How to ACTUALLY pack just a backpack for your next backpacking trip!
After travelling to 38 countries over the past 10 years, I always have people asking me for travel tips. Well, my top travel tip is always the same- PACK A BACKPACK! I haven’t checked a bag or used proper luggage for any trip I’ve ever been on, and I’ve never regretted it. I just spent the last 4.5 months backpacking in Southeast Asia with a 35 liter backpack that weighed 7 kg (15 pounds) and if I regretted anything it’s that I actually packed too much! There are many reasons why I like to travel light, but the main ones are that you can save money on not paying for checked bags (especially on budget airlines!), and the convenience of life on the road without a heavy bag weighing you down. Imagine you’re in Thailand and you need to move from one hostel to another. The easiest way to do this is by scooter, but not if you have huge luggage getting in the way! If you just have a light backpack, you can hop on and be ready to go off on your next adventure! You might be reading this and thinking “okay that sounds great, but HOW is it even possible?” Well, there are a couple of long standing rules I live by that I promise will make your life easier!
Rule One: One In, One Out
I always pack clothes that I don’t mind leaving behind if I find something better. The odds are that I WILL find something better, so instead of crowding my luggage I don’t allow myself to buy anything unless I’m willing to get rid of something in my bag! This helps with both weight, and with saving money. If I’m not willing to part with something in my bag, then I’m not buying it!
Rule Two: Everything Must Have a Purpose
I don’t pack anything that’s a “What If” outfit. Every single thing that I pack MUST have a purpose, and most things have a double purpose! Think- gym shorts that could also be pajama shorts. An oversized shirt that could be a beach cover up or a gym shirt or a pajama shirt. A sports bra that’s also a bathing suit. Flowey shorts that you could wear on a night out, to the beach or as pajamas. You get the picture!
Rule Three: Every Item of Clothing Must Match
If every item of clothing matches with every other item of clothing, it makes it easier to mix and match! This turns what could be 5 outfits into 25 outfits- a no brainer. I know it might seem like a good idea to pack that one super cute patterned shirt that only looks good with one specific pair of shorts, but it’s not worth it! Besides, the more outfit combos you have, the less it looks like you’re repeating outfits in pictures!
Rule Four: Accept that you WILL Need to do Laundry
It’s not as annoying as you think! Most of the time you can drop it off in the morning, and for less than $10 it will be washed, dried, and folded for you by the next day. Yes, it does take a bit of planning, but it’s also such a good excuse to spend extra time in a city. Once you get the hang of planning which days you need to do laundry (I usually do laundry once every 6 days), it becomes just another part of your city to do list! I’ve successfully only ever run out of clean underwear once, and now laundry days are actually my favorite days because nothing beats the smell of fresh and clean clothes!
Rule Five: Always Travel with a Luggage Scale
Most budget airlines can be very strict about weight- I’m looking at you Air Asia and RyanAir! If I can weigh my bag myself, it takes the guess work out of whether or not I’m going to get charged at the airport. This makes travel days way less stressful, and helps me stay on budget.
Rule Six: Try on Your Clothes BEFORE You Pack Them
I once saw an Instagram Reel of a girl trying on all of her holiday outfits before she packed them to help her decide what makes the cut and what doesn’t. This video changed my packing strategy for LIFE. Now, I always try every single thing on just to make sure that it’s something that I will be happy to wear for months and months over and over again. If there’s even one aspect of the clothing that I’m not happy with, it’s not coming! For example, maybe the shorts are a bit tight around my stomach when I sit down. That’s going to make me not want to wear them on a bus for 8 hours! Or maybe the shirt is a color that looks weird with another pair of shorts I’m bringing. Sorry, you’re cut!
That’s it!
Once you start packing in a backpack, you never go back. If the idea of this intimidates you, I always recommend trying it for a shorter trip first! Maybe try to pack as few clothes as possible for a weekend away. It doesn’t have to be perfect, just give it a try!
If you want to see a practical example of what I packed for 4.5 months backpacking in Southeast Asia, check out this blog post:
Or, if you want help choosing the PERFECT backpack for your next trip, click here: