Welcome to the Most Thorough (Minimalist) Packing List Ever

The 44 things in my backpack after 250 days of world travel

For the past eight months, I’ve been traveling around the world with my trusty 26–34L Tortuga Setout Divide carry on sized backpack. (It expands to 34L but I haven’t had to use that feature yet).

I’ve been to Spain, Portugal, Ireland, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, The Philippines, Indonesia, with Sri Lanka, Australia and New Zealand on deck. I’ve hiked across an entire country, slept in an Irish yurt, surfed waves all over the globe, and driven a moped all over SE Asia.

It’s been great.

And the most frequent question I get is, “How do I pack for an around the world trip in a carry on backpack?” And it’s a good question.

So to help you out, I’ll show you literally every single item — all 44 things—that’s still in my bag after 10 countries and 250 days. You can pack super light for a trip around the world. Here’s how I did it.

If you have any questions about a specific item, just highlight it and leave a response. I’ll reply. I’ve also included a full review of each item down below. And just a heads up, some of these links are Amazon affiliate links.

Ultralight Packing List: One Year Around the World

Backpack

• Tortuga Setout Divide 26–34L Backpack ($179)

Clothing & Shoes

• Wool & Prince Pocket Tee ($49)
• Western Rise StrongCore Merino t-shirt ($96)
• Outlier Ultrafine Merino t-shirt ($120)
• Bluffworks long sleeve slim fit merino t-shirt ($55)
• Short sleeve Uniqlo button-up rayon shirt ($20)
• Oliver Passage Pants ($148)
• Olivers All Over Shorts ($68)
• Uniqlo Kando shorts ($19)
• Saxx boxer briefs ($20)
• Wama Hemp briefs ($24)
• 2x Exofficio Give N Go briefs ($28)
• Unbound Merino All Season Ankle Socks ($15)
• H&M Short Swim Shorts ($15)
• Tillak Wallowa Trail Hat ($22)
• Buff scarf ($20)
• Dollar store flip flops ($0.80)
• Scarpa Crux Approach Shoes ($125)

Toiletries

• Mesh pencil bag (toiletry kit) ($5)
• Quip toothbrush w/ travel case ($40)
• Toothpaste ($1)
• Disposable razor w/ travel shaving cream ($0)
• All Good zinc face sunscreen ($10)

Tech & Remote Work Gear

• 2011 MacBook Air w/ charger ($750)
• Neoprene laptop sleeve ($9)
• iPhone 6s w/ Mophie phone battery case ($49)
• Mpow S10 wireless BlueTooth headphones ($25)
• DJI Osmo Pocket camera ($329)
• DJI ND lens filters ($69)
• Go Pro Session ($129)
• Universal adaptor with dual USB ports ($12)
• Travel-size extension cord ($16)
• Micro USB charging cord ($1)

Other Gear

• Patagonia Black Hole 1L fanny pack ($29)
• 15L dry bag w/ backpack straps($14)
• Nomatic front pocket wallet ($19)
• Vapur 0.7L collapsible water bottle ($11)
• Sea to Summit Tek Travel towel ($12)
• Sunglasses ($5)
• Knee brace ($30)
• Face mask ($1)
• Padded sleep mask ($7)
• Hanabi card game ($7)
• Travel-size guitar ($60)
• Passport
• Other documents

Whew. That’s everything. Now here’s some more info if you’re interested in the nitty-gritty of why I packed each and every item.

My Backpack

Tortuga Setout Divide 26–34L Backpack ($179)

Hands down the best ultralight, carry on sized travel backpack for short trips or long haul travel. I’ve kept this backpack in the slim “26L mode” the entire trip for two simple reasons:

• The weight sits closer to my back, making it easier to carry and move through crowded spaces
• It easily fits in the overhead compartments on planes, trains, and busses

Honestly, I have no complaints about this bag. It’s stylish, well-designed, modular (you can remove the waist belt or expand the main storage pocket if you want), and just features all the space and pockets I need for all my clothing and gear.

Travel Clothing & Shoes

(3) Merino T-shirts: Wool & Prince, Western Rise, Outlier

Merino t-shirts are the foundation of my ultralight packing list. Each one lasts for days (if not weeks) between washes, fits great, looks awesome, and feels even better.

I didn’t realize how much I like the little pocket on the Wool & Prince shirt (great for travel) until I hit the road. It’s handy. The Western Rise is my lightest weight shirt for hot days, and the Outlier (while pricey) is a travel beast. I’ve had it for five years.

I know merino shirts are pricey, but they’re unrivaled for long trips.

Bluffworks long sleeve shirt

You always need at least one long sleeve shirt for chilly flights and buggy nights. I had a chambray long sleeve button up from Muji (loved it), but I found that the long sleeve t-shirt was just easier to pack and better for keeping me warm when I needed an extra light layer.

Do you, but a long sleeve shirt is a must—even for hot climates like SE Asia.

Short sleeve Uniqlo button-up rayon shirt

Speaking of buttons, it’s nice to have a cheap, quick-dry button-up shirt you can wear to dinner. I found this in Singapore, and it’s been great for hot humid days or driving down the coast on the moped.

Oliver Passage Travel Pants

These might just be the best travel pants I’ve ever worn. They’re lightweight, feature 4-way stretch, but still fit slim enough to look stylish as heck.

I’ve only washed these things twice in two months and they look and feel great (I got these as a test sample a few months ago). They’re perfect for one bag travel, especially in SE Asia.

(2) Shorts: Olivers All Over Shorts | Uniqlo Kando shorts

Olivers shorts are almost criminally comfortable. I think I wore them almost every day when I was in Europe last summer. They don’t have a rear pocket (my only real gripe), but they’re still awesome comfy travel pants for hot weather.

The Kando shorts are easily the lightest shorts I’ve ever packed. Their quick-dry, have decent stretch, and the front and rear pockets are solid. Highly recommend for an extra pair of lightweight shorts you can pack without even noticing.

(4) pairs of travel underwear: Saxx boxer briefs, Wama Hemp briefs, 2x Exofficio Give N’ Go briefs

Four pairs of good travel underwear are more than enough for even the longest trip. The ExOfficio Give N Go brief are classics, but the Wama Hemp underwear has slowly become my favorite pair.

I also like the Saxx underwear, thanks to the unique “cup” design, but they don’t make the best travel underwear. They mostly just take an insanely long time to air dry—usually more than a day.

Unbound Merino All Season Ankle Socks

I hike all the time—I literally walked across Spain on this trip, and I can comfortably say that one pair of shoes is all you need. If you’re going to spend a lot of time in boots, you can snag another pair, but if you travel with sandals or Toms you really only need one lightweight pair of merino wool socks.

H&M Short Swim Shorts

These swim shorts are ridiculous and short and bright and I love them. Obviously the pockets suck, but I’ve worn them swimming, surfing, and even hiking in multiple countries.

Great value for the price and my thighs are nice and tan now.

Tillak Wallowa Trail Hat

I’ve never been a “hat guy” but I’ve put this hat through the wringer. It’s a champ, and I’ve worn it 9 out of 10 days during this trip. So good.

Buff scarf

I’ve always liked Buffs, but they’re not the game changer I used to think they were. The merino wool option is great for colder places (like New Zealand winter), but thanks to the trail hat, I don’t really wear this as much as I used to. Luckily, it’s super light.

Worth packing if you think you’ll use it. It’s good at keeping the sun off your neck on long hikes or even the occasional kayak paddle.

Dollar store flip flops

Worth every penny and then some. Buy these when you land, although it took me a little while to find a size 11.

Scarpa Crux Approach Shoes

Approach shoes are hands down the best travel shoes I’ve tried. They’re lightweight for long travel days, yet rugged enough for serious hiking. I walked 500 miles across Spain in these, and they’ve got a few hundred more miles left in the tires. Plus they look cool as heck.

I highly recommend Scarpa Approach shoes, but if you want a decent budget option, check out the Quechua Approach shoes at Decathlon. They’re only $40 and nearly as good.

And that’s all the clothing in my bag after 250 days of RTW travel.

18 items including shoes, sandals, socks, undies, a swimsuit, hat, scarf, and a long sleeve shirt for chilly flights or early morning hikes. And I’m actually thinking of ditching one pair of shorts since I don’t really need two.

The point is, you really don’t need that much clothing to travel comfortably—and in relative style—for long periods of time.

This packing list has worked surprisingly well for drinks and sightseeing in chic European cities, sweaty days on dusty hiking trails, and lazy weeks surfing and relaxing in several remote SE Asian islands.

It’s not bulletproof—I plan to add a few layers and a good beanie when I head to Australia and New Zealand for their winter in a few months—but the rest of the packing list won’t change.

And if I ever need anything else I can always buy it along the way. I have tons of room in my backpack.

I do laundry about once a month (or whenever I stay somewhere with a free washer). I also try to hand-wash my underwear and a t-shirt or two every now and then, if I have time to hang them up to dry. But it doesn’t happen every week.

Honestly, the merino shirts and Olivers travel pants help keep me looking (and feeling) fresh and clean, and I haven’t gotten any complaints from the girlfriend, which is nice.

Also, I’ve included the price for each of these items, but I received everything except the shirt from Uniqlo and H&M swim shorts as a test sample from brands. One of the perks of being a travel writer. I didn’t have to buy any of the more expensive pieces of clothing, although I still think they’re all great and highly recommend each one.

That said, you don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars on travel clothing. If you’ve got the budget, invest in one or two pieces of quality travel clothing items. It’ll make travel a lot easier (and less smelly).

Here’s how I’d prioritize upgrading your travel clothing and gear:

• (1) merino t-shirt
• (2) travel underwear
• (1) pair of quality travel pants
• (1) pair of approach shoes

Each of these items will lighten your load significantly and stretch how long you can travel, especially between washes. They’re each well worth the extra cost.

TSA Approved Toiletries

Mesh pencil bag

I use this as my bathroom bag. It’s lightweight, costs next to nothing, and lets all my stuff air dry. Love it.

Quip toothbrush w/ travel case

Easily the best travel toothbrush I’ve ever used. The two-minute vibrating timer keeps me honest, and the AAA battery lasts for months.

Plus, if you bring a few spare brush heads with you, you’ll never have to worry about using a gunky travel brush for a little longer than you should.

Disposable razor w/ travel shaving cream

Picked this up in an airport lounge bathroom for free. It’s not great, but I don’t shave very often.

All Good zinc face sunscreen

This zinc sun “butter” is amazing. It’s a natural SPF sunscreen that actually works, and stays on for hours when I go surfing.

But the weirdest part is that this little tin has lasted the entire eight-month trip. Use it sparingly on your face and you’ll pass this zinc tin onto your grandkids as a family heirloom.

I’m absurdly low maintenance when it comes to toiletries, which makes packing pretty easy. I also don’t wear contacts or a mouthguard or anything that requires medication or special items. And I don’t travel with any makeup.

I also don’t shave every day, so all I really need to pack is a toothbrush and a crappy disposable razor when I need to clean up a bit. That’s why the only “real” thing in my toiletry bag is my awesome Quip toothbrush.

You may also have noticed that I don’t pack any soap or shampoo in those little Goo Tubes everyone loves so much. Here’s why.

Literally every single place I’ve stayed at during the past 8 months has had soap bars and/or shampoo available in the room. Everywhere. Europe, Asia, wherever. That includes budget hotels, homestays, AirBnBs, Agoda and Booking listings, and anywhere else we’ve stayed.

Soap and shampoo are not an issue. If you want to save space, stop packing heavy soap bars and liters of shampoo. You don’t need it, or you can snag a cheap bar when you land. But if you have to pack a bar of soap, I’ve used my girlfriends Dr. Bronner’s soap bar for laundry. It’s great.

Toiletries can add a surprising amount of weight and bulk to your packing list. If you’re planning to travel for several weeks or months at a time, ditch the soap, shampoo, lotions, and heavy electric razors and extra makeup for a lean “essentials only” style toiletries kit and buy the rest as you go (usually for a lot less than you’d pay in the US).

Oh, except for nail clippers. My girlfriend has a pair and I borrow those. Bring a pair of clippers if you plan to travel for a few weeks so you don’t look like Wolverine.

Tech and Remote Work Gear

I work full-time from the road as a travel and freelance writer, so I have to carry a laptop and a few other peripheral items with me to get work done to support my wandering ways.

2011 MacBook Air w/ charger

If you don’t actively need to work, blog, vlog, or edit videos I highly recommend leaving the laptop at home. Your phone can do just about everything a laptop can (minus the video editing). Tablets are also getting pretty dang good. I might experiment with a tablet work station for my next big trip.

Until then, I’ll stick with my 9-year-old laptop until the wheels fall off. Add the Neoprene laptop sleeve ($9) to keep your laptop safe from the bumps and debris of travel.

iPhone 6s w/ Mophie phone battery case

Extend the life of your old phone (going on five years!) with a battery case. I love the Mophie juice pack battery case. It gets 2–3 extra charges, and I never have to fumble with dongles or cables. Just push the button and get power.

Mpow S10 wireless BlueTooth headphones

Nowhere near as good as AirPods (obviously), but great for long flights, bus rides, and crowded hostels with a nice ear seal for passive noise cancellation.

Plus they’re like 1/10th the price.

DJI Osmo Pocket camera w/ ND lens filters

I love this gimbal-stabilized cinematic pocket camera. It shoots buttery smooth 4K footage and fits in my pocket.

The protective case makes it a breeze to carry and I love not lugging around a massive DSLR and a bunch of lenses—although I do recommend packing a few ND filters for super sunny days.

Universal adaptor with dual USB ports

This is a great lightweight truly universal power adaptor. It fits most outlets like a glove and has 2 USB ports built-in so you don’t need another power brick. Solid, dependable piece of gear to get work done and stay charged up.

Travel-size extension cord

I also added this extra 3-outlet extension cord (with American plugs) so my girlfriend and I can plug multiple devices into one outlet. When we need it, it’s awesome.

Bags, Gear & Other Stuff

Patagonia Black Hole 1L fanny pack

Easily the best travel fanny pack I’ve used. Perfect for ultralight travelers and days when you don’t want a bulky day bag. I liked it so much I wrote another article all about it.

15L dry bag w/ backpack straps

I bought this knock-off in Siargao in The Philippines and it’s working great. I mostly use it as an adventure day bag (aka anything involving rain or boats).

Vapur 0.7L collapsible water bottle

I recently left this behind in an airport and I’m very sad about it. The carabiner clip was super handy, and the ability to roll this down to nothing and pack it away when it was empty was fantastic. I’m gonna get another one soon.

Sea to Summit Tek Travel towel

I’ve had this travel towel for over 15 years. I can’t even believe that. It takes a licking and keeps on ticking. I’d recommend going with a smaller towel to save space, but since I have it, it’s not worth spending money on a new one.

Sunglasses

I’ve lost or broken three pairs of sunglasses on this trip already, so I just replace them with another cheap pair whenever it happens.

Face mask

I bought one of these in Vietnam because the pollution was off the charts (I had the “Hanoi Hack” cough for days). It’s also great for crowded flights and dusty moped rides.

Padded sleep mask

Another lightweight piece of gear that’s great for overnight flights and those weird hotel rooms with a glowing “EXIT” signs inside your room. When you need an eye mask, you really need one. This one even has a little pouch to store earplugs or a sleeping pill.

Hanabi card game

This collaborative card game (you try to win with the other players) is one of the best games ever. It takes a while to learn, but everyone we’ve taught it to loves it. Make sure you pack something fun to do with other people.

Travel-size guitar

I picked up a ¾-size guitar in Hanoi, Vietnam because I miss playing guitar when I travel. And while I like playing again, traveling with an instrument is a hassle. I don’t recommend it.

Nomatic front pocket wallet

I love this slim little front pocket wallet. It’s where I keep my credit card(s), cash, and Charles Schwab debit card (no atm fees anywhere in the world!). Had it for years.

I also have my passport and other miscellaneous health documents, visa documents, passport-sized photos, etc.

Packing a carry on bag for a trip around the world

It’s tough to pack for multiple countries, climates, seasons, and activities. I get it. It’s even tougher to travel the world for months at a time with just a carry on backpack.

But over the past 15 years, I’ve learned that if you want to travel longer and farther, you need a lean mean bag.

Keep your packing list as light as possible with a few pieces of quality gear, and just the essentials you need to stay connected and get work done while you travel (if that’s your thing). And remember, you can always pick up anything you need along the way, but it’s a lot harder (and more expensive) to send items home or worse, carry around things you don’t need for months on end.

Hope this helped. Have fun out there.