Packing for a weekend away or a quick family vacation is one thing, but packing for several months, a year, or even an undetermined amount of time is a whole new world. The most common advice is to pull out everything you want to pack and then cut that in half and that is definitely an important step but it’s also important to know what really has longevity to it. So, here is my packing guide and tips for longterm travel!
How to Pack Clothes
You will obviously need clothes. But how much? What kind? This is really where people tend to overpack. Longterm travel is difficult because you can’t always anticipate what activities you will be doing, what the weather will be like or even which countries you’ll be in.
This brings me to Tip #1: Basics are your best friend! Basic T-shirts, basic jeans, basic beach shorts, basic dresses, etc. Focus on solid colors, items that can be mixed and matched, and things that work for a variety of occasions. You don’t need a million black t-shirts if you have one simple yet cute one that you can wear at any time.
Tip #2: Only bring things you feel 100% confident in. Do NOT bring things you “kind of like but fit a little weird in the waist” because you will NEVER wear them. You are already anxious about new places, getting around, and meeting new people, the last thing you want on top of all that is to be self-conscious in your own clothes. You will want outfits that make you comfortable and confident so only bring things that fit well and make you feel GOOD.
Tip #3: Bring going out clothes. I know I said stick to basics BUT bring a couple standout tops or dresses that you can wear on a night out. This might depend a bit on where you are – for example, some European countries are more judgmental than say, Australia – but for the most part, backpackers are not ones to judge you for the clothes you packed 4 months ago. Also, avoid going out clothes that look bad wrinkled as they WILL get wrinkled.
Sylvia’s Closet:
These are the items of clothing that I had when traveling Australia for a year. I followed the nice weather so no winter jackets were necessary, however, if I had experienced cold weather I would have simply purchased a cheap coat.
- 2 Basic Jeans – too much, I could have done with only 1 pair
- 1 Black Jeans – essential for some of the jobs I worked
- 1 Sweatpants – only ever wore for travel days, not necessary
- 1 Beach pants – obsessed
- 2 Going Out trousers – happy with these although 1 would be fine
- 1 Overalls – so unnecessary and hard to pack but sometimes a vibe
- 3 Beach Shorts – flowy beach shorts are amazing bring them!
- 1 Athletic Shorts – nice to have for hiking
- 1 Jean Shorts – very nice to have
- 6 basic tank tops – this is all I wear so yes
- 6 less basic tank tops – could have gone with less, maybe like 2 or 3 is ideal
- 4 going out tops – honestly could have had less since I have dresses and Australian clubs are quite casual
- 2 oversized t-shirts – great for after the beach or sleeping in
- 1 hoodie – I recommend zip-up for more weather variety
- 1 Raincoat – Good sometimes but I forgot about it a lot and would usually just get rained on
- 3 dresses / 1 romper – I was happy with this – they all worked for a variety of events
- 1 pajama shorts – good to comfortably walk around hostels or rooms without feeling fully dressed
- 1 hat – forgot about it all the time but nice to have when I remembered
- 15 underwear – enough to do laundry every 2 weeks
- 2 sports bras – 1 would have been enough
- 1 bra – I literally never wear bras except when working
- 6 socks – good amount for me
- 4 swimsuits – the tops and bottoms can all be mixed and matched so I was happy with this amount but less is alright
- 2 sneakers – I’m glad I had 2 because one is a beater pair (shoes that can get dirty and worn and I don’t care) and the other pair looks nice
- 1 Hiking Shoes – Well worth the packing space
- 1 Sandals – Having sandals that can just be slipped on at any time makes life so much easier some days
Every Day Necessities
It is so difficult to guess what you are going to need while traveling longterm so here are some items that were extremely useful for me and why!
- Microfiber Towel – these dry so fast and are easy to pack
- Waterbottle – this is obvious
- Laundry Bag – made doing laundry in different places so much easier since I had something to carry it all in
- Tote Bag – great for beach days, grocery shopping, or just being prepared for a day out. It was also great when I couldn’t fit everything in my backpack on a travel day
- Global Adapter – having a charging adapter that could be used in any country was a life saver. This is especially necessary when you don’t exactly know your longterm travel plan
- Packing Cubes – these kept me so organized when having to pack and repack every few days
- Different sized Locks – I recommend at least one mini lock and one normal sized lock because hostel lockers always have different types of lock loops
- Sarong – whether in a religious country or not, sarongs are always useful for wrapping up after a swim, visiting a temple, or just having something to lay on at the beach
- Waterproof Phone Holder – so so necessary when participating in water activities so you don’t need to stress about your phone getting damaged
- Portable Charger – 100% a need on long travel days
How to Pack Toiletries
I do not always pack all of my toiletries beforehand if I know I will be able to purchase them abroad. Try to do as much research as you can, especially surrounding any specific medications or skin care products you may require. Below are some other hot tips for packing toiletries:
- Toothpaste, deodorant, and soap can be found most places, as can painkillers.
- Do not pack mini scissors (the ones for eyebrows or nails) because some airport securities do not allow them. Avoid spray deodorant for the same reason.
- It may not last your entire trip, but bring some of your own sunscreen to start out because sunscreen can be very expensive
- I hardly ever wear makeup but if you’re a makeup wearer, invest in makeup removing wipes
- Do not use bar soap! You’ll use it once and then it’ll get gross and you won’t want to repack it.
- Research the availability of tampons! Pads are widely available but tampons are nearly impossible to find in certain countries or areas.
Random Advice
Say goodbye to your favorite brand of deodorant or your home grocery store. Traveling longterm means you will run out of shampoo, toothpaste, medication, etc. so it is important to let go of your sentimental Target, Tampax, or Dove branded favorites.
You are going to gain things. If you’re working abroad, you’re going to have work uniforms or promo hats you don’t want to throw away. You’re going to be at a market and fall in love with some pants, bracelet, or keychain. This is obviously okay but be sure to have room in your backpack for all these new items!
Be sure to find what works best for you when dealing with important documents. For example, I have a single pouch that holds any visa, prescription, or identification information I need. Some might recommend not having them all in one place, however, I keep my organizer in a locked pocket of my backpack and it works for me.
Packing for longterm travel is hard when you aren’t sure where you’ll be the next several months. You will be amazed by your ability to live with simply what is in your backpack – just make sure the things you pack set you up for success!
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