In this post, we describe what Jon packed in his 40 liter backpack for our 18-month-long trip.
We split the trip into six month segments and refreshed our gear along the way.
Also check out our guides for preparing for long-term travel:
Part One: You Might Want to Travel the World. Now What? Considerations for Long-Term Travel
Part Two: The Logistics of Travel Planning — What You Need to Do Prior to Departure
About the trip:
- Weather averaged 50-70°F/10-21°C
- We were mostly in cities, with day trips for light hiking out to the countryside
- We walked an average of 4 miles (6.4 kilometers) per day over an 18-month period
- Many in bigger cities we walked on average 7-10 miles (11-16 kilometers) per day
- We “one bagged” during this trip — packing for no more than seven days even though we were on the road for six months at a time
Gear
- Kelty Redwing 3100 Hiking Daypack 50L
- Quecha Arpenaz 10L Daypack
- TSA Approved Bag Lock – for backpack security
- Masterlock Padlock – for hostel lockers
In flight outfit
- UNIQLO shirt
- Patagonia pullover sweater
- Lightweight jogging pant
- Waterproof Rain Jacket
- Balega Mohair socks
- Merrell Turbulance Performance Footwear
Eight in-flight essentials to bring on your next trip
Packing cubes
- 1 Eagle Creek small packing cubes for socks and underwear
- 1 large packing cube for bottoms
- 1 small packing cube for tops
- 1 Eagle Creek dopp kit
Since our return from the trip we now exclusively use Eagle Creek packing cubes.
Every day carry items
- Wallet
- Identification (passport only in countries that require it)
- In-ear headphones
- Notebook
- Pen
- Fork
- Wet wipes
- Eye mask
- Sunglasses
- Reusable waterbottle
Toiletries
- Deodorant
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Floss
- Earplugs
- Razor
- Razor Blades
- Lotion
- REI Light Multi Towel
We purchase and share a full size shampoo, conditioner and body wash upon arrival.
Outwear
- (See In-Flight Photo) Patagonia pull over
- Nike quarter zip pullover
- REI quarter zip pullover
- Not pictured: rain jacket
Tops
- 5 Uniqlo Shirts – blue, black, light gray, dark gray, white
- 1 sleeveless light weight beach shirt
Bottoms
- 1 pair of cotton shorts
- 2 pairs of athletic shorts
- 2 pairs of jeans
- 2 pairs of board shorts
Jon lost a pair of board shorts along the way and we did not replace them.
Underwear
- 7 Uniqlo Airism Boxer Briefs
- Balega Mohair socks
- Smartwool socks
Shoes may just be the single most important item you pack — they need to be comfortable, durable, and lightweight. The shoes shown above are nice looking but meet none of the aforementioned criteria.
Shoes
- Merrell Turbulance Performance Footwear – a year and 2,000 miles of walking later, he switched out his Merrell’s for New Balance
- Teva Hudson sandal
- Not pictured: shower sandals for the hostel
Tech
- Nikon Camera (shared)
- Sandisk Extreme Pro 32GB memory cards (shared)
- iPhone
- Universal plug adapter (shared)
- 32GB external USB
- MacBook Air 13″
- Aqua Quest Storm Waterproof Laptop Case
- Assorted charging cords and cables
Identity, insurance & money
- Passport (with relevant visas)
- Driver’s License
- Charles Schwab Debit Card
- Chase Sapphire Reserve Credit Card
- Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
- World Nomads Travel Insurance