What's in my Travel Bag When Packing Light

What should you put into your travel bag if there’s a need for packing light?

After hundreds of trips, including living out of a backpack for three years, I know a thing or two about how to pack well. Back in the early days of blogging in the ’00s, I did a guest post for a now-gone media site called “What’s in your pack Tim Leffel?” At the time I had been traveling through Europe for two weeks with just a large duffel bag. I can’t link to it anymore, but here’s a flashback to my younger self from that trip:

The exact details of my wardrobe, gadgets, and toiletries have changed since then, though I still have that leather duffle bag above that I bought in Mexico for $35 and I still have the biking shorts I cycled around Moravia with in the Czech Republic. The iPod I carried when I cycled along the Katy Trail of Missouri with my belongings on my back is a part of history, but the basic principles of packing light haven’t changed really.

I’ve got a month-long trip coming up where I’ll again be traveling with just a carry-on, so the packing is going to be all about quick-dry clothing, tops and bottoms that can all go together, and the minimum number of shoes.

This trip I won’t be moving around constantly and walking between hotels on uneven surfaces every day, so it’ll be a suitcase with wheels (but not a 4-wheel spinner suitcase). In that photo above I knew I’d be on a lot of cobblestones and heading up staircases in old cities in Europe. With no wheels and not much weight, I was able to move quickly through cobblestone streets and had no problem with small train overhead racks or budget airlines.

This was before Tortuga Backpacks that fit the carry-on requirements came along; that’s what I would use instead these days. Or my Aeronaut suitcase from Tom Binh that has been going strong for nearly two decades now.

Back then I was trying out a lot of new clothing and gear constantly: at the time I was doing two reviews a week on the Practical Travel Gear blog. So I tried out hundreds of travel apparel items.

I sold that site last decade and don’t have the UPS man showing up at my door a few times a week anymore with new clothing or luggage. The positive side of that is I have really learned which items held up and which haven’t.

What I Pack Now for Travel

Anyone who reads this blog regularly has seen the “My Favorite Travel Gear Brands” series I’ve had running for a while. Usually when I’ve called out a brand by name on here, that’s because I’ve been using their gear for many years and it’s travel gear I couldn’t kill.

Back then I was likely to pack a Tilley hat, lots of Exofficio underwear and clothing (before they stopped making the latter), and a suitcase from Eagle Creek or an Osprey backpack.

All but Exofficio are all still regulars in my travel bag today. I also usually have something from Columbia, Clothing Arts, or prAna packed as well. I used to be a big fan of Craghoppers and still use what I have, but they’ve pulled out of the US market, unfortunately. Lately I’ve been mixing it up with Kuhl and Toad & Co as well, all quality quick-dry clothing.

I usually have several pairs of hiking socks, but from a variety of brands depending on what was available on the clearance sale. When I can find them marked down, I like Darn Tough Vermont socks a lot.

There are a few differences in what I packed 20 years ago and what I pack now, partly because smartphones have eliminated a few items: flashlight, alarm clock, and music player to name a few. As a pro travel writer though, I still carry a notebook, 14-inch laptop, real superzoom camera (Panasonic Lumix these days), mini tripod, and various chargers.

I find I usually carry two sets of earphones or earbuds now, which is kind of annoying: one Bluetooth, one wired for the plane systems or video phone calls through the laptop. If it’s a vacation, I’ll wedge in a small speaker to play music in the hotel room or apartment.

Toiletries can be a big issue for some women especially, but get a good hanging toiletry kit and stick to small bottles that meet TSA guidelines. Sea to Summit makes some cool dry items that come in a little plastic case, like laundry sheets or shaving sheets. Click that link to see them. Remember that you can buy things later if it’s a long trip, especially simple items like toothpaste.

The good news on all this is that traveling light has gotten a lot easier. The bags, the clothing, the shoes, and the gadgets all weigh less than they did a decade ago. If anything you have is heavy, it’s probably time to update your travel gear.

Thanks to bringing along an expanding duffle bag, I’ve even taken trips where I got on the plane with just an under seat bag, a personal item only. You can see a video on that from my trip to Costa Rica and Guatemala on my YouTube channel.

With a regular bag, I will use a few packing cubes but I’m not all-in on those. I find I can fit more in by rolling and stuffing when it comes to t-shirts, polo shirts, shorts, and a bathing suit.

The Keys to Packing Light

The guiding principle of packing light with a carry-on is to take clothing that fits a few criteria:

1) It all goes together okay

2) You can sink wash it and it’ll be dry by morning

3) It doesn’t weigh much

Obviously this can get complicated if you’re going to a cold climate, but layering will take care of most warmth issues and you can help things a lot by wearing merino wool items that won’t get stinky after a couple days of wear. These can be costly, but they’re worth it in the long run. The top brands are Icebreaker, Ibex, and Smartwool. Wear a hat, bring a good coat, and you’ll be set.

What kills both the bulk and weight for most people is the shoes. You should usually aim for two pairs, three if you’re doing something specialized like river rafting or jungle hiking. More than that and you’re going to have to check a bag. That’s risky and expensive if you’ve got two connections where your bag could get lost and you’re on a fee-loving airline like Spirit Air. If you’re on multiple airlines, each one is going to hit you up for bag fees, though check the prices if it’s a budget airline: sometimes a checked bag is cheaper than a carry-on.

I tend to have a pair of double-duty shoes along that will work for city streets and forest paths from the likes of Oboz or Lowa, but there are lots of other good ones in my closet from regular brands like New Balance and Skechers. I just bought a new pair of walking shoes for 30% off direct from Colombia Sportwear that are also decent enough for meetings at a conference.

To aid with packing light, get something that looks nice enough to wear to a restaurant, but rugged enough to take years of walking before wearing out. You might have to spend $100 unless you don’t need to try them on and can shop online at a good time for sales.

Double Duty Travel Clothing

Pack things that go together and you won’t need so many items. So packing light is easier. As in every pair of pants should be able to go with any shirt in your bag. This takes a little planning, yes, but it ensures you’ve got something clean to wear until you’ve worn everything.

And remember, if there’s any business to be done, erring on the side of nicer clothes is better than the alternative. If you’re just backpacking or on vacation, however, one “nice enough” outfit will probably do it. See some more tips on this subject here .

For many years now, the big trend in travel clothing has been “trail to pub” wear that looks nice enough to go to a bar in, but is loaded with the technical features and durability you need for travel and the outdoors. So it’s much easier than it used to be to find travel clothes that don’t make you look like you geared up for a jungle safari. They’re more fitted but have some stretch for being active. And maybe a hidden zipper pocket for security.

Many of the items coming from the big brands look nice enough to wear to an office, to a nice party, or to a meeting. Yet they’ll dry quickly and wick sweat for when you can escape into the outdoors. The very best brand for this, in my opinion, is prAna. Western Rise makes nice items for men, Anthropologie and Lulu Lemon make quality travel clothing for women.

Remember, if you shop at the right places online, you can always find something on sale.

Please Pack a Water Purifier

Unless you don’t mind trashed beaches, roadside litter, and plastic in the fish you’re eating, carry a water purifier. There’s no excuse for buying bottled water every day and shoving more plastic that never breaks down into Mother Nature’s mouth. My favorite that has never let me down is the Steripen, but you can find other water purifiers for travel here.

I found a photo from 18 years ago so I can show you what was in that leather bag at the top. It’s not showing what I wore on the plane, of course, so another pair of pants, shoes, and some tops went along. Plus my electronics were in a small backpack. This all worked well for a two-week trip in three countries. The individual items have all been replaced, but today’s version doesn’t look much different.