The following minimalist packing list was submitted by Katie Corbridge. Photography by Alice Xue.
On a train from Zagreb to Budapest I was discussing packing light with a fellow traveler and seasoned backpacker. Her recollections about the demands of the past were enlightening:
“When I was backpacking, back in the 90s, we only ever brought a small bag, because you had to keep your belongings with you at all times. You couldn’t trust stowing it under the bus, and we had to walk so much from place to place, we learned to travel with just a small backpack.”
This list is inspired by her and my two month long backpacking trips around Europe, where I traveled from chilly London to sweltering Croatia in a single trip.
- You might enjoy reading about how to use our best minimalist packing tips at home!
Welcome to the World of Minimalist Packing
You can do it, I believe in you. You will compile a packing system that is stylish, compact, and functional. Because you’re an independent woman who don’t need no 60L pack!
>> Read why solo female travelers should go carry-on only.
First things first. The backpack. No need for fancy bags because we’re packing really light and you won’t require extra support from hip belts. My go to is the Fjallraven Kanken Original, 16L in all. It’s lightweight, stylish, durable, and has a clamshell opening for optimal organization. In addition, I always bring along a day bag which is usually a cross-body purse for city slicking. I also bring my favourite packable backpack or tote for hiking and picnics.
PRO TIP: If you haven’t already heard, packing cubes are the holy grail of packing supplies. This packing list hinges on them. Don’t think, just get some. Grab a cube, fill it up, and if something doesn’t fit, it doesn’t come on the trip.
Before we get to the list, here are three golden rules you should ask yourself while packing:
- Do I love this item?
- Is is lightweight?
- Does it do double duty?
Every item on this list must adhere to your new packing mantra. Ommmm, say it with me now: “This is an item I love, this is light weight, this does double duty.”
Travel packing should be for everyone, so there’s no need in this system to stock up on expensive gear and fabrics. But here are some worthwhile investments that I never travel without and fit into my packing mantra: Patagonia women’s baggies, Merino wool sweater, and an Ultralight Down jacket.
Okay, let’s do this.
Note: This ultimate minimalist packing list is suited for 5°C – 30°C (40°F – 85°F).
Clothing
Pack in a double sided clean/dirty packing cube:
- 1 tank top: I pack something made of sweat wicking material.
- 1 sleeping shirt: a small tank top will do.
- 1 sleeveless top: a chance to pack something a little fancy.
- 1 t-shirt: I told you we were going extra light.
- 1 long sleeve: Merino wool or thermal. Merino wool doesn’t get stinky.
- 1 blouse: a chambray blouse is the Swiss army knife of clothing.
- 1 sweater: highly suggest Merino wool.
- 1 dress/romper/skirt: consider something knee length for places of worship.
- 1 pair of pants: they can take up the most amount of room for a single item, choose wisely.
- 1 pair of shorts: I love my Patagonia baggies, quick drying, with an old school cool vibe.
- 2 bras: I pack a sports bra and underwire, but you do you, girl.
- 5 pairs underwear: I suggest 2 thongs, 2 panties, and 1 boy short. Continue to do you.
- 2-4 pairs socks: depending on your choice of shoe.
- 1 bathing suit: consider a bikini top that can double as a bra.
- 1 scarf: I pack a square scarf about half the size of a pashmina.
>>See why it’s worth getting fast-drying women’s underwear.
Shoes and Outerwear
- 1 pair of shoes: I would suggest sneakers over boots, but ultimately it depends on what climate you’ll be spending more time in. Nikes, Converse, Blundstones, and Birkenstocks have all been excellent travel buddies.
- 1 pair of open-toed shoes: The one, the only, Crocs Sexi Flips. I wear these in hostel bathrooms, nice nights out for dinner, and I literally climbed a small mountain in them.
- 1 packable down jacket: UNIQLO makes great down layers that won’t break the budget.
- 1 packable windbreaker: whether it be a North Face windbreaker, or your favourite light jacket. As long as it packs up small and you love to wear it.
Toiletries
Pack in a small packing cube:
- Face cleanser: Dry skin? Try an oil-based cleanser and you won’t need moisturizer.
- Sunscreen: Because of my acne prone skin I pack one for face and one for body.
- Lip chap: Bonus points for SPF versions.
- Tea tree oil: Acne spots, deodorizer, disinfectant, insect bites, you name it.
- Soap: Dr. Bronners is a cult classic for a good reason.
- Mini loofah: Let me make the case for a loofah. Although it seems like a superfluous item, it packs down small and elongates the life of your soap ten-fold.
- Pack towel: Essential for minimalist packing
- 2 in 1 shampoo/conditioner: Lush solid shampoos are great. I pop mine in a ziplock.
- Deodorant: I personally use Dr. Mist which is a great natural option that actually works.
- Mini hairbrush
- Toothbrush & toothpaste
- Tweezers
- Nail clippers
- Bandaids
- Diva cup: become a convert.
Optional & Speciality items:
- Any medication: I always carry pain killers, gravol, pepto bismol, and ginger chews.
- Glasses, contacts, contact solution
- Mini mirror
- Razor
Makeup:
Pare down to your three most used items. For me it’s:
- Red lipstick
- Liquid Eyeliner
- Concealer
>> Check out these beauty packing hacks to help you pack less.
Essential Gear
Packed away in a small but accessible pouch:
- Carabiner
- Pad lock: for hostels
- Spork
- Knife: I have a plastic one that can go through security.
- Collapsible cup: I love these, they have come in so handy!
- Hand sanitizer/wet wipes: for them questionable public bathrooms.
- Cords and Adapters: and electronic paraphernalia
- Altoids tin: great for packing minutiae like band aids and sim cards.
- Headlamp: for navigating your hostel without waking everyone up and receiving stink eye.
- Duct Tape: I wrap some around a pencil for emergency quick fixes. Also great for blisters.
- Collapsable tote or backpack
- Sunglasses
- My buff!
>>See how Brooke traveled for three weeks with a 12L handbag.
In My Purse
- Wallet
- Water bottle
- Journal (and Pen): my travelers notebook allows me to store my important documents.
- Reading material: I prefer physical books, but e-readers are better for traveling.
- Small pouch: where I carry extra medication, lip chap, headphones, you know…day to day stuff.
For Planes, Trains, and Automobiles
All this fits in my pillow’s travel pouch:
- Inflatable pillow
- Ear plugs
- Ear planes (for sensitive folks like me!)
- Travel sized moisturizer
…and Voila the end result, with all the pieces assembled in the bag! As always I wear my bulkiest items while in transit, but both jackets fit in the bag with room to spare!
About the author: Katie Corbridge is an actor, producer, and packing nut born and raised in Toronto Ontario. She’s traveled around Europe and the US several times, and her bag seems to just be getting smaller. When she’s not working or collecting travel souvenirs she’s collecting ghost stories for her up coming podcast, Jitters. Photography by Alice Xue.
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I love this list! It’s very practical and it’s actually stuff I can see myself carrying.
Wow, this is an amazing list! I was wondering, what tea tree oil product did you use? I heard you shouldn’t use tea tree oil directly on the skin. Could you tell me how you used it?
Hi J!
I pick up whatever is cheapest in my local drugstore or health food store. You’re right you shouldn’t use it all over your skin like a toner but it’s great for stopping zits and it’s a natural disinfectant.
I would like to know what brand of closed toe shoes are pictured next to the crocs?
Hi RMR, They are Blundstones: https://www.blundstone.ca/
They are Blundstone boots, also known as blunnies!
So, I don’t know. And this isn’t really a critism of the article, more a bit of letting off steam … Maybe it’s just me, I’m probably just not made for minimalist travelling. I’m in the middle of a trip through the North of Italy now, and I wanted to go as minimalist as possible, and it just wasn’ t possible. I mean, I have to admit that I had to bring a small laptop in case there was a work-related emergency, and I have brought some books and stuff to paint and write, because that was a goal of mine for this trip.
But even when I look just at the clothes, it is so much stuff. But apart from one of my three tank tops and my pyjamas that I lost early during the trip, I’ m regularly wearing everything. Some of the places I sleep are a bit chilly, so I put on several layers. Just a small tank top for sleeping wouldn’t really do it. And although I have been to a launderette already, a couple of days later everything is slightly smelly again, because, I mean, I move and sweat. Apart from that I’ m bored to death by my travel wardrobe, but that’s another story. So there isn’t much stuff that I think I could have left at home, but I’m far from a 16 l-backpack. Sorry for the rant, I’ll stop now. But I would like to know if anybody else is frustrated because of this and feeling like a failure. Please share your stories!
Hey there,
Just coming to say: you do you! I think HPL is nice because all these articles are just meant to be inspiration, nothing more and nothing less. So obviously the idea of packing light is attractive because it means more flexibility and cheaper overall, but no pressure 🙂
I traveled with a 40L pack for two months this summer, and it worked really well for me. For the clothes, I definitely got bored too but my two tricks are: 1) Take the things that are easy to wear but in which you think you look AMAZING. Seriously, you’re stuck with those clothes, make them count. 2) More of a psychological one: accepting that yes, traveling will mean you will restrict yourself. So of course I could bring most of my wardrobe on the road, and I would wear it, but I value not dragging a heavy pack around more than clothes variety. But again that’s all up to you: it’s your travels, you make the rules, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise! Hope you’re having a lovely time wherever you are xx
Sonja- Don’t feel like like a failure! Packing ultra light (or even regular light) isn’t for everyone, and we all have different standards that work for us. I think a lot of people try to pack as little as possible because they hate carrying around more than absolutely necessary. But if having more wardrobe options, etc. makes you happier and enjoy your travel – than do that! It’s not a contest or anything. I get needing to have a laptop, and wanting books, and I think it’s awesome you paint! Don’t hold yourself to anyone else’s standards, just do you.
Katie- This is such a great compact list. I feel like I’d want more than one pair of pants though, that’s just me. How long did you travel with this list? How often did you do laundry? Did you do any shopping? Doesn’t seem like you have a ton of room to pick up things along the way, which could be a good thing if you’re trying to keeping costs down.
Hi Kelsey! First off, I completely agree with your sentiment, you do you Sonja! I only travel with this bag about half the time when I know I’m visiting a lot of locations and want to have my pack with me at all times. Sometimes I pack a huge bag, it depends on the trip!
– The longest I’ve traveled with this bag was two weeks. Although I’m hoping to bring it for longer, especially to warmer destinations where I don’t need boots or a jacket.
– I do laundry just about when my underwear runs out (about once a week), usually in the sink with my Dr. Bronners soap.
– And for shopping: part of the packing list is a small packable backpack or tote bag which I sometimes use for shopping and bringing extra items home. My souvenirs generally consist of postcards and magnets anyway.
Thanks for the questions, I love talking shop!
– Katie
Thanks, Lucie and Kelsey for chiming in. You are right, this shouldn’ t be a contest. I just got frustrated because I have mastered packing light for up to 4/5 days, but feel lost when I travel longer. I’ ll just keep on writing down what I brought to my trips and what worked for me, and maybe over time I can streamline the process a tiny bit more.
That knife/bottle opener is amazing! Where did you get it? Does it ever cause issues when you go through security?
Very helpful, thank you. There may be more things necessary for older travelers that you might address some day. Am I making a mistake by bringing clothes for both warm weather and in case it gets cold, without layering.
It’s definitely a process! I couldn’t do this as far as clothing… I’m usually cold, but when I travel, I’m moving a lot, so sweat happens. Eew. I do sink laundry, which works well for everything but armpit smells (any soap recommendations?), so I bring more tops and seek out laundry services weekly-ish.
I use Dr. Bronnner’s peppermint scent for laundry it helps kills body odor smells better than the other scents in my opinion.
It is entirely possible to completely deodorize clothing in a sink using pretty much any detergent at all, but the trick to it is twofold. One, you have to apply a crapton of the detergent directly on the trouble spots and work a lather into the fabric there. Two, after having done that you let it SOAK for as long as you can. Just let the smelly bits rest with their over-saturated lather, don’t bother with the rest of the fabric, and don’t touch them for a while. Preferably a couple hours, but even half an hour will do. THEN wash as normal, plunging the clothes in and out of warm-ish water and squeezing the suds through the fabric. You can add stuff like vinegar and whatnot between rinses, but I find that the amount of detergent applied and the soaking time are the most important factors, personally. Also, I wear merino wool where at all possible, but that’s kind of cheating. ^____^
I travel carry-on only, but trying to go lighter than my norm. My question I have is what size are you? People may not want to answer this, but I think it makes a difference in how much one can take with them. I’m in a 12 but trying to lose to make traveling even better. Maybe I can have room for another shirt or two then. Thanks for the inspiration & encouragement.
I am a size 16 and travel carry-on only. You are correct it does make a difference when your clothes are larger. Two things help: 1. Picking thinner lighter weight materials and 2. Compression packing cubes. I can fit 1.5x the amount of clothes in compression cubes than in regular packing cubes 👍🏻
Hey I’ve been struggling with the pack-able windbreaker that actually looks good for a LONG time. I finally found one that was waterproof too. Of course then I lost it and turns out it is discontinued. I really like the one you have on here. what is it or do you have any specific recommendations?
also i want to repeat the question about the Knife! i Had long since given up that option because i was carry on only and wasn’t going to pay extra just to check my pocket knife on an international flight. So yours looks AMAZING! plus i really would like to have one with me because I often eat self bought/prepared food to save money on the road.
Last have you considered a foldable bottle (personal favourite is vapur), instead of the cup/plastic bottle combo.
Hi Sydney!
The knife is from Fred: https://www.amazon.com/Fred-Friends-CITRUS-Bottle-Opener/dp/B003YUBQJW and because it’s plastic it never causes a problem in airport securty even though it’s actually pretty sharp for a plastic knife!
I use a foldable cup because I love the option of bringing a bottle of wine to the park or on the train!
And I don’t really carry a windbreaker, the jacket pictured above is a lightweight jacket that acts as a windbreaker although is not waterproof. I found it at a thrift store so if I ever loose it I’ll be very upset.
What brand is the coat? The longer one? Almost looks like a trench/blazer!
Where did you get your purse?
Do you pack both a merino long sleeve & a thicker merino sweater?
Also, does anyone have trouble with liquids leaking while traveling? It’s like a third of what you need turns into a mix of goop in you ziplock! Hahaha
I just realized that there are no electronics on this list except for the e-reader — no smart phone? Tablet? Laptop? I couldn’t do without at least one of these and, for an extended period of time, I’d want all three. Oh, and my noise-cancelling headphones are an absolute must-have on a plane.
I love this phrase: “you do you”. It reminds me of what I tell my kids, now they’ve mastered “be good, be safe, be happy”, which is “you do what YOU think is right”.
Thanks for the pro-tips 🙂
I’m a grad student, and will be spending the next 6months living out of one suitcase as I travel for my research project. My problem is that my ‘research sites’ are corporate offices in three different countries, which means I have to pack office-wear on top of my normal clothes so that I am presentable/professional-looking. I am spending 4weeks at a time in each country, visiting each country twice over the 6month period. The silver lining is that all three countries are tropical countries so winter gear is limited to one packable Down jacket, and one pair of thermal socks for when I return to the frigid arms of the North-East Coast Winter in January next year.
I’m already on the set-up phase of my research semester, and managed to pack everything I needed in one suitcase … except it was 25lbs over the maximum checked luggage allowance of 50lbs. I realize that I’m going to have to cull a few, I mean a lot, of items to get my suitcase down to 50lbs – paying $100 in excess fees for each leg of my trip is something I’d like to avoid at all costs!
I find that when I pack, toiletries and shoes are where my minimalist intentions fall over. I wear a pair of sneakers on the plane, while packing 1 pair of running shoes, 1 pair of flip flops, and 2 pairs of sandals (coz one pair of sandals isn’t going to suit ALL my work and casual outfits). And, toiletries – ugh! – products needed to manage my hair in humid, tropical conditions add up to 3lbs to my luggage. Undies, socks and bras …. don’t even get me started on how much room these ‘small’ items take up!!
I’d love to hear suggestions on what I can do to cut down the weight of my luggage without leaving me short-handed for things that I will be needing in the places I’m going. As a student, I’m on a pretty limited budget, and will be staying in dorms/hostels for a fair chunk of the time that I am travelling.
Cheers,
Myra
Hi Myra,
Couple of tips:
1 – If you won’t need the coat until you get back in winter, can someone meet you at the airport with it instead of bringing it along? Can you layer several other clothing items together instead of packing something that you won’t need for the entire time?
2 – 25 lbs is quite a lot, so you need to look at your belongings a bit harder. Shoes, can you pack lighter weight shoes? Can you buy toiletries there instead of packing? Can you pick lighter weight clothing items in general?
3 – What else are you bringing? Are you packing a lot of electronics, notebooks, etc.? Think about things that you can get easily abroad, and think about ways to consolidate. It’s hard to give solid advice without knowing the full packing list.
Hi Myra!
I recently watched a documentary called “Minimalism” and Courtney Carver (who started project 333) spoke about how she re-wore things to the office for months and months…and no one noticed. A good reminder of how un-important our wardrobe can be…
The hair products for humid weather struggle has been all too real in my life, and when I worked in a variety of environments in Malawi (from hotel conference rooms to villages) I did my best to embrace that my ‘look’ just wasn’t the same as it was when I live in environments that always have running water and electricity. This didn’t necessarily come easily, but if it saves you a few pounds of products it’s worth considering, right?
I wonder if you would imagine a 1 month trip (or even 2 week trip) to the same locations and create a packing plan for that, and then see what REALLY needs to change for the 6 months.
Best of luck with your research — sounds like a fantastic opportunity!
I have the humid hair problem and I live in Florida, so it’s a constant struggle. I recently received a Keratin treatment. Makes your hair ultra smooth and easy to manage, blow dry etc. It isn’t cheap, but will last 3-4 months. So it will cover my month long Europe trip and then some.
This will be my first trip where I am conscientiously trying to pack in a small carry on. My problem is that we are traveling in fall/winter so heavy jacket and boots. I will wear those on the plane. But my thought process is this. We are only ever going to be in one place for no longer than 5 days. So I plan on packing for those 5 days and rotate things around. I just may over pack, but I’m putting in the effort. Wish me luck!
#goals!
Great pack! I loooove minimal packing which is weird cuz I also loooove stuff and things. My hording must be trumped by my hatred of carrying things. Daily I carry the teeniest purse..
My dream would be to live in a world where Mary Poppins (Hermoine) type bags are real.
“My hoarding must be trumped by my hatred of carrying things.” – That right there is my inspiration for light travel!
Great list. Can I ask where you got that little plastic serrated knife or what it is called? I have searched ebay and amazon but haven’t been able to find anything similar. Looks very useful!
I found this list super interesting, although I often find I end up going places where I do day or overnight hikes (we just don’t have serious mountains in Oz), so I almost always take my hiking shoes…which really aren’t for public consumption, so then I end up bringing a really light pair of sneakers and always my trusty Birks. And I absolutely love the Uniqlo ultra light down!!
For washing on the go I’ve fallen in love with the Scrubba wash bag, much easier and more hygienic than a sink and doubles as a dry bag, clothes come out super clean! 🙂
thanks for the tips! heading solo to europe. one question: what did the spork, knife, and collapsible cup come in handy for?
I appreciate the “How to Pack Minimalist” list here. I think Katie did a very great job from sharing her idea and thoughts here with us. I found this list very useful for me as a guide line to follow. However, everyone got different need of things for different purpose. The pack light for travel idea might good for most people but definitely not for everyone. We gonna need things that suitable for our own.
As myself, I always travel for work, nature and sightseeing all together. And I always end up stopping by at least two to three countries for at least two to three months. From cold to hot weather. Experiencing sunny or rainy days.
A single trip could include all kind of different style of fun stuff to experience. Wine tasting, sightseeing and nature. Require different type of clothing and gear. Is not easy to always be a 16L backpack girl on every single trip.
If you look carefully, Katie’s did mention one thing very important on her list “Note: This ultimate minimalist packing list is suited for 5°C – 30°C (40°F – 85°F).” So, what if you are going to places below zero and up to 37C in different countries in months just like me? Katie’s minimalist packing list would only be a guide line for me to do so. But doesn’t mean her list is a complete false after all.
Unless you do a 4 days to max. one week trip. You gonna need to wash your cloth eventually. So, one of each kind of short sleeves, tank, long sleeves… are actually very enough.
But still, you gonna need more then just a minimalist packing list for me to deal with two seasons and here are some tips from me. Hope will be helpful:
1: Bring the old and buy the new & share w/ friends:
Especially if you are that kind of person who can’t stand with wearing the same outfit everyday. Merino wool would be too boring for you. I suggest you to bring a few old but still good looking cloths with you to the plane. Since they are old. Why don’t you just go with a wild girl style with wearing a pair of thick glasses until you sick with your look? Then throw them away and buy some new cloths on the way to somewhere else. This time try to play with another style. Also, you could play mix and match with your friend(s) as well. For example: 3 tops, 2 dress, 2 pants, 2 short for each of you. All together you got at least 6 tops, 4 dresses, 4 pants, 4 shorts to match with. If you got three to four friends then well… you know how to do the math.
2: Leave everything to your local friends: Plan your trip from somewhere cold to somewhere hot. Not the other way around. Leave everything won’t be necessary for the next trip to your local friends before fly off to another country. Make sure to take the transfer flight back to where you left your stuff in. On the way to collect everything back home with you.
3: Beauty product (especially for students): Learn to make your own natural beauty product. At that point, we as a girl don’t need to carry all those facial body products around the world but still be able to us look nice and clean. Eat half & use half of an avocado. Salt and sugar packets from fast-food shop use as face scrub for beauty. Baking soda from friends or hotel kitchen. Mixed with honey and milk as facial cleaning mask. Only buy small size or samples body/face lotion so that you don’t need to carry too much liquid with you when going to new places. To mix a few drops of olive/coconut oil with lotion before applying on skin. Could save your skin from cracking. Apply oil to hair to make them shine (I need about 1.5 table spoon coconut oil to calm my curly and frizzy hair). Also, I use Chinese medicine facial mask (powder) as well. Add with water or mix with milk and honey. Works really really well!
If my English is a bit better. I think I could create a long list of how to make cheap and natural beauty product for travel. 4: Post your luggage (if you have $$): I especially suggest elderly people to use this service. Post your luggages to the hotel and post them back home. You already working so hard for life for the past 50,60 years of life. Now you got money to travel and enjoy life. Why don’t you spend a bit more for courier company to take care your luggage for you. Don’t torture yourself.
5: iCloud iCloud iCloud man~ why? is 2017. Why would I still seeing someone using an Chinese wooden cutting board size laptop to Switzerland? Come on, that laptop is slower then my great great grandmother. Have you ever heard about wifi and internet? Why giving excuses for yourself to carry that much of weight? He even took his external hard disc, oh boy.
There are so many thing we can’t choose in life. But travel with essential or travel like a hoarder is definitely a choice.
OMG. Absolutely spot on. I especially love the facial products you make along the way. What a woman! So funny and entertaining. You should write a book. Thank you for sharing your insights.
Hey! This article is amazing! i was standing in the airport, exhausted from lugging a large rolling carry-on and found this article, thank goodness. Now that I’m packing for my next (short, domestic) trip, I’m putting exactly your system to the test because I own the same backpack. One important note is that link to one of the packing cubes is for the wrong size. i ordered the medium double sided cube, as you said, but it actually fills the whole backpack (quite tidily, I might add). The one you have in the photo (and the correct one I have now ordered) is actually the small size: http://amzn.to/2yO4peQ
I hope this helps anyone hoping to copy this exact system. Thank you again for going into such great detail! It’s so nice when someone else custom-designs a super modular system for your exact backpack ^_^
Thanks Jen! I have updated the packing cube link to reflect that feedback!
I love this list! I definitely have a hard time with some of clothes (I can’t imagine living with so little). It’s so helpful, thank you!
Fantastic article and so nicely written. One tip for dealing with getting bored with wearing the same thing is to pack a few different scarves or you can even pick up a few as souvenirs while traveling.They fold up small and you can get patterns and colors to spice up the simple minimalist travel color palette. Thank you so much for your traveling tips!
Where did you get the black purse? Thanks!
Hi Lisa,
Some of my favourite items that I use to travel I’ve found at thrift stores and garage sales including the purse (vintage roots bucket bag) I would suggest looking into a vintage coach bucket bag for a similar style.
I love this! I’ve always been a minimalist packer, but this guide will definitely help me refine my skills 🙂
Tea tree oil is my holy grail too–so useful!
Could you tell me, what outfit ( clothing ) did you wear on the plane? I know you said wear bulky items. But were they different clothes? Or items from your list?
Thank you
Love this! Did your purse fit into the backpack as well or did you need to carry it separately?
Wow, what a great packing list! I have been wondering if packing cubes are just a fad or if they’re worth getting. You’ve convinced me! I pride myself on being able to travel lighter than most people would feel comfortable with, but there’s almost always something I pack that I don’t end up using and I want to pare down more! Thanks for all these great tips!
Megan
great list! For trips of 1 week or longer, I always pack 7 shirts, undies, socks (rolled together in a small bundle, “scout style”, it saves a lot of space), 2 skirts/ pants, 1 book, minima toiletry (1 eye pencil, concealer, mini shampoo, mini shower gel, mini make up remover, coconut oil, solid toothpaste, solid deodorant), a 2nd pair of shoes and my laptop. but it never fits in a 16 l backpack ! :'( Packing cubes don’t work for me, so I bought the biggest carry-on backpack from Cabin Max, which I love ! Any idea to put everything in a smaller backpack ?
Did you pack all the clothes on your list and wear other stuff or is your travel outfit part of the list above? This makes a difference in volume/weight of your cubes and backpack. Thanks!
Thank you for this post! It inspired me to travel with only a Kånken and a shoulderbag for a two week trip to Paris and London last summer. I didn’t actually follow the list, but used it as a starting point and packed my style. I especially appreciated that I could carry my bags with me a whole day without getting tired–even sightseeing worked! And the journey in itself was much more enjoyable without a heavy backpack.
Your list is interesting but I think it’s totally impossible to stuck all this stuff into one 16l backpack. Be honest with your readers, please. You can use a carry on, but not a 16l backpack. Not a 20l backpack either!
It’s totally possible! Try taking the next Handbag Packing Masterclass to see how it’s done 🙂