Pre-Packing Tips for Long-Term Travel
- Samantha C.
- Aug 15, 2024
- 9 min read
Updated: Apr 24
Mindset and Lessons Learned that Will Change the Way You Pack - Packing Tips for Long-Term Travel
Before you even start packing, there are a few things you should know, that will save you time, money, bag space, and head space.
These are the things I wish I’d known before long-term travel; not everything applies to everyone, but they're worth considering and possibly saving yourself some bag space.
For the full list of what not to pack, scroll to the bottom or click here.
In this article:
No One Cares (What You Look Like)
It's a lesson I learned the hard way after prepping for a year-long trip and making the mistake of packing minimalist/casual shoes, nice khakis, and my favorite button-down shirt.
The problem was... I never wore them... ever.
Yes, I went out on the town, yes, I went to plenty of bars and even the occasional club, but I didn't get a second look wearing my generic, black trail-running shoes, convertible hiking shorts/pants, and quick-dry shirts.
The truth is, the second you step off the plane in another country, all the normal fashion rules go out the window; travelers are a hodgepodge of people from other countries and different cultures; rocking different styles and different brands; wearing different types of clothes because everyone's doing different things; no one even knows what's stylish because "style" varies by country.
Use this to your advantage, and prioritize function over fashion, this simple mental switch alone can save you 2 to 3 outfits and a pair of shoes.
Everything Wears Out
We don't think about this too often at home, because we're usually rotating a comparatively large selection of clothes, but when you're wearing the same 3-4 shirts, 6-7 socks, and 8-10 pairs of underwear, your stuff will wear out eventually, and faster than you think.
Beyond regular wear and tear, there's a higher risk of irreparable damage and stains; a simple oil stain can make a shirt unwearable, pants can be rendered unwearable by wine, your favorite swim shorts might suffer a catastrophic coral reef rip, etc.
We don't think about these things at home, because they're less likely and less impactful, but when everything you own is in a backpack, it can throw a wrench in your perfectly packed bag.
This ties into my next point:
Things Get Lost
You may be great at keeping track of things at home, but travel has a habit of disrupting your normal rhythm, and with that disruption comes a higher risk of losing, forgetting, and misplacing things.
Sandals get left at the beach after one too many drinks, you forget a pair of underwear hanging out to dry, a shirt goes missing after laundry service, your fast charger gets left in a wall outlet, the hoodie you just picked up finds a new home on the back of a bar chair, etc.
These things happen, and the longer you travel, the more likely they are to happen; which is why many long-term travelers recommend not spending a ton of money on travel gear, because losing a $10 shirt doesn't feel as bad as losing a $100 Merino wool shirt.
I'm a big fan of high-quality travel gear, and the right travel clothes can save you time and space when it comes to washing and drying clothes, but there's a case to be made for inexpensive, non-branded clothes for long-term travel.
The More You Spend, The More You Have To Lose
To summarize a lot of the above points - the more you spend on travel gear, the more you have to lose, and the more it can weigh on you.
This is true for clothes, tools, and backpacks.
I remember dropping $300 on a nice new travel backpack for my first trip, it was easily the most I'd ever spent on a backpack or travel gear in general; and I worried about it, constantly...
What if someone breaks into my hostel locker? Can I leave it while I go to the bathroom? Am I target because people see how nice this bag is? What if someone wants my bag and they take everything?
These fears sound insane now, especially after years of travel, but what I wasn't accounting for when I first started traveling, is the emotional weight that comes with every purchase.
"What I wasn't accounting for when I first started traveling, is the emotional weight that comes with every purchase.."
These days I pack whatever backpack fits my stuff, and inexpensive, casual athleisure wear, and while it would hurt to lose my laptop or phone, those are about the only things I worry about.
In short, if you can afford high-quality travel gear and aren't afraid of losing it, it's a good investment, but if high-quality travel gear is stretching the bank, be content knowing that it's definitely not necessary for long-term travel; a $30 40L backpack carries the same amount as a $300 40L backpack, it's that simple.
This advice may not be for everyone, but don't make the same mistakes I did, think before you buy - "Is this irreplaceable? Would it hurt to lose it?" "Will I worry about losing it?" - if the answer is yes, consider an inexpensive alternative.
Everything Is Everywhere
Everything you need is readily available at nearly every convenience store in the world. Even basics like socks and underwear can often be found at the nearest 7-Eleven.
Not to dwell on this too much, big when it comes to packing, you really don't need to plan out a year's worth of stuff for your backpack; you don't need to pack for all seasons, and you don't need to pack for every situation.
Long-term travel has more in common with regular life than it does with travel life.
That means grocery store visits, down time, and flexibility, etc. If the weather turns cold, you can pick up an inexpensive hoodie, if it starts to rain, you can pick up a cheap poncho, if your sandals break, there's a cheap pair just down the street.
If you're traveling to a place where people live, you can find the things you need to live - it's that simple.
Embrace the Freedom (of Time)
If you're traveling long-term, you probably have some flexibility with your schedule, that flexibility can mean you don't have to pack for every situation, and you don't have to force activities when the weather is bad.
If it rains one day, stay inside, if it's ungodly hot, hang by the pool, if snow is in the forecast, look at your options for warmer climates.
You can use your flexibility to your advantage and pack fewer things by simply avoiding or waiting out bad weather.
I've been traveling for years and I've never packed an umbrella or rain jacket, even during wet season in Southeast Asia - if it's raining hard I'll wait it out, if it's light I deal with it, and if it's moderate, I buy a cheap poncho.
"You don't need waterproof socks if you wait a day for the sun to come out.."
Embrace the freedom that comes with long-term travel, and schedule your outdoor fun when it makes sense.
Chase the Seasons
Related to the above, but at a higher level.
Consider chasing the seasons vs packing for all seasons. You might have to take some longer flights and hop around a bit more, but it's well worth it, not just for reducing what you pack, but for your enjoyment in general.
On my first year-long trip I packed for all four seasons, summer in South America, Winter in Europe, Dry Season in Southeast Asia (very hot), and Fall in Japan; but here's what I realized, traveling in shitty weather sucks, miserable weather makes for a miserable experience... and you need to pack a lot more.
Why even bother when you have a flexible schedule? If birds can do it, so can you.
Electronics are Overrated
Every extra electronic you bring adds physical and emotional weight to your baggage.
I remember buying a tablet for my first round-the-world trip, thinking "I won't have a laptop, but I want something for entertainment," but I never used it, and here's why:
Long-haul international flights usually have built-in entertainment
Hostels (often) have movie rooms (or other forms of entertainment)
AirBnbs, hotels and private rooms (frequently) have Smart TVs
Your phone is faster, easier, and readily available
You'll have less downtime than you think
Beyond just bag space and being unnecessary, high-cost items will weigh on you mentally, as you're out exploring a new city, worried about your locker or room getting raided and losing $1000 worth of anything.
If you’re dying for home comforts, popcorn, movies, and a big-screen TV, consider getting a hotel or AirBnb every 2-3 weeks versus packing a tablet; you'll want a break from people eventually, and it's a great way to recharge.
Speaking of electronics... assume you'll only have one working outlet.
This is rare, but happens enough that it warrants a mention - sometimes there's only one working outlet in your room; this is especially true if you staying in hostels, but also true for inexpensive hotels and micro-rooms as well.
Planning for a single outlet can simplify your pack, just ask yourself, "If I only have one outlet, how can I charge all my devices" - The answer is usually pretty simple, an adapter and single splitter cable may be all you need for all your devices.
Cables, adapters and chargers are everywhere, if it breaks, go to the nearest gas station and buy a replacement.
Water Bottles Are Overrated
This may sound like blasphemy, but hear me out.
Many, if not most places you visit will have questionable tap water, so you're going to be buying bottled or jugged water anyway.. bringing a water bottle isn't changing anything, it's just packing more stuff.
Some of you may argue that you can pack filtered water bottles, but I'm guessing you've never traveled long-term with one, because they're bulky, low capacity and you have to change the filters, which is a pain in the butt when Amazon over-night isn't an option.
The solution is pretty simple, buy a bottle of water after security at your first airport, and use that bottle forever (or until you lose it). Worried about plastic particles? Buy a glass bottle. Worried about breaking it? Buy a tin bottle.
Bottled water in all forms is available everywhere, you don't need to pack one, and you'll be happy you didn't pack one most of the time.
Towels Are Overrated
Yes towels are incredibly useful, but they're also universally available, at every hostel, hotel, and Airbnb; and they're bulky.
I've noticed two things while contemplating the pros and cons of packing a towel.
1) Towels get wet and dirty faster than anything else (especially if you use them as more than bath towels), so why not use the provided towels and leave the laundry to the host?
2) Towels are always the last thing to get packed when you're checking out of a hotel/hostel (assuming you shower before you go); do you really want to pack a wet, smelly towel in your backpack before hitting the road? You could tie it to your backpack, but then it's a wet smelly towel hitting your back, touching the floor, or touching other people.
Towels are great for some trips, but for long-term travel, they quickly become inconvenient and create more problems than they solve.
Waterproof Bags Are Overrated
Having a waterproof backpack may have crossed your mind as you prep for long-term travel, and on the surface, it makes sense, after all, you don't know what you'll be doing or what you'll be getting into.
But the thing is, waterproof bags are really only necessary if you're river rafting, kayaking or hiking in non-stop rain with ALL your stuff; even the hiking-in-rain use case is questionable.
I once rented a motorbike in Costa Rica and made an 8-hour drive through rain to get back to San Jose for a flight, I was completely soaked when I got to my hotel, but my regular, water-resistant backpack protected all my stuff just fine.
You might go hiking in the rain, and you might go river rafting, and you might get caught in a rain storm, but will you have all your stuff with you? Probably not, and even if you did, a simple dry bag for your valuables is more than enough.
Summary
And that's it!
All the things I wish I'd known prior to packing for my first long-term trip.
They may not all apply to you, but I hope they help you think about what's really necessary vs what's nice-to-have when you're traveling long-term.
For a list of things not to pack for long-term travel, see the list below.
For a detailed list of what to pack (including clothes and shoes) for long-term travel, check out Packing for Long-Term Travel.
To see my current packing list, check out Long-Term Travel Packing List (2024).
Things NOT To Pack for Long-Term Travel
Given the insights above, here's the full list of things not to pack for long-term travel.
Dressy clothes and shoes
Anything expensive that you wouldn't want to lose
Umbrellas and rain jackets (sit out the rain)
Winter clothes and shoes (if you can avoid it)
Tablets, eReaders, and Smart Watches
Water Bottles (re-use store-bought bottles)
Towels (rent at each location)
Waterproof Backpack (use small waterproof bags instead)
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