How to pack for lightweight travel

For most trips, one week of clothing and a regular laundry stop are enough A lighter backpack is easier to carry between stations, hostels and hiking trails. This is the compact packing list I use.

OK, so it’s a basic article, but I bet a useful one, here are my packing advices At the bottom I’ll tell you what exactly I pak every time + seasonal stuff

Clothes

• One week worth of clothes, max. I do a load of laundry every week (So technically, 8 days of clothes? I like to have ambiguous clothing for my last day like pajama/sport shirt).
• One warmer layer (hoodie, fleece, whatever) for nights, cold climates or higher altitudes.
• Underwear and socks can get dirty fast, bring enough to rotate. (Socks are fine if you don’t sweat with your feet, I don’t)
• Shoes: one solid pair for walking, eventually flip flops or something similar. (Sandals can be nice as well, unless you’re hiking)
• Sunglasses / Cap

Note: You’ll notice that everybody wear the same clothes a couple time, if you don’t sweat too much, use a t-shirt for two days. If you can’t wash a cloth right away, air dry it so it remains ‘fresh’, then pack it aside your other clothes. Drink enough water, you don’t want to have sweat touching your clothes, otherwise they will smell. Showers twice a day if possible, it also help maintaining clean clothes.

Note: Choose clothes that can be washed together without separating colours, and clothes with proper material that don’t keep smell. Always wear clothes adapted to the weather, in hot weather linen is a godsend.

Sleep & Comfort

• Sleeping mask: useful on planes, buses and in shared rooms. Especially when a-holes turn on the light at 4AM.
• Earplugs: useful in shared rooms unless, like me, you are hearing impaired (And even then, I still do use them, sometimes).
• A neck pillow: Optional, personally I don’t like them, but if you sleep seated, it’s quite good. But takes too much space.

Health

• Bandaids and sterile compresses: I seldom use them for myself, but I saved a few with them.
• Sun screen. VERY Important, cancer is a bitch.
• Condoms.
• Diarrhea medication: carry the medication you normally use rather than relying on finding the same product abroad. I personally take Imodium.
• Doliprane or similar.

For the last points, consult your physician, that’s better. Don’t take medication unless really needed too, if you got the diarrhea, it’s for a reason. But please, consult whenever needed.

If you got space, a thermometer can be useful too, to know if you got a real fever and when you really need to take a break/see a doctor.

Health is the most important thing, take care.

Hygiene goes second, even if you travel, stay clean, it helps to keep clothes/bedding clean and your health too.

Hygiene

• Wet wipes: Replace Toilet Paper or showers when camping without water.
• Antibacterial gel: use it often, especially before eating. If going to dirty places, you might even have to resupply along the way. (I buy 50ml, very small so it’s convenient to carry)
• Dry soap and shampoo: small, doesn’t leak, often ecological.
• Deodorant that is not anti-perspirant. (I use an oat deodorant from Yves Rocher, it allows me to sweat with a good smell (But drink plenty too))
• Toothbrush and toothpaste. (Obviously! For toothpaste, I use small 100ml package, they last for bigger trips)
• File/Nail trimmer. (After two weeks of traveling without using your nail, you’ll feel the need)
• Lightweight towel: Dries fast and doesn’t take too much space. Useful when ho(s)tels don’t provide any.

Electronics

• USB cables, at least two, just in case. I take two 3.1 type C (one longer, one shorter for emergencies), And a 2.0 Type A (For my power bank)
• Power bank: useful on long journeys and where charging points are limited. I recommend taking one that is more than 10k mAh
• Adapter: You can find universal blocks online, some even charge multiple devices at once.
• Reader: A Kindle or a Kobo are nice things to have, lighter than books and they last a while, battery-wise.
• Earphones: useful in shared rooms and on public transport. Sometimes I even take my headset (A Plantronics BB Pro 2).

Other

• A sewing kit. I had to sow someone with it, lol. Don’t attempt.
• A pen. Bloody useful for customs forms and border crossings.
• Foldable hiking poles: Ok, that take some space, but as I’m getting older, I’m becoming more fragile while going down slopes. It’s also useful when hiking above 5000 meters.
• A padlock.
• Your useful personal items.
• A foldable bag.

ID

• Passport.
• ID Card if you don’t use the passport. (Taking both means having a chance of losing both)
• Driving license/International driving licence (If you plan to drive)

The Rule

If an item has no clear use on the planned route, leave it behind. Most ordinary toiletries and clothing can be replaced during the trip, although specialised equipment may be harder to find.

Travel light and keep it simple: every unnecessary kilo feels ten times heavier after a week.

What I personally take, the full list

I use a 40L backpack!

Clothes

• 2 Shirts, 2 hiking t-shirts, one regular shirt
• Pajamas
• A lightweight pant
• A short
• 4 Pairs of socks
• 7 underwears
• My light coat (It’s ideal for temperatures from 10 to 20°C, usable in the 5-25°C range)
• Lightweight scarf, for cold weathers (Optional)
• Thermal underpants (Optional)

I also pack clothing bags to help organize my bag, it’s good to have I use the same coat for -10°C weather, but I use two shirts simultaneously.

Hygiene

• Toothbrush/paste
• Kanga (Comb)
• Soap (At least two/three pieces)
• Dry Shampoo
• Small hotel shampoo/after shampoo bottles (One of each)
• Small Towel
• Nail trimmer
• Deodorant
• Wet wipes (a small pack)
• Mini perfume (Just because I like it)

(https://www.yves-rocher.fr/corps-et-douche/soin-du-corps/deodorant/deodorant-baume-solide/p/94316)

Health

• Doliprane
• Imodium
• Antihistamine (For allergic reaction)
• Mini tiger balm
• Mini thai balm for mosquito bites
• Condoms
• Bandaids (One package)
• Sterile compresses (Two to three)
• Sun screen (SPF 50+)

Electronics

• Long USB C 3.2 cable
• Short USB C 3.x cable (IDK)
• USB A 2.0 cable
• Phone charger (The big block)
• Mi Bank 10k mAh
• Mi Watch (To track steps, heartbeat, for running sessions)
• Mi 14 (That’s the phone I use)
• Mi buds (I use the buds 4, IIRC)
• Kindle
• Universal adapter

Important

• Passport
• 10L foldable bag (From Forclaz, a classic)
• A satchel where I carry daily stuff, sometimes with the bag too.
• Debit Card (Good luck for paying otherwise)
• A variable amount of cash (pristine bills)

Water/Food in the foldable bag (Also whatever else takes space and don’t fit in the satchel) Sunglasses, a bit of money/earbuds, (sometimes) passport, hand gel, pen, deo… in the satchel

Other

• Sewing kit
• Ear plugs
• Sleep mask
• Sunglasses
• Hair ties (2)
• A refillable water bottle (I had one with a filter, but lost it, the plastic foldable one can be nice to have)

Personal stuff

• Patka (Head covering for gurdwaras and other sacred places)
• Kara (Sikh item of faith, doubles up as a weapon)
• Keys to my home
• Transport card for Home (Navigo & Korrigo for me)

Hopefully I didn’t forget anything!