What I Pack After 12 Years of Travel (One Carry-On Forever)

I checked a bag for the last time in 2015. The airline lost it. They found it three days later. I'd already replaced everything I needed for the trip.

Since then, I've traveled with carry-on only. Hundreds of trips. Climates from -20°F Iceland to +110°F Egypt. Trips of 5 days. Trips of 5 months.

Here's my actual packing list. Refined over 12 years.

The bag itself

I use an Osprey Farpoint 40L. It's a backpack that opens like a suitcase. Has compression straps. Fits in any airline overhead.

I tried wheeled carry-ons. They got destroyed on cobblestones in Europe. They were nightmares on stairs. They were impossible on Asian street markets. The backpack solved all of these.

Cost: $200. I've had mine for 6 years. It's not worn out. It will probably outlast me.

Clothing (always the same regardless of trip length)

For trips of any length, I bring:

• 3 quick-dry t-shirts (merino wool or polyester blend, not cotton)
• 2 long-sleeve shirts (one casual, one nicer)
• 1 pair of pants (Bluffworks travel pants work for both casual and dressier)
• 1 pair of shorts
• 1 pair of swim trunks/swimsuit
• 5 pairs of socks (merino wool — washes faster than cotton, doesn't smell)
• 5 pairs of underwear (Saxx or ExOfficio quick-dry)
• 1 pair of sneakers (worn on the plane)
• 1 pair of sandals (Tevas — workable for beach, walking, and showers)
• 1 light rain jacket (Patagonia Houdini packs to fist-size)
• 1 light puffer (Uniqlo Ultra Light)

That's it. Total weight: about 4.5 kg / 10 lbs.

For trips longer than 7-10 days, I wash clothes once. Most countries have laundromats or laundry services for $5-15. Carrying more clothes is dumber than washing existing ones.

For cold-climate trips, I add: thermal long underwear (Smartwool), heavier socks, beanie, gloves. Layer over the same base clothing.

For tropical-climate trips, I subtract: long-sleeve shirts replaced with extra t-shirts. Add: sun hat.

Electronics

• iPhone
• iPad mini (for reading, watching shows on flights)
• MacBook Air (for working — only if it's a working trip)
• Sony WF-1000XM5 earbuds (noise cancelling, essential for flights and cafes)
• Anker 20,000 mAh power bank
• USB-C cable + Lightning cable + USB-A to USB-C adapter
• 1 universal travel adapter (Epicka — works in 150+ countries)
• Apple Watch (sleep tracking + workout tracking + watch alarm in foreign hotels)

That fits in a small electronics pouch the size of a paperback book. Easy to grab through security.

Toiletries (TSA-friendly, all under 100ml)

• Travel-size shampoo + conditioner (Ethique solid bars actually — no spill risk)
• Toothbrush + toothpaste
• Deodorant (solid, not aerosol)
• Razor + 3 blades
• Sunscreen 50 SPF (Ultra Sheer Dry Touch — doesn't feel sticky)
• Bug spray with DEET (only for tropical trips)
• Floss + small pack of dental tools
• Nail clippers

Everything fits in a Sea to Summit hanging toiletry bag.

Medical kit

This is the difference between a comfortable trip and a miserable one when you get sick:

• Imodium (for stomach issues)
• Oral rehydration salts (10 packets)
• Antihistamines (Zyrtec or Allegra)
• Ibuprofen + Acetaminophen
• Antibacterial cream
• 2-3 Band-Aids + butterfly closures
• Anti-diarrheal (loperamide tablets)
• Multivitamin for trips longer than 2 weeks
• Prescription meds (in original bottles, with prescription)

You can buy most of these in any country but the names are different and the quality varies. Having your trusted versions is reassuring.

Documents

• Passport (always in same secure pocket of my bag)
• Backup passport photo (separate from passport)
• Photocopies of passport + visa pages (printed and in different bag)
• Travel insurance card + policy number (printed)
• Two credit cards (different networks — Visa + Mastercard)
• One debit card
• Driver's license (for car rentals + ID backup)
• Emergency contact list (printed, in case phone dies)
• $200-300 USD in small bills (for emergencies + countries where USD is gold)

The optional stuff

Depending on trip:

• Sunglasses (Persol or polarized, prescription strength)
• Buff (for sun, cold, dust storms, makeshift face mask, sleep eye cover)
• Compression socks (for flights over 8 hours)
• Sleep mask (for jet-lag recovery)
• Earplugs (for hostel dorms or noisy hotels — Mack's silicone work best)
• Small daypack (foldable, fits in main bag — for daily city walks)
• Reusable water bottle (Klean Kanteen — collapses semi-flat)
• Small dry bag (for boat trips, rainy days)
• Small flashlight or headlamp (for power outages, exploring caves, night walks)

For specific trips I add: hiking boots (instead of sneakers if there's significant hiking), warmer layers (cold climates), beach towel quick-dry (some destinations don't provide), swimming goggles (if there's specific snorkeling).

What I never bring anymore

• Books (use iPad instead — same content, no weight, plus Kindle app for night reading)
• Multiple shoes (1 sneaker + 1 sandal is enough)
• Jeans (heavy, slow to dry, doesn't pack well)
• Cotton t-shirts (don't wick, take forever to dry)
• Travel guides (Google Maps + Wikitravel + saved bookmarks work better)
• Camera gear (phone is enough)
• Multiple jackets (1 light rain + 1 light puffer covers everything)
• Towels (hotels always provide; for budget travel, quick-dry travel towel)

The packing principles

1. Wash, don't bring more. A laundromat costs $5-15. Carrying extra clothes costs you for the entire trip.

2. Layer, don't bulk. Three thinner layers > one heavy layer. More versatile, less heavy.

3. Same color family. Most of my clothes are black, gray, navy, or olive. Everything matches everything. Saves mental energy.

4. Pack everything in packing cubes. Eagle Creek or Peak Design. Easier to find things. Compress for space.

5. Test pack before leaving. Once you finish packing, take everything out and put it back. You'll find 2-3 items you don't actually need.

6. Build in 30% margin. A 40L bag should ideally be 60-70% full when you leave. You'll buy things on the trip. You need space for those.

What I learned from over-packing

For my first international trip (5 weeks across Europe), I brought a checked bag plus a carry-on. About 23 kg total.

I used probably 60% of what I brought. Half my clothes never came out of the suitcase. Two pairs of shoes were unused. Three books went unread.

For my last trip (4 weeks across Spain + Portugal), I brought 7 kg in a carry-on backpack. Used 95% of it. Bought 2 things along the way (sunhat, a nice shirt) that I either lost or gave away at the end.

Less is better. Always. For every trip.

If you're packing for a trip right now: take out a third of what you've packed. You won't need it.