Around the world with a daypack - My ultralight packing list

I laugh aloud every time I see a young backpacker schlepping a bag that appears to be the same size as they are. I see them struggling to drag it up the steps of a bus or trying to get it in the overhead luggage space of a plane; straining beneath its weight while trudging the streets of a humid tropical locale; knocking people over as they turn around, unaware that they are twice as wide, with their baggage, as they are normally.

On my first couple trips abroad, I found that I consistently packed one item too many, which was honestly impressive, having not had much experience traveling for months at a time. Now I’m at the point that I have exactly what I need; no more, no less. The only downside is that if I lose something, it is something important.

Before I get to my packing list, let me just say that you can buy anything anywhere. So if you forget to pack something, guess what? The whole world uses shampoo, toothbrushes, shoes, etc. In fact, I learned a very important lesson on my last trip abroad. I was traveling with a friend, and we found ourselves purchasing so many things that we’d have to stop at a post office every couple of weeks to mail a package back to the United States, and as you can imagine, that’s not cheap.

The conclusion we eventually came to was that, for our next trip, we would fly with only the clothes on our backs and an empty suitcase. That way all the things we bought along the way could simply be brought back with us in our existing bags. No shipping costs, and we were able to wear our new European clothes immediately instead of waiting until we returned home, perhaps to find the package hadn’t even made it.

So here it is. The list of the things I pack to travel the world

General

3 button down shirts (silk, polyester, or mixed lightweight fabric for easy washing and quick drying)
3 undershirts (I’ve finally condescended to paying $80 for lightweight Merino wool undershirts, though if you tend to lose things, you may want to stick with cotton)
1 pair of pants (lightweight for quick drying, with plenty of pockets) I find Kuhl to make the best travel pants. Anyone who makes a pant so durable that I can wear it every day for 1 year is impressive)
1 pair of shorts
3 pairs of underwear (I’m even more convinced to use Merino wool for these as I can wear multiple days without washing)
1 pairs of socks I usually wear sandals so socks are just for cold days. (I get the Darn Tough Merino wool socks because they stay warm when wet, dry quickly, wick moisture from your feet and don’t pick up odor easily. Again, I wore them daily for six months and they’re still in great shape)
Comfortable shoes or sandals (I only bring one pair that are good for hiking but dark colored so I can wear them to dinner as well. The brands I find are best for my countless hours of daily walking are Keen, Danner, Clarks, and Rockport)
Jacket (Something that is warm, somewhat waterproof and can be worn to a restaurant. I bring a black medium-weight Patagonia rain jacket)
Sun hat (I like something with a wide brim that sheds rain too)
Sunglasses and reading glasses, if you need them (A solid carrying case is good to make sure they last the whole trip)
Plastic trash bag for laundry
Toiletries (Toothbrush, toothpaste, dental floss, razor, shampoo, deodorant, sunscreen, Ibuprofen, toenail clippers)
Imodium AD (I rarely get sick, but this clears up any problems within hours)
Ear plugs (Don’t underestimate the value of these for fussy babies, traffic noise, loud roommates. Honestly, I always have earplugs on me, even at home)
Towel/Wrap (I have a light cotton wrap I bought in Thailand that I’ve used as a beach blanket, towel, and scarf. It dries incredibly quickly)
Waterproof backpack cover
Daypack and water bottle (You can buy bottled water almost anywhere, and most accommodations have filtered water available. I bought a UV purifier with a USB charger so that I’m no longer buying water bottles)
Padlock (It adds up if you have to constantly rent one at hostels)
Insulated coffee mug (I am environmentally conscious and drink coffee daily so this is a must for me)

Essentials

Whenever I am on a bus, a day trip or away from my main pack, I will put my essentials into a daypack. These are my passport, bank cards, cash, electronics, and laptop

Passport/ID (I take a picture or scan a copy of my passport and email it to myself. That way if you lose it, it’s easier to get it replaced)
Bank cards (I typically travel with a credit card and a debit card, which I try to keep separated from each other, reducing my risk of losing both simultaneously. I also leave a back up credit card with a family member or friend, who can express mail it to me if I lose everything)
Cash (I typically do not bring traveler’s checks or foreign money with me. It’s very easy to change dollars once you get to your destination, but I still find the best thing to do is to withdraw money from an ATM as you need it. BE SURE TO LET YOUR BANK KNOW YOU WILL BE TRAVELING OUT OF THE COUNTRY SO THEY DON’T FREEZE YOUR ACCOUNTS)

Electronics

Laptop or tablet (I am addicted to the internet and love to read, write, and watch movies on my Google Pixelbook. It is more expensive than other Chromebooks, but it is lightweight and durable with a superfast processor. You get what you pay for! You can use your smart phone for some of these purposes if you want to cut down on space/weight)
Phone
- I use GoogleFi for my phone plan since it works everywhere in the world from the moment I arrive in a new country, and the monthly cost is the same as in the US.
- I would not recommend getting an international phone plan unless you really need to call or receive calls from the US. International plans are expensive. If I really need to call out of country, I use Skype through my smartphone.
- Local SIM cards are the cheapest way to go if you want to use a phone while traveling abroad. Just make sure you go with one of the biggest providers in that country.
- I was recently told about an eSIM. If you have one of the latest phones, you can download and eSIM online for any country you’re visiting. Check out: GigSky
- There are other apps for sending/receiving calls/texts, like WhatsApp, Signal, and Lime
- I downloaded the Kindle reader app to my phone so that I can read books on long trips or in the dorms, even when it’s dark.
iPod/Headset (I enjoy audio books that I download from the library or music to pass the time on bus trips or for relaxing at the beach)
Extension cord (with the number of electronic devices people travel with now, there are never enough outlets. Plus an extension cord lets you get power closer to your bed. It’s also less bulky than a power strip)
Rubber bands (to keep your electronics cords from getting tangled)
Plug adapter (If you’re traveling to a country with different outlets. I just get the plug adapters for the countries I’ll be visiting and not the current converter. All modern devices are built for either current. The only thing you need to worry about are devices that are not electronics, like hair dryers or electric clippers)

Food

To save money, I pack my lunch and snacks by shopping at local markets. You can always count on me having a bottle of wine, cheese, and chocolate, but I also carry nuts, fruit, and tea pretty regularly. You never know when you’re going to get stuck somewhere, and it helps to have food! Check out my post on The Portable Kitchen.

There are also times you make a meal at the hostel that leave you with leftovers you don’t want to toss, so add plastic bags to the list. I carry all of these goodies in a canvas bag that I pack because it’s extremely sturdy and helps me to keep food separate from my clothes.

Most of the world now charges you extra if you don’t bring your own grocery bag so this works out as a money saver as well. The bag I bring folds down pretty small, but it has come in handy on multiple occasions, including lightening the load of my backpack in case the airline decides to weigh it. I carried a backpack that was well over the limit on 35 different flights without being charge once. I was able to do this by sneaking the heaviest of my things into the canvas bag. The trick is keeping the canvas bag hidden by the ticket counter while calling the agent’s attention to your backpack.

So, believe it or not, all of this easily fits into my 60 liter Osprey bag which can be separated into two pieces to qualify as a carry on. It is so small, in fact, that I found most airline personnel don’t even notice it, unlike the giant rucksacks of the young backpackers.