My two packed bags
Before leaving for Asia, I read about the advantages of packing light. According to what I read, overpacking was one the most common “rookie mistakes” – and something I wanted to avoid.
The general idea is that bringing less stuff means your baggage is lighter, smaller, quicker to pack, and cheaper because of less baggage fees. This in turn makes your travel experience more convenient, comfortable, and luxurious.
What has worked for me is putting everything in two compression bags – one medium size and one large. These bags squeeze out all the air, which reduces the bulkiness of what’s inside. They then fit nicely into my two backpacks, with some room to spare!
All my stuff, except for my computer
So what am I packing?
Below is a list of everything I currently have in my two bags – a Minaal bag and a Fjällräven Campus Ace 20L.
Clothes
- 1 belt
- 1 headband
- 1 long sleeve, collared shirt
- 2 pairs of shoes (one for daily wear and one for exercise)
- 3 pairs of pants (2 jeans, 1 trousers)
- 3 towels (1 quick-dry, 1 medium cotton, 1 small cotton)
- 5 pairs of shorts (4 casual, 1 exercise)
- 8 pairs of underwear (7 regular, 1 for exercise)
- 10 short sleeve shirts (2 for exercise)
- 13 pairs of socks
Electronics
- Cell phone
- GoPro camera with head strap and extra battery
- In-ear headphones
- Laptop computer with charger
- USB connection cords (3)
- Wireless mouse with USB adapter
Toiletries
- Bacetracin ointment
- Bandages
- Bar of soap (2)
- Beard trimmer with cord and extra battery
- Comb
- Contact lens case (2)
- Contact lenses
- Contact solution
- Eye drops (2)
- Floss
- Hair gel
- Hand razor
- Lens cleaner
- Lotion
- Mouthwash
- Nail clippers (one for fingernails, one for toes)
- Nail file (2)
- Packets of shampoo
- Shaving cream
- Stick of deodorant (2)
- Sunblock cream
- Toiletries bag
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Travel size shaving cream (2)
Miscellaneous
- Book (to use as mouse pad)
- Cash (U.S. dollars and Thai baht)
- Cloth lens cleaner (2)
- Compression packing bags (2)
- Credit cards (4)
- Debit card
- Ear plugs
- Extra pair of shoelaces
- Face mask
- International driver’s permit
- Money clip
- Notepad
- Outlet adapter (2)
- Packing cubes (2)
- Pair of AA batteries
- Passport
- Pen
- Sleep mask
- Small bottle of hand sanitizer
- Stick of lip balm (3)
- Sunglasses
- Tinted glasses
- Toothpicks
- Travel clothes hanger
- Travel size roll of duct tape