Tips for packing light for long term travel
 

For the last ten years my wife and I have been travelling the world, with carryon bags only, more or less continually, returning home to the U.K. for a few months a year to catch up with family and friends. Even when returning home, we are usually house and pet sitting around the country and so continue pack light.

Our trips usually last around six month and we have travelled extensively all over Asia, Australasia South America etc. across a diverse range of climates and landscapes from the sub zero high altitudes of the Andes to tropical beaches and rainforest.

My own packing list and methodology " How to Pack like a Man" has long been on our blog and proved a very popular post. After many requests here, on Tripadvisor and via our blog and with much nagging from me, my wife has finally posted her own list:

https://accidentalnomads.com/2018/06...ngterm-travel/

I hope some people will find this useful. If anyone does have any suggestions or tips, please do share, we would love to here them as our packing is constantly evolving and it is never too late to learn.

She's a woman after my own heart :)

I personally no longer take heels -- I use flats that are dressy enough for most any event but still comfortable enough to walk walk walk.

I usually don't take dresses - unless going to a beachy/resort area where I'll take a sundress that can double for casual or dressy. I take another pair of lightweight trousers instead.

I don't like to carry a backpack -- it may have something to do with being very short and never getting used to lugging stuff on my back. I don't even like pack-style handbags. So I do use a rollaboard but it seldom weighs more than 9 or 10 kg.

That was an excellent read!!!

Thanks so much for taking the time to write up such a detailed list w/ photos. I recently started using various cosmetic bags (freebies) as organizers for little stuff. Works a charm. I picked up several other good ideas, like the one large packing cube, so much appreciated. For me... no dresses and definitely no heels. And I do use wheels and check a bag (24" @ 25 lbs max.) works well for my current vacation travels. My electronics are only a small laptop in the bottom of my carry-on tote bag.

Anyway, thanks for posting here on Fodor's... I LIKE your STYLE :-)

Thanks for posting!

As usual, Crellston, you and your DW have provided wonderful guidance and ideas for travelers - both sexes, ranges of ages and across destinations. Many Thanks !

I wish I could be more like that. I think I take more than that for a one week local beach vacation!

Thanks to you both, and congratulations on going carry-on only.

I traveled for ten years with an Eagle Creek convertible backpack (the straps zipped out of the way for flights), but in my 60s I switched to a 22 inch two-wheeler. (Still not convinced the tiny wheels on the four-wheelers are sturdy enough.) I do miss the built in rain cover. My day bag is my carry on for flights as I check the main bag as it usually has something the TSA wouldn't like. I seem to have more electronics - camera, iPad, smart phone plus cords and chargers. Also ear buds as these days I listen to books on my phone instead of reading paper ones (sometimes read one on my phone too, it's better than I expected and the choice from my library is better). Guidebooks are often on my iPad. My big bag usually weighs 10-11 kg (just under 25 lbs) for flights, and I have never weighed the day bag...

Like janisj I don't take a dress or skirt, although I sometimes have a sarong along. I take a dressier pair of pants and top for evening, while my day clothes are drip drying. I don't even wear heels (or make up) at home, so I take a pair of black flats if I'll be hitting cities. Day time I wear Vasque hiking boots for the ankle support, or Ecco sandals. This is my somewhat dated clothes list for travel (the preceding two posts are even more dated): https://mytimetotravel.wordpress.com...ke-part-three/

I don't take moisturizer or shower gel, but I do take Dove soap which my dermatologist recommended many years ago. Of course, it doesn't have to go in the infamous quart bag. I often take a very small hair dryer (Braun, bought in Berlin with European plug) as I sometimes stay in places with no hair dryer and my hair is a disaster without one.

Good piece, agree about the merino, which always saves the day, left out jeans, fleece and bulky cotton (no warmth in them) long ago....... but for long-term travel still filling a 24" sorry!

This is brilliant! It took me a little while to start keeping toiletries together in a separate bag, but once I did, it all worked better. I cut out the dresses and go with one pair of trousers, (cargo, good for hiking and stylish enough for city wear) and a pair of shorts. One pair of shoes. I don't usually even take flip flops. Do a lot of multi-night hiking trips. This is something to keep handy for future reference.

Depends on your own feet, maybe age as well, but no way c/would I travel "long term" or otherwise with only one pair of shoes. For me it's a lot smarter to economize on clothing, cut back on misc. "stuff" but have a generous, varied shoe allowance. All of the comfortable. Pretty much anything else you can get creative about, but something going wrong with your feet/shoes can really put a damper on things.

I usually take 3 pair of shoes but still manage carry on only. One pair on my feet on the flight of course and a couple pair of flats and/or sandals and/or walking shoes in the rollaboard. I do know some people who do take only one pair but the could be an issue, especially if the one pair gets soaked. I travel very light but still like to have variety of clothing an shoes and try to look at least semi-stylish.

I am picky about shoes and hard to fit. So buying an extra sweater or t-shirt or umbrella (whatever!) on the road if needed would be easy. Buying a new pair of shoes... not so much.

Glad you enjoyed my wife’s post. Interesting how important stylish shoes are to you ladies. Personally, I too leave the heels at home these days :-)

I guess wheels on cases is a matter of personal preference,. We travel to many places where paths are often so rough that wheels would be next to useless.

Janisj - "I don't like to carry a backpack -- it may have something to do with being very short" . Interestingly manufacturers seem to be cottoning onto this fact. My latest pack is an Osprey which comes in male, the Farpoint and female, the Fairview fits. https://www.ospreyeurope.com/shop/gb...point-fairview

Incredibly comfortable to carry so much so I hardly notice it is there!

Stylish shoes aren't important to me -lol- comfortable, sturdy, dry ones are... and more than one pair is what I said.

:)

I'm with Suze on this. Plus, "they" say it's not good for your feet to wear the same pair of shoes every day. The problem is I have big feet so my shoes take up a lot of room in my suitcase.

I am less with the cosmetics but more with the meds. I have a bad neck so love my 20 inch roller bag. My best freind is eagle creek compression bags. I put a whole knee length goose down coat in the small one for a trip to France in Feb and needed it everyday. I wore a light weight hoodie to the airport and packed it coming and going from fl. It fit under the goose down and kept me warm. I think for warm climates I could do a back pack but just hate them. I also hate getting knocked in the head by them on planes. Your blog is very interesting btw.

Depends how hot "warm climates" are. I go thru quite a few clothes on a casual beach vacation in Mexico because I sweat thru them when it's 90F+ outside. i can actually do with less in Europe in the fall or winter!

Exactly. In my packing classes I explain that tropical/warm weather destinations require light weight/even flimsy garments -- but more of them. Cold/cool/temperate destinations require warmer/heavier garments but fewer of them . . . so the volume in luggage will be about the same.

I use that same rollaboard for trips to London or Berlin that I do to Ensenada or Oahu.

Glad you enjoyed our blog Macross - ". I also hate getting knocked in the head by them on planes." - my ankles feel much the same about wheeled cases :-)