I’ve packed for 50+ trips. Cold weather, beach, safari, city, mountains. Here’s the master packing list that works across all of them.
The core list (regardless of destination)
- Passport + 2 photocopies stored separately
- Credit cards from two different banks
- Cash in destination currency (~$200 equivalent)
- Travel insurance card (SafetyWing, Allianz, World Nomads)
- Universal adapter (the one with USB-C ports built in)
- Portable charger 10,000mAh minimum
- Phone charging cable + one backup
- Headphones (wired backup for the inevitable Bluetooth fail)
- Empty water bottle for after security
- One book or Kindle
- Real prescription medications + photos of the prescription
- Quick-dry travel towel (one of the small ones)
- Earplugs and an eye mask
- Tiny first aid kit: bandages, antiseptic, Imodium, ibuprofen, Pepto
For safari + wildlife travel
- Long sleeves and pants in earth tones (no white, no black – tsetse fly attractors)
- Buff/neck gaiter for dust
- Sun hat with chin strap (windy in safari vehicles)
- High-power binoculars (8×42 or 10×42)
- Polarized sunglasses (not just dark)
- DEET-strength insect repellent
- Malaria prophylaxis (start before you go, finish after)
- Yellow fever vaccination card
- Hand sanitizer for the long drives
- USB-C car charger (your camera will eat batteries)
For cold weather (Iceland, Norway, Patagonia)
- Merino base layer (top + bottom). Costs $100, lasts 10 years.
- Real waterproof shell jacket (not “water resistant”)
- Insulating layer: down jacket or fleece
- Wool socks – 2 pairs minimum, alternate days
- Waterproof boots that are broken in
- Hat that covers ears + neck gaiter
- Touchscreen-compatible gloves + a thicker pair
- Hand warmers (the chemical kind – cheap on Amazon)
- Lip balm with SPF (cold + sun is brutal)
For beach trips
- Reef-safe sunscreen (real reefs require this now)
- Two swimsuits (one always wet)
- Rashguard for snorkeling
- Beach towel (NOT a regular towel – they don’t dry)
- Waterproof phone pouch
- Cheap flip flops you can leave behind
- Aloe + after-sun
- Sunglasses with a strap
For Europe city trips
- One pair of walking shoes that look like normal shoes
- One smart-casual outfit for the nicer dinner
- Crossbody bag with anti-theft features
- SIM-card unlocked phone + a local SIM
- Translation app pre-downloaded for offline use
What I always overpack
- Books: bring one. You won’t read three on a trip.
- Shoes: bring two pairs. Three is too many.
- “Just in case” outfits: skip them. Laundry exists everywhere.
- Beauty products in original sizes: travel sizes everything.
- Tech gadgets you don’t use at home: skip them.
The two best packing investments
Eagle Creek Pack-It Cubes ($30). Folds your clothes into compressed bricks. Doubles your suitcase space.
Tom Bihn Tri-Star or Aer Travel Pack ($300). One-bag travel is the move. Carry-on only forever. Never lose luggage.
The rule
Pack everything, then put half of it back. After 50 trips I still over-pack. Half of what I bring stays in the suitcase. Stop doing that.