13 Jun Minimalist Backpack: Travel Packing List
You are about to embark on a trip, but then it hits you. What do you need to pack!? To help you out, I have brought in an AWESOME GUEST… Sean Lei! Sean has been on many trips and thus has mastered the art of packing everything into one backpack. He is a minimalist backpacker who has traveled with one backpack to places like Ecuador, South East Asia, Tanzania, Spain, and throughout the United States. Sean, therefore, has all the travel packing tips you need for your next adventure.
If you are still on the fence about packing light with a minimalist backpack, here are just a few reasons why you should. First, packing light allows you to fit everything you need into one suitcase or backpack. This saves you time and money at the airport since you do not have to check-in any bags or wait at baggage pickup (I know lots of people who missed their flight because they did not expect the check-in line to be so long). Second, having one backpack means you do not have to keep track of multiple bags, making it less likely for something to be lost or stolen. Third, you will be way more mobile during the “traveling” part of travel! Imagine riding a moped with a backpack AND a suitcase. That ain’t happening.
Keep reading to find a travel packing list divided into eight categories. Each category has a list of items as well as an explanation of how to best pack them into your suitcase or backpack. Since the places people travel differ in terms of weather and culture, this is to serve as a starting point for your minimalist backpack packing list! For more info, check out Sean’s video here:
Contents:
1) Luggage
2) Documents
3) Money
4) Clothes
5) Medical
6) Hygiene
7) Electronics
8) Miscellaneous
1) Luggage
- Backpack
- Daypack
- Luggage lock
- Compression packing cubes
- Bag for dirty clothes
The first thing to bring on your backpacking trip is… a backpack! Bring one large enough to hold everything you are bringing on the trip. A popular travel backpack is the Osprey. This brand has some of the most comfortable as well as durable backpacks on the market. In addition to a backpack, be sure to pack a smaller daypack you can use throughout the day. This could be a smaller backpack, drawstring bag, or fanny pack that holds your daily gear (phone, wallet, water bottle, etc.). Additionally, it is always a good idea to secure your bag against pickpockets. An easy way to fend off thieves is to use a luggage lock to connect the two backpack zippers.
It may seem unfathomable how someone could fit everything into one backpack. But I assure you, it can be done! One item I love using is compression packing cubes. These are a handy way to organize your luggage as well as to pack more. They work particularly well for clothing because you can compress the air out of them. They also make it easy to stack them in a backpack. Otherwise, you may have unused space towards the top of your backpack.
The packing list laid out below relates to general travel, but maybe you are looking for something a bit more specific? Then check out this minimalist packing guide for female travelers or this list of travel accessories for men.
Packing up my minimalist backpack
2) Documents – Minimalist Backpack List
- Driver’s license (+ International Driver’s Permit if going international)
- Passport (for international travel)
- Student ID
- Health insurance card
- Vaccine certifications (for international travel)
- Embassy or consulate in the destination country (for international travel)
It is vital to have all the documentation you need for your travels. If traveling within your country, a driver’s license is the typical form of identification. On the other hand, if going abroad, you may want to consider getting an International Driver’s Permit (IDP) if driving. Some countries will not recognize your driver’s license, but will honor an IDP. Keep in mind that a country’s government may not require an IDP, but rental car companies still might.
If you are a student, be sure to bring your student ID! You could get student discounts on attractions and save that money. Additionally, if you are traveling to another country, ensure you have the required vaccinations and have proof of them. Some countries will not even let you in without this (especially in the age of COVID). Lastly, it is a good idea to have information about your country’s embassy in case something happens, such as you losing your passport.
Along with the physical documents, be sure to also have accessible photos or electronic copies of them.
If you are traveling internationally, then check out this packing list specific to international travel essentials.
Don’t forget the passport!
3) Money
- Credit card
- Debit card
- Cash
Money is the key to making travel happen. If you are in a country that is nearly cashless, always go for your credit card before your debit card. It is much safer to use your credit card rather than your debit card that is connected directly to your bank account. A card thief could commit cloning fraud, retrieve your information, and then empty out your bank account. However, if you are heading to a place that deals primarily in cash, it is nice to have a debit card that offers free atm reimbursements. For those wondering, my checking account choice is Charles Schwab.
Moreover, one of my greatest purchases has been…my phone case! It not only protects my phone but also holds my health insurance card, drivers license, and credit card.
Hiking around Kelingking Beach in Bali
4) Clothes + Accessories
- T-shirt
- Light rain jacket
- Sweater
- Shorts
- Athletic shorts
- Long pants
- Belt
- Socks
- Underwear
- Swimsuit
- Quick-dry towel
- Sunglasses
- Sneakers
- Sandals
Clothes may be the most varying section to pack for your minimalist backpack because they are so dependent on geography, climate, and season. In general for hotter destinations, it is best if you pack clothes that are quick-drying, neutral in color, and culturally correct. The best quick-dry fabrics include nylon, polyester, and merino wool. If you keep your clothes neutral in color, you will be able to mix-and-match items to have more outfits throughout your trip. Moreover, if you know what activities you will be participating in, you will have a better understanding of what to pack. For example, bring something nice if you know you will need to dress up.
Furthermore, one way to pack fewer clothes is to plan to do laundry every few days. If you know you will do laundry every three days, then pack for only four days. I hand-washed my clothes every three days for my month-long Southeast Asia trip. Another tip is to take a carabiner and clip your shoes to the outside of your backpack. You will save space in your bag and your shoes will not leave a stench.
One of the best ways to pack your clothes is called the “military fold”. It is a combination of folding your clothes and then rolling them up. Here is a video showcasing the military fold.
Exploring rice fields in Bali
5) Medical – Minimalist Backpack List
- Copies of prescriptions + instructions
- Glasses + case
- Contact Lenses + case
- Travel size contact solution
- Ibuprofen tablets
- Feminine products
- Anti diarrhea tablets (for international travel)
- Malaria tablets (for international travel)
What you pack for medical reasons is highly dependent on you, but here is a list of common things to think about when packing your minimalist backpack for a trip!
6) Hygiene
- Powder laundry detergent
- Travel size facial cleanser
- Travel size moisturizer
- Travel size sunscreen
- Deodorant
- Tooth brush
- Travel size toothpaste
- Floss
- Razor
- Travel size shampoo/conditioner
- Travel size soap
- Travel size hand sanitizer
- Nail clippers
Prepare well to keep clean and safe! Bringing powder detergent allows you to hand wash your clothes in the sink then dry them later. This is very useful when you are in a country where washers and dryers are not easily accessible. Additionally, make sure bottles of liquids are all in travel size bottles to avoid having to throw them out at the airport (unless they are in a checked bag – but we are minimalist backpack traveling so we do not have this… right?) I would also like to emphasize a travel size hand sanitizer! Clean your hands before eating anything. It is just good hygiene.
Hiking McAfee’s Knob in Roanoke, VA
7) Electronics
- Laptop + charger (if you do not need it, do not bring it)
- Phone + charger
- Mobile power bank
- Universal travel adapter (for international travel)
- Camera
- Spare camera battery
- SD cards
If you do not need your laptop, do not bring it! Spend time off your screen and enjoy the place you are visiting. If you need to look things up, your phone will be plenty. Camera, batteries, and SD cards are more for the traveler photographers out there, but honestly phones nowadays take such great photos so you could save the space.
Photographing the photographer in Washington, DC
8) Miscellaneous – Minimalist Backpack List
- Pen
- Water bottle
It is great to have a pen on hand! You never know when you will need to sign something. For your water bottle, if it has an inside filtration system that is even better. On the other hand, you can drink straight from a stream at some waterfalls in Iceland because the water flows from a glacier.
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Going on a summer road trip? Summer Road Trip Packing List.
Going on a winter road trip? Winter Road Trip Packing List.
Carter
Posted at 15:50h, 09 SeptemberYou have a lot of great advice here! I love it!
I wish I had written down where I captured the following idea from on the internet in order to give credit but unfortunately, I cannot remember. If you read this and it is you, shout out!
I’ve found the following *extremely* helpful.
I add notes to my packing lists after every trip when I unpack. If there was something which I unpack and never touched or only used once during my trip, then I know that I likely don’t need to pack that item again.
I make a packing list for *EVERY TRIP* with destination and date in the filename, even if multiple trips to the same destination. Sometimes I make them from scratch but more often I re-use an existing packing list as a starting point.
After the trip, I record post-trip notes at the top of the packing list detailing things like:
+ dates & duration
+ weather at the destination during the trip
+ if I use a backpack, I record the pack weight at the outset, whether it was comfortable to carry on the trip (sometimes it isn’t), and if it had utility as a day-pack if appropriate/needed
+ what worked and what didn’t, including things I never used
+ general comments about the destination
It only takes a couple of minutes and so isn’t onerous to do, and it pays dividends for repeat trips.
I never edit in-place the existing list /after/ the trip except to perhaps mark an item with a comment that it was not used. Otherwise if I were to delete items from the list that I didn’t use for example, I might forget and bring it again on the next trip.
The idea of keeping the lists is to give a starting point for a new list if I go back to that destination or someplace similar, especially during the same time of year.
When I copy an existing list to create a new one, I refer to the notes at the top of the old list and make any needed adjustments to the new list.
Alaina Thomas
Posted at 13:14h, 24 OctoberThese are all great ideas! I especially love how the idea to make notes after the trip occurs in relation to what you needed, what you did not need, what you barely used, etc. It is all too easy to forget what you found helpful while packing for your last trip while planning for a new trip, especially if they are a year or more apart. Also, anything I can do to lighten my backpack and make travel more comfortable, I am down!
Sean Lei
Posted at 14:11h, 13 JuneHonored to be featured in your blog! If you have minimalist packing tips of your own please let me know
Alaina Thomas
Posted at 15:00h, 13 JuneHappy to have you featured with this article as you were able to share some great information on minimalist packing! One of my minimalist packing tips is to pack everything one night a few days before travel. Then the following evening I go through everything I packed and force myself to unpack a few things. I often want to overpack at first, so taking a second (or even a third) look can help to decrease the amount of items I pack.
Carter
Posted at 18:54h, 07 SeptemberThat’s great advice! I do the same.
I also create a packing list for *every* trip, even if it is to the same destination. I then try to whittle it down long before my trip before I even start to pack. I keep an electronic copy in a folder on a computer where the name of the file includes the destination and month/year. I do this so that if I go back to the destination, particularly the same time of year, I have a list to start from. After my trips I put post-trip comments at the top of the file detailing what the weather was like, what worked or did not, and any good/bad points about the trip. I also note here anything that I would add/remove/update in the list below rather than editing the list in-place. I do this because it then becomes a reminder of what did or didn’t work the next time. I found that if instead I go ahead and modify the list /after/ the trip, I am likely to make the same mistakes again on a subsequent trip.
Alaina Thomas
Posted at 13:16h, 24 OctoberYes, I definitely agree with these ideas! If I would delete an item on my packing list because it was not useful, there is a good chance I will add it back on the list next time I travel and have absolutely no recollection that I removed it for a reason. Travel involves a lot of planning and thus it is smart to do whatever we can to make it easier for ourselves, including taking detailed packing notes.