Long term and outdoor travel packing guide

One of the most common questions we get from our readers is “how do you pack for a long term trip?”. We have all been there before the big day: packing, unpacking, screaming, feeling hopeless and sad to leave our favourite outfits, shoes and accessories behind. Well, that’s part of the deal. You are not only taking a long term trip, but you are also taking a journey to minimalism, efficiency and freedom from materialism.

One rule: If you are not going to use it more than once a week, don’t take it!

Our long term and outdoor backpacking travel gear and packing guide will cover all of the essentials for active travellers planning a trip abroad.

What you should consider before packing

Before you start packing your bag there are few things you will need to think of, such as the season and the weather, the elevation, the type of activities you plan on doing, the type of transport you will take, and of course the culture of the country.

| Weather, seasons and altitude

Depending on where you go, you might have to think about the seasons and what the weather will be like. Travelling long term means you will more than likely cross through winter and summer as well as the rainy season, or drought.

Do your research beforehand and keep in mind that sometimes the weather can change from one side of the country to another, so look into the regional weather and seasonality more than the overall country.

You will also need to think about the altitude. Travelling during the summer season at 4,000 masl means the days are warm, but the nights can be freezing. Make sure to look into that and pack clothes to keep you warm at night or during the evenings.

| Activities

You should ask yourself what you will be doing during your travels. Will you mainly spend time at the beach or is there a chance you will also go hiking and camping? Maybe are you planning to go sailing, rock-climbing or even river rafting and kayaking? With that in mind, how frequent will you do these activities? Is it better to carry the gear you need with you or maybe renting them there would make more sense?

If you are planning on camping for 5 days out of a 3-month trip or camping regularly as a way of travelling will have different repercussions on what you will bring with you. For us, it all depends on 3 factors: cost, weight and frequency.

• Frequency: Carrying a tent, sleeping bag, mattress, cooking pots etc. for a couple of days of use out of months of travel, isn’t worth it. Think also about all these in-between moments, when you will have to carry (more than likely on your back) all the gear you don’t use yet or anymore. This involves carrying all the warm gears you’ll need at the end of your trip or on the contrary all the jackets and warm clothes you used but don’t need anymore… Pack light or have a plan. Maybe could you buy what you need as you travel? Why not sending/giving away what you don’t need anymore?
• Weight: 100 grams here and there, quickly turns into a 20kg backpack of things you will need “just in case”. Be efficient, and if you don’t plan on using it regularly, don’t take it. Travelling is a good way of going back to basics and freeing yourself from unnecessary material. Do you really need that extra pair of jeans? Or that dress you love but will only wear once? Go minimalist and don’t hesitate to invest in lighter products which may be more expensive, but that will surely last longer. Your body and wallet will thank you at the end of the day!
• Cost: do you already have the gear? how much would it be to buy new equipment vs renting on site? Will you have to pay extra for transporting your gear (on planes & buses…)?
  
  

| Transport

Going on a road trip or taking buses around isn’t the same in terms of packing. Think about the limits of each way of transport and identify what would be best to reduce the cost and hassle. Would a carry on bag be better to avoid to have to pay the check-in fee each time? Will you be charged extra to drop your guitar or surfboard on the bus?

| Local customs and traditions

Travelling long term might bring you to visit some countries that are more conservative than others. Think ahead about this and pack accordingly. In some places, dressing up can be quite tricky, especially for female travellers.

It is important to respect local beliefs and traditions and avoid behaviours that can offend the locals. In countries with a large Muslim, Hindu or Buddhist cultures, it is expected to have knees and shoulders covered. In some churches and cathedrals, you may also be required to cover up. Make sure, therefore, to pack with respect and leave what you won’t be wearing at home.

| Go dark or colourful

Remember one rule of thumb: white doesn’t travel well. Prefer darker colours.

In some countries, you might be able to do your own laundry, but in places like South America, it is usual to drop your clothes at the reception of your hostel to get them washed. Make sure you invest in products that won’t shorten or wash out.

Packing methods

The most important thing when it comes to packing is organisation. There isn’t one better way than another. You’ll have to find yours and trust us, that will only come with time and practise. Just make sure you are consistent and always keep the same method once you find the right organisation.

| Rolling vs folding

There are a lot of conversations out there about rolling vs folding and we vouch for rolling. if you have a lot of things in a small bag, it keeps the clothes compressed, easier to reach and makes less of a mess when you take your clothes out. Don’t roll larger pieces such as sweaters and jackets, it will take more space and avoid rolling button-up shirts to not cause wrinkles.

If you are travelling with a bag that isn’t limited by space you may not need to roll, but we find it useful for organisation.

| To use packing cubes or not?

Many travellers recommend packing cubes. We both tried them during our 2.5 years trip to South America. While Steven kept on using his, Jenny quickly got rid of hers noticing it was not using the space efficiently enough. Packing cubes are good to keep clothes apart and organised, but they tend to lack flexibility in our opinion.

Jenny didn’t like having to empty her bag each time she wanted to take something from a packing cube, with the zip hard to reach and the packs hard to put back afterwards. If you are after them to separate your clean and dirty clothes, we would recommend laundry bags instead which are more versatile and can fill up the extra spaces.

Other packing tips

• Keeping dry. Sometimes your bag cover won’t be enough to keep your bag and the contents dry if you are caught in lashing rain. Our tip is to use black bin bags as an extra layer inside your bag.
• Take note of what you bring + what you give to the laundrette. It is easy to forget what you gave to the wash and find out only a few weeks later you haven’t seen that shirt or pair of shorts for a while!

Backpacks | THE ESSENTIAL

BACKPACK

Lowe Alpine Airzone Trek – 45:55 L

Jenny bought it for its very strong back support and good adaptive belt. The large pockets are very useful for quick access to a rain jacket or water bottle. She loves the bottom compartment for her hiking shoes and how the top part is really expendable. It was very useful for her large 4 seasons sleeping bag.

Lowe Alpine Diran 55-65 L

Steven went for this 55 L. It has a lot of straps that you can pull to reduce the size if you don’t have a lot to carry but if you accumulate things on your way, the bag is very expendable – up to 65L. A danger to overpacking but a very useful thing if you plan on carry tents, sleeping bags and other camping gears. Steven also found the bag very gentle for his bad lower back.

DAYPACK

Lowepro Photo Sport 200 AW II

The best camera bag I have ever bought. The side pocket fits my large DSLR with 2 lenses perfectly and is quickly accessible when I am hiking. It is also super discreet so I have never been scared of being mugged! It looks like a normal day bag but there are hidden pockets which are super useful when backpacking.

Lowe Alpine Airzone Trail 25

This 25L rucksack is perfect as a front backpacking bag but also excellent to go hiking or going on an overnight trip. It has many pockets where I can fit hiking poles and a mattress but also a big enough interior space to carry a tent and change of clothes. The back support is good and really good avoid back pain.

Clothing list | Women

The North Face Women’s Venture 2 Jacket

Icyzone Women’s Workout Long sleeve

Merrell Moab 2 Mid Waterproof Hiking Boot

Clothing list | men

Under Armour Men‘s Compression Shirt

The North Face Men’s Resolve Jacket

Merrell Men’s Moab 2 Mid Waterproof Hiking Boot

Toiletries bags & Medical/Safety

Shampoo bars

First Aid kit

Mooncup Menstrual Cup

Electronics & photography

Canon 6D Mark II – body

GoPro Hero

Kindle

Outdoor and travel essentials

Collapsible Hiking poles

Fit Bit Charge 3

Hario Plastic V60

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Disclaimer:
This article includes links for which we aren’t getting any commission. We are not part of the Amazon-affiliated program anymore.

About the Author

Jen is the Funder, Author & Photographer behind Talesfromthelens.com

Jen has lived for the past 15 years across Oceania and Ireland while also travelling in Latin America, North America, and Europe. She has visited more than 65 countries and set foot on every continent in the world! She is a coffee nerd, passionate about photography, wildlife, and outdoor activities.

For more info, check out the About page.