Traveling around the world for a year (or even six months) is a different beast than a one-week or short-term vacation. While there are many similarities, long-term travelers often need different a few things in their packs—your entire wardrobe and gear has to fit in order to work in different climes and locations. When I left on my first yearlong trip, I had a lot of anxiety about what to pack. This post shares not only my one-year travel packing list and the updates I added along the way, but also my current recommended packing list after 10+ years on the road (because a lot has changed since 2008!).
Full Packing List Breakdown
How to Interpret Packing List Advice
How I Picked My Backpack Combo
My Original RTW Packing List
My Packing Updates From the Road
Female Packing List
Picture this: It’s 2008, and I am desperately combing through sparse travelogues online. I pause at every selfie (not called a selfie back then) and carefully log in my notebook what clothes the women are wearing in their photos. My list includes notes like “most women seem to carry one hoodie and two long-sleeved shirts!” and “five t-shirts and a couple tanks = enough”. I initiated my visual stalking sessions in a desperate bid to discover how many tops and bottoms women packed for their RTW trips, along with which brands seemed to hold up throughout their year on the road.
When I left in 2008, I posted my original packing list (below) so that another woman would never need to go through that painstaking process. The internet is a different place now, there’s a lot of advice out there. But yet, every single week a heck of a lot of people still make it to this page on my website for inspiration when sussing out their own packing list. So, consider this my updated packing list for female travelers (updated as of Aug 2019). It’s a full guide to effective packing for long-term trips and freely offers up the lessons I’ve learned after nearly a decade of travel. This male packing list is well done with great recommendations if you’re of the other persuasion. Sections to come cover clothes, shoes, electronics, toiletries and more. I offer brands and products, but keep in mind I had only a few expensive pieces when I started; after 10+ years on the road, some of these were investment pieces that may or may not be worth it for your trip.
Note: As an Amazon Associate I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases—this does not affect my recommendations as this is a list of my current gear and recommendations.
Travel Clothes
Dress (1) |
Short-sleeved shirt (6) |
Long-sleeved shirt (2) |
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Tank top (1-2) |
Thermal (1) |
Travel pants (1) |
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Jeans (1) |
Hoodie (1) |
Cardigan wrap (1) |
Thin raincoat (0/1) |
Underwear (8+) |
Bras (2-3) |
Leggings (1) |
Dresses. Dresses and skirts an be a lifesaver since they allow you to stay cool in the heat. I tend to favor traveling with two below-the-knee skirts these days, but when I pack my travel dress it’s pretty similar to this Columbia dress. I’ve tried on prAna dresses over the years, which are well-made and raved about by other travelers. I’ve never found one that really hit my fashion sense, and I tend to stick with Columbia brand items because they fit my frame well, but I note that here in case you see one of their dresses that you love better. I recommend getting a dress with inch-thick sleeves at the very least. This is more versatile in slightly conservative areas, and if you get a dress that covers more of your shoulder it provides better sun protection too, which is important if you wear it out sightseeing!
Pants & Bottoms. The skirts and dresses that I recommended comprise half of my “bottoms,” and that’s always a good ratio since I am most often in warm climates. I just wear my leggings under skirts in cooler climes. In addition, I carry my fancy Columbia travel pants. I had a pair when I first left and I loved them dearly, but they ripped when I took a particularly gnarly fall on my bicycle in Mexico. So, I replaced them with the closest I could find, which is a black pair of Columbia Aruba pants. These pants run small—truly very small, like maybe go up two sizes if you have hips/butt. These prAna Halle ones though are what I will buy when I wear out my current high-tech pants because they are more true to size but still look good. To that end—go with black, that’s the entire point of these slim but functional pants over cargo styles from the North Face (which I also own but just can’t fathom packing on a long-term trip because they’re so touristy). These Columbia/prAna pants are more stylish than many pants in this travel category. Besides that, I carry a pair of lightweight skinny jeans. I also carry whatever pair of black or grey leggings that I find in my drawer when packing. I don’t wear leggings as pants, but I do wear them under everything, including my jeans if it gets cold enough. I think leggings are a good idea for most long-term travelers since they make all of your outfits a bit more versatile in warm/cold weather. I find that shorts are not very handy in conservative cultures, which you will undoubtedly visit on a long-term trip. Plus they tend to be very short or very ugly. If you love shorts and are traveling to countries where you can wear them, consider packing just one skirt as a trade-off. Also consider packing a pair of thin capris instead of shorts, on my RTW trip I had capris and they were convenient (but now I just prefer skirts for personal and style reasons). My bottoms are nearly always greys and blacks and occasionally a colorful skirt; that way everything matches my tops.
Skirts. You’ll need to pick a calf-length skirt at the very least to allow you to visit the temples and churches of this world. On my round the world trip, I had an ankle-length skirt that came in very handy during my four-months in India and Nepal. Since then, in the rest of Asia and in Europe, it’s really most handy to find a skirt that hits just below the knee. I own this Icebreaker skirt, which is terrific—it’s durable and travel friendly and it’s a great brand . . . but it’s a tinsy bit too short on my tall frame to work in temples. I pack this skirt when I head to Central America, where it’s a lot less conservative! Even then, however, I always pack at least one of these cheap Stretch is Comfort skirts that have held up remarkably well—I own that skirt in four colors, that’s how much I love it—the skirts have the perfect cost to function to style ratio.
Underthings. Not gonna lie, I pack eight pairs of underwear when I travel—half half thongs and half full-butted underwear. I do this ratio completely because of personal preference (but also because thongs are tiny and I don’t totally hate them). I’m too cheap to buy the fancy travel underwear from ExOfficio but they intrigue me because they have so many doting fans among the traveler set. If someone gave me a pair for Christmas, I would probably love them and travel with them forever. But since they haven’t, I’ve been on the road ten years and I’ve been fine with regular underwear that I pick up at American Eagle when I pass through the states. Hardcore backpackers pack two pairs of underwear and wear one while washing the other pair. That is not me and will never be me, so I refuse to feel guilty for my eight pairs. When traveling, you need enough underwear that you are not laundering clothes every day. I also pack two bras—dark and light—and one sports bra. And I carry a pair of small sleep shorts. I usually just wear one of my tank-tops to bed. In cold weather, I add leggings under my sleep shorts and wear my thermal instead.
Jackets & Outer-things. When I first left to travel, I was cash-strapped and I bought a $20 zip-up hoodie from Target and carried that around the world. It looked gnarly at the end of the year—all pilly and faded. I was actually sheepish about how shabby I looked at the end of my trip, which ended in the UK and Ireland. My pilly jacket made it very clear I was a budget backpacker. Now, I’ve invested in better gear that looks nice and holds up well. You can’t do much better than this Icebreaker Quantum zip hoodie, which is made from Merino wool. It’s among my favorite travel brands because the clothes are durable and always fit well, too. Now, I also carry this lightweight Icebreaker cardigan because it’s cute and the Merino wool works well in cool or warm climates. I wear my hoodie on planes and travel days and in cold climates. And generally, I wear the cardigan all over for sightseeing and day-to-day travel—it’s super thin so it’s not too warm in hot climates to work as a shield from the sun. On my RTW trip I had carried a fleece pullover, but now I invested in a very nice thermal underlayer (I had a cheap cotton one before) and it replaced the need for a fleece. Many travelers also pack a lightweight rain jacket, which is ideal during rainy and monsoon seasons, and it also acts as a thin windbreaker.
Shoes & Socks & Other
Mix and match the shoe recommendations to fit your trip. You should probably limit yourself to three shoes that, in combination, allow you to trek, do water activities, and look nice.
Chacos (1) |
Cute sandals (1) |
Flip-flops (1) |
Sarong & Scarf (1) |
Hiking shoe (1) |
Walking shoe (1) |
Wool socks (2) |
Thin socks (2) |
If I were doing it all over again, I would definitely bring my New Balances if I planned to do any big hikes (Machu Picchu, Nepal, etc), but if I wasn’t doing something like that I would find a Merrell store and try on these Siren Edge Hikers. Along with my walking shoes, I now have a pair of green Chuck Taylors, which I deeply love but definitely did not bring on my RTW trip because they offer no support and are impractical. Adjust your shoe choices to your planned trip and activities. And consider buying an insert no matter which shoe you choose as the ones that come with shoes are lame. I have high arches and buy a Superfeet insert for all of my travel shoes (the green is their classic, but use their website to determine which color best fits your foot situation. Note that if you use insoles you often need to go up half a shoe size).
Sarong. The sarong has untold uses and every female traveler should pack one. My sarong acts as my travel towel. It’s a beach coverup. It’s an emergency bedsheet, sun protection for my face, a stylish accessory, and more. Pick a sarong in a fun color and pattern. And while your sarong surely works as a scarf, I carry a scarf as well because I am always cold, plus it’s fun to have a few extra things to make an outfit more stylish. Consider this travel scarf as it’s mega-convenient with a hidden pocket.
Sandals. On my RTW trip, I needed something versatile and durable, and there is no better travel sandal than the Chacos. You’ll meet many long-term travelers wearing these because they offer good arch support and you can wear them in a wide range of circumstances, from trekking through waterfalls to sightseeing in hot climes. Alongside my Chacos I packed a pair of flip-flops to do the trick in hostel showers and casual situations. Like with the pants suggestion—avoid the need for color here, just go with black.
Now, I replaced my flip-flops with this comfortable gladiator sandal, which is hella stylish and yet surprisingly travel-y because they’re from Crocs (note, the sandal comes tight, but after a couple of days of wear they shape to your foot and will become the most comfortable sandal you own) . One problem with just traveling with sandals and boots is that you have nothing to wear in nice situations. These Crocs specifically work well for this issue because they don’t look like Crocs. Carrying a versatile sandal is especially needed if you don’t plan to carry ballet flats. I want to like ballet flats, but on a long-term trip I’ve never found a way to keep them from smelling really bad after a short bit. Truly, I’ve tried them all and I’ve tried everything from inserts to spray deodorant—no dice. For that reason, I don’t pack flats any more; I sometimes buy a cheap pair if I’m in a spot for a while, but I mostly rely on my gladiator sandals.
Socks. Get ready for a fangirl rant about my love for SmartWool socks. You should not scrimp on good footwear since it’s such an important part of long-term travel, where blisters and ill-fitting shoes really cramp a trip. Socks are also important and can play an important part in avoiding stinky feet syndrome. These SmartWool socks are magical. Pack at least one pair to wear during treks and outdoorsy activities. They will keep your feet dry and cushioned. If you’re planning an active trip, pack two pairs. Then just throw in two pairs of thin cotton ankle socks. Four pairs of socks should work for most people, especially if you have comfortable sandals you’ll be using to explore and sightsee, too.
Basic Travel Gear & Toiletries
Makeup |
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Razor & blades |
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Prescriptions |
Carabiners (2) |
Earplugs |
On the road, note that face lotions in many countries contain whitening elements, so I always pack an extra face cream and extra quality sunscreen to last a good while (you’ll be fine in Europe, but not necessarily other regions of the world). Pack your deet repellent in its own ziplock bag. And for dental hygiene, toothbrushes and toothpaste are a cinch to replace on the road; I use a SteriPod to avoid toothbrush funk. As for toiletry cases, I used this small zip one for many years and it worked well. For Christmas I received this hanging one from MEC (a Canadian outdoors company) and it’s magnificent. It’s a cinch to hang from door handles or towel bars to keep everything handy, especially in bathrooms without countertops. The closest you can buy on U.S. Amazon is the Eagle Creek Wallaby—a good option from my go-to company for travel gear (my beloved backpack is Eagle Creek).
Prescriptions, Contacts, & Glasses. If you have prescriptions, either carry a year’s supply or research where you can top-up on the road. Carry paper copies of your prescription, and scan them and email them to yourself too. Some prescription pain meds are controlled substances in countries with harsh drug policies, so if you have any irregular prescriptions, research that ahead of time. I carried a year’s worth of contacts with me (I wore two-week throwaways) and I was able to replenish contact solution on the road. I also carried a pair of glasses and a case. Since I am seriously blind without my glasses, I scanned both of these prescriptions in case I was robbed or in case something else happened (I’ve taken an eye exam in a foreign language; it’s not fun).
Menstrual Cup. Menstrual cups like the Diva Cup are the single best way to handle your period on the road, and this post explains what and why. I highly recommend you go this route. Truly. Read the post. Consider the options. You’ll thank me. (True story, about two readers a month email their thanks for this tip alone).
Luggage Lock. Just yes, you need one. It won’t stop someone intent to steal, but it stops quick theft. I carried two around the world, this one for luggage and this one for my hostel lockers.
Medical Kit. Start traveling with a good base for your medical kit. Once you have the base, remove the things that seem overkill (I have never carried or needed an ice pack) and then customize it to meet your needs and add a few things that are often lacking. These oral rehydration salts have saved my life, twice. I carry many now. Also, no matter your stance on antibiotics, you should carry them. I always add a full bottle antihistamines for my hayfever. Carry the basic painkillers: ibuprofen, acetaminophen, aspirin. An antibiotic like Ciprofloxacin or Azithromycin (or both). Loperamide for diarrhea. Malaria medicine, if needed. Band-aids, gauze, triple antibiotic ointment. From there, top up your kit when you are on the road—antibiotics are over the counter in many developing countries and they all carry ORS, antihistamines, etc.
Door stop and Safety Whistle. Though I didn’t take these on my RTW, many solo female friends swear by both these items for giving them more peace of mind on the road. The door stop is a basic precaution in hotel rooms where the door might not latch correctly, and though the simple one is cheap, this high-tech one would do a much better job.
Water bottle. I drink from a stainless steel Nalgene because I prefer not to drink from plastic; if you’re not fussed, you could go with a durable collapsible bottle. Either way, having your own water bottle saves money and is convenient and prevents overuse of plastic in countries with few effective recycling programs. Many guest houses will have refill stations. And if you bring a SteriPen or LifeStraw then you’ll need one of these too (here’s my SteriPen review).
Hat. Sun protection is no joke. I go wide-brimmed and packable, though the short-brimmed would suffice too.
Misc Bits & Bobs. I carry this handy travel spork and I love it. If you are a budget backpacker then having a set of utensils comes in handy—it’s less necessary for mid-range and higher travelers. I carry a tiny ziplock with things like bobby pins, safety pins, a tiny sewing kit, extra hair ties, matches, and a pencil with duct tape wrapped around it. I explain that more here with ideas for travel hacks for those travel MacGyver moments. I also carry two carabiner clips and I love them dearly for their handiness. I use regular carabiners for a range of things. To attach my wallet to my purse, making it pick-pocket proof. To attach my purse strap or backpack to my chair when eating somewhere so it’s not easily swipeable. To attach shopping bags, water bottles or things to my bags. I’ve even used it to attach my camera strap to my backpack when sightseeing to prevent a motorbike from driving by and snatching it. So cheap, so many uses.
Electronics & Tech Gear
After a couple years on the road, the weird positions of working from the road caught up with me. In addition to the gear listed here, I have a complete ergonomic travel system with a laptop stand and friendly tech that prevents further carpal tunnel and RSI injuries. If you’re keen on that, I have listed out The Best Ergonomic and Portable Travel Gear.
Travel adapters (2) |
Headphones |
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Computer or Tablet |
Smartphone |
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Computer: I carry a laptop since I work from the road (more on that here) and after 8+ years of travel, it’s never been stolen (knock on wood for me, will ya). I have a MacBook Air now (used to have a Dell PC). In the past, I have used my PacSafe in sketchy areas, though I usually carry my computer out sightseeing if I am truly concerned. There is also the option of packing a cheap netbook too if you’re not working on the road. And really, a tablet could do the trick in that case too. Read Should I Bring my Laptop for an in depth discussion as other travelers weigh in on the options.
Camera: I carry a Panasonic Micro Four-Thirds. The micro four thirds cameras the ultimate travel cameras and my review of my Panasonic shares why. Even more, NatGeo magazine named it a top travel camera. These cameras are fantastic. Basically, it’s almost to the level of a DSLR (with detachable lenses and everything) but at least half the size and weight of traditional DSLR and far nicer photos than a point and shoot. Nothing wrong with a point and shoot though! If you’re not into high end photography and just need something that works, you can’t do much better than this Canon Powershot point and shoot; I had a predecessor to this camera for my first two years on the road.
iPhone/Smartphone: I adore my unlocked iPhone; if you unlock your smartphone you can buy cheap SIM cards (about $2) and plans for well less than $10 a month to use while you travel. This helps when meeting up with other travelers and calling guesthouses to book ahead. Also, the cameras and social sharing features are fantastic and mean you don’t always have to carry your bigger camera when your little one takes high-resolution photos. My techie friends put together a great list of how to buy SIM cards in various countries around the world.
Water Purification. Consider a way to sterilize your water. I have seen the LifeStraw in action, and it looks like a great all-in-one option; if this had existed when I left I would have probably carried this instead of a SteriPen, maybe. The SteriPen is a great device, it uses UV light to sterilize unsafe water in about a minute. I used this extensively throughout India, also Laos, and other really undeveloped countries where filtered, clean water is harder to find. I reviewed it after my trip and although you might not need it often, if you are going to very underdeveloped countries, I advise having it as a safety measure. I also carry a Klean Kanteen water-bottle to save money and the environment (fewer plastic bottles!).
Rechargeable Battery Pack: I carry a small backup battery supply that gives me two extra charges on my cell phone and a charge on my Kindle. This will save you if you use your smartphone for navigation sightseeing or entertainment on long bus rides. I carry one like this Jackery Bar; if you’re traveling as a couple then consider the larger version.
Kindle/Tablet. I’ve of two minds on this. I carry my Kindle Paperwhite everywhere and I deeply love it. I will not leave for travel without my Kindle. For the past six months, I traveled with an iPad mini too. It was all overkill since I travel with a laptop. The only strong value I found in the iPad was that my electronic guidebook was far easier to navigate on the tablet than the Kindle. Usually, however, I carry a paper guidebook, so I am leaving the tablet with my nephews next time I pass through home. If you have a laptop and a smartphone, then there is very little value in carrying a tablet. If you’re a reader, however, than a Kindle is invaluable. Same goes if you are a solo traveler, it’s nice to have a trove of books to pass the time. Double points if you renew your library membership before you leave; you can check out electronic books for free while you travel.
Backup Hard Drive. Depending on your travel situation, you should likely bring a portable backup hard drive like this Western Digital Passport (what I carry), or the LaCie Rugged drive, which would handle rough travel. Also consider online data backup programs. I wrote a detailed post on How a Long-Term Traveler Can Back Up Heaps of Data.
Something Silly. I carried a deck of cards during my entire RTW trip, and in the years since, I also pack a portable cribbage board when I travel with my nieces and nephews, or Bananagrams if I will be near friends who also like board games and cards. Travel is about time spent bonding with others, and these silly items will give you a reason to encourage new friends to put down their smartphones and hang out.
How to Interpret Packing List Advice
Above I offered up my current recommended packing list items, as well as the rationale for or against packing each item I recommend. For a bit more help on actually deciding what is worth carrying on your back for a year, let’s take a look at how to interpret this information on my packing list, as well as any others you’ve bookmarked.
Know Thyself
Let’s talk about three things that other travelers have mentioned to me over the years as misguided advice. First, leggings. I packed leggings and I love them. Even now that the leggings trend is waning, I pack a pair and use them constantly. But one blogger followed up and said my advice was rubbish and she never once pulled them from her pack. Where’s the disconnect? She and I wear different clothes, and we likely experience cold differently. My leggings act as my sleepwear in cold weather or hotels with A/C. I don’t think twice about using them under my pants for extra warmth (like the buses in Myanmar, which are so unbelievably frigid that I cried a time or two).
The same could be said about jeans, although I took other people’s advice about not carrying them and then bought myself a pair along the way. Now, in the subsequent 10+ years I’ve continued traveling, I’ve never left home without my well-worn jeans. I like jeans and I favor them in regular life. For me, I value the trade-off and carrying them is worth the extra weight and drying time. If you’re happy in trekking clothes or quick-dry, or perhaps you favor khakis, then take my jean recommendation in the spirit of “bring bottoms that you like to wear.”
Pack What You’ll Wear
If you’re fashion-conscious, read through this list with an eye toward clothes that fulfill a role that your current wardrobe does not. Do you have clothes to hike a mountain in a conservative-yet-tropical place? While a tank-top suffices in some places, it won’t cover enough skin in many other places.
It’s because of that range of situations that you need to think about long-term travel as a mix of dual and often competing needs. Stylish but functional and long-lasting. Suitable for warm-weather, but layerable so you stay warm in cold weather! You may have never worn a rashguard/sunshirt in your life, but you should seriously think about one if you’re planning outdoorsy activities.
Since your daily life doesn’t likely need that much flexibility, pack items with an eye toward not only what you like to wear, but what will serve your trip in the hundreds of new experiences in which you will find yourself.
Consider the Climate
Let’s consider my advice to pack jeans if you’re keen on them. I love jeans and faithfully carry a pair, but in 2016 I backpacked through Vietnam with my trusty jeans and they stank to high heaven. In the past, I had always traveled outside of rainy and monsoon seasons. Sure I hit rain sometimes, but in the past, it was a few days of rain and eventually enough dry air to thoroughly dry my jeans. This time, after three weeks with just a few hours of sporadic sunshine and nearly 100% humidity, my jeans reeked of damp clothes smell. I shoved them in a ziplock for weeks until I could get to a new climate.
What this means is that you need to temper any packing list with adjustments for your trip. If you are backpacking Asia during rainy season, then you might want to consider swapping some cotton shirts for quick-dry fabric.
And my RTW trip also chased summer around the world. Although I spotted snow on my trek in the Himalayas, that was brief and my layers sufficed (I also bought a jacket in Kathmandu for the hike and ditched it a few weeks later). If you’re visiting ski destinations or snow climes, you’ll need to either pack a heartier base layer or plan on buying/renting a heavy jacket once you arrive. You’ll also want an extra pair of wool socks.
Tiny tweaks like what I mention above are impossible to account for if you follow someone else’s packing list in full. Instead, take the packing list advice and compare it to the trip you’re planning around the world.
How I Picked My Backpack
The red backpack is my main pack and it’s a 52L Eagle Creek Meridian. Eagle Creek doesn’t make that pack anymore, but this Global Companion is nearly identical to mine (they have one in a larger size too now). At the time, I feared I may need something bigger, but this backpack was free from my bestie in LA, and free won out. Now that my RTW is over, 52L was the perfect size. I used this bag for five years, and only stopped to downsize and to switch to a 40L rolling bag. 52L was big enough to carry clothes for two people even, although I wasn’t that disciplined to carry so little, at first. But on my world travels through Southeast Asia with my niece, we shared this backpack and each carried a daypack. The lay-flat design and women’s fit is what sold me on the Eagle Creek bag—it makes a massive difference. Even as I’ve seen others with Osprey and other packs, I maintain that EC has the best build design, and certainly the most comfortable for a woman’s frame.
The blue bag (North Face Surge) held my laptop and all of my electronics gear on travel days, and it acted as my daypack when out sightseeing. I used (and fell in love forever with) the Eagle Creek packing cube system to organize everything in my bag. These packing cubes saved my life on travel days when I was rushed to repack and bolt out the door. I have also heard good things from travelers who are more the drawstring mesh bag type, but I am a die-hard fan of the cubes, honestly.
This bag setup was my system for six years. Eventually, in 2014 I changed to THE most amazing rolling suitcase from Timbuk2, and I used Timbuk2’s Showdown backpack since it was a bit more low-profile and small than my trusty North Face. This setup with the two Timbuk2 bags is what I used from 2014 to 2019. I still deeply love my rolling suitcase and will never switch, but I’ve switched up my laptop bag over the years (I also have a Timbuk2 messenger bag and a Herschel backpack—this Herschel backpack is my current laptop bag, and it’s my sole luggage when I travel around Europe because it fits under the seat in front of me and holds a week of clothes if you’re super minimalist). (NOTE: I paid for all of these bags by the way, so it’s all my honest opinion on what works). I travel more slowly now, so it doesn’t make sense to have a packing system that I used on my RTW trip. But, even to this day I swear by the packing cubes. When I left my pack was packed to its seams, but much of my stuff did not make it beyond Australia.
I have an in-depth guide on how to pick a backpack. The size and fit of a pack is so important—it’s imperative that you take the time to pick a good one that will serve your trip well. And if you are convinced that I overpacked (I did that first year!), then this Guide to Carry On Travel might be up your alley; Erin has great advice and it’s a good jumpstart on your research.
My RTW Packing List
Because I believe in the preservation of information, this is the packing list I took on my year-long trip. I also maintained the dispatches from the road which cover exactly what I had to replace, send home, etc. This list is what I published in November 2008 when I left on my trip. The packing list above is a curated packing list that includes things I’ve learned over the years. :)
CLOTHES/SHOES
1 pair of lightweight Columbia pants
1 pair of jeans
2 skirts
1 pair of sleep/athletic shorts
1 slip dress
3 tank-tops (1 dressy tank)
1 sun shirt/rashguard for outdoor activity
3 shirts/t-shirts
1 long-sleeved thermal
1 long-sleeved cotton shirt
1 North Face fleece pullover
1 zip-up hoodie
4 pairs of socks (love my two SmartWool socks; plus 2 cotton)
8 pairs of underwear
2 bras 1 sports bra
1 scarf
2 pairs of leggings
1 hat
2 pairs of capris
1 pair of Chacos sports sandals
1 pair of New Balance hiking boots ( I deeply love these as hiking shoes)
1 pair of flip flops (for shower shoes in nasty hostels)
MISCELLANEOUS
PacSafe Mesh net
Microfiber travel towel
Sleep sheet
Sunscreen
Deet insect repellent
1 extra copy of my passport
1 mini sewing kit
1 carabiner clip
1 headlamp flashlight
1 mini set of eating utensils
1 pocket knife
1 travel adapter (and maybe a couple tiny adapter tips)
1 travel medical kit: Advil/Tylenol/Aleve, antibiotic, malaria medicine, band-aids, gauze triple antibiotic ointment, cough/zinc drops
Random bits: bobby pins, safety pins, sharpie, pen, duct tape (wrapped around a pencil), small scissors, etc.
TOILETRIES
Toiletry case
Refillable travel size containers of: shampoo, conditioner, sunscreen for face, face wash, travel size toothpaste, floss, deodorant
Toothbrush
Razors
Diva Cup
Contacts (12 month supply)
Contact solution and 1 case Eye Glasses
Hair ties
MAKEUP
1 small bottle of foundation
1 compact eyeshadow duo
1 mascara
1 blush
These are things I carried in my daypack and my travel purse!
ELECTRONICS
My Laptop: (I had a Dell but now use a Lenovo ThinkPad )
Western Digital hard drive (1 TB is a mere $100 so it’s worth bringing one to back up photos!).
MP3 Player (now I travel with an unlocked iPhone)
Camera: Canon PowerShot (I upgraded in year two to a Panasonic Lumix Mirrorless)
Headphones for Skyping/music
Kindle (as of 2012 I carry one of these now)
MISCELLANEOUS
Journal
Book: Started with “Water for Elephants” by Sara Gruen
Neoprene laptop cover (it’s my computer’s raincoat!)
SteriPen
Pens
Deck of cards
My money belt (around my waist version; I used mostly for trains in India and Eastern Europe)
Dispatches From the Road
01/07/09: RTW Update from Australia
- My beloved headlamp that was so helpful at the hostels here was lost/stolen on my outback safari to Uluru. Plan to replace as soon as possible.
- My hat was left on a bus along with my Nalgene water bottle.
02/02/09: Update from Cambodia
- Shipped home a package of souvenirs by sea — hope it gets there!
- My jean skirt is now unnecessary, shipped that home too.
- One pair of capris was stained beyond wear (trust me) so left those behind in Phnom Penh.
- Bought a pair of farmer-style pants in Laos.
- Contact solution has been incredibly hard to find. Wearing glasses for now
02/25/09: Update from India
- Helen brought me a new headlamp to replace the flashlight I have been stuck using.
- She also brought a new nalgene water bottle and a SteriPen — amazing, truly.
- Bought an Indian kurta and haven’t regretted it for a moment. GREAT for trains and blending in as much as possible.
- Picked up a new scarf. Lighter than the warm one that came in handy in Oz and Laos – much better for India.
- Left my purple shirt behind in Jaipur, it was nubby as hell!
04/25/09: Update from Nepal
- Did some major shopping here! Shipped home a package of souvenirs.
- Bought a knock-off North Face rain jacket for the Poon Hill trek — works like a champ.
- Bought a safari-style hat for the trek and beyond.
- Replaced sleep-sheet, my cheap one was too short!!
- New silk harem pants. Great to sleep in, pack up tiny.
05/20/09: RTW Update from Italy
- Sent another package home with souvenirs from Nepal; though super touristy Thamel has incredible bargains and neat items if you dig around.
- Threw another worn out shirt away and replaced with a couple new ones from H&M. New sundress too, gave other away, it didn’t fit right anymore.
- Chacos smell disgusting and not responding to cleaning, but they still work fabulously besides the stinky-feet syndrome.
06/25/09: Update from Slovenia
- Just bought a Western Digital external hard drive to backup photos and my computer is falling apart and sadly destined to die soon.
Other Packing List Posts Around the Web
If you’re still deep diving into the world of long-term packing, here are some other great research spots. If you appreciate the resources on A Little Adrift, please come back here when buying any of the suggestions from Amazon. I only linked to products that I actually use and recommend, and if you buy any of my recommendations through my link, then it costs you nothing extra, but I get a tiny commission. That commission helps keep this website running. :)
- Solo female: Devon shares an amazingly detailed breakdown of her packing list and this one is well done with interactive tabs and detailed lists.
- Couples: Skott and Shawna share a couples RTW packing list.
- Solo male: Matt has a great packing list, as does Gerard from GQ Trippin.
- Family: With 2 Kids in Tow shared a family packing list for two toddler age children.
- WWOOFing: Beers & Beans have a great list and description for packing if you plan to work on organic farms.
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