My guide to packing for a long trip away from home.
A family member: “So, are you ready for your trip? All packed??”
Me, not having packed a single thing: “of course!”
I’ve always found that when it comes to travel, I love the journey and the adventure, but HATE packing. It brings on anxiety that’s hard to get rid of. A combination of my nerves to travel, fear of leaving home and my worries about forgetting something important make it impossible for me to get started. You would think for someone who absolutely loves to travel, this wouldn’t be the case. But, by taking a mindful approach, I’m slowly getting better. I like to follow the tips below which help me take the process one step at a time.
3 Steps to Packing:
- Mental prep. This might seem silly, but it can really help in the process of getting ready for a big trip. Before traveling long-term, I like to make sure I’m soaking up every moment at home, and doing everything I know I’ll miss. Planning for the trip ahead also helps, and makes me feel more confident and excited for it.
- To-do list. Create a list of what you plan on packing and errands you’ll need to run. Writing it down helps to organize, and makes sure you won’t miss out on anything important. Give yourself plenty of time to finish everything.
- Pack. Sometimes you just have to suck it up and do it. It can seem like a daunting task, but when you’re done it’ll take a weight off your shoulders. Plus, if you wait until last minute, you’re more likely to get stressed and forget something important. You don’t want to be halfway around the world just to realize you left your Kindle at home.
What to Pack:
Now that you’ve gotten to the packing stage, you’re probably wondering – how does one pack for a long-term trip? There are so many blog posts out there and everyone seems to have a different opinion. I’ll share my favorite gear out on the road – I’m not making any money off of these suggestions, just simply things I like using.
- Osprey Farpoint 40 Backpack – My Osprey has seen 16+ countries, and just as perfect for a long-term trips as as a long weekend away. It has a convenient outside pocket for small things you quickly need, along with internal pockets to help keep you organized. The straps are super comfortable, and the carry-on size makes it convenient for the cheap flights.
- Osprey Daylite Backpack – this is my combo camera, laptop, day-trip, carry-all bag. It’s great for when you don’t want to haul all of your clothes with you but need to take more than just your camera with you.
- Money belt – I know what you’re thinking – “money belts are lame, Gunnar” but when you find yourself needing to sleep on an overnight bus ride and you’re traveling alone, you’ll thank me. I hide it under my shorts so no one can see.
- Packing cubes – these are great to help keep organized and will help you when you have to pack up at 4AM in a dark hostel room.
- Travel lock – when you stay at a hostel, you’ll need one to lock up your things. You can also lock your zippers together if no lockers are available.
- Your favorite tech gear – everyone has their preferences for tech and what to bring, but I travel with a Sony Alpha a6000, HP Pavilion 360, Anker Portable Charger, my Kindle and Plantronics Bluetooth Headphones. Don’t forget a Power Adapter!
- As for clothes, I’ll leave that up to you. I highly suggest you take a look at a country’s weather during the season you go, and pack lightly. You can always find a local market to buy inexpensive clothes in.
I hope this list has helped you! Feel free to comment below any items you can’t travel without!
