There has been much talk on this blog about what I packed over the past year in my 35 liter backpack, what I found essential in Southeast Asia and what I didn’t, and how I took on (and completely dominated, annihilated, and owned) the carry-on only challenge all year. Yet I’ve never shown you exactly how I packed so light.
It’s high time that changed.
In the below video I show you some tricks for fitting everything into a small bag (the one I use is an REI Vagabond Tour Pack
), the following of which are the most important highlights:
- I roll and stuff every clothing item I bring into a packing cube. This condenses my clothing quite a bit and creates space that other travelers don’t seem to have as much of. I also have less wardrobe variety than others, but I don’t care. Back home in Los Angeles, I definitely care what I wear and how I look, but in Southeast Asia it’s simply not the focus, which is really nice.
- Everything has its place and is well-organized. My toiletries all must fit into my toiletry bag. My clothes all must fit into the packing cube. electronics are either on my person or stuffed into my shoes, which protects them and creates space.
- I utilize every compartment. The top one holds my telephoto lens, wrapped in my microfiber towel. The side compartments held my makeup and hairbrush.
- I make do without certain things. I don’t have any jackets or jumpers of any kind, which is typically fine because Southeast Asia is so hot and humid. On the rare occasion that I did need a jacket in the past, I was typically lent one or could even rent one by the day in some trekking towns, like Cemoro Lawang at the base of Mt. Bromo in Indonesia.
It’s actually pretty easy:
I initially decided to bring only carry-on luggage after reading several blogs from other nomadic female travelers, all of whom wrote that they wished they had brought less. I heeded their lamentations and decided to bring a small bag and see if I could make it all year with only carry-on luggage. It turned out to be easy, somewhat rewarding because I didn’t have room to buy anything (which kept my costs down), and entertaining every now and then when a fellow traveler would see my bag, almost unable to process that I really traveled so light.
The benefits of packing light are numerous. I never pay for checked bag fees, can usually keep my bag with me on a bus instead of putting it in the undercarriage, and my back isn’t as burdened.
For a full listing of what, exactly, I travel with and how you can buy the same gear, check out this page.
Thanks for watching. What are some more pre-trip planning guides that you would find helpful? Do you have any questions or tips to add?
This was really useful and greatly timed. I am also planning to only travel with carry on luggage – thanks for the tips! Especially liked the fact that you brought 3 deodorant sticks lol! 🙂
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Haha yeah, must prioritize!
Love this video, super helpful advice for my future adventures. I have travelled all over the joint and my one pet peeve is the amount of luggage I drag along, its nice to find someone that can travel light with a camera and laptop included… I’m going to share this one on Facebook 🙂
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I’m glad you find it helpful! It’s easy to consolidate when you take out some clothing.
Awesome. Your 35L backpack makes my 48L one look unnecessary!
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48 is a pretty good size too, though. Not too big!
Hi! I just wanted to express my strong feelings for your blog, I simply LOVE it! The only thing keeping me staying at school to finish my bachelor degree is knowing that I’m going to have a gap year and travel afterwords. Your blog is a huge inspiration and I especially appreciate your tips about packing light. So please, do not stop to write and blog for at least another year, cause I need your blog for inspiration and hope, so I’ll stay at school for another year.
Love from Norway
Thank you so much for commenting! That’s so great that you’re taking a gap year. Don’t worry, I’m still traveling and I’ll still be writing. I’m so glad you find it inspiring 🙂
Hmmmm, interesting! And I thought my 50L is small! Lol
50L is still pretty good.
Hi from France ! I like your video, I’m also trying to pack light, not really easy. Btw what is the weight of your bag ?
I like your blog, keep going 🙂
Thanks 🙂
It’s actually pretty heavy! I never weighed it but it must be around 17 kilos.
Wish i had read this before buying my 60l bag. I hardly ever use it as it’s just too big.;p
Great blog, you’ve inspired me to go it alone to Ijen on my Indo trip in Nov.
That’s awesome! Enjoy it, it’s so stunning and a highlight of my trip
Very interesting and hoping to try it but you didn’t pack any socks or underwear?
I did, as well as a diva cup and some other girly incidentals I didn’t think needed to appear on camera 🙂
I guess that was the most helpful packing video I’ve ever seen! I tend to travel with my Macbook, my DSLR, another lens and another camera as well and I never thought it would be possible to travel with carry-on luggage! Thank you Kristin for showing me it’s possible!
Glad to hear it!
Hey girl =)
Im super curious to see what’s in your makeup bag! im looking to pack just as light for a 6 month stint. Makeup is my biggest hang-up tho cuz im a Makeup Artist at home & so I love to tote around a lot! love your blog by the way. i love seeing other female travelers. =)))
It’s just some bronzer, concealer, eye liner, one palette of brown eye shadow, and mascara. Honestly in SE Asia I hardly ever wore any.
They let you take your razors on carry-on?
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Yep! Even in the US.
That is VERY good to know! Have they ever checked them?
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I honestly think we’re allowed to bring them on flights because they went through my toiletry bag at LHR and didn’t say a thing.
Do you bring the messenger bag with you if you go out at night? Seems like a fairly heavy bag to carry – do you have a smaller purse etc. and if so what do you use to lock up the messenger bag in the room?
Thanks!
I stuck the messenger bag in my bigger backpack and used the pac safe wire mesh bag protector to lock it all up. The only thing I brought out at night was some cash and my key which went in my pocket.
I was wondering what that bag/case on your DSLR camera is/where to find it. I am looking for a protective case type thing for travelling with my camera and the one you used looks ideal. Thanks !
Hey there, thanks for the good packing advice! I think I might just try to do the same when I go on my SEA trip in fall.
Only one thing I was wondering, if you go on planes, is it always fine to bring both the backpack and the messenger bag? Well I suppose it’s mostly only the budget airlines who mind, but I found that for example easyjet won’t let you bring even a tiny purse next to the carry on bag if you’re unlucky (maybe it’s different in SEA?).
Laura
That’s supposed to be the case but Air Asia has never cared. I’ve also only had them ask to weigh it once. It all depends on how picky the check in agent wants to be, honestly. I did find that EasyJet was much stricter and you have no chance of getting away with two carry ons and extra weight with Ryan Air.
Hi, I am also wondering what the case you have on your dslr camera?
It’s a neoprene case – very thin and pretty cheap. USA Gear DuraNeoprene dSLR FlexArmor Sleeve Case for Nikon , Canon EOS Rebel , Pentax , and Sony Alpha Digital SLR Cameras
Can you tell me more about your hippie pants? Where can I find a pair?
Pretty much anywhere in Southeast Asia or India! I have seen imported ones in Australia but of course they were like $30 and mine were more like $3.
Oh my gosh. Thank you so much for this video.
It’s so great to see a woman who travels and can pack light who also understands that my “unnecessary wants” such as all the deodorant, razors, a little makeup, a variety of sunscreens, and other assorted beauty products ARE coming with me.
I’m so excited to travel to Southeast Asia this summer (and not just for the hippie pants.)
Thank you thank you!
I’m choosing a microfiber towel color through the link on your page now. 🙂
Seriously, this is so good.
Sunscreen and deodorant are pretty necessary if you ask me! There’s nothing wrong with still taking care of your appearance while traveling, anyways 🙂
Very nice tips! I always have a big backpack with me.. I leave with almost nothing but because I buy everything at the destination, including sourvenirs, I always come home with a full backback. So that’s actually my question, how do you manage with souvernirs? 🙂
Melanie
I buy almost none, sadly. I don’t really have the space nor budget. I often buy clothes but that means I have to ditch something I already have, which more than likely has a hole in it anyways!
I really love your blog. I’m planning a year of solo travel next year from Europe to Asia and more. I love how you packed. I only hope I can do it with my trip that includes Iceland and Alaska! Have you been able to do this with lower temperature climates? Did you only have one pair of shoes? Great, great blog. 🙂
Thanks Sheri! I had to almost double my bag size when I started going to the cold climates. I really missed my small bag, but, there’s just no room in a 35L for heavy shoes and jackets.
Did you forget underwear and bras?! :-/
Those didn’t need to appear on camera 😉
Hey Kristin,
Great video…so just to be clear, this is all you take for an indefinite trip?
Safety razors (shaving razors) are always okay to carry on, I’ve never been stopped or had my bags checked for it.
It’s all I took with me for an entire year when I was traveling in Southeast Asia. This size is great for warm climates like that but in the cold I do have to go bigger because winter gear is so much thicker and heavier.
Love reading your blog! Brings back great memories of my trip to SE ASia, can you let me know the link/name of the backpack in this video? Love how compact and spacious it is… Would love to search for one online! Thank you!!
REI Vagabond, and while it’s a great pack I tend not to link it because I think the best way to find the right pack for you is to go try them on in person.
Thanks for this Kristin. From the comments many conclude that a 35L pack is optimal. A 45-50L pack con be compressed to accommodate the same gear however, often having more robust shoulder straps and waist belt. 17kgs is a lot of weight to haul in a low capacity pack when trekking is also park of your trip planning.Also, do you have any issues with the weight of your carry on as I’ve seen a restriction of 11kg for carry on?
Trekking poles, a utility knife and some repair kit item were restricted to checked baggage for me. I bought a cheap bag on Kijijii for those items and gave it away once I landed. Then repeated for my next flight. Another possible alternative?
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When it has been weighed I’ve had issues from time to time. One ticketing agent said, “It can’t have that much weight, take some out.” So I did and, while my camera and lens were in my hand, she handed me my ticket. We both knew I was just going to put the stuff back in the bag. She wasn’t too much of a stickler and often I just try to wear it as I check in so I don’t arouse any suspicion about the weight, and that almost always works. I think a bigger bag is better with more gear but I love being able to go carry-on only. It has saved me so much headache and cash.
First off, I want to say how really cool it is you always answer people with Metric instead of Imperial. It makes more sense and it shows you really care about having people understand and appreciate you. Anyways, I am taking a big trip through Southeast Asia starting next summer after my graduation and your blog a). inspires me to keep working and saving to get there and b). gives me ridiculously useful information. I plan on only bringing on 35L backpack and the PacSafe Day Pack. I have bought these items (also the PacSafe wire cage) just because you recommended them! Through all of my reading and researching the one thing that gives me the most anxiety is Visas. I plan on flying to Bangkok going to Myanmar, India, Nepal back down to Cambodia then Vietnam then China and I understand that some of these countries require i obtain a tourist Visa. I am considering spending a week in DC to go to the countries’ embassies and sort it out but I would like to know if that is necessary first. What did you do for Visas? Did you simply show up and get one on arrival? I would really appreciate a reply (or maybe a whole blog post?)! Thanks so much for your information and inspiration!!
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Thanks Lucas! It seems silly to answer in Imperial considering very few countries use it. For some countries you need to sort out the visa ahead of time. In many capital cities that’s a possibility. For my Chinese one, for example, I went to Hanoi. You can get the one for Myanmar in Bangkok, and you can do Vietnam in Bangkok as well. India you can probably mail in but give that a lot of time and do it while you’re still in the US. It’s hard to devote a post to it since my readers are from all over the world and the rules vary. This is a pretty good resource, though: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_requirements_for_United_States_citizens
Kristin let me tell you your blog is awesome! Thanks for sharing all about your trips!! I loved your backpack, I was looking for the same one but I can’t find it. I hard to find a black backpack 35L, Do you know where else I can find it? Or Do you know another brand? Thanks a lot
Where did you get your smaller carry bag?
The messenger bag? That’s a pacsafe bag from Amazon: http://amzn.to/1zI63fl
Hi,
This is awesome. And I thought I carried little stuff with me.
So, the question in my head and that no one’s asked is: with so little clothes, how to u get them washed often enough? I mean, staying in hostels and all, I don’t know how easy it’d be to find a place to get them washed. How do u do it?
In Asia there are laundry facilities everywhere. I washed about once per week and it was never an issue to get it done. Most of the time the guesthouse or hostel has facilities, and if not, there will be one nearby.
How are the hostels generally in terms of cleanliness? The bathrooms?
Is it that much more expensive to just get your own room? The thought of skeeping in same room as strangers is discomforting ;(
Yes im a travel novice
Depends on the hostel. Some I’ve stayed in aren’t that great but mostly they’re fine. Your own room won’t cost that much more so if you need to ease in do that first!
Are you still providing your Skype travel advice service? Ill be needing to tap into that soon, can’t wait to leave the rat race 🙂
Hi Kristin, I love your blog and I’ve watched this video a few times but I’m I missing something? Underwear? Bras? Socks? I’m getting ready for Australia and I’m exited!
Hi Elena, I didn’t think the internet masses needed to see my underwear and bras on camera but yes, I did bring them with me 😉
They’re small and pack up in the packing cube as well. Have a great trip!
Hey Kristin
Do you have any recommendations for the size/type of a small day-backpack?
Thanks@
I’ve used 3 different ones over the years. Depends on your camera equipment I’d say. If you have a lot go bigger, if not, then just a day purse. Lately I use a PacSafe camera carrying bag I’m in love with and a really small wallet/purse during the times I don’t need the big camera bag.
I was curious how you got past the liquid limit? Did your sunblock not count? I’m nervous with mosquito spray, shampoo/conditioner, lotion and sunblock…
Thank you for all the tips! I really want to be able to fly Air Asia without having to check in a bag 🙂
You definitely have to keep it under 100ml per bottle. I take travel sized bottles and refill on the road.
I super enjoy this video.. 🙂 I’m still 15 years old and I’ve been imagining myself travelling the whole world and this video just fed up my wanderlust… I’m glad that I found this site.
Glad you liked it! You’ve got a lifetime of awesome traveling ahead of you 🙂
Hi Kristin,
Thanks for a super cool video. One question, don’t you pack a charger for your Macbook?
Yep, I stick my chargers mainly in my shoes to keep them organized and to save space 🙂 That’s in the video too but I might not have shown myself putting that particular charger in there.
The video is the best, so helpful and interesting! Btw I always stick my socks in my hats when I go on a holiday – it prevents the hats from losing it’s form and also saves space!
I like that tip! My had is disappointingly wrinkly and I need to smooth it out again. I hope it can be fixed!
I’m all for light packing but how do you deal with toiletries for long trips?? I’m planning to be gone 6-8 months and I know at the very least I want a jumbo bottle of contact solution with me. I’ve also read many warnings about toiletries having bleaching agents in them in many Asian countries making me wanna buy jumbo bottles of even more things to avoid resorting to bleach lotion on the road. Thoughts?
I refilled on the road. People in Asia wear contacts, too, and you can find brands like Pantene and Dove easily. Just read the label and don’t buy anything that has ‘whitening’ in it. There are options. The only things I brought a year’s supply of were razor heads for my venus razor and my facial moisturizer because it’s really good and has SPF 30. I don’t mess around with my skin. If you pack carry-on you also have to remember that nothing can be over 100ml/3oz
Hi Kristen!
I’m loving this post! I am awful at packing light and really trying to get better. Like you I’ve read so many “What to pack posts” that my eyes are bleeding which is probably why I feel like I’ve packed for every “what-if” scenario in the past. So here are a couple questions for you: Do you pack any sort of first aid kit? Bandaids, Aspirin or any medications? Did you bring any sort or journal or writing material or did you rely solely on your computer? Did you only bring tennis shoes for trekking? What other shoes did you bring? Just sandals? Most of your clothes looked like everyday clothes. Did you pack any sort of workout clothes? A rain Jacket? Are shorts ok to wear in SE Asia or are the lightweight pants more modest. I dont want to offend anyone. The same for sundresses, should they be long? I also have a Macbook Air but I am always running out of space on it. Did you bring an external hard drive or use some sort of online cloud service as backup? Thanks in advance!
I had band-aids and I bought Aspirin on the road. You can find that stuff everywhere. I wrote on my computer and the notes in my phone. Still do. I only used tennis shoes for trekking, yes. Otherwise I just had flip flops which I replaced quite often for cheap. I didn’t find workout clothes were necessary because when I hiked I could just wear shorts and in most countries shorts and tank tops are fine. In majority Muslim countries loose pants and shirts and dresses that cover your knees and shoulders are necessary. You will have room for both. I back up on cloud services. Hope that helps!
Hey Kristin, I just found your blog and love it already. So, I’m heading South America in June, partly for research and partly for the pleasure of travel. And you probably know that there are more extreme seasons down there. I have been there many, many times but never staying for so long periods in such different places. So, a) I’d be happy to hear what you’ve got to say about packing, especially winter clothes, and b) I’d be happy to update you on how the trip goes and what worked/didn’t work.
Also, what did you use for mosquitoes? Repellent?
I end up having to take a bigger bag in those cases if I can’t ditch something on the road or it would be prohibitively expensive to get a new wardrobe, like it would have been in Europe or Chile and Argentina. I had a 70L while I was in South America most recently and though I hated having such a big bag it was what I had to do in order to have that clothing plus what I already had from a ski trip in Austria. Oh well!
Yep repellent.
Hi Kristin!
I’m digging through so much of your blog it’s helping me out immensely. I’m headed to Thailand in a couple months for about a year-long trip. I’m selling all my things and putting the rest in storage, what a crazy thing! I have never gone backpacking so I’m going in blind and trying to prepare as much as I can! If you’re able to advise me on a few questions that would be great.
My backpack is a 63L which is large. But it is light and I like that it has so many different compartments. I’m planning on packing it as if it’s a 40L so I have extra room, what do you think?
I’ll be there when it’s monsoon season and I’d like to have a good rain jacket, is this something I should get before I leave or are these easy to find in SE Asia? Especially ones that can pack up into a small pouch.
I’m torn if I should get my rabies vaccination because I have heard there are a lot of stray animals around, but the vaccine itself is pricey. Did you come across many stray animals?
Thanks 🙂
I think that in a warm climate like that it does help to go carry on only when you can. It allows you to not have to check the bag when you fly and to me that’s the best perk. No fees, no losing my bag, less weight, no waiting for the bag, etc.
I didn’t bring a rain jacket. It was so hot a jacket didn’t sound appealing and if I got a little wet from rain I welcomed it.
It’s so hard to advise on this. A lot of people get bitten by macaques in Bali. I personally had one come after me with its teeth bared when I walked by while climbing Rinjani in Lombok and I don’t know why but I decided to bare my teeth, raise my arms and roar at it. The thing ran away terrified! Sweet victory! Sorry for the long-winded way of saying I don’t have the vaccine but in that moment had I gotten bitten I would have regretted that decision.
Thanks for the tips!
Also, what cloud service(s) do you use for backing up data?
Dropbox!