Minimalist Packing List For Long-Term Travel
Packing as a minimalist is quite a hot topic online. Sometimes I don’t see people talk about their experiences with the particular items they recommend. It makes me wonder if they’ve actually used the items or not. As someone who has actually lived with these items, I’m looking forward to sharing my experiences with what I brought for multiple months of travel.
My bag ended up weighing in at 14.5 pounds. I’m happy with that as it met most limits on airlines. It also slid in, not jammed in, to the smallest of personal item sizing kiosks at airports. My fashion style depends on what I’m doing, but on this trip, I decided to dress mostly athleisure/ outdoor enthusiast. I don’t think there are many items I would have liked to travel with that I didn’t already have. I feel I could have travelled much longer with what I brought. I would have had to make some changes to survive winter. Some items I purchased before taking off. Others, I already had and made use of them to save money and not make this experience such a materialistic one.
Table of Contents:
The Bag
Topo Designs Mountain Pack 28L
Perhaps the most important item of this post will be the bag. There are numerous guides about the best bag for this, and for that. The bag I ended up using was one that I put a lot of research into. I narrowed down the things I loved and hated about quite a few bags until I stumbled upon the Mountain Pack by Topo Designs. My criteria were: Load lifters, a proper hip belt, a laptop compartment, lightweight, and a bag that can hike and be used in the city. I’m really happy with this choice as it met all my criteria well. It worked well on the road, taking it between accommodations, coffee shops, and hikes. I’m excited to put it to the test in more ways than light hiking and travel. The only downside is that it ended up being a bit too large as I packed it too efficiently for this bag. Maybe I can add more underwear next time?
Check out my full review of the bag here!
Clothing
Clothing is the second biggest category for minimalist travel, in my opinion. It really depends on the climate of the destinations you’ll be travelling to, but some basics are relevant no matter where you’re going. Using the concept of a capsule wardrobe really allows someone to be a minimalist in their clothing choices. It makes things simpler and more streamlined. To keep it all together, I used the folding method inside of a compression cube.
The list:
- Compression Cube
- Shoes
- Sandals
- Shirts
- Pants
- Underwear
- Socks
- Rain Jacket
- Sweater
- Toque
- Buff
- Belt
- Ballcap
- Umbrella
Compression Cube
Peak Design Small Compression Cube
A great compression cube to use for minimalist travel. It's large enough to fit the essentials but small enough to really make you think twice about what you’re bringing. I made use of the compression feature every time and also used the soiled laundry side quite frequently to store my gym clothes.
Shoes
I don’t like doing fancy things. So I brought one pair of shoes, and a pair of sandals. I walked a lot, and am glad I brought good shoes for that. Since I enjoy a lot of outdoor adventures, I chose to go with trail runners. I wanted to find a black pair to match my capsule wardrobe, but I ended up embracing some flair with a grey pair and pink laces. The sandals were also crucial to surviving hot and humid climates. They were full straps, and are even made for barefoot running. The added grip allowed me to take them on small hikes to waterfalls and scenic lookouts. They also worked well as shower sandals. I also brought along a dry bag for when my shoes inevitably got wet.
Shirts
Patagonia Capilene Cool Daily Shirt
Finding a shirt I love and buying multiple of them wasn’t very hard. I had already been using this technique for a long time. I knew the material I wanted, and I was willing to spend a bit more to get a reputable brand that I loved. I wore all black, partially as a fashion choice, and partially for simplicity.
Mountain Hardwear Canyon Long Sleeve Shirt
I really enjoyed this shirt. It looks a bit smart, while also being highly functional. I’ve worn it on a few hikes and trips and it’s been a sturdy shirt with some great functionality like zippered pockets, and UPF. I brought it for its outdoor purposes and the fact that it was as formal as I’d liked to dress. While I barely wore it in a formal sense, I did see a shirt with cats on it and I totally should have bought it. It was fun and I would have enjoyed wearing it instead of what I brought.
Pants/ Shorts
LuluLemon T.H.E. Linerless Short
Lululemon Pace Breaker Lined Short
I am a warm-blooded creature. I am typically used as a heater by my significant others. Due to this, I only brought one pair of pants with me. I used them for the times that I wanted to avoid the sun, bugs, and stay a bit warmer. Most of the time, I only own a few pairs regardless of travel. An everyday pair, a light technical pair, and a pair that I work in.
One of my shorts had a built-in liner that I counted towards my underwear allotment. These were almost exclusively used for fitness activities and barely used as athleisure wear. The other pair was more casual and looked fine wearing in a non-athletic manner.
Underwear
Honestly, I still haven’t figured this one out. I have tried a few different brands and types of underwear. I tried using Uniqlo Airism underwear, and I hated them. I am currently using Saxx Quest and I’m not completely happy with them. They tended to stretch out quickly, ride up the legs, and the waistband would fold over easily. In the past, I have used generic sports underwear and I’ve generally been pretty happy with them, much more than what I’m currently wearing. I brought three pairs. That’s not a lot to some, but these were highly launderable and would dry in a few hours. So I washed them in the sink quite often.
Socks
Merino all the way. I did laundry and lost one sock from my favourite pair. I didn’t expect to miss that sock so much. Maybe it's because I only took three pairs of high-quality and a bit pricey socks. If my Darn Toughs ever wear out, or can’t be replaced, I’ll be buying that exact sock again. I ended up buying some blended cotton-poly style that take on more smell and didn’t dry well enough.
Rain Jacket
I’ve gone through quite a few rain jackets in my day. Ultimately, I ended up with an ultralight Goretex rain jacket. I use it for more than just rainy situations though. It makes a great windbreaker, and also layers on top of my mid-layers.
Sweater
I did end up purchasing a lighter sweater than what I had for Canadian weather. I’m really happy with this layer as it
Gloves
Generic Light and Cheap
I’ve had these for a long time. They were the cheapest I could find at a local department store. They have held up really well to a lot of abuse from ski touring and running. I didn’t end up using them on this trip, but I’m glad I had them as a backup in case I was ever cold enough.
Toque
Thin, light, black, what more could a guy want? I’ve had this toque for such a long time and I’m surprised it's still going. It is one of the few items I’ve had that long and I'm almost certain I will buy the exact same one next time.
Neck Warmer
This buff has seen some stuff too. I’ve sweat in this thing more times than I can count. I also used it for the first time as an eye mask, and I’m really happy with the result!
Umbrella
7-11 Bargain bin
The umbrella addition was invaluable. While a rain jacket is something I bring to add to my insulation and layering system, it also works as a rain jacket, who would have thought? I quickly found out that a rain jacket sometimes didn’t cut it. It’s also often so warm out that I sweat so badly with a jacket on that it doesn’t do any good to wear one. Due to the torrential downpours at times during the rainy season, I quickly found out I needed an umbrella. Everyone uses them where I went, so I found a cheap light one from 7-11.
Ball Cap
I’m a ball cap kind of guy. They manage a bit of my sweat and are better than exposing my face and scalp to the sun. I also like their style/ aesthetic. My criteria for a hat was always one that can handle sweat, so I made sure it was highly breathable and moisture-wicking.
Belt
I like the added security of a belt. I brought a belt in the chance that I would wear out the pants I was already in. Or I found I wanted a new pair to better suit my climate. It's a flexible belt, and I happen to own two of them (one that lives with my ski pants). I really didn’t want to buy another one, so I decided to bring one along.
Toiletries
These items went over many revisions during my prep and attempt to make my bag as light as possible. I really relied on my ability to buy items at the destination I was going to. I was able to take the bare minimum of my prescriptions due to knowing how much I needed instead of, for example, the whole tube of ointment. Don’t worry, I didn’t do this with medications that could alter my health. If your skin can tolerate it, using Dr. Bronners solves the issue of needing to take multiple liquids along when you travel.
For more tips and tricks, check out my post that answers some more questions about minimalist travel toiletries!
The List:
- Toiletries Bag
- 3-1-1 Bag
- Dr. Bronners
- Tooth Brush
- Toothpaste
- Floss
- Chapstick
- Deodorant
- Shaving
- Bear Oil
- Hand Towel
- Hand Sanitizer
- Earplug
- Plastic Comb
- Nail clippers
- Medications
Toiletries Bag
I've had the same toiletries bag for so long. It's one of the oldest items I have. It’s great for organization, but maybe a bit large for ultralightweight travel. The reusable clear plastic bag was an addition. It helped me keep my liquids well below 1 L. I like my choice of something that is sturdier than a normal plastic bag.
Body Wash
When I first set out, I brought some Dr. Bronners as body wash and shampoo. And laundry detergent. And shaving cream. And toothpaste in a pinch. (tried it before I left. 0/10. Would not recommend it.)
Tooth Brush
Cheap foldable
I purchased a cheap foldable travel toothbrush prior to leaving as a replacement for my older worn-out one. I used it as little as possible to save the bristles. I ended up making use of the provided toothbrushes and paste my accommodations often had.
Toothpaste
Whatever toothpaste I could find
I always brought travel-sized toothpaste. It was easy to buy some wherever I went, and I always stocked up when my accommodations had some free stuff. I had trialled chewable toothpaste tabs, and while I would have loved to use them, they’re just too expensive for me to justify. And they’re harder to find.
Floss
Free and small from the dentist
Whenever I go to the dentist, I make sure I get as much free stuff from them as possible. Often including small cases of floss. I went through a few packs of floss while travelling, so perhaps it wouldn't be such a bad idea to bring a full-sized pack.
Chapstick
Free and small from the dentist
I hardly ever use any type of chapstick but when I need it, I really need it. I expected to be exposed to some sun, so this stuff needs to have SPF. It was so tiny that it was a no-brainer to add to my toiletries.
Deodorant
Stick, usually feminine scented.
I had a hard time with this item. When I set out, I brought a small one that quickly ran out. I then spent a few days trying to find some more stick style deodorant to avoid carrying more liquids. Unfortunately, there is a large portion of the world that uses roll-on liquid deodorant, which I disliked. In the future, I think I’ll try something like stick/ rock deodorant from Lush.
Shaving
Dr. Bronners/ Soap
Free Razors
I keep a beard most of the time. I brought one razor and it lasts a long time since I just usually clean up around my beard. I would also stock up when my accommodations had some for free. Soap was generally adequate for my shaving lotion needs after the Dr. Bronners ran out.
Beard Oil
I like taking care of my beard and I enjoy nicely scented beard oil. I brought enough to last most of the trip, but I needed to find some more while I was away. It's really difficult to find in some countries.
Towel
Sea-to-Summit Quick Drying Towel
This was highly useful to deal with sweat, and as another layer to lay on a pillow when my sunburn scabs were doing gross things. It also worked in a pinch during my one and only accommodation that didn’t have a towel. I ended up buying one for that stay of a few nights from my local 7-11 and donated it once I no longer needed it.
Hand sanitizer
Generic
I brought a small amount of hand sanitizer since, you know, grossness. I barely used this as most places have some. But I was glad to have it at times after hanging onto the railing in the subway and before eating street food.
Earplugs
Radians Custom Moldable Earplugs
I've been using similar earplugs for years. I've always had trouble with foam earplugs. Once I made the switch to these, I started sleeping better when I needed earplugs!
Plastic Comb
Generic
I keep a shaved head, but my beard still needs love.
Nail Clippers
This was one of the items I had purchased to decrease the bulk and weight of my toiletries.
Medications
Unfortunately, I need to carry a few different meds with me. Some are pills, some are creams. They are technically exempt from your liquid limitations but I managed to keep them within the 3-1-1 rule.
Electronics
I hummed and hawed so much about this topic. In the end, I brought my laptop, which was a smart move. I was able to meet the weight restrictions of a lot of airlines even when adding the laptop. As for the rest of the electronics-related items I brought, they were small, minimal, and the bare necessities of what I needed. Most of my devices work off of USB-C, except my watch and Garmin. Some people choose to bring along many additional PC accessories like a mouse, laptop stand, and wireless keyboard, but I couldn't justify all those items when I wasn't working as much as some people do.
The List:
- Laptop
- Earbuds
- Phone
- Charging Brick
- USB-C Cable
- Multi Cable
- Watch
- Watch Charger
- Adapter
- Power Bank
- Garmin
- Headlamp
Laptop
A light enough laptop that I already had. It was overpowered for what I needed it for while travelling. Despite that aspect, it’s a great laptop because I do play some video games when I’m home. I didn’t play any as I didn’t bring its huge charging brick, but on a different trip, I might bring it and a controller along.
Earbuds
Soundpeats Mini Pro/ Galaxy Buds Pro 2
My biggest issue with wireless earbuds is they needed to have ANC. I had a cheap pair from Amazon that was wonderful until they started dying from what I think was sweat. They had some amount of IPX rating, but apparently not enough for my perspiration abilities. I replaced them with a more reliable brand later on in my trip.
Phone
This might be one of the most important items I brought along aside from my passport and credit cards. It acts as so many different items at the same time Sure, my screen time has skyrocketed since I work, read, learn, plan, and waste time all from one device.
Watch
Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Classic
While this isn't a mandatory item since most people carry their phones everywhere, I find it to be valuable for a few reasons. I like to track my fitness on it. It’s really valuable on hikes and knowing how many km I’m at. I also use it so I am not staring at my phone for directions at night in some sketchy neighbourhood. I’m sure my watch saved my life since I could turn on the “flashlight” functionality when walking down dark highways to give off some sort of signal that some guy wearing all black was on the side of the road.
Charger Brick
I was working on consolidating my chargers for this trip since I was bringing 3 for all the cables I needed. The one I went with worked for my laptop and my phone. USB C and A so I could deal with all of the devices I have. It had enough wattage to keep up with my laptop, which was the biggest thing I needed to power for.
Power Bank
Bringing along a 5k mAh battery came in handy quite a few times. It was just enough to top up my phone since I was smart enough to usually keep my other items charged when I was around power. I was eyeing up the Nitecore NB10000 but, I seldomly needed more than 5k mAh. The price just wasn’t worth it.
GPS/ Emergency Beacon/ Satellite Communicator
I use it when I’m in the mountains at home. Why wouldn’t I use it when I’m hiking alone all the time and in a foreign country? it also acts as a satellite messenger to keep in contact with my loved ones (if I had been out of wifi or cell service for some time), as well as working as a robust GPS. I didn’t need to use it, but it’s worth it for the safety it provides.
Headlamp
I used it to hike for some sunrise hikes. It also came in handy for poorly lit bathrooms when I need to be hands-free while cutting my nails.
Miscellaneous
Between clothes, toiletries, and some electronics, we've pretty much got the majority of what someone would need to travel long-term. Some other items not listed, like a wallet, and passport/ documents, are also critical for travelling. Depending on how much space you have, and how minimally you want to travel, you might choose to travel with items that can add to the fun, or make some aspects of travel easier. Sometimes I felt like I was overpacking as a minimalist. I had to keep reminding myself that I was already packing light enough to bring along some extras.
The List:
- Sling
- Tote
- Travel Pillow
- Water Bottle
- Wallet
- Padlock
- Whistle
- Documents
- Notebook
- Pen
Sling
I’m happy I brought this item. It allowed me to ditch my backpack on the days I didn’t need to bring the full thing. I went with a pretty minimalist sling that I even took the extra padding out of. It housed my rainjacket, umbrella, money, charger, battery bank, earbuds, snacks, gum, documents, chapstick, pen, and notebook all at the same time. It also acted as my EDC-type organizer when in my bag, and my quick access pouch when on flights and busses.
Tote
Cheap ripstop bag from a grocery store
When I ended up in areas where I didn’t want to eat out all of the time, this bag came in handy. It was better for grocery shopping than using my backpack. It also came in handy when I needed to store some items at a hotel while I was out for a hike when I was supposed to be checked out from the hotel. On top of that, I also used it for wet items after the beach and as a laundry bag.
Travel pillow
I’ve gone through many different travel pillows. Using this one was the only time I’ve slept well on a flight. This one was light, packed down incredibly small, and comfortable. A lot of people say they’re a waste of time. I justified this item by valuing sleep so much.
Gear Hook
It worked in bathrooms where there was no hook available to hang my bag from. More often than not, it was a way to hook my sweaty hat to the outside of my bag.
Padlock
I didn’t use this once. I never needed it since I quickly abandoned proper hostel beds where there wasn’t a locker that could be accessed with a keycard. I’m hesitant to remove this from my gear though, as my future travels will likely incorporate more gyms, and it would likely come in handy at them. I’ve heard of the trick of using a NiteIze S biner, but I needed something I could actually lock a locker with.
Water Bottle
I didn’t want to go with a collapsible one since they’re more difficult to drink out of. The size was good too since I hated buying water and would rather fill up when I could for free. The sturdiness also paid off for rolling out my feet when I was getting used to barefoot minimalist sandals.
Whistle
Again, one of my takeaways from outdoor activities is having a whistle. Generally, my bags have one built into the sternum strap, but this one did not, unfortunately. This was light, small, and black.
Documents
Not much to add to these. On top of the passport, I brought covid docs, an international driver's license, a small notebook, and a pen.
Wallet
Matt and Natt Vegan Leather Card Wallet
This has been my daily driver wallet for many years, and I’ve been using this style for longer. It was a gift I received along with some spoons that were oddly the perfect gifts at the time. It can carry more cards than I need, folded cash, and some receipts If I need to keep them.
Conclusion
I hope this list and guide help with your minimalistic travels in the future. I really enjoy the challenging aspect of downsizing my gear, using what I previously had, finding new cool items to make my life easier, and living so minimally. I don't think there's a better way to travel now that I've done it this way.
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