I’ve been traveling the world for 6.5 years and what I’ve been carrying in my backpack has changed a few times over the years but I’m finally getting my packing list down! At first, I used to bring way to much. When I was 17 I took a trip to New England and brought two enormous roller suitcases. I never wore a fraction of the clothing I brought with me. The best advice I ever read was to not bring anything with you “just in case”. In most places that you might travel to, you can almost always purchase something in the case that you need it. Saving $3.00 isn’t worth lugging around 20lbs of extra weight your whole trip. Second biggest tip, buy a backpack with a waist belt! It helps so much to make your load feel lighter. I hope you enjoy my packing list as much as I enjoyed making it!
I always pack two pairs of shoes unless I’m going somewhere very cold. I absolutely love to travel with boots. Even though they are a bigger item, they just look so cool. They are also great to have when hiking as they add a layer of protection to your legs from insects or snakes. On days when I’m on the move, I always wear the boots. The other shoes I typically pack are flip flips. They are small, light and not only are they great for the beach but also to wear in showers!
I couldn’t live without my Kindle Paperwhite. When I first began my travels, I resisted getting an e-reader. I really love books, the feel of them, the smell of the paper, everything! I grew up in Maine spending large amounts of time in libraries and bookstores. However what I found happening was that I would end up with seven books in my backpack (if I was reading a trilogy I just had to bring all three so I could finish it) then it would be really heavy and I would get frustrated with the weight. I would then leave all of the books at a hostel for them to give away. I was left with nothing to read. I finally caved and got a Kindle. Having thousands of books at my fingertips blows my mind. I have been reading so much more now.
I couldn’t travel without my flight and bus essentials. I always have an inflatable neck pillow and a sleep mask. I bring earplug style headphones to block out any noise. I make sure to download my favorite podcasts and with Spotify I can save up to 3,000 songs offline! I make new playlists for every place that I go featuring a variety of whatever style music is local to the area. I also like to have a journal to reflect on my experiences as I’m leaving one place and heading to another whether on a bus or plane.
I pack a few colorful shirts, a pair of shorts, a pair of jeans, a couple skirts and a couple dresses. You would be surprised how many outfits you can create from mixing and matching a few basics. I like to mix up my looks with accessories. Jewelry, scarves and bandanas! Even wearing different make up will really change your entire look. I make sure to roll my clothes to save space. I bring 10+ pairs of underwear so I always have clean ones if I don’t have access to laundry!
I bring a Gopro and some accessories for it.
I wouldn’t travel anywhere without my camera set up. I pack a Canon 6D, 24-70 lens, 15mm fisheye lens, a remote and most of the time I bring a tripod.
I know it’s a little extra weight but I love to travel with a few fun items. My friend Yishyene gave me a pink ribbon dancer which I adore. I like to bring tiny bubbles, temporary tattoos, glitter, chalk and my best pro tip here is a deck of cards! Adults and children alike all love to play. One of my favorite memories was a giant group of people in Oslo, Norway coloring in the park with chalk together. I love to glitter the faces of children around the world. All of my fun things are the perfect way to connect with people and in doing so learn a little more about their culture!
Accessorizing with hats and sunglasses is a must. They don’t take up much space and are both functional items. I even bring hats to warmer climates because busses and airports tend to be freezing.
I always pack a few snacks-granola bars, almonds, granola and I couldn’t live without some dark chocolate!
I always bring my own water bottle and a rechargeable water sterilizing pen which greatly reduces my need to buy bottled water! It’s always good to sterilize a glass of water at a restaurant to be sure that it’s safe to drink.
There you have it! My best packing tips! I would love to hear your favorite things to pack and tips in the comments below!