You’re gearing up for a trip?
Niiiiiiiice.
You need less than you think.
Trust me, nothing crushes spontaneity like hauling a 40kg pack.
I travel with only one carry on bag, around 8kg all in.
Obviously, this isn’t suitable for cold winter traveling. More of a tropics & temperate climate sort of a list…
My rules for packing are as follows:
- You need less than you think
- USB-C all of your things
- You can always buy stuff at your destination
Enough chit-chat, let’s get into it. Here is my packing list for your consideration.
This packing list will be enough to for backpackers and digital nomads who like to travel light and still be able to get stuff done.
Documentation
- Wallet
- Visa(s)
- Bank Cards
- A$300-500 cash
- Travel Insurance Policy
- Passport(s) with photocopies
- Original Drivers Licence(s) with photocopies
- International license
Technology Stuff
General
- Phone: iPhone 16 Plus
- Headphones: AirPods Pro (latest version)
- Charger. Heymix 100W or 120W GaN Charger
- Bare minimum cables:
- A short USB-C to USB-C (thunderbolt compatible) cable. I use this one from Anker
- A 1m or longer “normal” USB-C to USB-C cable. I like this one from Belkin
- Converters I like to have, includes; USB-C to Micro USB, USB-C to USB-A (male), USB-C to USB-A (female).
- Headlamp (Petzl Actik Core). Might be weird to you, but it has saved my ass when lost in the bush. Good for trail runs as well!
Travel office setup
- Laptop. Macbook Pro 13inch – M1 16GB 1TB – 2021 Model
- Computer Stand. Roost v3 (expensive, but light ) or Nexstand K2 (cheaper, but slightly more bulk)
- Keyboard. Logitech – MX Keys Mini (for Mac)
- Mouse. Logitech – MX Master 3 (for Mac)
Bags
- My favourite bag so far is the men’s Osprey Farpoint 40L. I has been dragged through som harsh terrain and lived to tell the tail. It is as big as a bag can get while still being small enough to fit on as carry on (with most companies). I don’t like the water bottle holders though.
- 2x Small Packing Cubes. Make sure to get ones with a see-through top section.
- Padlock (with code, not key).
Toiletries
- Soap Bar
- Hair Comb
- Tooth Brush
- Tooth Paste
- 2x Plastic Bags
- MicroFibre Towel
- Lip Stuff / Lib Balm
- Deodorant (RollOn, so you don’t get it confiscated on flights)
- Sunscreen. I only use physical sunscreens that have Zinc Oxide as the only “active” ingredient. It is common for travel destinations to sell cheaper endocrine disrupting chemical sunscreens.
Layers
Clothes
- 1x Jeans
- 2x Long socks
- 2x Short socks
- 4-6x Underwear
- 2x Hybrid shorts
- 3x Cotton t-shirts
- 1 x Collared long sleeve shirt
- Hat/Cap
- Sunglasses. I use a polarised pair from Hawkers Sunnies because the are good value and I won’t feel guilty when I break them…
- Down Jacket. I love the black Patagonia Nano Puff). It just won’t die… I’ve had it for 10+ years.
- A rain shell that I use to layer. Always get it a tad bigger so you can fit layers underneath it. Mountain designs is a good brand. I bought it from them 8 years ago and it’s going strong – they have changed the design to this raincoat.
Shoes
- Light Shoes. I live in my sandals when travelling. Got the Birkenstock Arizona EVA. They are waterproof, comfy and a little more solid than typical “thongs” (flipflops). Sometimes make your feet sweat a little because of the material, but overall 9/10. Haven’t found shoes that will replace them yet…
- Trail running shoes. I’ve been on the hunt for a shoe that does it all, but city shoes aren’t grippy enough to hike in and hiking shoes are ugly. The Salomon Sense Ride 4 shoes are my compromise for a “one shoe” solution. HMU if you have a better option.
Luxury Items
- Travel “Bum Bag” to hide cash on you body
- Water bottle (metal, wide opening at top make cleaning easier and store things in it when you travel. I use the CamelBak Chute Mag Steel (1L), but it is heavy. Lux item, feel free to skip…
- Snorkel and mask; the rented ones are usually scratched up.
- Kindle