TRAVEL TIPS
A suitcase on full-time or long-term travel looks a little different than a short vacation. You attempt to fit everything you may need in life into one small bag, while at the same time, boxing up or selling everything else that’s been accumulated at home. We are by no means experts on this topic, but we have learnt a thing or two through our travels. To help you get started on your packing journey, we have compiled a list of everything we take with us. This all fits across one medium check-in suitcase and one carry-on backpack each.
QUICK LINKS
CLOTHING
We’ll start with the items that take up the most amount of room. Clothing is an essential, but what each person deems essential will differ depending on fashion and lifestyle choices. Neither of us would describe ourselves as “fashionable”. We both like clothing that is simple, comfortable and versatile. Thankfully, this works in our favour when choosing what to take on the road.
Underwear and socks – we pack enough to last 3 weeks.
Pants – a range to cover all seasons, including jeans, long linen pants, and shorts.
Shirts – also a range to cover all season. We both pack a few T-shirts and button-up linen shirts and at least 1 jumper. Bec also packs a few singlets and long-sleeve shirts. We like neutral colours to help mix and match outfits.
Dresses and skirts – Bec packs a couple of casual dresses and skirts, all suitable for summer, with some being maxi length to wear at religious sites when required.
Activewear – we like to exercise, so we pack a couple of pants and shirts for this, which we can also wear on other active occasions.
Jackets – unless travelling primarily through winter, we only pack 3 jackets. This includes 1 warm puffer jacket, 1 mid-season jacket/cardigan and 1 waterproof hiking jacket.
Hiking clothes – as we enjoy hiking while travelling, we also pack a couple of items suitable for this.
Thermals – we pack 1 pair of thermals if we will be in travelling through winter weather or hiking in alpine regions.
Swimmers – Clark packs 1 pair of boardshorts and Bec packs 2 swimsuits.
SHOES
Much like the clothing, our shoe selection is simple, with the primary function being comfort. They take up a lot of room and weight, so it is important to only bring what you use regularly, and we cannot reiterate this enough – only take shoes that are practical and comfortable.
Sneakers – for exercise and days with lots of walking.
Casual sneakers – still comfortable to walk in but a bit dressier.
Thongs/Flip flops – it’s important to pack a pair of shoes to use for hygienic purposes in shared showers or dirty hotel/motel rooms. Also great for the beach and pool.
Sandals – Bec also likes having a pair of sandals. She is in love with her Tevas. They are great quality, comfortable, suitable for long walks, waterproof, easily cleaned and still look good with fancier outfits.
Hiking boots/Winter boots – we do a lot of hiking when we travel, so hiking boots are a must for us. If you are travelling into winter, having appropriate shoes for that climate will also be important. If neither of these situations applies to you, then avoid bulky items like this.
TOILETRIES
Deciding what to pack in a toiletry bag is a personal choice. Every individual has different products they need or want with them. There are a few staple items most people will bring, but the rest is entirely up to you. Keep in mind that these toiletry products are available in most countries, so you can pack small versions and top them up as required.
Soap, shampoo and conditioner – we take one of each product to share. However, most accommodations do provide these, so if you are happy to use their supplies, only pack small sizes as a backup.
Moisturiser.
Deodorant.
Sunscreen – if there is anything you take from this list, please let it be sunscreen. It is so important to be protected, especially if you are spending a lot of time outdoors. Growing up in the harsh Australian sun, we take this very seriously and prefer to bring brands we trust if we are unsure what is available where we are heading.
Shaving products.
Hairbrush/comb.
Nail scissors/file.
Feminine products.
Perfume/Cologne – Clark loves his Solid State cologne. It is compact and perfect for travel but still great quality and smells amazing.
First Aid Kit – we include this under toiletries as there are many products that crossover between a toiletry bag and a first aid kit.
ACCESSORIES
This section includes items that don’t quite fit into the categories of clothing or toiletries. We try to keep these extras to a minimum and opt for accessories that can be used in more than one way.
Hats – Bec travels with 2 hats, one she carries to avoid damage and one cap that clips to her carry-on.
Sunglasses.
Gloves, beanie, hiking bandana – obvious for winter locations but also good for hiking.
Sarong – small, lightweight and versatile. It can be used as an item of clothing, a cover-up or a picnic rug.
A belt.
Tote bag.
Hair ties and clips.
Makeup – how much makeup you bring is a personal preference. Bec only packs the basics after bringing too much on our first trip and not using most of it.
Wallet/purse and handbag – Bec packs a small handbag to use daily instead of her backpack. It doesn’t weigh much but still fits a lot inside and has a cross-body strap so she can wear it in front of her in known pickpocket areas.
TECHNOLOGY
There are two parts to this list. The technology items which every traveller should have, and the items which we bring for our own interests and hobbies. Let’s start with the essentials.
TECH FOR EVERYONE
Phone.
Headphones.
Plane headphone adaptor – many planes still require the two-pin jack for headphones, so if you want to use your own headphone to watch movies, you’ll need an adaptor.
Universal power adaptor.
Chargers.
Portable battery pack.
Extension cords/powerboard – not all hotels will have conveniently placed power outlets or enough for your needs, so we always take 1 small extension cord and 1 powerboard.
Apple Air Tags.
TECH WE TAKE
Camera.
Camera memory cards.
Small camera tripod.
Laptops.
Backup hard drives.
HDMI cable – and a laptop converter if necessary.
Drone – we have a DJI Mini Pro 3. It is under 250 grams and in most countries, this classifies as a recreational drone, with no formalities required, so long as you follow local laws and aren’t flying for work.
Tech bag – we use this bag to keep everything together and organised.
For more on the technology we take, check out our guide to 6 Must-Have Tech Accessories.
MISCELLANEOUS
Finally, these are the things we pack that don’t fit into any of the categories listed above. Interestingly, many of these miscellaneous items are at the top of our essentials list and will always have a place in our bags.
Check out our guide for 10 Essential Travel Items for more information on what those pieces are.
Packing cubes and a dirty clothes bag.
A towel – while your accommodation should supply towels, it’s worth packing a small, microfibre towel as a backup.
Reusable foldable shopping bag.
Reusable collapsible containers.
Earplugs.
Face masks.
Zip-lock bags.
Laundry sheets.
Multi-tool – we bring this for hiking, but it's also good to have a knife/pair of scissors/screwdriver for situations you may not foresee.
Resistance band – a small, lightweight piece of exercise equipment that helps with workouts overseas, especially in cramped hotel rooms.
Organiser for important travel documents – we keep our passports and important travel documents safe and together. This also helps when arriving at customs, so you don’t need to fumble through your bag or swipe through your phone to find the things they require. Also handy to pack a pen to fill in arrival forms.
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