Gearing Up for Long-Term Travel: What I Packed, What I Regret, and Lessons Learned

Few things are more daunting than packing for an open-ended trip around the world. When you pack for vacation, you pack with a theme, like beaches, camping, or exploring cities, but on an open-ended trip to destinations unknown, the packing list can get confusing. Some people minimally pack and pick up destination-specific things along the way. Others pack everything they could possibly need into huge backpacks. Me? I packed for the averages, accounting for the general plan and buying specific things when I needed them for individual climates, cultures, or countries.

What I Packed

My primary concern in packing wasn't weight, but size. I needed everything to fit into a carry-on backpack and personal item. I travelled with the Erblestock Halftrack, a 35L pack with modular compartments that could compress extra, unused space. Some people hate the excess compartments, preferring instead large, open spaces. I like them, because they provide much-needed organisation.

Clothing-wise, I'd say I nailed this one on the whole, although specific pieces of clothing I changed out along the way. I had seven pairs of socks, eight sets of underwear, five performance undershirts, three polos, three sets of long pants, two pairs of shorts, a pair of sleeping shorts, two Henleys, and a sweatshirt. This spread allowed me to adjust from the Saharan heat to the Scottish fall to Turkish winter.

Footwear was another area where I packed well. I had three pairs of shoes: high-top Timberland Earthkeepers, Merrill hiking boots, and a pair of sandals for the beach. Again, I would say I nailed this, as I could go pretty much anywhere and do anything without looking like an out-of-place backpacker.

Most difficult to pack were the big sundries, the large items I needed day after day. These were two different towels (one highly compressible and one more sturdy), a sheet, a sleeping bag liner, an inflatable pillow, a pillow case, a Columbia rain jacket, and a packable puff jacket. I used all of these all the time. If I were to do it again, the only one I would leave behind would be the sleeping bag liner. It was great to have, but it really just duplicated the sheet.

What I Regret

Looking back, I rarely needed more than one Henley. I was more likely to wear my sweatshirt and/or puff jacket, and only really needed a Henley when I wanted to look nice on an evening out with friends in colder countries. It's only one shirt, but that's still plenty of space.

I also didn't use my hydration bladder like I planned, i.e., never. Jo and I thought we would do a lot more hiking than we actually did, and every time we found a trail, we took our water bottles. Even hiking the Cambodian jungle, I used litre bottles of water instead of my hydration bladder.

My biggest regret in packing was by far bringing a pair of travel jeans. They were great on airplanes, but more often than not, I instead chose my Wrangler tan and brown khakis. The jeans took up too much space, were too hot, and I eventually stopped wearing them altogether. Jo loved jeans on the road, but I will never again carry them with me.

I would also have changed out my hiking shoes. The Merrill’s were great shoes, but they weren’t padded enough for my bad knee (a unique problem for me from a military injury). I eventually stopped wearing them altogether, opting instead for the high-tops or sandals. That said, once I got some better boots for my knee, I was back to wearing them all the time.

A Word About Electronics

Like most travellers, Jo and I packed like we were going to become viral influencers. We had GoPros, extra batteries and charges, computers, tablets, power banks, phones, and cameras, and it was far too much. Every time we passed through a security checkpoint, we had to completely unpack our electronics, which became a real hassle that bore little fruit. We didn't make it big on YouTube, and we didn't become Insta-famous stars. The fact is, those who go viral with mega followings these days do so almost exclusively with TikTok, and we were simply not fans of that style of content.

I have since resolved to pack cameras and GoPros depending on the expedition. I enjoy reliving my first adventure through my GoPro footage, and having it has really helped in advertising my first book. For my journey through Spain, however, the GoPros were unnecessary, as I was on a cultural research trip rather than some grand adventure. So, it really depends on what your digital goals are and how committed you are to achieving them.

Definitely take a Kindle or other e-reader, though. Easy mornings at beachside cafes with an espresso, the ocean waves, and a good book simply cannot be beat.

 Critical Lessons from Years on the Road

You fill the space you have. Something seasoned travellers will tell you is that it doesn't matter how big your bag is, you will fill it to the top, and it will be the perfect size. Travellers who have an 80L pack swear they need everything in it as they struggle to sling it across their shoulders, while those with 25L backpacks swear they are perfectly content with everything they have. Both are correct, which is why picking the right pack at the beginning is the most important step. For most people, the 40L to 55L range will be perfect.

Packing cubes are take-it-or-leave-it items. Some people (like my friend Jo) swear by them while others (like me) can't stand them. Using them or not is a matter of personal choice, one that you can really only learn by trial and error. If you are unsure if you want to use them, I would say take them and try them out. If you hate them, you can always give them away to someone in the hostel.

You need carabiners and bungee cords. Jo and I both had two bungee cords and at least six carabiners, and we used them all the time. When we got stranded in a small town and almost missed our train, we used them to strap everything to our bags rather than try to pack in less than five minutes. When we needed a clothes line, we could easily string one up. When the emergency exit blew off the top of a bus in Egypt, we fixed it with bungee cords and carabiners. Their uses are infinite.

Try to pack a carry-on. Most long-term travels are militantly anti-checked bags, and for good reason. You lose tons of time and money over the long-term checking a bag (especially on budget airlines), both of which are highly-valued, limited commodities while travelling. However, the backpacking landscape had changed over the last ten years, and most "backpackers" travel with huge pieces of luggage. If you're on a short-term trip in one region of the world, I would still argue that packing a carry-on-sized bag is best, but if you're on an open-ended trip across the world, packing a slightly larger checked bag instead isn't the grave sin it once was. Besides, sometimes it's impossible to fly entirely carry-on, depending on the type of trip you are taking. For example, for my 2025-2026 Wayfarer expedition, I packed a tent and large camping knife, neither of which I could take on the plane with me.

Parting Thoughts

Ultimately, what you pack, how much, and why depends on your comfort and needs. Some people need or want more clothes, photographers have bulky camera setups, and hikers need camping tools. The best advice I have received and can give is this: determine what kind of trip you are taking and ask yourself, "Do I really need this?" The former will guide you as you pack clothes and equipment, and the latter will help you eliminate extras that you don't actually need. If the answer to "Do I really need this?" starts with, "Well..." then the answer is probably not. But even if you do overpack or completely misidentify what you need, that is just part of the travel experience. You can always buy, swap, and get rid of your stuff as you go. Packing is a lot like eating fried crickets in the Sahara: you eventually get used to it.