Yes, it’s possible. Everything you need, even some things you don’t, zipped up in a 40L backpack. After 300+ days of traveling around the world (RTW), I figure it is time to share what I have learned and what is in my bag. This is written from a male perspective but can help anyone who is preparing for long term travel.

Carry-On Travel

We made the conscious decision to purchase backpacks that qualify as carry-on, so we would not have to check bags when flying. Carry-on travel can save you the cost of a checked bag, and will always save time at the airport. We have walked right on by countless congested check-in lines and baggage carousels on our adventure.

There are a few budget airlines we encountered that required checking, because of weight. My backpack weighs roughly 25 pounds or a little over 11 kg. Some airlines have a maximum carry-on weight of 8 kg.

Our carry-on travel style is hard to explain: We are budget backpackers, but not. Sometimes we stay in hostels, where it’s handy to have a bag that is small enough to fit in lockers and other times we stay in guesthouses or Airbnbs where it doesn’t matter what size luggage we have. We also use all modes of transportation: buses, cars, taxis, planes, trains, and ferries.

Life tends to be a lot less stressful when you aren’t dragging an enormous piece of luggage through an unfamiliar city on public transportation.

The Pack

The bag that’s been with me for the last 11 months is a 40L Osprey Farpoint. I have no regrets about buying this backpack. You are going to want a bag that fits you well. REI is good about finding the right sized bag for your body. A durable bag is also a must. They go through a lot.

The Osprey Farpoint has dual front mesh pockets that are perfect for a water bottle or a pair of shoes/sandals. The internal compression straps help keep items secure and of course compressed everything a little bit more. The stowaway back panel compartment was handy for items I didn’t need every day (gloves, winter hat, snood). Nothing frustrated me about this bag. It is lightweight, durable, and comfortable.

Everything in my Bag

Though we mostly stayed in warm to hot weather, we have experienced all of the seasons in our travels. Below is an exhaustive list of everything I brought on our trip.

• SHIRTS: 11 t-shirts, 3 tank tops, 6 long sleeve shirts
• PANTS: 2 pairs (I also have some nerdy shorts that zip into pants. These have been a lifesaver for temples and other places that require covered knees)
• SHORTS: 4 pairs of shorts, 1 swimsuit
• JACKETS: hoodie, raincoat, packable down jacket
• UNDERS: 9 pairs of socks, 9 pairs of underwear
• FOR THE ELEMENTS: 1 pair of running tights, 2 hats, 1 stocking cap, 1 pair of gloves, 1 snood
• FOOTWEAR: 1 pair of Chacos flip flops, 1 pair of trail running shoes, water shoes (purchased in the Philippines)
• TOILETRIES: toothbrush, toothpaste, LUSH shampoo bar, LUSH facewash bar, face lotion with SPF, hand sanitizer, spot acne cream, retainer, floss, beard trimmer, beach towel, nail clippers, toiletries bag
• ELECTRONICS: GoPro, Anker power bank, 3 pairs of earbuds (don’t ask me why), misc cords, plug converter, iPhone 8
• FOOD: Silicon collapsable food container, three Stasher silicon food bags, fork, spoon, aluminum straws, straw cleaner, bottle opener, water bottle, reusable grocery bag, cloth napkin
• TRAVEL DAY ITEMS: earplugs (essential in hostels, guesthouses by loud streets, and long bus rides with a snoring old man), eye mask (I rarely used mine, but Kristin uses her all the time), Eagle Creek inflatable neck pillow, toilet paper, Eagle Creek packable day pack (used mainly on travel days and excursions)
• MISC: fanny pack, harmonica, multivitamins, medicine bag, first aid kit, sunglasses, belt, packing cubes, passport, Garmin watch, dry bag, rain cover for backpack, 2 Ziploc bags, mood ring (replacement for my lost wedding ring), travel lock, pen, wallet

Disclaimer: I am typing this article on a Macbook. No, I do not carry the MacBook in my bag. Kristin is the keeper of our computer. Remove a few shirts, and this MacBook wouldn’t be an issue in my pack.

What Makes the Cut?

Bring what you wear at home, but be smart about it. Your comfy sweats will take up too much room in your bag, so leave them at home.

When I was preparing for our year-long trip, I read many blogs that said to avoid taking cotton shirts. Guess what? 90% of my shirts are cotton and I didn’t run into any huge issues with clothes not drying. I did buy some Patagonia shirts because they dry quicker than cotton and those are the shirts I wear the least.

Shoes

People tend to think hiking shoes are necessary for a RTW adventure, and that is a load of crap. Running shoes are more than capable of getting you anywhere you need to go. These Merrel shoes above went through the rain and unpredictable conditions of Iceland, the feet of snow in Japan, and miles of hiking in Patagonia. Another benefit to leaving those bulky hiking shoes at home is weight. You’ll save a few pounds by bringing lightweight shoes.

I also have a pair of Chacos flip flops. There were many times I wish I would have brought my Classic Z Chacos, but I left them at home because of the weight and size. If you plan to be in hot weather, bring a comfy pair of flip flops that will last.

Brought to you by Packing Cubes

You need packing cubes. I have four packing cubes. Socks and underwear are in my Eagle Creek Travel Gear Pack-it Specter Compression Cube. The rest of my clothes fit in eBags Slim Packing Cubes – 3pc Set. Without these cubes, my bag would be a hot mess. Not only do they help with compression to save space, but they also keep things organized.

It’s important to do a practice packing session to make sure your packing cubes fit correctly in your bag. In my experience, three or four smaller packing cubes give you better options to fit them efficiently in your pack. Larger packing cubes make it harder to switch things around in your bag.

Rolling vs Folding

During the first three months of travel, I was all about rolling. I had it ingrained in my head that if I wanted to save space and have fewer wrinkles, rolling is the way. Well, I am now on that folding train (I’ve converted Kristin as well). For the packing cubes we own, it makes more sense to fold our clothes to match the width and length of the cubes. More clothes, especially shirts, fit in the cubes when folded.

As far as wrinkles go, it doesn’t matter. No matter how I packed, my clothes were wrinkled. Our carry-on travel hack for wrinkled clothes is to pack a tiny spray bottle that we can fill with water. Take that wrinkled shirt, spray the wrinkles, and then stretch and smooth them out with your hands. Most of my shirts are cotton and this works wonders.

Let me know if you all have any other questions about packing and preparing for your travels, I would be happy to give any advice I can. Or, if you have any good tips to share, let us know.

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