How to Pack (Light) for a Year of Travel

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We hear it time and time again: “I want to pack light, but I’m traveling for a year.”

A year is a long time to travel. 

Most people can’t even envision their lives in one year, let alone plan all the things they might need in a backpack for those entire 365 days.

So, it’s no surprise that when it comes to packing light and packing for a year, travelers often assume there is no way those two concepts can walk together, hand-in-hand.

But they can!

The key is to pack for a year-long (or 3-month, 6-month, 9-month) round the world trip just like any short vacation. I use this tip to pack light for all of my travels, including my 5-month round the world trip.

You can easily do the same by taking note of the following advice.

Bring the Right Bag

Wondering how to pack light for a year of travel? 

It starts with the bag! 

When people think about traveling for a year, they immediately think they need that giant, oversized, fit-a-family-of-4 type of suitcase.

That’s NOT true!

If you follow the tips in this article, that oversized suitcase is obsolete.

Obviously, packing light has different definitions for different people, but we definitely recommend a carry-on sized piece of luggage (even if you end up checking it). This keeps your packing in check and makes sure you don’t buy too many unnecessary souvenirs.

Your bag will need to last the year, so it should be durable enough to withstand the bumps of the road. It should also be made of a material that is easily cleaned (or doesn’t show dirt as quickly). 

Whether you go with a backpack or a suitcase, well that’s up to you.

• Take a look at this post to get you started: How to Choose Your Luggage.

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Use Packing Organizers

A year of travel comes with constant packing and unpacking. 

Packing organizers make the process way easier! Here are some examples:

• Packing cubes
• Compression sacks
• Ziploc bags 

But, if you’re like me, you might want to find another way. Just make sure everything has a specific place to go back to so that you don’t lose stuff!

• Brooke loves her Eagle Creek Compressible Packing Cubes.

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Pack a Week’s Worth of Clothing

Look at the destinations you’re planning on visiting. 

• Are they mostly warm weather or cold weather destinations? 

Pack a week’s worth of clothes that go with the climate where you’ll spend most of your time.

Warm Weather Destinations: 

If you’re spending most of your time in warm weather destinations, pack t-shirts along with a light jacket in case of chilly transportation. Add in one light sweater for your cold destinations.

Cold Destinations:

For cold destinations, pack clothing you can layer. T-shirts still work well here as a base layer underneath long-sleeved shirts or sweaters. Bring a coat that will keep you warm but also packs up small – or choose layers instead (read on).

• When it comes to clothing, this is our biggest packing tip.

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Pack Solid Color Clothing You Can Layer

The key to dressing for all climates, seasons, and occasions is solid colors and layers. 

Here are a few tips to get you started:

• Pack versatile items that can be worn in multiple ways. 

For example, choose a scarf that will keep you warm in cold climates but can also be worn as a sarong in warm climates. 

• Skip bulky sweaters and coats and opt for packing a few lighter pieces that work well together to provide similar warmth. 

These pieces can also be worn on their own when the weather is warmer.

• Solid colors are great for a year of travel since they can be more seamlessly layered and mixed and matched to create multiple outfits. 

They’re also much easier to accessorize with jewelry.

• Bring leggings or yoga pants that can be worn on their own or under other pants for added warmth.

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You Can Always Buy Or Ditch While Traveling

Remember you can buy clothing all over the world. 

If the T-shirt you’ve been wearing twice a week for four months starts getting holes in it, you can buy another one to replace it (look at secondhand stores). 

If you’re only going to one cold place, wait until you get there to buy a warm coat and donate it on your way out.

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Be Prepared to Do Laundry While Traveling

Any trip longer than a week will require doing laundry, and that is certainly true if you’re traveling for a year. 

You don’t own a year’s worth of clothing, so you can’t pack that much anyway.

In some parts of the world, it’s very easy and cheap to get your clothes washed, dried, and folded for you. In other places, it makes more sense to do coin laundry or wash in your sink.

Hostels often have affordable laundry services, and if they don’t, they should be able to direct you to a nearby laundromat or someone else who can do your laundry. 

I, personally, don’t like washing clothes in the sink, but it works in a pinch, especially if you pack quick-dry underwear.

Here are some hand washing essentials to pack:

• A travel clothesline.
• Something to plug your sink.
• Laundry detergent or soap (like Dr. Bronners) that can be used to wash clothes.
• Laundry sheets can keep your clothes smelling fresh in between washes.

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Tips for Traveling with Toiletries

Try to imagine what a year’s worth of shampoo looks like…

It’s several bottles! 

Not only does that take up a lot of space in your bag, but it adds a lot of weight as well.

Unless you’re traveling to extremely remote locations far from civilization, you will be able to find shampoo, soap, toothpaste, contact lens solution, and just about anything else you need. 

You can easily buy more toiletries throughout your trip as needed.

Do a trial run before you leave. See how long your travel toiletries last. Then you’ll have a good idea of how often you need to restock on the road.

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Tips for Traveling with Medication

Over-the-counter medications are fairly easy to find in other parts of the world, so you don’t need a year’s supply of your favorite headache remedy. Even antibiotics are sold over the counter in some places like Southeast Asia.

Prescription medicine might be the exception. 

If you take medication on a daily basis that is only available by prescription, you have to plan ahead. Use your best judgment to decide if you can reasonably carry a year’s supply of medicine with you.

Otherwise, have your doctor write out the generic name of the medicine you take along with all the dosage information. Then research places where you can get your prescription filled on the road. This might mean planning to be in cities with more modern medical facilities when you need a refill.

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How to Pack Light for a Year of Travel: 52 One Week Trips

To help you pack for a year of travel, think of your year-long trip as 52 one-week trips back to back. 

Almost anything can be purchased while you’re traveling, you can do laundry on the road, and the longer you travel, the more you’ll appreciate not having a heavy backpack weighing you down. 

Just remember, you really don’t need so much stuff!

What do you think, could you travel for a year with only a carry-on bag using these tips?