Quite a few times I’ve heard backpackers complain about weight limits or maximum bag allowances on airlines. They haul 40-pound monstrosities that limit how comfortable they are, how fast they can run to catch the train, and how often they have to take a taxi because their bag is too heavy. They end up going a little slower, seeing a little less, and paying a little more. When they look at mine, they ask me where my “real” bag is.
I have traveled around the world on extended trips up to 9 months long with nothing but a 20 liter daypack, through summers, winters, jungles, cities, and everywhere else. It weighs less than fifteen pounds and fits in the overhead compartment on the plane.
I never have to worry about lost bags, check-in times, or waiting by the conveyor belt. I am the first person in line for customs, and stroll right in. I spend nothing on laundry or taxis. I am the first to finish packing every morning. I never spend more than five seconds trying to find something at the bottom of the bag. I wander around for hours with my pack, just because I can. I’ve gotten to the point that I really don’t know how to do it any other way, and my scrawny shoulders continue to thank me.
It’s a fun game I like to play with myself find to be an amusing intellectual challenge, but despite year after year of life on the road, I have met less than half a dozen people who do the same thing, and we are endlessly perplexed. Sadly, I have never been able to convince anyone to follow this plan. But I’ll give it one last try. It’s for your own good.
How to pack for ultralight travel
When thinking of things to pack for a trip, most people bring everything, “just in case,” and end up hauling a bag full of garbage they never use. Don’t do that.
Not a single person I’ve ever met has said “I wish I brought more.” You can spot the seasoned travelers simply by bag size. Instead of thinking about what to add, think about what you can cut. You know who else said that? Oh, just Bruce Lee is all.
Your limit should be the same as the airlines: 22” x 14” by 9”, or 45 liters (though it’s slightly smaller on certain no-frills European airlines). This will keep you in check (and allow you to reap the benefits of carry-on-only travel), since it’s all you can take, and it’s more than you need. If I got by with 20, you’ll get by with 45. Trust me. Just peruse this page and assume you’ll include twice as much.
1) Shopping for Ultralight Backpacks
For quite some time, the only options available were hiking packs, and while they’re quite good at what they do, a few companies have started designing what I consider travel-worthy backpacks (carry-on size, with a fully opening zippered panel, so you can pack it like a suitcase), which work great when you want to open everything up, instead of traditional top-loaders that need to be emptied completely to find something down at the bottom.
Since travel often requires lots of packing and unpacking, and somewhat less walking, it generally makes more sense to get a backpack optimized for travel, rather than hiking (unless you plan on hiking with it, of course). Check out a list of favorites here.
Wheeled suitcases aren’t a terrible idea, especially if you have back problems, but just remember they add weight and you’ll go crazy on cobblestones.
2) Ultralight Travel Clothing Basics
People constantly ask “how can you have enough in a daypack to travel for a year?” The thing is, you’re not packing for a year. No one is.
The secret is to pack the same gear, no matter how long the trip is. I bring 3 sets of clothes, wash whatever outfit I’m wearing when I take a shower, and hang it up to dry overnight. And you don’t even need to do manual laundry. If you bring a week’s worth of clothing and do laundry once a week, you can travel forever. It’s that simple.
You might get stuck with a sink wash sooner or later, which is why everything should (hopefully) be high-performance and versatile, wicking sweat and drying quickly, which cools you in summer, and warms you in winter. Try not to bring separate clothes for hiking, lounging, and clubbing. Just get clothes that look good and feel good. They should be suitable for any social situation. It’s a tall order, but it can be done.
Shirts: No cotton. It soaks up sweat and stays wet all day. Get polyester or merino wool t-shirts (read more about why merino is everyone’s favorite here), both of which wick sweat and dry quickly. Polyester should have an odor-control treatment if you plan on making any friends. Though I won’t judge you, it’s nice to have a fancy shirt for special occasions. I’d skip warmer thermal underwear. You can only wear them in winter, and you’ll probably bring t-shirts anyway, which dry faster after a sink wash. Leave the insulation to the outer layers, which you don’t need to wash as often.
Underwear: Let me tell you, “performance underwear” feels just as good as it sounds. Spoil yourself. Again, make sure it’s quick-drying, lightweight, odor-resistant, and comfy (take a look at a list of favorites here). In winter, long underwear works wonders. You’ll only need a single pair if you wear regular underwear underneath, so you won’t have to wash the heavier one as often.
Pants and shorts: Travel pants, ideally, should be lightweight, wrinkle-free, water-resistant, quick-drying, and look completely normal, despite having a few hidden pockets for hiding valuables. There are literally only a few that actually do this (which is ridiculous), but you can find a list of good travel pants here. Try to find pants that don’t look too silly, so you won’t have to bring extra pants for fancy fun times. If your pants fit, you can skip the belt, and for guys, quick-dry shorts double as swimwear. You can cut some corners here, as cotton pants won’t hold you back so much if you have an umbrella, don’t mind washing rarely, or have laundry facilities. Given the rarity of truly travel-worthy jeans, don’t feel bad bringing regular jeans.
Socks: I bought a pair of merino wool socks and threw out all my white cotton gym socks the same day. Seriously. Merino wool warms in winter, cools in summer, insulates even when damp, dries quickly, resists odor, and is soft and plush and wonderful. I’ve found nothing more comfortable for my feet. Most socks blend merino with polyester and other materials, and work well. I bring two ultralight pairs for summer use, and a warmer pair in winter, worn over the lighter ones so I don’t have to wash the heavy ones as often.
3) Outer layers
Layering is crucial. It’s better to take a few lighter pieces that you can layer together, rather than a heavy one you can only wear in Antarctica. You may have your own comfort system on this, but here’s what I recommend (or check out my winter travel gear list for details):
Inner warm layer: Find the lightest fleece or wool sweater you can find, comfortable when it’s cool, but not cold. I look for close fits to layer more easily, and a high, snug neck so I can skip the scarf.
Outer warm layer: For winter travel, goose down or synthetic insulation jackets (those big puffy ones) are one of the best ways you can shrink things down. Goose down is triple the warmth of fleece for the same weight, and packs down to half the size, meaning a medium-warmth jacket weighs 8 ounces. Synthetic insulation isn’t as warm or packable, but it dries faster and retains its insulating qualities when wet, whereas goose down does not, which is why I have thus far gone with synthetic. Since it is encased in a nylon shell, it works well as a windproof outer layer, while the fleece sweater on the inside will be comfortable against your skin.
Rain jackets: I don’t have much to say here, and umbrellas work well enough anyway. I just look for light weight, comfort, a hood that covers my face, and enough venting to keep me cool (take a look at some ultralight rain shells, some of which are half the weight of standard jackets). Don’t get something insulated that you can only wear in winter. Layer instead.
Wind jackets: Climbing up a windy mountain on a chilly day calls for something windproof that won’t overheat, and a wind shell is the only thing that fits the bill. I wouldn’t call it a necessity, but mine is about 3 ounces, and I wear it all the time.
4) Travel Shoes
I met a guy with separate hiking boots, running shoes, evening shoes, and sandals. Here’s an idea. Why not buy shoes that look good and feel good?
There’s not much reason to bring serious hiking boots, which are designed to support 50-pound packs, which you won’t have. A nice-looking, tough, comfortable shoe that fits properly and offers good support will be suitable for all occasions. Especially if they’re waterproof.
One pair of shoes, end of story (probably leather, described here). And one pair of flip-flops or sandals. Comfy but light.
Women’s fashion is less forgiving. If you have to bring a separate pair of evening shoes, just make them small. If all it’s got on top are straps that can lay flat, perfect. Only bring one pair. Anyone who calls you out on repeat clothing will be another scruffy backpacker who will be in no place to make comments.
5) Travel Accessories
Again, anything you stuff in here should add value, not just weight. So far I’ve avoided packing cubes, but they’re not a bad idea.
Toiletries: I travel with nothing but airplane-sized bottles (maximum 3.3 ounces, or 100 mL) so I can take them on the plane, and reuse them on each trip. When the bottles run out I buy a larger one, refilling the mini so I can throw the big one away sooner. This way I might have one or two big bottles at any one time, instead of my entire supply being oversized (though an all-in-one bar soap is great for solving this problem). Check out a comprehensive toiletries list for details.
Travel towel: This is another of the most significant ways you can cut size and weight, as huge cotton towels are big, heavy and dry slowly. Microfiber towels are light, small, super absorbent, and wring out 90% dry. You can even get by with a washcloth-sized micro towel which will fold up to the size of a napkin, though it’ll take some extra time to dry yourself off. Definitely get one of these. They’re cheap and enormously efficient (though I’ve recently discovered linen towels are even better).
Sleeping bags: This is another one of those “surely I must need this” items that people end up never using. 99% of people stay in hostels and never use their sleeping bag. If you’re worried about hostels that require you to rent sheets, I’ve traveled for 15 months and spent maybe $3 on them. It’s not worth the extra weight. If you want to be a little warmer, you can sleep in your long underwear, or you can get a bag liner, which is incredibly lightweight and small, and will keep you warm enough indoors. If you really need a sleeping bag, you can find some that are the size of a 1 liter water bottle and weigh 1 pound. But if you don’t plan on camping, forget it.
Daypack: I try to avoid bringing an extra bag, but now that we have ultralight options that fold up into their own pocket, I’d recommend it. You’ll do a daytrip or climb a mountain and you’ll want to bring a jacket, food, water, maps and whatever. I had one made by Sea to Summit that holds 20 liters, weighs 2.4 ounces, and fits inside a coffee mug.
Other extras: I’d recommend a money belt (unless your pants have security pockets), a deck of cards, a nice small camera (or smartphone), a journal, sunglasses, an outlet converter, hat, gloves, and two books (it’s hard to find a book right away once you finish), or an e-reader. Those are all the extras I ever use. Umbrellas aren’t a bad idea if you don’t want to spend $100 on a rain jacket. Just remember that if you want to add extras, think about how often you’ll use it, and if it’ll be worth it.
Budgeting for ultralight travel
Poor? So was I. Patrol eBay and watch for sales. Besides, you shouldn’t buy more than a minimum of gear. Three backpacking outfits shouldn’t be too expensive, and you might have a few running shirts already, and some warm clothes, and good shoes. Some of it you’ll wear back at home after the trip, especially the socks and underwear.
If you have to cut corners when packing for a trip, regular cotton pants and shorts will be fine, as long as you’re not washing too often and rainstorms don’t ruin your day. You can skip the rain jacket and bring an umbrella, and winter gear can be cut outside of winter. I wouldn’t cut the travel towel, since it’s less than $20 and will save you lots of space and weight, and quick-drying base layers are kind of a necessity for this to work, unless you’re doing machine washes once a week or so, in which case it’ll be fine.
You should now be a thoroughly converted ultralight, minimalist backpacking genius. Once you do this, it’s hard to go back. This method is forced upon all travelers on Rick Steves’ tours, many of whom claim it’s impossible ahead of time, but talk about how great it is after. This strategy has close to a 100% success rate. And whether you’re packing for Europe, or Asia, or India, summer or winter, it’s always the same.
Oh, and by the way, the photos displayed here represent absolutely everything I took on a 9 month trip (except the camera), from temperatures below freezing to body-temperature sunshine. Towards the end of the trip, someone asked if there was anything I would have added. I said no. Someone else asked if there was anything I would have removed. I said no. I was super proud of myself.
Eventually I added a few things: A packable daypack, an ultralight wind jacket, a collared shirt, and swapped the emergency blanket for a sleeping bag liner instead (which is still just optional anyway). Overall weight was almost the same, and these items can be extremely useful.
Hmm. Talking about all this makes me want to go shopping. I’ve been working on getting my year-round pack down to about 12 pounds…
Hi!
I’m leaving in a month for an indefinite time, definitely want to do it the ultralight way.
Last year I used a 65L bag, only used about 35L this summer.
Trying to cut it down even more this time, so I can bring my bag as a carry-on.
Question:
You mentioned you used only small sized bottles for your toiletries, complying to the limits set by customs.
Assuming a strict check at customs. how do you bring anything sharp with you, like tweezers, nail clippers, a small pair of scissors (for band aids etc) and most importantly: a pocket knife?
Especially the latter has proven itself extremely useful in the past.
Great page btw,
Satchel
I’ve flown quite a few times with tweezers and nail clippers, and it’s fine. You can’t bring scissors (although I bet a small pair of sewing kit scissors would be totally fine), but you can just use the nail clippers as a poor man’s scissor substitute. Bringing multiple sizes of band-aids would reduce the need to cut them up. You can buy a multi-pack that includes all sorts of sizes, and just bring a few of each.
Pocket knives can be somewhat useful, but I’ve only rarely felt the need for them. They’re handy for picnics, where you have to cut things up. But if you just buy food that doesn’t need to get cup up (get bread and rip it apart, for example), then you can get by. Also, you can just buy a cheap one when you land, and donate it when you leave. It’ll cost you maybe $10, but it’ll save you up to an hour of baggage retrieval waiting time. Not saying it’s an ideal solution, but it’ll do.
I’ve used my pocket knife for more than just picnics, but you make a sound point.
I guess I could just buy a cheap one there.
Thanks
36L GoLite TravelLite it opens exactly in half and I can get more into it than my REI wheelie that is also carry-on approved.
A bit back I did two weeks in Taiwan for business and then two weeks in Thailand for holiday out of that same pack. I will admit my second item was a bit overstuffed with electronics because of my business trip stuff.
I packed almost exclusively linen and silk. Silk dries faster than any “quick dry” modern technical material out there. One wool undertop for cold hotels (business) and one linen stretch business jacket, one rainjacket. One pair of dress sandals and one pair of flip flops.
I don’t know if I could do the same if it were two cold weather countries as business clothing is a bit more bulky for cooler weather. I would probably still bring my silk shirts and just layer wool underneath. Pants and skirts would be a bit more difficult. With some good planning I see it as doable. (I am always jealous of how easy men have it in this category)
By the end of that month and change of travel, there was some inbetween on the time for travel, I was looking at my bag and asking myself why I brought so much stuff. That was with 36 liters!
I don’t bring much toiletry. Micropore tape for any cuts, scrapes or blisters (replaces bandaids, moleskin, etc. Hike the Superior Hiking trail and you’ll figure that out mighty quick.) Compact and cheap. One bar of soap, tin of baking soda and I buy my vinegar for my hair in-country. Lotion is a tin of shea butter and one 3oz tube of burt’s bees. Toothbrush and toothpowder. The TSA doesn’t have reason to trouble me. Mascara and lipstick, everything else melts in the heat and humidity in Taiwan.
I dream of doing Europe for a few weeks with a medium Longchamp. My biggest problem is my computer tether – work won’t let me go without it and without checking in, and no that is not the boss’s fault, I’m the boss and when you’re the boss and you own the darned thing you have to be available.
Men do have it easier, because there’s a lot less variety for men’s clothing. T-shirts for casual, buttoned shirts for dressier situations, and that’s the only variation. But on the other hand, men’s clothing is usually looser, so if a woman brings skintight items, whereas a man brings looser things (and is probably physically larger as well, meaning they’ll be bigger anyway), then you can fit more items in the same space.
Silk and linen sound great, though they tend to be so rare that I haven’t given them a try yet. Linen also has a tendency to wrinkle, so it needs something else in there to prevent that.
Excellent point about the skin-tight options for women. I don’t find those very realistic in a business setting. Leggings and a tunic for wandering around town, yes, but for anything meeting or meeting related, no.
I will say that silk and linen are very available at most thrift stores, I’ve found many silk shells and tanks for women and a number of shirts for my husband. My best score ever at a thrift store was an eileen fisher linen/spandex business jacket. I find linen pants and skirts to be a better choice than you might think as I’ll hang them up when I get to hostel or hotel and the wrinkles come right out in humid places. They are also more comfortable than the equivalent business clothing in a poly and don’t make the noise of most nylon options. Again, I’m balancing weeks of business meetings and events with any other travel I might add on. I also do not use packing cubes or compression sacks for business clothes travel. I will for hiking ie nylon and wool only.
I’m of the opinion that solutions can be found with a bit of looking and thinking. :D
Happy travels to all.
Thanks for the inspiration. After writing a blog post about only bringing my 32L North Face Surge II and 22L Osprey Cyber packs on my upcoming trip, I got worried about how full the packs are. I was on the verge of replacing the Surge II with a bigger pack when I read this. I think I just have to pack less.
I carry a big SLR camera, extra lens, and MacBook, which basically fills the Osprey. But I have to work on putting less stuff in the Surge II.
It’s difficult with camera equipment, but aside from that, there’s a lot that can be done.
This is so far the best backpacker tip/ list have read on the internet. Good Job on this one.
Thank you for writing this post. One thing I would like to know: how do you pass the security check in the airport for the items like razor and nail clipper? In some countries, these items may be okay. But I have experience for throwing the nail clipper away in the Mongolia airport as it was not allowed (it may be subjected by an individual inspector).
I’ve never had trouble with razors (especially the cartridge kind) or nail clippers, although if you’ve had those problems, maybe you can just wait to buy some after you land. It’ll cost a few dollars, but it might save you a few hours.
I have gone OS three times now and every year it’s light and better. 25-30lt packs are great. Freedom from going light is unequaled.
Absolutely LOVE this website. THANK YOU!
Absolutely LOVE finally being able to do something worthwhile with all this dorky knowledge! YOU’RE WELCOME!
Now here I’m wondering, did your pack look like this from when you started to travel, or did it “grow” smaller and smaller?
On that particular trip it was identical from start to finish, except for my shoes falling apart halfway, and I had to buy new ones; I definitely know what you’re talking about, though. On another trip I had a couple different shirts, and one of them was just awful in hot weather and it went straight into a trash can.
I actually meant, when you started travelling at all, say, the very first time you went backpacking (or was that this trip?)
Aaaah I see what you mean, and yes, you are correct again. The first trip was with a mostly-full 55 liter pack, and I only used the top 20 liters or so, because it was a top loader and I was too lazy to unpack the whole thing. Also, I was much younger, and had inadequate gear for the climate of the trip (below freezing in winter), which meant I couldn’t wear any of the cotton t-shirts while I was carrying the pack, because I would start to sweat, and the sweat would start forming icicles down my spine. This is why I get so obsessive and vocal about high-tech gear that can handle ridiculous weather variations and weigh very little, because I’ve been on the exact opposite side of things and I can never go back.
Great post ( thanks for answer on question raised in another post)
As a frequent traveller in remote areas, work and leasure, here is some more tips to travel light.
Shaving: always cumbersome to carry a shaving cream, a razor and after shave. These last few years I switched to shaving oil ( look for somersets, tiny bottle which would last weeks) and plastic razor that you can trow away when not sharp anymore ( forget about after shave, the oil will do)
For deodorant, use stick. No roller , no liquid, no gaz container , and last much longer .
Cheers
Eric b
So a year ago I read this blog, decided I wanted to go reasonably light as well. I went to a store aiming for a 40L bag, it just did not feel comfortable (being used to 70L + bags before), ended up buying a 65+10. It is a great bag, and it was also way too huge, so huge in fact that I managed to take my Ortovox 23 Skiplus as handluggage as well, and fit it in the main bag.
Needless to say I soon regretted this, and thought of sending the daypack home. I almost did, but then I wondered whether just maybe, I could fit it all in the 23L bag instead. It works, and though I obviously did not have a tent/roll/pad anymore, I could take all my clothes with me without a problem. Travelling from 35 to -5 degrees, and indeed it easily fits. Got down to about 7 kgs (8-6 strongly depending on how much I was wearing). So thanks for the inspiration, although it really does take a try to find it out for yourself.
Still looking for a compact option which adds the option of light camping and outdoor activities, any tips on that would be greatly appreciated!
Hiking and camping is definitely not something I’m familiar with, but Section Hiker is a good place to go. Glad you were finally able to give lightweight travel a try, though.
Tim,
you may care to check out Jenny and Keith’s site at http://www.walkinginfrance.info
They walk for up to 30 days at a time in France and camp most nights. Their pack size (including tent) is about 33L weighing less than 10kg. This makes their long distance walking very comfortable, albeit with out quite the sartorial elegance of regular Snarky Nomad aficionados.