but we both carry one to keep our valuables with us during long bus or train rides. If you plan on a multi-day trek, like Machu Picchu, having a small day pack is a great idea.
Whether or not you bring a day pack, we highly recommend a packable day pack. It’s perfect for city tours or short day hikes and folds up small when stored.