The Essential Travel Packing List

Once you’ve decided where to go, the next question is what to pack! Our ultimate travel packing list is here to help. Whether you’re a seasoned traveller or brand new to backpacking, this travel packing list makes the packing process straightforward and stress-free.

As both backpackers and holidaymakers, we’ve packed for everything from 2-week beach holidays to year-long backpacking adventures. After 10 years of backpacking, we’ve got packing down to a fine art. Let’s get started:

A Complete Travel Packing Checklist

This travel packing checklist includes everything you need to pack. Don’t forget your passport and important documents too! For more advice on exactly what to pack, scroll down to see exactly what’s on our travel packing list.

Backpack / Bags

What To Pack in Your Carry-On




Clothing





Toiletries



Other Travel Essentials

Our Personal Travel Packing Checklist

We’re all for minimal travel packing that covers all the essentials but doesn’t result in a heavy backpack that weighs you down. We’ve made the mistake of over-packing in the past and through trial and error we’ve compiled this ultimate travel packing list. Packing less means you don’t have a heavy backpack to haul around and you lower your carbon footprint.

Find our exact travel kit list below:

Best Travel Backpacks and Suitcases

Our travel packing list starts off with the best travel backpack. We recommend carrying a simple 30L backpack for shorter trips and moving up to a 40-50L backpack for longer trips. 40-50L backpacks would be considered mid-sized and they make you pack efficiently and prevent you from over-burdening by packing too much as often happens with a 70-80L pack.

Quilotoa Loop Hike Ecuador - Day 3 to Quilotoa Pine Forest

Thule Landmark Backpack (40L) – Luke has recently upgraded to a Thule Landmark. It makes for a great adventure backpack and fits as a carry-on for certain airlines. It’s designed with a handy laptop compartment to keep tech safe whist travelling (always keep your laptop in your carry-on!) It’s a sturdy pack and works perfectly for both short and long trips.

Osprey Sojourn Porter (46L) – For trips where you need to carry more kit or longer backpacking adventures, we recommend the Osprey Sojourn Porter. The additional 6L makes it ideal for when you need to pack a bit more. It comes with great in-built compression straps which compress the bag to a smaller size when it’s not fully loaded. It’s made from 100% recycled fabric too.

Osprey Sojourn Wheeled Suitcase (80L) – We rarely travel with a suitcase, but when we do the Osprey Sojourn (80L) is our suitcase of choice. It’s durable, easy to manoeuvre and packs up perfectly when not in use. This suitcase is the best option for ski trips and long-haul trips.

Best Day Backpack

You’re not going to want to lug your main backpack around during the day when travelling. A lightweight day backpack that can be stuffed inside your larger backpack in between places is your best bet.

Ruckas Sling Bag (8L) – Made from Recycled Materials! For a lightweight and small day pack, I carry a Ruckas Sling Bag. Sleek and stylish, this sling bag has a padded laptop sleeve, easy access compartments and is enough space to carry a water bottle, small camera, sunglasses and other daily essentials.

Eastpak (24L) – Sustainable! Eastpak backpacks are some of the most reliable and durable backpacks on the market. The brand are increasing their focus on sustainability and offer a backpack repair scheme for up to 30 years. Luke will only buy Eastpak backpacks and has each one for 5+ years.

Travel Packing Essentials

These travel packing essentials help me to pack more efficiently. I always have reusables on my travel packing list so I can avoid using too much plastic when travelling. Check out our travel gift guide for more great travel essentials.

General Travel Essentials

Osprey Ultralight Packing Cubes – Travel packing cubes are an essential part of any travel packing list. They compress your clothes down, allowing you to pack more in a tighter space. You can also segment clothing types to make it easier to find things in your backpack. A set of three packing cubes works perfectly for me.

Fjallraven Kånken Hip Pack – A hip pack is essential for keeping your passport and travel documents handy and organised. Luke uses an Eastpak Travel Pouch. You can also clip the hip pack under your jumper or coat for security.

Karrimor Drybag (5L) – Always pack a dry bag if you’ll be doing water-based activities or spending time on the beach. We’ve used this drybag on boat trips in the Philippines and beach days in Thailand. It’s also handy for using if you’re travelling during rainy season as you can keep your phone and camera safe inside it and then you don’t have to worry about them getting wet if you get caught in the rain.

Universal Travel Adapter – Don’t forget your travel adaptor plug. I just take two and attach them straight onto my laptop and phone chargers so that I can easily find them.

Swiss Army Knife – The best travel gift that I’ve ever received was this Swiss Army Knife. I get so much use out of it. It includes a knife, scissors, tweezers, toothpick, bottle opener, tin opener and corkscrew. Remember this has to go in your checked-in luggage and can’t be taken in a carry-on bag when you fly.

Reusable Travel Essentials

Black+Blum Stainless Steel Lunch Box – This stainless steel lunch box is perfect for travel lunches. I use mine to carry cookies, sandwiches or pasta for long bus journeys and days out. The lunch box is 100% plastic free and it’s leak-proof and comes with a fork attached.

Tree Tribe Stainless Steel Water Bottle – You can cut down your plastic use substantially by carrying a your own reusable water bottle. I recommend this one from Tree Tribe who plant 10 trees for every water bottle sold. It’s BPA-free and I’d always recommend opting for stainless steel for this reason. This water bottle doubles as a thermos, keeping hot drinks hot for 6+ hours.

KeepCup Reusable Coffee Cup – If you’re a serial buyer of takeaway coffees, don’t forget to pack a KeepCup too. These beautiful KeepCups are BPA free and non-toxic.

Tote Bag – We always carry a light, reusable tote bag that easily folds up and doesn’t take up much packing space. Luke and I carry two between us: one of keeping our dirty laundry in and another for when we’re out food shopping.

Travel Tech and Camera

All the items listed on this travel tech list are ones which I personally use. I spend a lot of time researching my travel tech, so hopefully I’ve saved you some time!

MacBook Air – I’m a big fan of the MacBook Air with a 13″ screen. It’s a slim, lightweight and speedy laptop. It’s by far our most important travel item because we use it for remote working and blogging every day. This laptop model fits perfectly into laptop compartments in travel backpacks and is only 1.29kg.

Kindle – Practical travellers will likely have already made the decision to invest in a Kindle. It’s light, easy to carry and you can have as many books as you desire without all the extra weight.  It’s really a no-brainer.

Fujifilm X-T20 Mirrorless Camera – The Fujifilm X-T20 is a small and lightweight camera, so can easily be carried in a backpack. I did a lot of research before investing in this camera and I’m confident it’s the best on the market for the price tag. The photos have beautiful colouring and it takes amazing travel photos.

Toshiba 64GB USB – If you plan on taking lots of travel photos, pack a USB drive. I back up all of my travel photos on this massive USB, just in case anything should ever happen to my camera or memory card.

Anker Power Bank – For on the go charging for iPhones and Androids, we use the Anker Power Bank. It’s a great option to extend your phone’s battery life if you know you won’t be able to charge up during your travels.

Travel Clothing Packing List

My personal mantra for what travel clothing I pack is: only pack it if you will wear this at least once per week for t-shirts and at least three times per week for other clothing. If not, take it out.

Pack enough clothes for just one week (and a few spare pants). At home, you probably wash your clothes about once a week and you can wash your clothes this often when you travel too. In Asia and Latin America, getting your laundry done is cheap. In Europe, we tend to hand wash until we have an apartment with a washing machine.

Women’s Travel Clothes

Helly Hansen Seven J Rain Jacket – This lightweight, waterproof jacket is a must-have for any travel packing list. I absolutely would not travel without mine. I currently have a Helly Hansen jacket that’s years old that looks exactly like this North Face one. This North Face jacket is made from recycled materials.

Ayacucho Lightweight Fleece – A snugly fleece is essential for your travel packing list if you’re travelling to a cold destination. This Ayacucho one is particularly cute and packs up neatly. Ayacucho also have some jazzy patterned pullovers and I love this Patagonia lightweight pullover too.

Men’s Travel Clothes

Helly Hansen Seven J Rain Jacket – This lightweight, waterproof jacket from Helly Hansen is guaranteed to keep you dry and works well when you need a light, packable jacket. It’s completely weatherproof (waterproof, breathable and windproof) and has quick dry lining.

Snugpak Torrent Jacket – This jacket is insane! The Snugpak Torrent Jacket will keep you so warm and dry it’s unbelievable. It’s insulated and waterproof, which means you’ll stay warm and dry even throughout stormy conditions.

North Face Fleece – Anyone who feels the cold will know that a fleece is a vital clothing item for any travel packing list. This one is an extra warm fleece made partially from recycled materials.

Helly Hansen Switchback Waterproof Hiking Boots – These men’s hiking boots are waterproof and lightweight, perfect for efficient packing and comfortable hiking. They’re great on rough terrain and have a well cushioned midsole.

Travel Toiletries

Travel toiletries are something we try to keep eco-friendly. These are the toiletries we always have in our wash bag.

Microfibre Travel Towel– Cumbersome towels aren’t any traveller’s friend. If you’re staying in hostels rather than hotels or planning on hitting the beach, then grab yourself a microfibre travel towel. They’re lightweight, really compact and quick-drying. We use the ones from The Little Bodhi as they have anti-bacterial properties to stop nasty odours. 

Green People Travel Kit – Green People’s travel kit contains shower gel, shampoo and conditioner. Their products are organic, vegan and don’t contain any harsh chemicals. Their quinoa and artichoke collections soothe hair and fight frizz – perfect for a for anyone like me who sports a lion mane while travelling.

Shampoo Bar – Shampoo and conditioner bars take up much less bag space than normal bottled shampoo and conditioner. Each shampoo bar lasts up to 70 washes. Just add water and lather up!

Mooncup – Hey ladies, if you’re still packing a heap of tampons into your luggage, you need to stop. I started looking for an environmentally-friendly alternative to tampons. I found out about Mooncup, an eco-friendly alternative to tampons. It’s amazing. You just pop it in (there’s a knack to getting it in and it takes a few times to get it right) and go. You only need to empty and wash it out every 6-8 hours. I’ve worn mine whilst climbing mountains and swimming in the sea.

Green People Organic Sun Lotion – When it comes to sun tan lotion and other products that you smear all over your body, I’m all for going organic and natural. This organic sunscreen is reef-friendly (it won’t harm marine life and coral) and it provides UVA and UVB protection. It’s the best organic sunscreen I’ve used as it’s non-greasy, suitable for sensitive skin and water repellent.

Need more travel packing list ideas? Read our travel gift guide here for more things we love.

What’s in your travel packing list? Let me know what’s in your backpack in the comments below.