The Ultimate [Updated] Packing List For Traveling Light

Last year I traveled for six months with just a personal item. This year, I went back to Southeast Asia and improved my kit with the lessons I learned. Like last time, I fit everything in a 28L Cotopaxi Allpa bag and a small backpack. On this trip, I went to Thailand, Sri Lanka, and the Philippines for a total of 7 weeks. Much of the packing list was the exact same, but I did make a few changes to share. I also wanted to share everything in my pack because I want people to know that it is possible to pack what you need and carry a lot less.

You have to carry your backpack a lot. In lines for the ferry, down the streets, in the hours before the hotel or hostel is finally ready for check-in. But it can be difficult to decide what you can live without for so long. My first tip is to pack as if you are only going for a week. Here are the photos for comparison of what I brought this time vs. what I packed last time:

By the way, some of the links are affiliate links, which means I might get a kickback if you buy from them, at no extra cost to you.

Everything I Packed For 2 Months of International Travel

BEFORE (Everything I Packed For 6 Months of International Travel):

Weighing In

There are several advantages of packing light, the most obvious being that you have to carry everything that you bring. REI published a rough guideline for how heavy for your pack should be:

A loaded backpacking pack should not weigh more than about 20 percent of your body weight. (If you weigh 150 pounds, your pack should not exceed 30 pounds for backpacking.)

How Much Should Your Pack Weigh?

By the end of the trip, which included a souvenir snorkeling mask set and a full water bottle, my backpack weighed in at 8kg or ~17lb. The mini pack when full weighed 4kg or ~9lb for a total of 12kg = 26lb. I had to prove that all luggage combined weighed less than 14kg for my flight from Manila to Tokyo.

The Cotopaxi Allpa 28L might have slipped by as a personal item on AirAsia. It was only an inch (a few centimeters) or so too big. This time, it counted as my carry-on and my smaller pack as personal item.

Updated Packing List

PACKS:

• 28L Cotopaxi Allpa
• 15L Fjällräven Daypack
• Bataan 3L Fanny Pack – Del Día

BASIC CLOTHING PACKING LIST:

• 1 flannel (My warmest item, only worn on plane rides)
• 2 long trousers (1 hiking, 1 yoga)
• 1 long sleeve tee
• 2 t-shirts
• 1 tank top
• 2 sport tanks*
• 1 white coverup
• 5 pairs of socks (2 regular, 3 hiking)*
• 2 shorts
• 1 skirt*
• 2 bathing suits
• 1 set short pajamas
• 14 pairs underwear
• 1 hat

* Starred are things I did not wear much.

I absolutely loved having a zipper pocket in my hiking trousers, which made it easy to pull out money and keep it secure. They were also well-suited for more adventures than my jeans were last time.

SHOES:

I updated this category after last time, switching to a lighter-weight pair of hiking shoes and one pair of sandals. I returned the hiking boots and sold the Birkenstocks that I wore last time. I basically lived in my Earthrunners and highly recommend them for travel as they can be worn in water, to protect feet on pebbly beaches or in hostel dorm showers. Plus, they dry quickly!

• 1 pair of flip flops
• 1 pair hiking boots hiking shoes
• 1 pair Birkenstocks* Earthrunner sandals

TECH:

• 1 Macbook Air*
• 1 Kindle Fire
• 1 Kindle Paperwhite
• 1 portable Power Bank from Anker replaced with 1 small portable charger from Anker
• 1 Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones
• 1 water purifier
• 1 adapter

* The weight could have significantly decreased if I left the laptop behind, or replaced with an iPad or something similar. I mostly used it for trip planning, booking flights, hotels, and other tickets. It was nice to have, although I could have done most of the work on my phone.

HYGIENE:

• 1 toothbrush
• 1 toothpaste
• 2 cleansers
• 1 shampoo
• 1 conditioner
• 1 moisturizer
• 1 toner
• 2 sunscreens
• 1 mosquito Repellent
• 1 deodorant
• 1 tiger Balm
• 1 hairbrush

MISCELLANEOUS:

• 1 sarong
• 1 mini bottle of Sriracha (survived half of the trip, but then was taken at airport security 😔)
• 1 phone Case
• 1 pair of sunglasses
• 1 16oz Nalgene
• 2 credit Cards
• Passport
• ID and International Driving License
• Snorkeling Mask (bought at end of trip, I would not have packed this to carry around the whole time.)

What I Would Change

Mostly, this set up worked great for me. However, there was still room for optimization! Sri Lanka was a more conservative country, so my skirt and sport tanks didn’t get much wear. I almost never wore my hiking boots, so I only really needed 1 pair of socks. The hiking socks were overkill. This might seem silly, but every little thing makes a difference when you are packing.

To that end, I brought a lot more skin care than usual and probably could have downsized some of the bottles. I also did not use the water purifier again but brought it as a precaution.

Our family has a saying: “No free rides!” Nothing you pack should go unused. With the exception of emergency medication, at least. Unfortunately, one of my sport tanks that I wore a ton in Bali last trip was not donned a single time this trip. It got a free ride the whole way. I’d reconsider bringing these next time, especially when I know I’ll be visiting a more conservative country.

I also brought a hat I got for free, but it advertises Erewhon, but I’ve actually never shopped there before. All I know is it’s a very expensive supermarket chain. People like to comment on branding or shirt messages—I enjoyed talking about Los Padres Forestwatch which was on one of my shirts— so next time I would wear a hat with something I actually like, so the conversations are more enjoyable.

What I Would Not Change

Having two bathing suits for these water-sports-focused countries was definitely a good call. I also brought ‘boy short’ bottoms which were great for more coverage when surfing and after getting a bit burned while snorkeling. When traveling alone, sometimes you need to ask strangers to put sunscreen on your back— or you will regret being shy. My worst burns were when I spent lots of time in the shade, you can still get burned even when fully shaded! Two suits helped cover up burns when alternating.

Last time, I didn’t pack pajamas and just wore a clean t-shirt and shorts to bed. I actually appreciated bringing a light pair of pajamas to always have something specifically for the night.

The white button up was great for sun cover and modesty. Many people buy theirs while abroad which is a great option. One improvement I’d make to mine is to let it have long sleeves to roll up as needed.

The phone case with a string was again one of my handiest items. I highly recommend getting one of these before you go. I always knew exactly where my phone was at all times. I also was glad I downsized my charging bank, as I like my daily carry bag to be as light as possible and I only needed it a handful of times.

A Laundry Recommendation

With only two long pairs of trousers, which I wore most of the time, I still had plenty of options for outfits. My sarong served as a skirt or shoulder cover at the temples.

With so few clothing items, I opted to get my laundry done for about $4 per load, and spent an extra dollar to have my small red backpack washed at the end of the trip. I would get laundry done once per country visited, so 3-4 times in the 7 weeks. I’m quite fond of this option if you are traveling in Southeast Asia. Even in Europe there are hostels with laundry services, or sometimes I occasionally will stay in an Airbnb with in-unit machines. My own mother, who also travels light, prefers to hand wash her own things as needed and hang dry.

Example Outfits

Read More

For my Top Tips For Packing Light, and The Times When Packing Small Saved Me, see my previous post.

Extra: Adjusting for Packing for Europe!

Last time I wrote about packing light, I had a couple questions from folks who were interested in doing this for Europe. A lot of the same principles apply. Of course, it depends on the season and what you plan to do, but the packing list would stay largely the same.

I would add one long skirt or pant for nicer spots in Europe, and perhaps a dressier pair of sandals (if it’s warm). I would also lean on layers to keep warm, depending on where you go and when. You can definitely still pack light like this, and wear layered jackets during travel. I’d swap one pair of shorts for something long or mid-length, switch to one bathing suit, swap the baseball cap for a warm cap and bring one more flowy cover-up.

My packing list covers most of my own scenarios. That includes hiking up cliffs, visiting waterfalls, observing temples, and doing ocean sports. I didn’t wish for anything the entire 7 months, and I felt so free moving around with exactly what I needed!

What About You?

What’s your “cheat item” — something you’ll bring even though it adds some weight?

What’s your best packing hack?

What would you change about this packing list for your own trip?