I packed a 70-litre hiking bag for my first trip. I came home with most of it unworn and a serious back problem.
Three years later, I carry a 36-litre pack and nothing else. No checked luggage. No storage fees. No waiting at baggage carousels. I walk off every plane and straight through the airport.
Here’s exactly what’s in it.
The bag
Osprey Farpoint 36 — the standard by which all travel bags are measured. Lockable zip, clamshell opening (like a suitcase), laptop sleeve, detachable daypack. About $160 USD new, regularly on sale.
The 36-litre size is the sweet spot: fits in almost every airline’s overhead bin, including budget carriers, but holds enough for months of travel.
Clothes (the whole list)
I travel in warm-to-temperate climates most of the time. Adjust for your destination.
| Item | Qty | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| T-shirts (merino wool) | 3 | Merino doesn’t smell after a day. Worth the price. |
| Lightweight trousers | 2 | One smart-ish, one for hiking/walking |
| Shorts | 1 | Doubles as a swimsuit for me |
| Underwear (merino) | 4 | Wash 2, wear 2 |
| Socks (merino) | 4 pairs | Same logic |
| Lightweight hoodie | 1 | Planes, cold temples, chilly evenings |
| Rain jacket | 1 | Packable. Takes up almost no space. Essential. |
| Sandals | 1 pair | Worn on travel days, used as hostel shoes |
| Walking shoes | 1 pair | Whatever I’m wearing at the airport |
Total: 14 items of clothing. You do not need more.
The merino wool is genuinely a game-changer. Yes, it costs more. Yes, it’s worth it.
Tech
- Laptop (13" — fits in the bag’s sleeve)
- Phone + charger
- Universal travel adapter — the small cube-shaped ones, not the giant brick
- USB-C power bank (20,000mAh) — survives a full day of heavy use
- Earbuds — the best airport/bus investment
- Kindle — lighter than one book, holds thousands
- Camera — only if you’re serious about photography. My phone does the job most of the time.
Toiletries
The rule: solid over liquid, always.
- Solid shampoo bar (no liquids rules headache gone)
- Solid conditioner bar
- Solid soap
- Deodorant stick (not liquid)
- SPF 50 stick (face)
- Toothbrush + toothpaste
- Small microfibre towel (hostels rarely have these)
- Razor
- Basic first aid: ibuprofen, antihistamine, rehydration sachets, blister plasters, antiseptic wipes
Anything I run out of, I buy locally. This is not a survival situation.
Documents + money
- Passport — kept in a slim under-clothes money belt when in crowded areas
- Travel card (Wise or Revolut) — low fees, real exchange rates. Essential.
- Physical backup of important documents — one printed copy in the bag, one emailed to myself
- Small padlock — for hostel lockers
What I cut (and don’t miss)
- Hair dryer — every hostel has one
- Full toiletry bag — buy a small bottle of shampoo locally
- Multiple pairs of jeans — too heavy, too slow to dry
- Guidebooks — my phone has everything
- “Just in case” items — if I haven’t needed it in three trips, it doesn’t come
The one-bag philosophy
The goal isn’t minimalism for its own sake. It’s freedom. When your whole life fits in one bag:
- You move faster
- You pay less (no checked luggage fees)
- You lose less (nothing goes in the hold to be stolen or lost)
- You stress less (no logistics, no waiting)
The first trip you do with a massive bag will be your last.
What’s your non-negotiable packing item? Tell me — I’m always looking to refine the list.