When considering a long-term trip or engaging in extended travel, you’ve probably asked yourself, “What should I pack for long-term travel?” Accompanying this inquiry might be questions like, “How should I pack for extended travel?” and “What are the essentials for a long journey?”
As I prepared to travel on a long journey back in 2022, changing my job and experiencing long-term travel, I encountered numerous questions. I didn’t know anyone who had undertaken such an adventure, so I searched the internet for answers. Unfortunately, I didn’t find much relevant information. There are numerous posts and videos about backpacking. Still, my plan was different—I intended to travel comfortably on a budget, each with one carry-on-sized roller suitcase and one backpack.
You can adapt this packing strategy to various travel styles. To help you determine what to pack for your long-term trip, let’s discuss the considerations and questions to ask yourself to ensure you have everything you need for your incredible journey!
For this post, long-term travel is defined as continuous travel for two or more months.
How To Determine What You Need The most effective way to figure out what to pack for long-term travel is to ask yourself the following questions. Write down your answers and keep them with you as you pack. If any items come to mind while answering these questions, jot those down as well.
- What is your travel style? (budget, luxury, backpacker, outdoor adventure, urban, etc.) It might be a mix of a few.
- What is your clothing style (do you like dressing nicely, not caring what you wear, or something in between?)
- What activities do you plan to do or imagine yourself doing? (hiking, beach days, horseback riding, walking tours, road trips, photography, etc.)
- What comfort items can you not imagine traveling without?
- What items are you afraid of not having or leaving behind?
- Are there any health or other concerns requiring you to bring specific items? (sanitary products, epi-pen, or other)
- What climates are you planning to visit? Are you sticking to one or planning to visit multiple?
Decide What’s Worth the Weight You’ll be carrying your belongings throughout the trip, so it’s essential to be selective about what you pack, given limited space! This is especially true for your backpack, as carrying too much weight can quickly cause back pain. Determine what you genuinely need, as there may be many items you want but don’t need. Leave behind anything that would waste space in your bags. Remember, you can always discard items along the way.
Practicing packing before your trip will help you decide what to bring and leave behind. Pack and unpack multiple times before embarking on a long-term journey to maximize space and stay organized. This will make repacking easier during your trip, allowing you to create an efficient packing system.
You Can Purchase Almost Anything Abroad. Keep in mind that you can buy nearly anything you need while traveling. Some items may be challenging to find or locations more remote than others, but generally, you can obtain the things you need or want during your trip.
What To Pack for a Long-Term Trip
What you pack for long-term travel will depend on various factors, such as destination, planned activities, and other considerations mentioned above. Below are two hypothetical packing lists—one for warm weather and one for cold weather—to provide an idea of what someone who has been on a long-term trip might pack. These are not exhaustive lists but include essential items you don’t want to forget.
If you’re considering a long-term journey or are curious about extended travel, you might have thought, “What should I pack for such a trip?” You might also wonder, “How should I pack for long-term travel?” and “What are the essential items for a lengthy trip?”
There are posts and videos about backpacking and filling a 60L backpack to its limit, but my travel plans were different. I opted for one carry-on-sized roller suitcase and one backpack each.
This travel style was comfortable budget travel—combining budget travel with the comforts I enjoy, creating a sustainable travel style for a long-term trip. The packing details for long-term travel can be adapted to various travel styles.
Decide What’s Worth the Weight You’ll be carrying your belongings throughout your trip, so be selective about what you bring, as you have limited space! Determine what you genuinely need because there might be many items you want but don’t require.
This is especially true for your backpack, which can quickly cause back pain if overloaded. Leave behind anything that will waste space in your bags. Remember, you can always discard items as you go!
Practice packing
Practice packing before you leave to make the most of your space and avoid panicking the day before your flight because your belongings don’t fit. Pack, unpack, and repack multiple times to ensure you have a place for everything and everything has its place. This will keep you organized and make repacking during your trip much manageable.
You Can Buy Almost Anything Abroad. Generally, you’ll find most things you need or want while abroad. For example, medicine, sanitary products, and clothing stores are available almost everywhere. However, some items might be more challenging to track down or find in remote areas.
What to Pack for a Long-Term Trip
The items you pack for long-term travel depend on various factors, like your destination, activities, and other considerations mentioned earlier. We’ll provide two hypothetical packing lists based on weather—one for warm weather and another for cold weather—to give you an idea of what to pack.
Remember, you’re not packing for six months, or however long you’re traveling; you’re packing for two weeks to a month or two. Wear and re-wear your clothes, do laundry, and replace worn-out items as needed during your trip.
Warm Weather Packing List:
- 4-5 shirts (mix of short-sleeve, tank tops, and 1-2 lightweight long-sleeve shirts)
- 1-2 pairs of shorts
- 1 pair of lightweight pants or leggings
- 1 skirt or dress (optional)
- 1 swimsuit
- Underwear and socks (enough for 7-10 days)
- Sleepwear
- 1 pair of comfortable walking shoes or sandals
- 1 pair of flip-flops or water shoes
- 1 lightweight rain jacket
- 1 lightweight sweater or hoodie
- Sunglasses
- Hat
- Travel towel
- Toiletries (travel-sized, in a clear toiletry bag)
- Electronics (phone, charger, power bank, adapter, headphones)
- Travel documents (passport, copies of important documents, etc.)
- Small first-aid kit
Cold Weather Packing List:
- 4-5 shirts (mix of long-sleeve, thermal tops, and 1-2 short-sleeve shirts)
- 1-2 pairs of jeans or heavier pants
- 1 pair of thermal leggings or long underwear
- 1-2 sweaters or hoodies
- Underwear and socks (enough for 7-10 days, including warm socks)
- Sleepwear
- 1 pair of comfortable walking shoes or boots
- 1 pair of waterproof boots (if needed)
- 1 winter coat (water-resistant and insulated)
- 1 lightweight rain jacket (optional)
- Gloves, hat, and scarf
- Travel towel
- Toiletries (travel-sized, in a clear toiletry bag)
- Electronics (phone, charger, power bank, adapter, headphones)
- Travel documents (passport, copies of important documents, etc.)
- Small first-aid kit
Adjust these lists based on your preferences and the activities you plan to do during your trip. This should give you a starting point when packing for your long-term adventure.
In conclusion, careful planning and packing can make your long-term travel experience enjoyable and stress-free. Remember to prioritize your needs and weigh the importance of each item. Most importantly, have fun and embrace the life-changing journey ahead of you!
