First time travelling and not sure what to pack? Even for an experienced traveller it can be tough to know what is essential and what you just won’t use. Here are the items that always get top priority in my bag!
Must Pack Clothing
Down Jacket
I don’t know how I coped before, but I only discovered down jackets last year. Mine has changed my travel life! I live in the UK (which is often a wee bit chilly!) so, even when travelling to somewhere hot, I need a coat to get to the airport. That used to mean lugging around a heavy jacket in a hot country for weeks/months and not using it!
Down jackets are SUPER LIGHT and can scrunch up to about the size of a tennis ball – perfect for packing light on a multi-climate trip.
Down Jacket: Buy in the UK | Buy in the USA
White Linen Shirt
Ok, I’ve borrowed this idea from my favourite travel author, Levison Wood… it’s the one item he claims to never leave home without, and I tend to agree. He cites meeting important people as the reason – mine is more cultural. If you’re heading to Asia or North Africa, there are times you’ll need to cover up for cultural reasons. You’ll be grateful for a cool, light shirt.
Walking Boots
I didn’t take walking boots on my first longer-term trip because of the weight, and instead just hiked around in Converse. That wasn’t a great idea, because it damaged my feet 🙁 More recently, I found some brilliant super light hiking boots which I now take everywhere! Read the post I wrote about them.
KEEN Terradora Boots: Buy in the UK | Buy in the USA
TOMS (Espadrilles)
TOMS are just about my favourite shoes, not least because they give a new pair of shoes to a child in need every time you buy a pair! I live in them (except in Winter!). They are absolutely brilliant for travelling because they are just so comfy and just so light! They also squish up as small as flip-flops (or thongs, or jandals, depending on where you’re from!)
TOMS: Buy in the UK | Buy in the USA
Waterproof Jacket or Poncho
Depending on where you’re going, you might want to invest in a light packable waterproof jacket or just grab a cheap poncho. My rule of thumb is:
Short trip in a hot country that might have a few rain showers: Cheap Poncho
Longer multi-climate trip with potential for lots of wind and rain: Light packable waterproof jacket.
Packable Waterproof: Buy in the UK | Buy in the USA
Poncho: Buy in the UK | Buy in the USA
Other than that…
Other than that, just pack enough clothes for one week – washing them once a week isn’t too much hassle.
Make sure all of your tops go with all of your bottoms, so you can mix and match and not feel like you’re always wearing the same things.
Pick fabrics that are cool, dry quickly and don’t crease. Sportswear is great for this. Choose t-shirts that are cotton with some percentage of polyester (this way they’re cool AND you never have to iron them!)
Must Pack Tech
Kindle
If you like to read, this is a no-brainer. Gone are the days of hauling heavy books around in your backpack – just download your guidebooks and reading books to your nice light Kindle instead.
If you’re travelling longer term, you’ll need a decent case to protect it – I use this one.
Kindle: Buy in the UK | Buy in the USA
Kindle Case: Buy in the UK | Buy in the USA
Camera
Which camera you take will depend on your photography ambition and ability, but make sure you have something! I use a Nikon D3300 with an 18-55 kit lens, which is (according to the Which report when I purchased it) as good as the more expensive cameras but only costs a few hundred pounds.
I also take a Lightning to USB Camera Adaptor, which allows me to quickly back up photos to my iPhone and iPad.
Nikon D3300: Buy in the UK | Buy in the USA
Lightning to USB Adaptor: Buy in the UK | Buy in the USA
Noise cancelling headphones
From plane noise to snorers, sometimes you need to block out the background noise and replace it with your favourite tunes – noise cancelling headphones are great for this! They’re not so cheap, so if you’re on a budget just grab some good earplugs!
Noise Cancelling Headphones: Buy in the UK | Buy in the USA
Multi plug adaptor
Having travelled for years, I still sometimes mess up. Last year I ended up in Bali with a US/Aussie adaptor (like they use in most of Asia), only to discover that Indonesia use the European plug sockets. I had to beg and borrow to keep my tech going. Multi-adaptors are ace because you’ll always have the right one!
Multi-plug adaptor: Buy in the UK | Buy in the USA
(Extra tip: I discovered that most TVs have a USB socket, so you can charge your phone there if you ever get stuck!)
Must Have Luggage
Backpack or suitcase?
I struggled with this dilemma when planning every trip I took for years! Then I discovered my Kathmandu 50L Hybrid Bag which changed my travel life! Read the post I wrote about it.
Kathmandu 50L Hybrid: Buy in the UK
Osprey 50L Hybrid: Buy in the USA
Hand luggage
Of course, you need some kind of hand luggage for the plane and it’s useful to have one that doubles as a day sack for hiking (if you like hiking!). I use the Kathmandu Gluon Beyond 18L Backpack v3. I bought it because it matches my Hybrid Bag, but it’s also padded and really comfy even when it’s heavy.
Gluon Beyond 18L Backpack: Buy in the UK
18L Backpack: Buy in the USA
Hidden money belt
If you’re going somewhere with a high risk of pickpockets, or somewhere you’re luggage may not be 100% safe (take sleeper trains in India for example), a hidden money belt is a godsend. Use it to keep your passport, cash and credit cards super safe. I use the Design Go Body Pocket which is inexpensive but secure and comfortable to wear – you’ll forget you have it on.
Design Go Body Pocket: Buy in the UK
Similar hidden money belt: Buy in the USA
Anything I’ve missed?
What are your essential travel items? If you think I’m missing something please comment below – I’d love to know if there’s something better I should be packing!
I’ll be honest – this article contains affiliate links, which means I will get a small commission (at no extra cost to you) if you decide to buy. Integrity is really important to me, so I only recommend products that I really love! Of course, do your own research and if you have any questions about the items or need some advice, please feel free to get in touch – I’d be happy to help!
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