The Ultimate Packing List for World Travelers

 

Packing List For World Travelers

If you are going on a backpacking trip where you will be lugging your bag around constantly, you will want to keep your bag as light as possible. We like to keep our bag weight below 30 pounds, so it’s important to find a backpack that is light to begin with. This pack is great Teton Sports Scout 3400 Internal Frame Backpack.

You don’t want to be stuck with a bag that weighs 7-10 pounds by itself. (Check out our post on choosing the best carry-on bags to find out more about bags that we suggest.) If you can’t manage to keep your bag under 30 pounds, shoot for under 40 pounds. If you keep it under 40, you won’t have to pay baggage fees on most airlines.

This packing list will vary depending on where you will be traveling, for how long and what the weather will be like.

If you will be traveling to both warm and cold regions for an extended period of time, you are better off not carrying around the heavy warm clothes for the entire trip. You can either ship the warm clothes home once you reach warmer climates or buy the warm clothes along your trip if the cold destinations are at the end of your travels.

 

I won’t leave home without these items:

* Charcoal Pills Activated Charcoal Tablets – These work wonders for traveler’s diarrhea! Instead of just keeping you from pooping (which is what Imodium does) the charcoal absorbs the bacteria in your body so you can get rid of it on your next bowel movement. They use a stronger dose of this for people who overdose on medication and I’ve also been told it can work for people who are allergic to certain things. If you take it, it helps with the allergic reaction.

* Antibiotics for Traveler’s Diarrhea – A back up for bacteria that is beyond the help of charcoal pills. (Cypro or something similar) I’m personally allergic to Cypro but this is what is commonly prescribed for traveler’s diarrhea.

* Hand Sanitizer – Travel Size

* First Aid Kit

* Bug Repellent

* Poncho or Travel Umbrella

* Vitamin C

* Coco Luxe Moisturizing Coconut Oil (Travel size!)

* 1 or 2 Combo Locks – TSA Accepted Combo Lock
You can use this for lockers and while sleeping on trains or buses. I always use one to lock my valuables in a section of my bag and the other to lock my bag to something secure.

Take a peek inside our travel camera bag here. 

* Camera – This camera is great for traveling and takes amazing pictures! Sony a7II

* Camera Battery Charger & Extra Batteries

* Camera Memory Cards

* Voltage Converter 220V to 110V Voltage Converter with 4-Port USB International Travel Adapter

* Small External Portable Hard Drive – WD 4TB Elements Portable External Hard Drive
We use this for backing up photos. Some people bring DVD s and have a camera store transfer their files to the DVD. However, we have not had much luck finding competent places to do this in many 3rd world countries.

* Hidden Travel Wallet – Travel Money Belt
Keep your passport, money, and travelers checks in your money belt at all times. I wrap them in a Ziploc when I’m in humid areas otherwise my passport gets soaked with sweat.

* Pacsafe: Pacsafe PacSafe C25L Camera Bag Protector This is a much safer route than locking your bag with just a combo lock since somebody can easily cut the canvas.

* Earplugs – This will save you many hours of sleep!

* Ziploc bags – These can be used for many things and it’s really nice to have a few on hand.

* Headlamp – I can’t tell you how many times we were thankful that we brought one of these Petzl Headlamp

Toiletries – Small shampoo, conditioner, razor, soap, deodorant, brush, nail-clippers, half or less roll of toilet paper, sunblock, toothbrush/paste

Misc Items – Ipod touch & charger, earphones, lighter, notebook, small roll of duct tape, 2-3 pens, 1 book which gets swapped while on the road, guidebook if needed, waterproof watch

So now that I have filled my bag with all the necessities I usually set out my clothing on the floor. This is where most people tend to over pack and I have been guilty of it many times in my life. Once I have decided what clothes I want to take, I put half of it back in my closet. Trust me you will not need it.

You can get by with just once change of clothes if you really want to. You will not regret your decision to take less clothes, but your back WILL regret taking too many!

I usually separate my clothes into a couple of small vacuum bags. Travel Space Saver Bags – No Vacuum Needed!

They keep my bag organized so I’m not constantly digging through the entire bag when I need something. I like to bring an extra small bag for dirty clothes. They also compress your clothing to create more space.

 

Here is what the rest of our packing list looks like:

 

Ladies Wardrobe

Hiking/Trail shoes and a pair of sandals
5 Shirts – including 2 tanks, 2 t-shirts and one long sleeve (You can get away with less if you are prepared to wash your clothes in the sink)
7 Pairs of undies – These don’t take up a lot of space.
2 Pairs of socks – 4 if I’m going somewhere that I will be wearing them every day
1 Sundress – Good for beach days and to throw over a swimsuit
1 Pair of shorts
1 Pair of pants only if I’ll be going somewhere cold
Swimsuit
Hat
Towel

Men’s Wardrobe

Everything the same as the ladies minus the sundress and add an extra pair of shorts.

Before we leave on an overseas trip, we always consult our handy Overseas Travel Checklist to make sure we didn’t forget to do anything important.

 

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