As an avid traveler on a budget, I do what I can to find ways to save money on my trips. With the extreme baggage fees being charged by airlines, I’ve found that traveling with just a carry-on and personal item is a great way to cut overall costs. So I’ll share down below how I pack when I need to travel light, so you can employ these tactics once it’s safe to get back to our adventures.

Disclaimer: I get a lot of mileage out of my gear. That being said, I’m happy to spend a bit more on quality gear now, to save in the long run. So please take my suggestions as just that, and tailor some of these things to your needs. But if you want to copy some of the things that I have, they are all items and brands that I trust to be quality products that will not let you down. I used to work in elements of the outdoor industry and may have received products for free or at discounts. None of that has altered my perception of the brands that I suggest or their competitors. I also don’t make any money from any of the links that you click on this blog. So my objectivity isn’t compromised at all.

My Bag:

When I travel, I take my North Face Recon backpack. I love this bag because it is perfect size for a carry-on, is comfortable, and offers just enough organization for a good trip and easy passage through security. I highly recommend going into your local outdoor store or department store to check out the selection of bags. Getting your hands on them and seeing the various compartments is invaluable to helping make your decision. Also, finding a pack that fits you well is important too. Most outdoor stores have weighted bags they can put in the pack so you can get a sense of what it will feel like with 15lbs in it, otherwise, feel free to ask at a department store if you can put some heavier things in the bag to get a sense of it’s fit.

Some Brands I Love: It seems like just about every company out there has some sort of backpack to choose from. So getting your hands on a few and messing around with them is the best way to sort it out. But if you want to know about which brands I trust, they are: The North Face, Patagonia, Thule, Osprey, Gregory, and Deuter are great places to start, but there are many more options that may be just as great.

My Gear:

Rather than doing a full packing list, because that changes from trip to trip, I will go over some principals and staples in my packing routine.

Wool Works:

First up is wool. All wool everything. Well, maybe not everything, but as much as possible. I’m not talking about your dad’s bulky rag wool sweater that makes him look 10lbs heavier, I’m talking about merino wool. I pack wool socks, t-shirts, a beanie, and underwear always.

Why wool? Simply put, merino wool is comfortable, anti-microbial (read: doesn’t get too stinky with repeated use between washes), and you can get pieces of clothes that are highly packable. A little really goes a long way with merino wool, regardless of whether you are going to a cold or a hot place since wool is a phenomenal body temperature regulator. Traveling often puts you in confined spaces with strangers and sometimes makes the opportunity to wash your clothes a luxury. So having clothing that won’t start stinking after a day of use is something you’ll be glad for and your fellow human beings will appreciate it too.

Beware of the ratio of wool to other fabrics in the product, however. Clothing that will be touching areas of your body that don’t typically get smelly should have at least 40% merino in their blend. If it will be touching an area of your body that is can get pretty smelly, then try to get as close to 100% merino as possible. If you are traveling to a warmer climate, then blends are going to be more comfortable and should still buy you an extra few days before the laundry will need to be done. I know merino isn’t cheap, but even just two merino shirts, and two to three pairs each of merino underwear and socks should be enough for about a week, or to get you from wash to wash.

Some Brands I Love: Smartwool, Darn Tough, and Woolrich. Most other prominent brands like The North Face, Patagonia, Kuhl, or Fjallraven offer fantastic options for wool items as well, so shop around.

**Shoes For Some Occasions:**

Aside from backpacks, shoes are by far the most important piece of gear you’ll need for your trip. I take two pairs of shoes with me usually; a pair of boots and a pair of comfortable shoes. For my boots, I own a few pairs: Salomon Quest 4D, Salomon X Ultra, and Adidas Terrex Swift R2. These are all waterproof boots/hiking shoes that come in different levels of bulkiness and offer varying degrees of ankle support, so I choose the right one for the destination. If I’m going to the Caribbean and plan to spend most of my time walking around towns and sitting on the beach, I’ll bring the Adidas or just a pair of sneakers since they are compact, but can stand up to spontaneous off-road adventures too. If I’m going to day hike around in Scotland, I’ll bring my Salomon X Ultra’s; a mid-height boot that offers reasonable ankle support, but is still pretty flexible. For trekking in the Caucasus or Patagonia, I’ll bring my Quest 4D’s; they offer a lot of ankle support and if I’m going to be on my feet all day, then my clumsy ankles will want the support.

For my other shoes, I’ll bring a pair of OluKai sneakers or slip-ons. They’re stylish enough to wear out to a good dinner, comfortable enough for an unexpected walk around town, and minimal enough that you can drive a standard/manual much more comfortably than in a stiff boot, but still have a sturdy sole for added comfort.

Some Brands I Love: Shoes are shoes and fit is the #1 thing here. What works for me won’t necessarily work for you. However, I suggest staying away from outlet style stores or Walmart-type stores for your shoes if you can. They won’t last as long as a great pair of shoes will and the blister factor can be all too real. I suggest going to a proper shoe store, get fitted correctly, and try on a dozen pairs of shoes. Get the pair that fits best and spend the extra cash! Your entire body will thank you later.

I typically wear my boots on the plane and pack my smaller, more flexible shoes to maximize the available space in my backpack. Which leads me to my next point…

Carry on Your Carry-On:

If you’re going somewhere cold and plan to bring a bulky, puffy jacket, wear it to the airport! It’ll double as a handy pillow or blanket on your flight. It also free’s up space in your pack for additional things! Other jackets like a raincoat or windbreaker can get attached to the outside of your pack without the flight crew making you check it. Wear or carry as much extra as you reasonably can. Don’t wear your entire wardrobe on the flight, but wearing a bulky jacket over your sweater, or yoga pants under your hiking pants can save valuable space even if it isn’t the most comfortable.

Folding Clothes Efficiently:

Folding your clothes efficiently is something we may not think about, but it’s vitally important. When I was in the military, space was always at a premium and we learned special methods to fold clothes while saving space.

Check out this video for a quick demonstration:

Personal Items:

Lastly, don’t overstuff your bag. Especially if you are also bringing a personal item both ways. You’ll want space for any goodies you pick up on your trip and will need some room in your bag available for them. If you bring a purse, messenger bag, or camera bag for your personal item, then try to fit a couple of extra things into that. But if you’re just sticking with your backpack, stuff it up! You can load a large plastic bag with trinkets and duty-free stuff on the way home and should not run into baggage restrictions.

When I actually get to the airport, my bag is nearly busting at the seams with stuff, but I always come in under the allowed weight and have never been forced to check my bag because of the way I packed it.

I hope you all have found these tips to be helpful and can use them when it’s safe to get back out into the world!

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