What do you pack for a trip around the world?

Written by: Sara

​I got this question pretty often before we left, and it's something I asked (and still ask) myself often as well.  Colin and I read several blogs about what to pack, and I even have an entire Pinterest board dedicated to packing for travel (never used Pinterest for travel suggestions?  Rethink your whole life!)

When I backpacked in college, I didn't have any nice gear or special hiking clothes.  I got my first travel backpack for my trip to Tanzania in 2010 on eBay for $30, and I continued to use it for the next 7 years.  It was great, but definitely a $30 eBay backpack.  Since this trip was for much longer, I wanted to do more research and spend a little more money on gear in the beginning to (hopefully) be more comfortable in the long run.  ​​

​To me, packing is a personal decision.  The big question is what can you live without?  It's different for everyone, so I can really only give you suggestions and tell you what we did.  Hopefully it will help :) Also remember though that we are traveling for 21 months on this trip, and we need clothes and gear for both warm weather and cold weather.  You can pack way less if you only need items for one or the other.

The two most important things when choosing what to pack:
​

1. Whatever you pack, you will be carrying that on your back for as long as you are traveling (there is no turning back!).  So, sure, go ahead and get the 90 L backpack... if you're comfortable carrying that much on your back for the next several months. Backpacks have a tendency to feel heavier and heavier the longer you lug it around. 
   
   
2. You have to pack and unpack your stuff sometimes daily when you're on the road.  The more stuff you have, the longer that will take and the harder it will be to make everything fit in your bag. Four months in and I'm still working on getting my routine down for packing up.

​Sometimes when I meet other backpackers, it seems as though it's a competition -- who can travel with the least amount of stuff?  Sometimes I catch myself getting drawn into the competition too.  The truth is, in the "real" world when I'm not traveling, I'm a little high maintenance.  I loved getting my nails done every 2 weeks.  I loved buying new Lululemon.  I loved expensive coffee after my barre or spin workout at my gym.  But when I'm traveling, simplicity is key.  I'm trying to find a balance between cost, comfort, and cuteness.  Sometimes I have the least amount of stuff in a group, and sometimes I have the most.  I'm learning to live and let live :)

Ok, so let's jump into the details!  Sections below are: 1) Sara's Stuff, 2) Colin's Stuff, 3) Gear & Electronics, and 4) Stuff we use to pack it all up (backpacks, packing cubes, etc.).

1) Sara's Stuff:

• Clothing
  • Tops (12):
    • 4 tank tops
      • Grey Lululemon tank
      • Gator tank 1
      • Gator tank 2
      • Ron Jon Surf Shop tank
    • 5 t-shirts
      • Black plain
      • Orange
      • Yellow Quetzeltrekkers free t-shirt
      • Teal L.L. Bean for hiking
      • Black & teal striped (cropped top)
    • 1 strappy bodysuit for going out
    • 2 long sleeved shirts for cold weather
      • Teal Patagonia (super warm)
      • Grey turtleneck (very light and thin but warm)
  • Dresses (2):
    • Blue Kuhl dress for walking around (I seriously love this - see it here)
    • Black t-shirt dress for going out
  • Bottoms (9):
    • Comfy shorts for lounging (and they're cute enough to go to a bar in)
    • Thermal pants (I get really cold)
    • Black hiking shorts that come down to my knees (longer shorts will be good in the Middle East and Africa too)
    • Workout capris from Lululemon (great for bus travel days)
    • Khaki hiking shorts
    • Grey hiking pants that roll up into capris
    • Black workout shorts from Lululemon
    • Black denim jeans
    • Rain pants
  • Rain jacket from Patagonia (I love this - see it here)
  • Light jacket (fuzzy white one) from Patagonia
  • Light black sweater for nicer nights out
  • Purple jacket from Arcteryx (I love this too - see it here)
• ​Underwear (11)
  • ​3 Tomies period panties (more info here)
  • 3 hiphugger Thinx period panties (more info here)
  • 2 thong Thinx period panties (more info here)
  • 2 regular panties
  • 1 regular thong
• Bras (6):
  • 2 True & Co. seamless bras - 1 nude & 1 black (super comfy - see here)
  • 4 sports bras (Lululemon & Victoria's Secret)
• 3 reusable pads (more info here)
• Socks (7):
  • ​3 short / for warm weather
  • 3 long / for cold weather
  • 1 for really cold weather
• ​Gloves
• Hat for cold weather
• Face mask for really cold weather
• Bathing Suits:
  • ​1 One-piece
  • 1 top for athletic activities
  • 1 high waisted bottom
  • 1 thong bottom​
• ​Shoes (4):
  • ​Croc black ballet flats (dry easily + I can wear them out)
  • Shower shoes
  • Chacos (OMG YOU NEED SOME OF THESE)
  • Hiking / running shoes (because in my head, I'm going to run to stay in shape)
• ​2 USA Passports (we each have a duplicate to use for travel... Email me if you want details)
• International driving permit
• Luggage tag (Mrs.)
• Camelbak water bottle
• RFID wallet / passport case (see it here)
• Sunglasses + case
• Hairdryer (travel sized and adapts to most countries' voltages)
• Hair straightener (also travel sized and adapts to most countries' voltages)
  • ​Note about my hair appliances... I am growing my hair out from a pixie haircut, so it is at an awkward stage.  To me, at this point, these items are important.  Most women I've run into do not backpack with a hairdryer or straightener (and maybe when my hair is less awkward then I won't either), but as I've already said... You do you.
• ​Hiking hat to shade my face and neck
• Other hat that is cuter so I wear it more often if the hike isn't as long
• Tomies disposable heating pads (only a few for when the cramps are super painful - more info here)
• Face wipes (these are magical and I love them - I don't know where I'll replace them when I run out though)
• Blue & white toiletry bag (see below for what's inside)
• Big black Sephora toiletry bag (see below for what's inside)

The blue and white toiletry bag is for all of my shower supplies:

• Face wash
• Razor (for the rare occasion that I actually shave)
• Wash cloth to exfoliate
• Conditioner (I don't use shampoo, but I still like conditioner)
• Insect repelling wash (for anything from clothes to your body, but I use it as a body wash)
• Shower cap
• Lotion
• Face scrub (it was free from Sephora before I left, so I'll just use it until it's gone)

The big black Sephora toiletry bag is for all of my personal toiletries:

• Lululemon headband - it's the fringe fighter, and it's amazing
• Headband from Guatemala
• Other headband (yes, I need 3)
• Brush (travel sized)
• Hair clips / bobby pins
• Nail clippers
• Nail file
• Tweezers
• Safety pins
• Hair tie
• Tiny little chapstick
• 2 lip liners
• Blush (travel sized)
• 2 lipsticks
• Lip liner pencil sharpener
• Mascara
• Spot corrector
• Foundation
• Tiny scissors
• Toothpaste
• Floss
• Retainer (for those of us who had braces... insert sad emoji here)
• Electric toothbrush (I have Quip because it's very small and runs on AAA batteries that I have extras of and can replace when they die - I brought enough heads with me so that I can change them out every 3 months)
• Mouthwash
• Q-Tips
• Tea tree oil for my face
• Acne cream (ugh)
• Face lotion
• Deodorant
• The bag in the top right is my reusable menstrual cup (more info here)
• The bag in the bottom right has earrings and a necklace in it
• The gold bag is a silicone wedding ring so I can wear it instead of my silver one if needed

2) Colin's Stuff:

• Rain jacket
• Rain pants
• Bathing suits (2)
• Soft shell jacket
• Bottoms (4):
  • 1 pair of shorts
  • 2 pairs of Lululemon gym shorts (LOVE)
  • 1 pair khaki pants
• Shirts (8):
  • 2 t-shirts
  • 2 tank tops
  • 2 polos
  • 2 flannel long sleeves
• Hat
• Gloves
• Face mask for cold weather
• Socks (5)
• Boxers (6)
• Scarf
• Shoes (5):
  • Hiking boots
  • Tennis shoes to run in
  • Shower shoes
  • Chacos
  • Nicer shoes to go out to dinner in (considering leaving these behind)
• ​2 USA Passports (we each have a duplicate to use for travel... Email me if you want details)
• International driving permit (not pictured)
• Luggage tag (Mr.)
• Water bottle
• Hat to protect from sun
• Toiletry kit (just the basics)
• Razor
• Sunglasses
• Notebook to jot things down in
• Wallet (just a normal leather one)
• Passport / other important papers holder

3) Gear & Electronics: 

• Bug spray
• Sunscreen
• Hand-sanitizer
• Butt pads (considering getting rid of these because the buses aren't too bad in this part of the world yet and they take up too much space - more info on them here)
• 2 sleeping bag liners with insect shield (see here)
• 4 heavy duty carabiner clips (these come in handy at the oddest times)
• 3 cell phones (one for each of us and an older backup)
• GoPro (HERO5 Black) + 2 extra batteries + supersuit + tripod
• 360fly (360° camera... see our photos & videos page for examples of these)
• Padded case for camera accessories
• Laptops (2) + carrying cases (2):
  • Hers: Lenovo Yoga 710-11IKB Signature Edition (11")
  • His: HP Spectre x360 Convertible Signature Edition (13")
• Mouse - Microsoft Arc Bluetooth (love this)
• Flash drive (password protected)
• Stylus + pen
• Permanent marker (this does come in handy)
• Emergency med kit
• Master med kit
• Portable charger (Vinsic - see here)
• Travel adapters (2) - see the ones we have here
• Money belts (2)
• Scrubba: portable laundry washing bag
• Laundry soap sheets (haven't used these, but seem cool)
• REI extra large towels (2)
• REI medium towels (2)
• Tiger Lady claws for self defense (seriously... check these out)
• Rope for random things
• Binoculars
• Another portable charger (small enough for my purse)
• Collapsible water bottles with filters (2) - see here
• Basic headphones (2)
• Visa photos (several extras in case we need them at borders - you do for some countries)
• Camp light (compact and bright - see here)
• USB splitter
• Headlamps (2) - (here)
• Padlocks (2) for lockers in hostels
• TSA approved locks (2) for luggage on planes
• Phone chargers (2) and other charging cords
• Travel corkscrew
• Bottle opener
• Knife that looks like a key for my keychain
• Sleeping mask
• Earplugs
• AAA Batteries
• Fitbit
• Business cards to hand out to keep in touch with people

4) Stuff we use to pack it all up:

On a travel day, I have 3 bags: My big backpack, my little backpack, and my purse.  Colin has his big backpack, his little backpack, and his hat (since he doesn't want it to get crushed).  It's a lot to carry, but it's doable.  Here's what we look like walking around the airport:

Big Backpack - Hers: ​​Osprey Farpoint 70L

• Pros:
  • ​By far the best thing about this backpack is that it is airline checking friendly.  Notice in the pictures below that the back zips completely up to hide the straps.  This has been wonderful on all the flights we've taken and had to check the bag.
  • It has a duffel bag type zipper compartment, so I don't have to pull everything out to get to the bottom of the bag like you do with some other backpacks.
  • There is a day-pack that you can zip  on and off.  If you only want to check one bag, you can zip it on and only pay for one bag.  If you want to carry on the day-pack, you zip it off.  
• ​Cons:
  • ​The day-pack's 2 water bottle pockets on the outside do not really fit waters bottles if the  day-pack is completely full.  
  • There aren't any pockets other than the big one, so you can't stash away things where they are super easily accessible.  However, packing cubes can solve this problem.

Big Backpack - His: Mystery Ranch Ravine 50L

• Pros:
  • Water resistant
  • ​Glorious zipper design for easy access to gear without having to unpack everything
  • Very functional external pockets (6) that seem to be black holes for miscellaneous items
  • Comfortable harness and shoulder straps great for climbing into taxis or long mountain treks
• ​Cons: ​Designed for backpackers rather than travelers
  • ​Not airport friendly with straps that don’t secure well and stick out or dangle
  • No built in storage mechanisms for electronics or documents
  • Side pockets don’t secure items tightly enough for tossing onto the roof of buses

Organizing Your Stuff
Let's talk in general about organizers.  They are life changing!  I have never traveled with them before, but they are amazing.  What do you need and why?  

1. Packing cubes: A) They keep your clothes organized and neatly folded / rolled.  You know when all your clothes are nicely folded and you need that one top from the bottom of your bag, so you pull out everything else just to get to it?  Imagine if you pulled out a few packing cubes to get to the one you needed, and unzipped it to find that top.  Everything stays neat, folded, and organized.  B) In addition, depending on the type, they also compress your clothes so that you can fit more in your bag.  C) You have a place to keep your dirty clothes.  I hate having my dirty clothes contaminate my clean clothes, so I've designated an airtight packing bag specifically for dirty clothes.
   
   
2. Shoe bags: I am a stickler for not letting my shoes touch anything else in my bag.  Previously, I've used plastic grocery bags to keep them separate, but with zippered shoe bags, they contain the dirt / gross stuff better and last longer.
   
   
3. Electronics / other small gear organizer: I put these in a zippered bag that came with my packing cubes.  It keeps them together and organized.

Below are some links and info on everything we use.

​​Eagle Creek Pack-It Specter™ Compression Cube Set (S/M)

• These are great because they not only organize your clothes, but when you zip them up, they also compress your clothes.
• Here's a YouTube Review of Eagle Creek Pack-It Specter™ Compression Cubes
• These are pictures of the 2 types that I have, but there is one more size that is smaller, and there are other colors as well.

Eagle Creek Pack-It™ Compression Sac Set S/M/L

• These are airtight (but you don't need a vacuum or anything to use them.  You zip them up and then roll them to get all the air out.  They don't let the air back in (it's magic).
• I use the large one for all the dirty clothes (it's really big - make sure you check the sizes before you order them).
• Note about these: you need to be careful to roll them very slowly.  I actually broke them in the beginning, but Eagle Creek replaced them for me, and even shipped them with 1 day shipping.

6 Piece Tresutopia Waterproof Luggage Organizer Set​

• These are the first type of packing cubes we bought (before I bought the Eagle Creek compression ones), and they work great, but they don't compress.  I like the little extra bags it comes with as well.  
• These are not actually waterproof even though that's in the name.  There are holes in the top of them (like a mesh material).

YAMIU Travel Shoe Bags

• These work great - see above for benefits of shoe bags.

Here's what my clothes look like when they are all packed up:

I've said it before, but these are all merely suggestions.  You do you when it comes to packing :)
Comment below with any questions or other suggestions!