What to Pack for Full-Time Travel
By theprofessionalhobo ~ June 24th, 2010. Filed under: Spain, travel gear.
All The Professional Hobo’s Worldly Belongings
For the purposes of this post, I recently unpacked my bags and took pictures of everything. Although I surprised even myself with a few things (like how much clothing I have, and how much more I got rid of along the way), I was also pretty impressed that I’ve been able to survive for over three years with little more than what fits in one just-larger-than-carry-on sized suitcase and one daypack.
My belongings have evolved and streamlined over the last three years, and anywhere I camped out for more than six months involved an inevitable accumulation of things that either got sent home for storage or given away/sold. But the longer I travel, the less likely I am to accumulate much at all, even if I stay somewhere for a while.
Without further ado, here is a list of everything I travel with, for you to use as a guide for what to pack for full-time travel:
Luggage and Bags
I love my High Sierra Wheeled Backpack with Removable Day-pack luggage; the main case zips right open for easy access to everything, it has wheels (which I almost always use), and zip-away backpack straps (which I almost never use, but which is handy if the terrain is rough or I’m navigating dense crowds).
My Day Pack zips onto the front of the main case so I’m only carting around one piece of luggage, and it’s perfect as my carry-on bag and around-town bag.
You can also see my TSA-approved combo lock dangling from the zipper of my luggage – very handy for security during flights as well as in hostels.
Stuffed into my main bag is another two bags: one thin lightweight compression sack (which I occasionally stuff clothes into to keep my packing volume down), and another favourite: the Outdoor Research Drycomp Summit Sack
This bag has seen me through many treks and mountaineering summit attempts, as it’s a soft-sided, waterproof, lightweight bag that doubles as a compression sack. Between this and the dedicated compression sack (and a few smaller mesh stuff sacks), I can organize my belongings quite effectively.
I do also carry a purse, which houses my wallet, camera, copies of ID, and other items I like to have close at hand for either convenience or security.
Shoes
I’ve always been a fan of my hiking boots, but there’s no getting around the weight and bulk of something that I only occasionally use (but when I use them – boy do I ever). My runners (which I bought second-hand two years ago were also looking pretty sorry, so I recently went on a long drawn-out search for some new shoes. I always joked with the salespeople that I wanted a pair of shoes that could do everything – double as both good lightweight walking shoes (to replace my runners), as well as hiking boots (which I wanted to get rid of). And they had to look stylish and cool.
Well wouldn’t you know it: one day, the salesperson – instead of laughing at me – handed me exactly what I asked for.
The Salomon Mid GTX hiking shoe
Aside from my main shoes, I have three two other pairs:
- Tevas (good for summer action and water-sports) (They’re uncomfortable and bulky, and just got “left” at the last place I was staying)!
- Flip-flops (easy slip-ons and great for hostel showers)
- Nice strappy sandals. I only own these because a) they were dirt cheap in Thailand, and b) they are incredibly thin and lightweight – even moreso than flip-flops. That, and they make me feel pretty (I’ve got to do the girly thing from time to time).
Clothing
Yes, yes; I probably have more clothing than I should, but I’m struggling to figure out how I can cut down and still be prepared for any season (and I get cold easily). Here’s what I have:
- Pants: Black quick-dry that also convert to ¾ length. Great for trekking, as well as looking nice for dinner.
- Pants: Black cotton yoga pants. Super-comfy.
- Skirt: Black knee-length.
- Skirt: Blue silk wrap-around sari skirt, which can be worn a million ways, including as a dress. Actually incredibly practical as everything from a beach cover-up, to picnic towel, to dress-up flowing skirt.
- 2 T-shirts.
- 1 black collared sleeveless shirt (nice for dressing up, and packs up incredibly small).
- 2 Long-sleeved merino wool Icebreaker
shirts – one as a standalone base layer, another as a nice top with a collar.
- 1 Long-sleeved lightweight shirt (for hot countries that require arms to be covered, among other uses).
- 1 Purple possum/merino poncho. This is incredibly lightweight, unbelievably warm, my New Zealand Souvenir, and super-stylish. Yes, ever the “girl” I am.
- 1 blue Down Jacket. It’s actually polyester – not down – but it feels like down so I call it such. It also folds into its own pocket to pack up small and make a nice pillow when I need one. Oh yeah – and it’s incredibly warm.
- 1 Pashmina (or incantation thereof). It makes for a great scarf, accessory, airplane blanket, wrap, throw, etc. Super handy and very stylish.
Work clothing: I also travel with clothing specifically intended for some of the dirtier jobs that are sometimes asked of me, depending on where I work-trade: 1 short-sleeved merino wool Icebreaker (that has seen better days), and one pair of quick-dry reinforced pants. They were quite handy as such at Mana Retreat.
- 1 Rai
n Jacket: bright pylon-orange style. The colour wasn’t my first choice, but again – it’s incredibly thin and light, and it does the trick. - 1 Pair of PJs: being a lightweight top and pair of pants that could also be worn out in a pinch. Important for hostels, where sleeping – and running to the bathroom – in undies isn’t exactly kosher.
- 3-5 pairs of socks (different weights and uses)
- 3-5 pairs of underwear (pretty much the same use!)
- 2 Bikini Swimsuits: Yes, I could probably do with one, but they just don’t take up that much room. I mean, really.
(Also in the picture above is 1 one-liter water bottle. As you can see from the stickers all over it, it has seen more than a few places in the world).
Clothing Accessories
These get stuffed into a mesh bag, and although I often forget I have as much as I do in there, I’ve also used everything at one time or another. Although I have a lot of scarves, they are also useful for warmth, accessorizing, hair ties, belts, bag-identifiers, and make-shift tools.
- 1 winter scarf
- 1 lightweight cotton scarf
- 2 silk scarves
- 1 sun hat
- 1 long canvas belt (actually, this belt was a recent casualty of another reduction spree before my trip to Europe).
Toiletries
- 1 Toiletry Bag: I won’t detail the exact contents of my toiletry kit, but suffice it to say I have mini-versions of everything I need stuffed neatly into my black fold-up toiletry bag.
- 1 Adventure Towl: one of the best pieces of travel gear I have. It’s small, dries almost as soon as I’ve wrung it out, and dries me when I need it to.
Outdoor Gear
Because I love trekking as much as I do, I have enough belongings to hit the trails – even overnight (save for the tent & sleeping bag).
- 1 pair of gaiters
- 1 thermal base layer
- 1 thermal sleeveless top
- 1 pair of gloves
- 1 small wool hat (useful for more than trekking)
- 1 fold-up plate
- 1 fold-up cup
Bit and Pieces
The last thing to go into my main bag is a bunch of miscellaneous items, as listed below:
- Adventure medical kit
- SteriPen with solar charging case
- Small Bag with membership cards I don’t need in my wallet but seem to want to hang on to, as well as extra shoelaces (another multi-purpose item)
- Extra laptop power-adapter (I took a side-trip and forgot to bring mine once, so now I have two and can’t bring myself to part with one – what if I forget it again?!)
- Installation CDs and software (for my laptop)
- External Hard Drive (which is kept in my luggage to be separate from my laptop; if one goes missing I won’t be up the creek).
Believe it or not, all that goes into my main luggage. Here’s what goes in my day-pack and purse:
- Wallet
- International Driver’s License
- iPod Touch
- Folder with official documents
- Waterproof bag with plug adaptors, business cards, cables, DVD’s, whatever
- Ziploc bag with mini optical mouse, web-cam, and adaptors/cables I use regularly
- Camera with extra SD card
- Travel Journal
- Deck of cards
- Passport Wallet (used in airports to hold boarding passes , flight itineraries, etc)
- Money belt (for passport etc)
- Underclothes mini-pouch for USB stick (with encrypted copies of ID) and extra cash (last resort)
- Laptop, including neoprene sleeve and power cord
- Earplugs (my best friend in hostels)
- Headlamp (another piece of truly prized travel gear)
- Padlock (for hostel lockers)
- Eyeshade (although I never remember I have it when I need it)
- Sunglasses
- Unlocked Cell Phone
- Small case of miscellaneous meds (painkillers, anti-histamines, anti-nausea, etc)
Although I was once inspired by a video I saw on ultra-light packing and almost took my full-time entourage into carry-on mode, I realize that my love of the outdoors – and the gear to go along with it – will prevent me from downsizing too much more. Although there are a few items on this list that could be chucked out if I had to lighten the load, I’m pretty happy in knowing that I can handle – and enjoy – whatever the world throws at me.
Related posts:
June 24th, 2010 at 6:41 am
Good stuff! I’m currently looking for the perfect pack to take me into the magical realm of carry-on only. It means my bottle opener will have to stay behind, but ithink that’ll be the only piece of kit i’ll miss.
June 24th, 2010 at 9:29 am
@Craig – Heh Heh: Trust a Kiwi to miss their bottle opener more than anything else!!! (GRINS) Seriously though, good luck making the jump. I still have to check my bag, but at least it’s only one bag (under 15kg), and I’ve got packing it down to a fine art. And with my strategic reduction of items along the way, I too may eventually end up being a carry-on gal!
June 24th, 2010 at 9:38 am
Yes, our pocket-knife went missing in Peru and, although there have been times I’ve wanted it, I think I can live without a blade. But a corkscrew? That’s quite beyond me.
June 24th, 2010 at 1:44 pm
Awesome list. It’s always fun to see what other people bring on their trips. We’re getting ready for a long trip and will definitely be adding a few things from your list to ours.
June 24th, 2010 at 4:12 pm
@Craig – LOL!
@Taylor – Glad the list was a help! Let me know once you get your travel legs under you (I see you’re leaving soon!)…maybe you’d like to submit a week-in-the-life post, detailing your travels! Send me an email if you’re interested and I’ll give you some guidelines.
June 24th, 2010 at 4:22 pm
Always interesting to see what a real traveler brings. With short 1 month trips in one climate I get spoiled going carry-on only. A long trip would prove challenging to pack for. Especially with all the tech I insist on bringing.
June 24th, 2010 at 4:31 pm
@Lise – When I took a 6-week side trip last year, I managed it with carry-on only (granted, before they started cracking down on carry-on limits), which was wonderful. But I too, wrestle with my techie requirements…they pretty much fill my small-ish daypack/carry-on bag alone!
I also get burned with the whole 4-seasons thing. Although I’m finding in the summer heat of Europe (and in my constant mission to avoid winter by hemisphere hopping, which I’ve been pretty successful at to date), that I’m itching to shed more and more of the cold-weather stuff. Slowly but surely…(it’s my love of getting into the mountains that keeps my pack full of things I don’t often use but am hesitant to get rid of).
June 24th, 2010 at 7:10 pm
My big challenge is packing shoes that look professional, but that I can walk 13+ miles in. I travel mostly by extending conference trips into longer adventures so the idea of packing a pair of shoes just for work purposes and then another for walking seems redundant.
June 24th, 2010 at 7:22 pm
At the advice of “everyone” who insisted that traveling carry-on was the supreme goal of all long-term travelers (wink wink), I brought next to nothing when I started wandering earlier this year. After five consecutive weeks of tramping in New Zealand, and now being in the midst of a New Zealand winter, I think I would have packed differently if I hadn’t been somewhat self-conscious of my pack size (tee hee). I think my “style” of travel is pretty similar to yours, especially the outdoor pursuits and working parts, and I when I leave New Zealand in a week, I’ll be carrying about as much as you do. It just seems to be the right amount.
Seriously, I think most people who take off to go “backpacking” with a single 35L pack never leave major cities, don’t work (at least not dirty work), and don’t participate in committed outdoor activities. So don’t sweat the amount of stuff you’re carrying around.
June 24th, 2010 at 8:08 pm
Thanks I always love gear lists.
Good advice on the shoes. I have hiked in a pair of Salomons for a few years now and they have been great. They do not have that industrial-strength look (like Merrells) but they have held up well. They are also comfortable, waterproof and easier on my ankles than other hiking shoes I have owned.
June 24th, 2010 at 8:32 pm
Nora, this list couldn’t be timed any better fo Jen and me. We just got our packs last week, and we need to make similar lists for ourselves. I like that you bring a deck of cards.
June 25th, 2010 at 12:18 am
@Lise – Work shoes (as in professional work) don’t have to be very bulky, so I wouldn’t sweat it. Bring them along anyway, as you’ll probably enjoy the chance to dress up a bit, even outside of work. I started out with a very utilitarian wardrobe, which I almost immediately regretted. Since then I’ve paid attention to both fashion and function.
@Nico – Thanks for the props! I agree – if I didn’t have work clothes and mountaineering clothes, then I could probably hack a smaller pack (and maybe some poetry at the same time)!
@Ras Fred – Admittedly I’m not wearing my shoes so much here in Europe, but I’m also currently in Spain where the temperatures are in excess of 30 degrees every day…I’m reveling in sandals at the moment! My bag seems to accommodate the shoes okay.
@Eli – Glad this was a help! And although I don’t use the cards often, I’ve been thankful for them when I’ve had them. Great for passing the time with new friends or entertaining kids.
June 25th, 2010 at 8:45 am
Cool list! Always fun to see what others bring.
It is funny how one gets lighter and lighter as you go, eh? We’ve become real minimalists and love the freedom it gives us.
When not in our van-sized RV traveling Europe ( where we store ALL of our things) we just take a small daypack each ….even for months in 3 seasons of weather. And that includes our 3 laptops & homeschool supplies! LOL
It’s amazing how little one needs.
June 25th, 2010 at 10:18 am
@Soultravelers3 – Good job with the daypacks (techno-gadgets included)! I’m amazed, because every picture I see of Mozart seems to feature a different outfit! (smiles)
June 27th, 2010 at 7:57 pm
Your writing style is as concise and informative as your packing style. Love all the blue in your backpacks too!
Because I pack an entire art studio in my luggage when I travel, unfortunately that means more than just a carry-on.
Thanks for revealing your packing secrets!
June 28th, 2010 at 3:02 am
@Elizabeth – Thanks! (I actually thought I was a little too verbose in describing the contents of my bag, but as you can see it’s all fairly well thought-out)! And blue is my favourite colour – hence the theme. It also helps to choose a few colour themes, so there is more ability to mix and match.
The art studio certainly means more than just carry-on, but I too – with my four-season gear and mountaineering paraphernalia – also have more than carry-on. As long as we check only one bag, I figure we’re doing okay!
July 1st, 2010 at 11:47 am
On our visit home, family keeps trying to give us stuff (e.g., t-shirts, toiletries, sweaters, etc.) and although we’re appreciative we have to keep reminding them that our backpack is only so big and EVERYTHING has a purpose (or multiple ones). Finally, I held up my 1.5 packing cubes and explained that all my clothes fit into these. The look on my sister-in-law’s face was priceless. It’s hard for people to get sometimes, so I got a laugh reading through this post. Thanks for sharing all the dirty details of your pack!
July 3rd, 2010 at 1:45 pm
@Audrey – I too have challenges with people trying to give me things. Although moreso, I have challenges with wanting more stuff myself! But when I remind myself that anything new has to replace something old (and I realize that I don’t want to get rid of anything), it usually puts an end to it!
July 3rd, 2010 at 8:55 pm
Don’t ask me how I got to this page, but I’m sure glad I did!! I’ve always thought of myself as a light packer, friends can never believe that I travel for 2 weeks with just one small carry-on, but you are an inspiration to me!! I am wanting to get into some extended travel that includes some hiking, so your thorough explanation of packing light is not only an inspiration to me, but also will be my next challenge in acquiring the best gear. I was never interested in long term travel because I hated the thought of extra baggage, now I can see that I can travel for longer periods while still keeping it very light. Thank you for being so detailed!!
July 4th, 2010 at 11:26 am
@Mary – I’m glad this post was helpful! It’s amazing how little you really need – not only on the road, but in life in general. But we are accumulators by nature, so even I find it a constant struggle not to constantly want to buy more!
July 27th, 2010 at 7:10 am
Good job on compiling the list. It looks pretty thorough. I agree that hiking shoes are extremely bulky and too much weight to carry. But if there is no way you can leave them behind, a good option is to wear them on board. Same goes for bulky jackets and coats. That should cut down some weight and save some valuable space in your bag. I used the trick last time I traveled to Seattle and believe it or not, I was able to pack for five days in just carry-on luggage – my 21” expandable from Briggs & Riley.
July 27th, 2010 at 8:16 am
@Travis – good point about wearing what you can on the plane. On a recent flight with a budget airline, I did something similar to ensure my bag was under 15kg!
However whilst in summer climates, I’ve often found it impractical – if not impossible – to layer up too much. This is especially true if there’s a lengthy journey to or from the airport on either side. If you are actively traveling from destination to destination on a long-term trip, it simply doesn’t make sense to have a bag so small that it can’t fit everything and you are relegated to layering up every time you move from one place to the next. I’d go crazy!
August 19th, 2010 at 8:39 am
Hey there! thanks for the list and explaining why you have what you carry. Like you I have been almost seduced by the idea of just carrying enough to carry on, I see I should not be stuck with the idea if I my needs do not fit that bill.
August 22nd, 2010 at 8:45 am
@Anna – I’ve been on the move a lot lately, and I’ve really not felt terribly held back by having to check my bag on flights. Yes, carry-on is nicer, but it isn’t worth the sacrifice in having some of the things with me that I really like having.
But in the same breath I’ll also admit that the weight of your bag is directly linked to happiness on the road….so I try my best to keep the weight under 15kg, and my bag is quite easy to manoeuvre and get in and out of. To me, this is more important than cramming everything into a carry-on bag.