Packing Light

There’s never enough time for me to finish everything I want to finish before a trip. However, this time, I’ve been happy that packing has gone smoothly. I have just a few more items to add, and then I’ll be done.

Many people have wondered how I fit all my necessities for multiple months into this:

To sate your curiosity and give you some hints on packing yourself, here is my complete packing list. Hope it helps.

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Quart-sized ziplock (for carrying liquids 3 ounces or less per TSA guidelines)

Deodorant

Shampoo (doubles as laundry detergent)

Coconut oil (functions as both lotion and hair conditioner) 

Toothpaste

First aid kit (Band-Aids, gauze, tweezers)

Toenail clippers (also for fingernails)

Floss

Disposable razor 

Makeup (only eye shadow and lip balm)

A bottle of PMS pills and Ibuprofen

Chapstick

Brush

Comb

Shoelaces (I’m paranoid about not having shoelaces when I need them)

Orthodontic retainer

Toothbrush

Feminine products

Sunblock (essential if you’re as fair-skinned as I am)

Tissue (emergency toilet paper!)

Trash bags (good for holding stinky clothes)

Ziplock bags (useful in many different ways)

Trail mix (I like almonds)

Spoon/Fork/Knife (plastic to be lightweight, but I wash and reuse them)

Metal water bottle

Cell phone, flash drive, iPod, laptop, headphones, camera, and all the batteries, cables and chargers used to power them (Heavy, but useful)

Mini flashlight (useful for rummaging through your bag at hostels after lights out)

Portable Bible (maintaining my faith is important on the road)

Paperback books (I like to bring a new one, an old favorite, and one that I hope will blow my mind)

Travel journal (like a diary, but full of tickets, postcards, bus schedules, and travel brochures)

Backpack

Foldable tote bag

Fanny pack (Yes, it’s dorky. But it’s also handy since girl pants have tiny pockets!)

Laundry bag (I can throw all my clothes in it and leave it at the hostel to lighten my pack for a day trip)

Large lock (for the lockers at hostels)

Luggage lock (a little TSA-approved one)

Money belt (for keeping my debit card, ID and passport safe beneath my clothing)

Compass/whistle (a handy little gadget to wear when trying to navigate or when trying to draw attention to yourself because that creepy guy is too close for comfort)

Pens and mechanical pencils

A baggies containing a large needle, a spool of thread, tape, safety pins, stamps, and envelopes (all of which have come in handy at some point)

Umbrella (useful for protection against both rain and sunshine)

Money, ID, debit card, a couple personal checks, insurance card, Hostelling International membership card

Back wrap (This takes up quite a lot of room, but I have a bad back)

1 pair tennis shoes

Slightly more dressy shoes (which can still be worn as tennis shoes, though not as comfortably)

Flip-flops (handy for tide-pool exploring, chilling in the sun, and avoiding nasty shower floors)

Sarong (possibly the most useful thing I ever take on a trip— functions as skirt, dress, beach wrap, warm scarf, beach towel, regular towel, picnic blanket, sheet, head covering, bag, privacy hanging and so much more)

Tank top (doubles as an undershirt)

1 long sleeved shirt 

Sweater 

1 short-sleeved shirt 

3 pairs socks, 4 pairs underwear (Seriously, this is all you need. If you do your laundry every day, you can get away with so much)

2 bras (I like sports bras because they fold down smaller and double as undershirts and swimsuit tops)

1 t-shirt

2 pairs jeans (If I had the money, I’d buy much lighter polyester-blend cargo pants instead. But hey, I found jeans that fit me at Goodwill.)

1 pair full-length leggings 

Rain-resistant jacket

Shorts (double as swimsuit bottom)

Warm hat (if the weather warrants it)

Crusher hat (I prefer this over a ball cap because it covers my ears)

Bandanas (another awesome multipurpose item: napkin, hankie, small sack, washcloth, head covering, scarf, etc.)

Belt

Hairbands 

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