How to Mindfully Prepare a Long-Term Traveler’s Packing List

Packing for long-term is very different than packing for vacation.

You need to be pickier, more flexible and more mindful of what goes into your bag. When I first started traveling, I’d always pack weeks ahead, then find my luggage days before 20lbs overweight, forced to reconsider my life choices. While I’m still no expert, my packing abilities are definitely less disastrous than they used to be. The secret? Staying light and efficient.

So, to help ease the preparations of your next long-term journey, I created this Long-Term Traveler’s Packing List. {If you’d like to have your own checklist to mark off as you pack for your next upcoming trip, I’ve included a Free PDF version of the packing list. You can find that checklist at the bottom of the blog or by clicking here.)

Things to Consider:

Your list is unique.

There is no such thing as a one-list-fits-all when it comes to packing. Each individual list is dependent on a variety of factors. Your trekking trip in Patagonia, for example, is going to require you to pack much differently than your trip to Brazil’s northern beaches.

Consider the following things when you pack for your next trip:

• Where are you going? What’s the climate going to be like there?
• How long will you be there? Are there season changes where you’re going? Will you be there long enough to experience any of those?
• Do you plan on going anywhere fancy? Or is your trip more casual?
• Does the place you’re going have cultural requirements? Bring proper clothing to fit those requirements. (Or expect to purchase that attire while you’re there).
• Are you planning any activities outdoors? For example, are you traveling to Portugal to surf? Will you be walking a lot?
• Will you be where you’re going for mostly business or pleasure?

Your Long-term Luggage

The backpack

Backpacks are more common among long-term travelers. Period.

Why? It’s easier to get around with.

Whether you plan to live up in the favelas in Rio de Janeiro or spend your summer hopping on and off trains throughout Asia, you’re going to find it easier to move around when you’re carrying a backpack.

The size

For backpacks, size is extremely important to take into consideration.

The bigger the backpack, the more likely you are to be restricted on flights. Meaning if you’re trying to fly on a budget, your flight just got a whole lot pricier. Plus, now you have to worry more about the weight of your items as well.

60L seems to be the sweet spot for most people – it won’t weigh you down and it fits the carryon guidelines for more airlines.

TIP: I’m 5’6″ and 115lbs and find 60L perfect for this kind of travel. My partner is 6’1″ and 185lbs and he too prefers traveling with 60L.

The brand

Does the brand matter? Definitely.

I can’t recommend enough investing in a good, comfortable, durable backpack for the 60L and the daypack.

I really like and trust Colombia, Eddie Bauer, Tatonka and Osprey.

A suitcase

I, personally, love using suitcases because it means that there’s less weight I have to physically carry, which makes certain travel so much more enjoyable.

Whether or not taking a suitcase would be more beneficial to you than a backpack all depends on how adventurous you want your experience to be. Rule of thumb: adventure = backpack. Luxury = suitcase.

Remember to keep in mind where you are going and the type of experience you want to have when deciding on your luggage.

The size

First question: carry-on or checked?

Typically, I only use a suitcase when I plan to check my luggage. The size I love most? 29in. This size is large enough to fit everything I need (although I usually have to pay a little more attention not to go over in weight), but small enough for me to handle on my own. Hard or soft? That’s on you. I, myself, prefer soft suitcases that way I have the option to expand, making me feel like I have extra space and creating a little give when it comes to overpacking.

Make sure to get luggage with spinner wheels. You’ll thank me later.

The brand

I use what the pilots and crew use: Travelpro.

You know if they use it, it has to be a solid brand.

They offer excellent customer service and quality brand products.

Personal Items

• Passport
• Flight itineraries (necessary in certain countries)
• Visa
• Drivers license
• Bank cards
• Vaccination/recovery papers and/or their digital copy
• PCR test results (if the destination requires)
• Other required travel documents (such as certificates, CVs, references, etc. – if you’re traveling for work)
• Travel document folder to keep everything organized
• An envelope full of disposable medical masks
• A pen to fill out any immigration documents
• Cash (I like to always carry some on me just in case)

TIP: Keep copies (paper and digital) of all important papers. Your passport, your drivers license, bank cards, etc.

If you need financial advice check out my posts How to Afford Travel and Effective Ways to Make Extra Money… For Travel

Toiletries for Long-Term Travel

The essentials: in a nutshell

• shampoo & conditioner
• lip balm
• carrier oil
• witch hazel
• deodorant
• toothbrush & floss
• hand sanitzer
• feminine pads

Bring only products that you plan on using and if you’re forgetful, like me, it’s also good to label your containers.

Too many times I’ve forgotten to label and then I can’t tell if I’m sniffing nail polish remover or facial toner. Those are not two products you want to mix up.

Label.

Go natural

For those of you trying to be a little more environmentally conscious, try making your own products!

In doing so, you reduce the amount of waste (plastic bottles/containers/etc.) and you can often reuse a product you bring with you for more than one purpose. Take witch hazel, for example. Witch hazel is can be use it for a facial toner, a nightly face cleaner, a wound cleaner.

It also serves as one of the main ingredients for my DIY make-up remover recipe– another great natural product to include in your long-term traveler’s packing list!

(If you’re interested in my beauty product recipes, check back regularly for new post updates. Or follow my Instagram account @groundsformovement.)

TSA Approved Toiletry Bag:

My suggestion: if you know you have more packed in your checked luggage, pack tiny.

Pack sample-size.

This is where those sample size toothpastes and floss you get from your semi-annual dental visit come in handy. (I always save mine for this very moment.)

How to Pack for Long-Term Travel

Use packing cubes.

Roll the clothes.

Bulkier items (i.e. sweaters or jeans) pack flat.

Clothing

Questions to ask yourself:

1. Where you go (will you be at the beach the whole time or are you planning to go hiking somewhere?
2. What’s the weather?
3. Are there any outdoor activities you plan on doing?
4. What’s the mood of your attire based on the indoor activities you plan on doing?

Once those things have been considered, think layers!

Layering is super important when it comes to building your own long-term traveler’s packing list. It allows you to be prepared for both warmer and cooler weather. Plus, this great clothing hack leaves space for creativity.

TIP: When it comes to layering: stick to the same color family.

How do you narrow-down your choices?

I think to pack plain, lightweight, wrinkle-free, and darker in color.

Lighter colored clothing tends to show stains much easier. It’s nice to be able to wear an item multiple times before needing to wash it.

Lighter in weight means you can pack more and have less weight to travel with. Which means you’ll have the space and weight to bring something back if you wanted to.

Clothing you iron less = travel-friendly.

Darker colored clothing is much more versatile. It tends to match with more and it’s easy to dress up or down.

Packable/foldable pieces. Great for traveling longer-term and they always follow the plain, lightweight, wrinkle-free guidelines.

Plan your outfits before creating your long-term traveler’s packing list

To do this: think in occasions.

For example:

2 dressy outfits (including 1 skirt and 1 dress)

3 gym outfits (including 2 pairs of leggings and 1 pair of shorts)

3 casual dress outfits (including 2 pairs of jeans/pants plus matching tops that can be mixed and matched)

1 colder weather outfit (including a sweater, all-season scarf, foldable down jacket, thicker socks, and close-toed shoes)

For the foot

Less is more.

If you plan on walking, a lot – you gotta get a good walking shoe. What a worthy investment!

Personally, I like a nice white sneaker. Classic white Reeboks (to be specific). These shoes are comfy enough to walk around all day in, you can run in them were you to need/want to, and they easily be dressed up or down.

I’ve come to love Teva’s for travel. Supportive, comfortable, hikeable, watershoes that allow the foot to breathe.

TIP: They taken a long time to dry after being submerged in water. Plus, if you don’t have proper weather to sundry them, they’ll start smelling quite quickly.

Flip flops.

A must for hostels. Plus, they’re super lightweight and easy to pack.

Anything else you consider taking will be highly based on your personal activities during your trip. If you plan on spending most of your time away dancing, you’ll probably need to bring along your dancing shoes.

Advice: Keep the shoe count low. Take shoes that you can wear with multiple outfits and in multiple settings to avoid overpacking.

Things I Brought and Never Used

Foldable rain jacket

Too thin for the actual weather in the location I planned on wearing it.

Purse

Fanny packs always end up being my go-to.

Beach Towel

This item takes up so much space, it’s ridiculous. Not to mention, they don’t dry quickly.

Nowadays, I include the Hammam towels in my long-term traveler’s packing list. These Turkish bath towels are thin so they dry super quickly, they’re super lightweight and they’re more versatile. They can be used for drying off, laying out, or as a blanket for when you want to lay on the grass at the park.

Vaseline

Now, I know what you’re thinking… Who TF travels with Vaseline? Honestly, I thought it’d come in handy for winter and for small cuts, but I literally never used it.

Make-up

Rule of thumb: if you’re not using it much right now in your current regimen, don’t bring it. Otherwise, you’ll be stuck with a cosmetic bag full of make-up that just sits around taking up space.

Other Hacks

All season scarf

Packing a scarf you can wear all season is such an amazing packer’s hack and should definitely be included in your long-term traveler’s packing list!

All-season scarves can add an extra layer of warmth for those cool, windy nights spent along the beach. Or they can even provide some much needed shade from the desert sun.

An accessory that looks super chic whether you decide to dress it up or down and protects you from nature.

Peanut

The peanut is probably by far the greatest travel hack I’ve discovered.

It’s great for traveler’s that exercise, enjoy outdoor activities, sit for long hours, carry a lot of stress, or for traveler’s with chronic stiff muscles or other chronic pain, like sciatica, that could use an occasional tension-reliever.

How to create a peanut

Secure two tennis balls together with athlete’s tape.

Simple, cheap, and effective. Excellent for rolling out your back when it’s stiff, applying pressure to your glutes when your sciatica starts acting up, or for a deep muscle massage after working out at the gym.

These little inexpensive travel masseuses are magic. Especially if you choose not to take pain-relievers like ibuprofen.

Travel Locks

Highly recommend investing in good travel locks. TSA approved, of course, so they don’t cut through and damage your lock at the airports.

And bring multiples. Especially if you plan on staying at any hostels.

Some will offer locks to rent or to purchase, but if you’re staying at a hostel, you’re probably not going to be too keen on purchasing an overpriced lock, so do yourself a favor and plan ahead.

Adapters

For international travel.

Don’t be cheap here. You want a trustworthy, reliable product that isn’t going to fry your laptop or straightener on first use. I recommend finding a one-in-all adapter vs traveling around with multiples for various countries.

Especially if you plan visiting other countries with differing prongs.

TIP: In places like South America, it’s super easy to get a good quality adapter even off the street. So in these cases, it may be cheaper and more convenient to purchase there.

Stainless steel water bottle

It’s considered super American to walk around and travel with a water bottle. I’ve even been pointed out in a crowd as an American on the sole grounds of having one on me.

Nonetheless, humans need to stay hydrated and water bottles are super travel friendly. They cut down on plastic usage, they can save you money, and they act as weapons. Granted, in some countries or areas it isn’t safe to drink tap water. That’s why it’s super important you stay educated on which waters are okay to drink and which aren’t. To ease this worry, you can also purchase bottles with included filters. That way you can drink whatever water you need to, when you need to. (I’ve tried this method once. I found it a burden to always have to worry about when to change the filter or having enough filters on me for the amount of time I’m gone.)

My favorites types of bottles: stainless steel with handle.

These can be used for hot or cold drinks. They maintain temperature. You don’t have to worry about your water steaming in the sauna of plastic under the summer sun. And the biggest perk? They double up as a weapon if they need to.

As a solo female traveler, I feel a lot safer when I’m carrying around my water bottle. I know it can only protect me from so much, but who’s going to keep chasing me after their head gets banged with stainless steel.

DIYs For Your Long-Term Traveler’s Packing List

As I mentioned earlier in this post, I try to live as earth-friendly as possible.

In my attempt to do so, I really like to make my own products.

There’s so much you can make on your own, that this topic truly deserves a post of its own. So, to check out my special DIY travel hack for deodorant click here.

FREE Printable PDF: The Long-Term Traveler’s Packing List