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The Ultimate List of Travel Gear for Packing as Light as Possible (2020 Edition)

Our Travel Luggages

When traveling, minimalism has become our way of life. During our world trip, we chose to pack light, that is, to travel with cabin suitcases only. And for nothing in the world would we have done it differently because the benefits of traveling light far outweigh any drawbacks.

In fact, during our 15 months trip across 50 countries , the total weight of our equipment was 30 kg for our family of 4. And believe it or not, if we had settled for the bare essentials, we could have reduced it to 20 kg in 2 carry-on luggage.

For some, this form of travel may seem frightening. One only has to try it to adopt it. But to avoid being disappointed, it is best to be well prepared for it. To prevent your preparation from becoming a real headache and to help you take the plunge, I will share with you a list of items that I have carefully selected.

On the day of departure

On the day of departure

4 Reasons to Travel Light

First of all, here are 4 reasons to travel light:

1. Travelling with heavy luggage can cause fatigue . This is all the more true when a dense itinerary forces us to move often from one accommodation to another.

2. Suitcases can be quickly packed and unpacked. . Time spent traveling is precious. Optimizing it is the best way to make the most of it.

3. Minimalism helps reduce hassle . We don’t get emotionally attached to materials or appearances. Our only souvenirs are in our heads and in the pictures. When we possess fewer things, it becomes easier not to lose them.

4. Great savings can be made . Travelling solely with carry-on luggage reduces check-in fees and saves time at airports. It also prevents lost, delayed or broken luggage. In addition, one can afford to rent smaller cars with smaller trunks.

We rented a Fiat 500

The Fiat 500, a car with a small trunk

The only drawback to travelling light is having to do laundry once a week. However, all you need to do is to make arrangements to have access to a laundromat or a washing machine at your hotel or Airbnb. In most developing countries, 5-star laundry services are available and for a few dollars, you can have your laundry washed, dried, ironed and folded.

Selection Criteria For Our Travel Items

Each item that accompanies us has been meticulously selected according to 5 criteria: compactness, lightness, quality, robustness and price.

Since these items constitute our “home” during the trip, we might as well select them carefully. This list is the result of several months of investigation, review reading, comparison and shopping. I therefore put my seal of approval on these items according to the aforementioned criteria!

So without further ado, here’s the list!

N.B. : the links contain affiliate codes that allow us to earn a small revenue on each sale at no additional cost to you. Some links may redirect to non-existing products, depending on your location.

Our Selection of Light Travel Items

Away travel carry-on.

Away Travel is among suitcases what Tesla is among automobiles. With an integrated 10,000 mAh USB charging battery pack, a TSA-approved security lock and an enclosed laundry bag, the cabin suitcase has been designed and engineered for modern travelers. It is lightweight, sturdy, durable, has optimized compartments and dimensions at the limit of those allowed by most airlines. In short, everything in this suitcase is convenient.

We have two Away Travel carry-on suitcases.

Away Travel Carry On

Away Travel Carry On

Osprey Farpoint 40 and Fairview 40 backpacks

Osprey is THE reference for backpacks. Its reputation is well established. Their bags are designed to be comfortable, ergonomic, durable and have a LIFETIME guarantee! So if a zipper breaks or if a samurai accidentally rips open a bag with his sword, Osprey will repair or replace it free of charge.

So you can be confident that you won’t need to buy another bag for the rest of your life… or that of the company, depending which event comes first. But since they are in business since 40 years and no one has ever surpassed them, you can keep traveling with peace of mind.

We chose two 40-liter bags because they have the maximum dimensions to be considered as carry-on luggage by most airlines. The Osprey Farpoint is for men, and the Osprey Fairview for women.

When we returned from our trip around the world, our bags still looked brand new!

Osprey Farpoint 40

Osprey Farpoint 40

Osprey Ultralight Stuff Pack

Osprey again. Impossible to miss them, they are the best! The Osprey Ultralight Stuff Pack is perfect to escape on an excursion with your water and food after dropping off your suitcases at the hotel. It can also be used as a laundry bag. It is easily tucked into a small bag the size of a child’s fist, which is handy when space in the suitcase is limited. In addition, it only weighs a few grams.

And remember, the Osprey warranty is valid for the rest of your life! We’ve worn out both of our day-packs during our world tour. We made use of the Osprey Warranty when we returned and received two new day-packs!

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Osprey Ultralight Stuff Pack

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Osprey Ultralight Stuff Pack 2

Gonex Packing Cubes

Once again, “the reference” for packing cubes. You’re going to tell me I’m just repeating myself. Then I’ll stop saying it and you’ll just have to keep it in mind for the rest of the post. The Gonex packing cubes are convenient for organizing our belongings within the compartments of our suitcases. Simple isn’t it?

We even bought compression storage cubes to save even more space. But because our items are so compact, our bags never overflow and we don’t need to compress them. [columns size=”1/2″ last=”false”]

Gonex Packing Cubes Compressible

Compression Gonex Packing Cubes

Gonex Packing Cubes Medium

Gonex Packing Cubes Medium

Icebreaker Apparel

I will not make an inventory of the clothes that accompany us on our trip. Known that they have been meticulously picked according to the same criteria as our other travel items, in addition to durability and comfort. Nevertheless, I do recommend one brand of outdoor clothing for serious travelers that I rank above all others.

Do you know the brand Icebreaker ? This New Zealander clothing brand manufactures merino wool garments. The result is simple: the clothes are insulating when it’s cold, they breathe when it’s hot, they don’t keep body odors. Moreover, they are antibacterial, they dry quickly, they are ultra-light, and they are so comfortable!

The-Icebreaker-Family

La Icebreaker family

These clothes have allowed us to do less laundry. Like in Iceland when I wore the same Icebreaker t-shirt for 9 consecutive days (and nights) without ever having to wash it. Even during hot weather, I wear them 3 or 4 days in a row before washing them because they don’t smell at all! And since they are washed less, we don’t pack as much clothing, so we can travel even lighter!

The disadvantage of these clothes, as you may have guessed, is their price. But their quality is well worth the cost!

Tesalate Beach Towel

No more thick and bulky towels. Say hello to the Tesalate microfiber beach towel . It is light, compact, durable, ultra-absorbent and dries very quickly. Sand does not stick to it and it is very handy since it can also be used as a beach, picnic or yoga mat. Tesalate is an Australian company that produces towels designed for travelers. They are available in several sizes with designs as beautiful as one another.

tesalate-bohemian-beach-towel

The Tesalate beach towel

Dell XPS 15 Notebook

The Dell XPS 15 is a laptop for those with a need for performance! Some would be satisfied with the 13-inch version. I personally like the comfort of the 15-inch. But since the edge of the screen is almost non-existent, it is the size of a regular 14-inch laptop. In addition to being ultra-thin, my XPS 15 is equipped with an i7 processor, 32 GB of RAM, a 1 TB SSD disk and a 4K touchscreen. Processing my photos with Lightroom has become quite a breeze!

Dell Xps 15

Dell XPS 15

Seagate Backup Plus Slim 2TB External Hard Drive

There is no external hard disk drive thinner than the Seagate Backup Plus Slim besides SSD disks. It’s perfect for photo backup!

Seagate Backup Plus Slim 2tb

Seagate Backup Plus Slim 2 TB

Fujifilm X100F

Join me and hundreds of thousands of Fuji aficionados: sell your Nikon and Canon right away and choose Fuji! This is the 4th generation of the X100 camera line. The Fujifilm X100F is a mirrorless technology masterpiece, one without which you might not enjoy following us on our travels quite as much. After my wife and children, it is my favorite travel companion. I never get tired of taking pictures. Besides, it’s beautiful!

In my opinion, this is the best compact camera in terms of quality, price and versatility. It takes extraordinary pictures and has unparalleled color rendering that only Fuji can achieve. Its 35mm equivalent fixed lens can somewhat limit the shooting possibilities. With the Fujinon WCL lens which brings it to 28mm, it becomes more versatile in almost all conditions.

Its successor the Fujifilm X100V (5th generation) was released in 2020. If having a fixed lens is an issue for you, I would recommend the Fujifilm X-Pro2 which is the equivalent of the Fuji X100F but allows interchangeable lens. Its successor the Fujifilm X-Pro3 , more recent, is the Fuji X100V equivalent.

Fujifilm X100F

GoPro 7 Black

Everybody know the GoPro . I wouldn’t immerse my Fuji in the water, but I would definitely use the GoPro in the water!

Gopro 7 Black

Gopro 7 Black

Zippod 45 Tripod

Few tripods take up little space. The Zippod 45 is so compact and light that it should be a piece of equipment for any traveling photographer who wants to save space in his suitcase. It is not very sturdy in the middle of a hurricane, but it gets the job done.

Zippod 45 Tripod

The Pedco UltraPod

The Pedco UltraPod is a very versatile small tripod. It folds up tiny and it can be attached to a pole.

Pedco Ultrapod

Pedco Ultrapod

Manfrotto Camera Case

I love the Manfrotto brand because the company not only produces good tripods, but also high quality camera bags.

Manfrotto Amica 10

Manfrotto Amica 10

iPad mini 4

During our world trip, each of our boys had an iPad mini for school. Android doesn’t offer the same variety of educational applications as iOS, so we had fallen back on these tablets. We had scanned the class workbooks into PDF documents so that the kids could do their exercises on their iPad.

iPad Mini 4

iPad Mini 4

Asus ZenFone Max Pro 128GB

Under the criteria “long battery life in case I venture into an area without electricity” and “entry-level so as not to be sad if I get it stolen”, I present to you my phone, the Asus ZenFone Max Pro 128GB . You can’t imagine my relief to be able to live without having to charge my phone every day.

Asus ZenFone Max Pro

Asus ZenFone Max Pro

Deercon Rechargeable Cordless Hair Clipper

Deercon provides a compact electric hair clipper that trims well and runs on rechargeable battery power. And with 3 heads to trim each month, the clipper has quickly paid for itself.

Deercon Cordless Hair Clippers

Deercon Cordless Hair Clippers

USB Rechargeable LED Headlamp

For the times when we had to wander at night in the middle of the Jordanian desert or the Malaysian jungle, this USB rechargeable headlamp has proven to be very useful to us. This is the winner of the “just in case” category.

Led Headlamp

LED Headlamp

Steripen Pure+ Water Purifier

Better safe than sorry, as they say. The Steripen Pure+ can irradiate all microbes and viruses in the water before you drink it and it can be recharged via USB. The lamp can purify 15,000 L of water. That shouldn’t stop you from bringing Imodium tablets!

Steripen Pure+

Steripen Pure+

The Universal 4-Port USB Power Adapter

With all of our devices that we have to charge via USB, the purchase of this travel adapter makes perfect sense.

Universal Adapter with Usb plugs

Universal Adapter with USB plugs

The Ultra-fast USB Car Charger

Here is a USB Car Charger with 2 Qualcomm 3.0 sockets to quickly charge our electronic devices in the car. You’re welcome.

Quick Charge 3 0 Car Charger

Quick Charge 3.0 Car Charger

Car Phone Holder

A small magnetic phone holder that holds my phone attached to a metal plate, so I can use my GPS when I drive. Check!

Magnetic Phone Holder

Magnetic Phone Holder

Travel Locks

You never know what can happen on a trip. These travel locks are symbolically useful in deterring household staff with bad intentions.

Travel Locks

Neck Stash for Passport

You are never safe from an unfortunate situation, but you must know how to minimize the risks. As you can see in the photo, this security pouch can hold 4 passports, credit cards, 500 Euro bills, and even Apple headphones!

Rfid Blocking Neck Stash for Passport

Rfid Blocking Neck Stash for Passport

Silicone Bottles

100 mL being the largest format allowed in aircraft cabins for liquids, these refillable silicone bottles are convenient to keep our shampoo and sunscreen in.

Refillable Silicone Bottles

Refillable Silicone Bottles

Blizetec Pocket Blanket

To sit on the ground, on the lawn or on the beach without getting dirty, or to cover our belongings in the car away from prying eyes, the Blizetec blanket is always with us.

Blizetec Blanket

Blizetec Blanket

The Electronic Luggage Scale

Small and lightweight, this electronic luggage scale will ensure that we balance the loads of our bags before arriving at the airport. This is an indispensable item especially in Asia and Oceania, where low-cost airlines limit the weight of cabin luggage to 7 kg.

Digital Luggage Scale

Digital Luggage Scale

The Non-essentials

In addition, here is a list of objects that we brought with us at the beginning of our trip, but that we left behind along the way.

The Precision Stylus

In the absence of paper and pencils, the children are entitled to a precision stylus that emulate writing on their iPad.

Stylus for iPad

Stylus for iPad

The Boogie Board

The Boogie Board is ultra light and saves us from travelling with paper. Super handy for writing and drawing, then erasing at the touch of a button. Kids love it!

Boogie Board

Boogie Board

Hootoo TripMate Titan Travel Router

Here is another extraordinarily practical thing. Le Hootoo TripMate Titan is a travel router and WiFi signal replicator. When you arrive at the hotel, all you have to do is connect this device to the WiFi, and it transmits the signal through its own network, on which all your devices (computer, phone and tablets) are already configured. This way, there is no need to configure the WiFi on each device every time you move from one hotel to another. Another interesting feature of this device is that it is energy autonomous because it has its own battery. Therefore, it allows you to take advantage of the WiFi at the outdoor swimming pool while working. And finally, with a capacity of 10,400 mAh, its battery can be used to recharge electronic devices via USB, just like a charging battery pack.

Hootoo Wireless Travel Router

Hootoo Wireless Travel Router

MPOWERD Luci Inflatable Solar Light

The MPOWERD Luci is an inflatable light that can be charged with sunlight. It charges in 7 hours in the sun and can provide 12 hours of light. Perfect for playing cards with the family in the RV!

MPOWERD Inflatable Solar Light

MPOWERD Inflatable Solar Light

Glacial Stream Personal Water Filter Straw

The Glacial Stream Water Filter Straw allows the water to be cleaned in order to remove its contaminants. It is less effective than a Steripen in removing viruses, but no less convenient.

Personal Water Filter Straw

Personal Water Filter Straw

The Cooling Towel

The Tough Outfitters cooling towel is great! Soak in water, wring out, place around the neck to cool down for several hours during a heat wave.

Tought Outfitter Cooling Towel

Tough Outfitters Cooling Towel

Mifold Booster Seat

If you cannot travel with car seats and you don’t want to rent one every time you rent a car, the mifold booster seat save a small fortune while ensuring the safety of our children. In addition, they comply with safety standards both in Europe and America.

Mifold Booster Seat

The Power Inverter

For camper road-trip enthusiasts, the power inverter is a must! No need to hunt for a Starbucks in order to recharge your computer anymore! This little device will do it for you! Simply connect it to the 12V power supply of your vehicle to obtain a 110V AC output.

Power-Inverter

Power Inverter

Keep reading our great travel stories by browsing through  all our destinations !

Browse through  15,000 of our  most beautiful travel photos  sorted by destination and download them  for free !

I would also like to take this opportunity to share with you  the summary of our exceptional world tour as a family !

To learn some techniques to improve your travel planning skills, have a look at our our travel tips :

  • How to book flights at the lowest price ?
  • How to enjoy free hotels nights with credit cards ?  (for Canadians)
  • How to make the most of your travel points?  (for Canadians)
  • Which credit card to carry when traveling ?  (for Canadians)
  • How to travel with carry-ons only ? Our lightweight travel gear list
  • How to build an itinerary for a world tour ?
  • How to estimate a budget for a trip around the world ?
  • How to enhance your photos with Lightroom?
  • How to start a travel blog ?

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101 Tips For Packing Light

To help you learn how to pack light I’ve complied a list of 101 methods you can use to reduce the weight of your luggage and the amount of stuff you bring on your next trip.

By using these packing light tips to design a packing list you’ll be able to ditch that checked baggage, save money by avoiding excess baggage fees, and travel with just a small carry-on bag.

Whether you want to learn how to pack light for a week, 2 weeks, a month long trip, or for perpetual travel these hacks will teach you to travel lightly.

  • Research your destination . I mean really research! I like to get on google Streetview and have a look around. Knowing exactly where you can get hold of everything will put your mind at rest and keep stuff out your bag. Check out what the locals wear. Make sure you anticipate the weather and pack accordingly.
  • For most people overpacking clothes is the main problem. So  rediscover hand washing . Washing machines are not the only way to wash clothes. Go try it now in your bathroom sink, it’s not so hard. Washing your clothes while traveling sucks. But it sucks way less than carrying a huge heavy bag.
  • And if you clean clothes while traveling  you won’t have a huge pile of laundry when you return.
  • Bring your own  travel laundry line .
  • Bring a  universal sink plug .
  • You can even wash clothes in shampoo  to save packing detergent.
  • Speaking of shampoo… when packing  pay close attention to any liquids . Most liquid items that you pack are available in lighter dry versions. Replace shower gel with a bar of soap. You are literally packing water weight. Shampoo, Insect Repellant, Toothpaste, detergent, sunscreen, and cosmetics all have light-weight solid versions.
  • Go digital  wherever possible. If “there’s an app for that” then don’t pack it. Not packing books, cameras, maps etc if your phone can do it will save so much space.
  • Do pack your smartphone . But keep it in your pocket to keep the weight out of your bag.
  • Go where or when the sun is shining.  You’ll need fewer clothes if it’s warm and dry.  Winter wear is generally heavier.
  • Pack Layers  – Don’t take that heavy jacket, a sweater plus super light windbreaker gives you more options.
  • Choose quick-drying, odor-resistant fabrics.  They need washed less frequently and if you do wash them they dry fast. Merino wool is my favorite for shirts. You can wear the same merino shirt multiple times without washing. If you insist of washing after every wear synthetic fabrics dry the fastest. Linen is also a great choice of fabric for travel clothing.
  • Pack versatile  neutral colors  and styles for your outfits. Packing light actually begins long before your trip. Building a travel capsule wardrobe begins with choosing the right styles and fabrics long before you think about packing your bag.
  • If you don’t like neutral colors  choose 1 single bold color  like red to form the basis for your entire wardrobe.
  • Wear your heavy, bulky items on the plane.  This will leave extra space in your bag.
  • A marked item is a waste of space. So  pack clothes turned inside out  to avoid getting visible marks and stains.
  • Jeans are heavy.  A single pair of jeans can weigh almost 1 lb. So take only 1 pair or even better choose lighter pants.
  • Pack shoes sparingly.  1 stylish pair of boots and 1 pair of sandals can cover most footwear occasions. Hiking boots are for hiking vacations only and should be worn on the plane.
  • Toiletries — Don’t pack any. Buy them at your destination or use those tiny travel bottles if you must. Your liquids allowance is a maximum not a target. Solid toiletries are more weight efficient that liquid toiletries.
  • Pick the right luggage.  This is one of the most important packing tips. Choose a smaller, lighter carry-on size bag that sets your limits. Then compress and compromise like a manic to make things fit inside. A rolling suitcase can weight over 10 lbs before you even pack anything in it!
  • Choose a smaller bag  made from lightweight materials. Leather might be durable but it’s heavy. Ballistic nylon is extremely strong and light.
  • Excessive compartments, gadgets and padding sells bags but it makes bags heavier too.  Keep it simple.
  • If you can,  lose the luggage wheels and hard-shell case . They add weight and with these tips, your bag will be light enough to carry. A 30 – 40 liter  carry-on sized backpack is the sweet spot for hand luggage .
  • Don’t take your laptop . This is a game changer. You can do a lot of things on a smartphone or a tablet these days.
  • Check out Sentio Desktop for  an app that turns your android phone or tablet into a desktop experience . Pack a travel bluetooth keyboard and mouse if you must.
  • Audio Books offer the best entertainment per gram or gigabyte. I know you like to watch a movie on the plane but the book is always better than the film right? And these days with big name actors narrating often  the audio book is often better than the book.
  • Get a porter, your husband or  your kids to carry your things for you.
  • Plan in advance! Or even better actually  trial pack the main bag . If you pack at the last minute you’ll overpack. Do some test packing in advance.
  • Go for a  trial walk locally  with your luggage. Better to learn the error of your ways while you are still at home so you can make corrections. Remember to test carrying your bag upstairs and running for a bus!
  • Take only what you know you need.  No “what ifs” .
  • Beware the packing system.  Adding compression packing cubes, compression bags, compression sacks, toiletry bags, and other organizers. While they may help organize and save space they don’t make your bag weigh less!  You can do a lot of organization and compression with rubber bands and polythene food bags.
  • Rolling clothes  allows you to take a smaller lighter pack.
  • Use  the space inside shoes , bras etc. Keep your bag size and weight down.
  • Leggings  are lightweight and versatile.
  • Raincoat plus sweater plus hat plus gloves beats a heavy jacket. 10% of your body heat is lost through your head.  Pack a woolly hat  if you’re going to cooler climates.
  • Sleep naked  and leave the pajamas behind.
  • Take cheaper lightweight accessories  and jewelry or none at all. You can leave behind fears of losing your most precious gold and diamonds too!
  • Leave behind cash  and take a prepaid travel money card. TD Bank doesn’t charge you for worldwide ATM fees and offers a great exchange rate if you keep a balance of $2500. Also, a Schwab Bank High Yield Investor Checking Account automatically reimburses you for ATM fees worldwide. You don’t need to carry cash.
  • You don’t need to print out everything.  Most airlines will let you board using a barcode on your phone. Your hotel has a record of your reservation. You don’t need to bring a filing cabinet. Just take photos of any important documents.
  • There will be snacks available at the airport and on the plane.  You don’t need to pack snacks  unless you have some special dietary need. Save those calories for a nice meal at your destination.
  • Never pack a towel.   Sorry Douglas Adams . Hotels provide them and besides, you will dry naturally even without one. A beach towel might be appropriate for a beach vacation but they are usually very cheap to buy on location.
  • Pack only things that make you happy . You like to wear your favorite clothes again and again right?
  • Ladies…  Lace boxers  are sexy, lightweight and easy to wash in the hotel room sink.
  • Mail your dirty laundry home.  Mail cheaper clothes you could afford to lose forward to your hotel before you arrive.
  • Take those  old holy socks  on a final journey. Throw them in the trash once worn.
  • Hide your house keys  under a rock or leave them with a friend or neighbor. You don’t need to take your house keys around the world with you.
  • Avoid over-sized headphones and opt for  earbuds .
  • If you do take a laptop replace the charger with a small lightweight  dart laptop charger.
  • Buy shorter versions of any cables  you take with you to reduce weight.
  • Get your eyesight corrected with  laser eye surgery . You won’t need to carry your glasses or contact lenses with you anymore. (NOTE: Packing light is a dumb reason to get laser eye surgery)
  • A diva cup . As I guy I can’t really comment on this but just throwing it out there.
  • Wear thin,  short ankle socks  rather than full length. Or better still  no socks.
  • Thongs  are lighter than knickers.
  • Heck… why not  go commando !
  • If you are an American remember you have the right to bare arms. Short sleeves rather than long. Vests rather than t-shirts.  Who needs sleeves anyway  )
  • Crop tops .
  • Invent your own uniform . Steve Jobs famously wore a black turtleneck, blue jeans and New Balance sneakers every day. Mark Zuckerberg wears jeans and a grey t-shirt to work every day. These guys didn’t waste time deciding what clothes to wear and I’m sure they could pack light if they needed to! What do you look best in? Why not wear that every day?
  • Always remember…  the most attractive thing you can wear is a smile.
  • If you can reduce your luggage down to a small backpack  you won’t need to take a day bag . Just leave the heavy things at the hotel and use the said small backpack as the day bag.
  • If you do pack a day bag  make sure it’s a tiny lightweight one .
  • Share things  with your travel partner. Would 1 phone charger suffice?
  • Visualize your over-packing pain . You are dragging your heavy checked bags up those stairs. You are lifting that bulky carry-on suitcase into the overhead compartment try to find a space to squeeze it in.
  • A smaller lighter travel backpack  fits under the seat in the plane . Hurrah! No more fighting for space in the overhead bin.
  • Remember….  lost luggage IS A THING . Get your weight down to carry on only and never lose a bag.
  • Let experience be your priority . For this pack your eyes, ears, nose and taste buds. Let the sun beat down on your skin, let your feet feel the earth on which you walk. Let the rain wash away your troubles and let the wind blow through your hair. Amen.
  • If you don’t know people where you are going. It won’t matter if you  wear the same clothes 2 days in a row .
  • Use a  manual toothbrush  rather than electric.
  • Don’t like doing hand laundry in the hotel sink? Ditch the hotel and  stay in an airbnb  that has a washing machine.
  • Or book a hotel that is  near to a launderette.
  • Phone your hotel and ask what amenities they have available? Don’t pack anything you can  borrow at your destination.
  • Tiny perfume samples  are great for traveling. Get some before you go!
  • Not going somewhere with a sink?  Pack a scrubba wash bag .
  • Dry clothes quickly by laying  rolling them up in a towel then dancing on them . It really works!
  • Are you a travel jogger? Then  try “barefoot” minimalist running shoes . Fewer injuries and lighter to pack than sneakers.
  • Work out!  Make your bag SEEM lighter by getting bigger muscles!
  • Lose some weight  if you can do so healthily. A smaller body means smaller clothes and that means a smaller and lighter pack. It will help with those speedo vacation snaps too!
  • Don’t pack loads of travel security gadgets i.e. body wallets etc  The world is not as scary a place as you think . Pack your common sense instead.
  • Solid stick antiperspirant deodorant will  stop your clothes from becoming smelly.
  • Pay attention to the fees  you might pay for checking luggage. They will make you think twice about heavy checked luggage.
  • Large bags often mean taking a taxi. And taxi drivers the world over just love a tourist because they can take them the extra-long scenic route! With a small light bag,  you can just hop on public transport .
  • Multi-functionality is good . Items that have more than 1 use get you bonus packing points.
  • Empty your purse or wallet  of all the membership cards, receipts etc that you don’t need. Make sure you have a small wallet or purse. A money clip is a good idea.
  • Tear or photograph the interesting pages from your guidebook . Leave the book.
  • When you come home from a trip. Separate your things into two piles. All the stuff that you needed and  all the stuff that you didn’t. Take a photo , print it out and pin it to your suitcase to remind you next time.
  • Change the experience of your load by  distributing the weight . A backpack spreads the load across your back and hips. Take items from your pack and put them in your pockets.
  • Ask advice  from people familiar with your destination. Do you think I’ll need this?
  • Your ego and fear about what other people think about you weighs the most. It’s responsible for most of what you pack in your case. To really travel light…  don’t care so much what people think .
  • Do  pack your inner self-confidence . You don’t need “that thing” to make you feel good, look good or be special. You are special without it all and you’ll do just fine!
  • A  vaccination  weighs less than a hefty medical bill.
  • Remember, if you are carry-on only you won’t need to wait at the  baggage claim .
  • Listen to Rick Steves . “There are two types of people in the world. Those who pack light and those that wish they had.” Thanks Rick!
  • Use  lockers in train stations  to stash your luggage and collect later.
  • Travel often . Because the more you travel the more you will learn to jettison things you don’t use or need.
  • You can  use a sarong  as a towel and a blanket.
  • If you  grow a beard  and you won’t need to pack a razor.
  • Waxed legs  will stay smooth for 3 to 6 weeks. If your trip is shorter you won’t need a razor for your legs. Or just go natural.
  • Tie  helium balloons  to your backpack. But not too many or you will float away ????
  • Ask a impartial friend to pack for you  or hire a wardrobe consultant to help you pack. Yes that’s a real thing ))
  • Study the  packing lists  of light packers.
  • Ignore other people’s rules. It’s your bag put what you want in it!
  • And lastly the final tip…. and the only 1 that you really need.  Take less stuff with you!

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travel light gear

Light-Travel Packing List: 20 Essentials To Remember

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Here’s our packing list. We are light travelers, so we only bring our carry-on.

Table of Contents

Let’s start with the things we are most likely to forget.

  • Cash (local currency)
  • Power converters (remember to check the size of the wall sockets too!)
  • Small backpack for daily use
  • Playing cards
  • Painkillers
  • Music / Podcasts / Movies (on your smartphone / iPod)
  • Pen / Paper
  • A good book

If you remember these things you’ll be good to go, and you will have some entertainment (playing cards) and the opportunity to get a little privacy (headphones) and sleep (earplugs).

Travelling packing list

Clothes and toilet stuff – for men

  • Warm shirt (for chilly nights / cold airplanes
  • Shorts / Swim-wear
  • A nice shirt
  • Walking shoes
  • Deodorant / Perfume
  • (liquids and container for contact lenses)

Tips for super light traveling

Traveling with a minimum of items makes the whole experience more enjoyable.

We have never been heavy packers, I traveled in Mexico 12 years ago (for 7 weeks) with only one pair of pants, 2 T-shirts and a hoodie.

It is easier to get around, you don’t have to worry. Here is my best tips on how to travel light.

1) Bring a little bag of washing powder

It only takes a few minutes to hand-wash a little underwear and socks in a sink and this way you don’t have to bring to much. You only need a handful if you are going for a months time.

If you bring thin underwear and socks they will dry much quicker. In a warm country, you can normally hand them outside to dry during the night, unless the humidity is too high.

2) Bring some worn out clothes and underwear

It’s good to be able to lose some stuff during the trip. This way you can fit some souvenirs in your suitcase (carry-on) on the way home.

3) Get items designed for travel

E.g. the power adaptor, which will allow you to plugin to every power socket can be super chunky. Find a sleek design like this for instance:

travel light gear

Image credits: Wattoo.dk .

4) Choose microfiber towels

Towels of microfiber are excellent for traveling. They will fit in a pocket, and they are designed to absorb water really well despite their low weight and thin fabric.

5) One carry-on per person

Choosing to only bring the carry-on’s has a lot of benefits. It is cheaper because you only pay for the luggage you check in. It is better for the environment when the planes are lighter.

It makes travel time a lot more enjoyable when you don’t have to haul and drag all those pounds around through traffic, narrow streets and upstairs. You can move faster and even fit in a normal cab.

maria+travel

A big bonus: You minimize the time you spend choosing what to wear. When you only bring a few items, there is not a lot to choose from. You get out the door a lot faster, and after all, traveling is about touring and seeing places – not wasting time deciding what to wear.

Most people spend 80% of their time, wearing 20% of their clothes, so leave the 80% at home and you will be fine.

Here’s a video I did about how I pack my carry-on:

In 2007 we went to New York City for 3 weeks.

We went through Heathrow and British Airways lost our luggage in the transfer. We didn’t have any clothes, shoes etc. and we had to spend time shopping for essentials and calling the airline instead of focusing on seeing the city.

After 2 weeks the luggage arrived, with only one week left, and we didn’t really miss all that stuff! After that experience, we have only been traveling with carry-ons.

6) Wash on the destination

Here’s a good tip that will help you travel light. Bring a little laundry soap in a travel-size bottle. This way you can wash your clothes in the sink as you need to.

I typically don’t bring a lot of underwear and just wash every other night. Bring items that dry quickly.

7) What/how much clothes to bring

Here is a list of what I typically bring to a warm destination. Men can typically get away bringing even less.

  • 2 pairs of shoes: one for walking and a pair of sandals, that can be used both on the beach and be going into town at night.
  • 3 shirts: one tank top, one decorative for dinners and one long sleeve. Preferably one I can fit over the other two.
  • 1 pair of jeans. If I don’t bring jeans I bring a pair of tights or leggins and two dresses.
  • 1 skirt that goes with everything, and 1 or 2 dresses. If I bring two I will bring a thin and a thicker one(mostly if Im not sure about the weather)
  • 1 or 2 pairs of socks and underwear.

Always wear the heaviest items, like jeans, on the plane. They take up too much space and it helps to keep the weight of the carry-on down. And it’s nice if it gets chilly on the plane.

8) Travel Size liquids

Sometimes people use big shampoo bottles as a reason to check in a bag when they fly, they bring enough lotion to last a month.

In most supermarkets, you can buy small travel versions of shampoo and sun lotion. Bring a small sun lotion for the first day or two, so you don’t get burned, and then buy one in a supermarket.

small-bottles

Salespeople at home will try to convince you that the sun lotions you can buy in other countries have less SPF, because it’s not stored in direct sunlight. The SPF does go down when a bottle is kept in direct sunlight, but buy sun lotion in a supermarket, and you will be just fine.

We always buy everything small, because we travel a lot. So we don’t have to think about bottle sizes when packing, and the small perfume bottles are also super cute:)

9) Souvenirs with use-value

We like having memories of the places we visit. We don’t always buy something, but when we do we try to find something with high use-value.

You can make your kitchenware a collage of travel memories. Small bowls, spoons, a plate, a knife, maybe something for the bathroom, towels, clothes, shoes, jewelry and bags are great.

Make a wish list on your phone, with the things you want or need within the next year. Then you know what to look for when you travel.

I have had a leather jacket and a new purse on my list for a long time. I finally found a nice red leather purse in Berlin in December. Right now we are in Crete, Greece, and I just bought a nice short tight leather jacket last night for a fraction of the price I would have to pay at home! These are my souvenirs, and I am reminded of these great places when I use them.

Remember to check your “wishlist” before you buy something, so you don’t get too carried away.

leather-jacket

10) iPhone instead of the camera

The camera in my iPhone 4s is so good, that I don’t need my old digital camera anymore. If you are a photographer you might have a hard time with this, but if you just have a normal small digital camera anyway, my guess is you could do without – If you have a new smartphone.

Hope you find these tips helpful. Please let me know (comment) if you have more tips, that would be helpful to others:) I would love to hear your experiences on this.

Sources: Friluftsland.dk

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The Travel Hack

How to travel light: 12 travel hacks to travel light

By: Author Monica

Categories Packing Tips , Travel Tips

How to travel light: 12 travel hacks to travel light

I’m always harping on about how important it is to travel light. Travelling light gives you extra freedom and flexibility that you just don’t have with heavy luggage.

You can move quickly through airports and train stations and it’s so much easier to take public transport with a small bag. You’ll save money by not having to check your bags in on a plane and you can keep your luggage close when you’re on trains and buses.

You’re also less likely to lose things when you travel light because it’s easier to keep track of your belongings.

I’ve been thinking a lot about travelling light recently because I’ll soon be travelling with a baby and I’m pretty sure that travelling light + baby is pretty much impossible. I might not be able to pack light for the baby but I’ll definitely be able to pack light for me so the travelling light challenge is about to get extreme!

I could go on all day about the benefits of travelling light but I’ll leave it at that and start sharing my top tips for travelling light.

1. Use a small, lightweight case

The oldest trick in the book and possibly the simplest way to pack light – Use a small suitcase or backpack so you can’t possibly fit too much in it. Don’t be tempted to get a case that’s slightly too big because you will fill that space with unnecessary crap.

For more inspiration and proof of the benefits of travelling with a small bag, check out this post by Chris over at Backpacker Banter: My 25L Backpack Challenge . Yep, he travelled for 3 weeks around Thailand with nothing but a 25L backpack!

I like to travel with just hand luggage and recommend my range of luggage which is all available on Amazon. There’s the Travel Hack Cabin Case, the backpack and the tote.

It’s designed to be the perfect size for cabin baggage, meaning it’s as big as it possibly can be without being too big. It has separate compartments to keep everything organised and is an absolute dream to travel with. This is a great option is you plan to travel with cabin luggage only.

Below are a couple of great luggage options if you’re trying to travel light.

The Travel Hack Cabin Case

The Travel Hack Cabin Case is my all-time favourite for travelling light. The suitcase is perfect for a carry-on case for most airlines and weighs just 2.7kg but still has a massive 45 litre capacity. It also has handy pockets so you can access your belongings easily, whether you’re on the plane, going through security or at the airport.

Travel Hack Cabin Case 55x40x20 cm with Hand Bag Compartment

  • Generous main compartment with packing straps and a variety of zipped pockets for everything from toiletries to straighteners.
  • Top opening easy access storage for extra storage, a handbag or toiletries, featuring a fold down shelf so this space can also be utilised as main packing space. Rear padded compartment for a Macbook...
  • Stylish 600D PU outer shell with faux leather inserts and rose gold detailing.

Cabin Max Metz

The Cabin Max Metz backpack is within the dimensions for most airline carry-on luggage and weighs just 0.7kg!

If you’re looking for ultra light but spacious luggage then this is the one.

Cabin Max Metz 55x40x20cm Cabin Luggage Carry On Backpack Travel Cabin Bag 55 x 40 x 20 (Classic...

  • CARRY ON BAG 55x40x20 cm soft shell design to fit 94% of worldwide hand luggage gauges including: EasyJet and Ryanair, Eurowings, Vueling, Norwegian, Virgin, BA, Lufthansa, Jet2, Wizz Air, Iberia,...
  • MAXIMUM CAPACITY - Large 44-litre capacity cabin bag makes it possible to fly without checking in baggage to the hold. Lightweight yet durable cabin bag 55x40x20 0.7kg (1.5lbs).
  • CABIN BACKPACK - Featuring 3 main lockable zipped compartments, including document pocket, organisational accessories and tech pocket, including 2 zipped compartments. High strength durable,...

Tripp Ultra Light 4 wheel cabin case

If you’re looking for a lightweight suitcase then you can’t go wrong with the Tripp Ultra Light 4 wheel cabin case. It weighs 2.1kg, so you’re going to be left with 7.9kg for your belongings.

Tripp Ultra Lite Black Cabin Suitcase 55x35x20cm

  • 4 Wheel Carry On Suitcase
  • Colour: BLACK
  • 5 year guarantee

Antler Clifton Suitcase

The Antler Clifton Suitcases are great quality and so reliable. The cabin case is a little heavier at 3.5kg but if you’re looking for a really good quality case and you’re not as worried about weight then it’s a good option.

ANTLER - Cabin Suitcase - Clifton Luggage - Carry On Suitcase, Black - 20x40x55, Lightweight...

  • CLIFTON LUGGAGE: Our Clifton cabin suitcase is everything you could want from a lightweight suitcase. Designed to last with its polycarbonate material, this carry on suitcase is strong, eye catching,...
  • SIZE & MEASUREMENTS: Our carry on suitcase features flexible carry handles, 4 interior pockets, a zip closure & interior compartments. The cabin suitcase measures 20 x 40 x 55 (cm) with a packing...
  • DOUBLE ANTI-THEFT TSA LOCKS: The Clifton cabin suitcase has anti-theft technology with its double TSA-approved locks for added security that separately secures the front pocket & the case itself. This...

Cabin Max Lightweight Backpack Trolley

If you aren’t sure if you want a backpack or a trolley then check out the Cabin Max Lightweight Backpack Trolley. It weighs just 1.7kg and has a 44 litre capacity.

Cabin Max Flight Approved Lightweight Carry on Trolley Backpack Bag

  • HYBRID - Cabin Max Lyon trolley backpack is a convenient wheeled carry on suitcase that coverts into a backpack for any type of travel. Just unzip the back section which covers the wheels and backpack...
  • PACK TO THE MAX - Combines the maximum size allowed for hand luggage with an abundance of practical features
  • DESIGNED TO FIT - At a massive 44L with dimensions 55 x 40 x 20 cm including wheels it is still extremely lightweight at 1.7KG

2. Pack 2 pairs of shoes and no more

travel light gear

Shoes can often be the bulkiest items in our bags so never travel with more than 2 pairs. Wear your bulkiest pair on the plane and a pack a smaller pair in your case.

I’m currently love the On Cloudnova trainers for trips where I’ll be doing lots of walking.

The Veja trainers are nice if you want some comfy white trainers that are a bit more stylish.

A comfy pair of Dr Martens are great for winter trips.

And I like a pair of Birkenstocks for daily wear in warm destinations.

Read more: What shoes should I take travelling?

3. 1 pair of trousers/jeans

travel light gear

Jeans or trousers are another bulky item to travel with so never travel with more than one pair and you should always wear these on the plane.

I usually opt for whichever jeans are my current favourites. You can’t go wrong with a comfy pair of black skinny jeans. My favourites at the moment are the classic Levi’s 501’s . I have them in a few different colours but black is the best for travel because they’ll match everything and no one really notices them, so you can get away with wearing the same jeans for days (don’t judge).

4. Minimise toiletries

If you’re staying in a hotel you can guarantee you’ll be provided with shampoo and shower gel so leave these at home. This means that most guys can get away with nothing more than a travel sized deodorant and toothpaste.

Most ladies will find it a little more difficult because there are some toiletries you just can’t leave home without.

I have a whole post over here about travelling with hand luggage toiletries and some nifty little products to make it easier to travel light! These tiny refillable pots are genius to help travel light with things like makeup and lotions.

How to Travel with Hand Luggage Liquids (& fit all your toiletries in that tiny bag!)

#5. Take an iPad/tablet

Cut down on tickets, books, magazines, a laptop, games, notepads, music, maps and travel guides and simply pack a tablet. My hand luggage used to be chocker with all sorts of entertainment options but now I just have my iPad and it’s made travelling so much easier.

Consider taking a portable powerbank  if you’re planning on taking long journeys. I have one that isn’t much bigger than a lipstick but it will charge my iPad for about 5 hours. It’s a good backup for emergencies too – like if you’ve got your hotel confirmation email stored on your iPad and the battery has died!

Acer Iconia A1 Review | The Travel Hack

6. Pack simple clothes and lots of accessories

If you look at my Travel Style board on Pinterest you’ll see that I’m a bit obsessed with jeans and white t-shirts. It’s such a simple, easy style and so easy to pull off while you’re travelling. I’m really tempted to pack a bag full of white t-shirts next time I go away.

Team your jeans with sandals, white trainers, winter boots or heels. Then team your t-shirt with a blazer, a cardigan, a cosy jumper or a big scarf and you’ve got outfits for any situation without having to pack too much.

Outfits for winter travel

7. Pack ‘hard working’ clothing

No, you’re not sending your clothes to work, you’re looking out for clothes that have more than one use.

Think things like sarongs and scarves which can be used as towels, blankets and wraps.

You also can’t go wrong with black leggings. They’re easy to wash and dry and go with virtually everything.

It can be harder to pack light in colder climates. I love UNIQLO’s Ultra Light Down coats because they pack up into a tiny bag (similar to a cag in a bag) but they’re really, really warm!

Uniqlo ultra light down jacket

8. Use packing cubes

I LOVE packing cubes. Not only do they keep your bag organised but they help make the most of your space and stop you overpacking. I tend to travel with four packing cubes. One for tops, one for bottoms, one for underwear and one for evening clothes. Once each packing cube is full you can’t possibly squish anything else in so you’re forced into packing light whether you like it or not.

Read more: Are packing cubes worth it and do they really save space?

Are packing cubes worth it and do packing cubes really save space?

9. Wash your clothes while you’re away

No matter where in the world you’re travelling, it doesn’t need to be expensive to get your clothes washed.

Fancy hotels in certain cities will charge a fortune to wash your clothes so look out for laundrettes or, cheaper still, wash your clothes in your hotel bathroom. You can’t go wrong with the Dr Beckmman Travel Wash . It’s so cheap and amazingly effective!

I usually soak my clothes in the sink and rinse them out while I’m showering. Laundrettes and apartments with washing machines will become your best friend if you’re travelling for a few weeks or more.

If you’re travelling in a developing country it costs next to nothing to get your clothes washed but be aware that if you’re paying £0.50 for a load of washing, you don’t want to be giving them your expensive designer clothes.

Dr. Beckmann Travel Wash | Clean laundry ON THE GO | up to 20 washes | 100ml

  • Special concentrated washing gel
  • Formulated to use when you are travelling or away from home
  • Can be used in any type of water

10. Remember: you can buy everything out there!

No matter where you’re travelling, you’ll always be able to find the necessities. You might not find your favourite brand of shampoo but you will find something very similar.

If you’re going somewhere where you think you’ll need specialist equipment, wait until you get there to buy it. You’re not the first traveller to visit and you won’t be the last so you can guarantee you’ll find local shops selling everything you need.

When I travelled to Borneo I climbed Mount Kinabalu. I’d spent the past 18 months in Australia and didn’t have a single item of warm clothing or a decent pair of shoes. I was panicking but when I arrived to Kota Kinabalu I realised I wasn’t alone and the city was filled with hiking shops thanks to all the travellers who pass through and pick up the necessary hiking items.

11. Don’t use lots of small purses and pouches

(This doesn’t apply for packing cubes – I mean really small pouches for tiny things like jewellery or socks) The first time I went backpacking I was super organised and had a separate little pouch for everything. A pouch for medicine, one for toiletries, one for souvenirs. Yes, my bag was organised for about the first 5 days (out of about 450 days!) but I had lots of unused space in my bag. Socks and toiletries are the perfect items to squeeze in your bag and fill up the gaps. Lots of pouches lead to lots of gaps and lots of wasted space.

12. Use a bag or case that opens fully

I don’t recommend using a top-loading backpack. This means smaller items slip to the bottom and are forgotten. Use a bag that opens all the way and you have access to everything. You don’t need to be quite as organised and this reduces the needed for all those little purses and pouches.

Do you have any more travel hacks to help you pack light?

You can find even more packing tips over here.

travel light gear

Sunday 24th of March 2019

The last 2 hotels I stayed at offered at the most is the mini bar soaps. The first one gave the soap and had to buy travel sized shampoo, lotion, etc. I take bar soap and refill the empty bottles with everything else I neeed.

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Saturday 7th of July 2018

[…] Travel light – travelling light will help you save money as you will avoid baggage fees. It is also frustrating and impractical to […]

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Sunday 11th of February 2018

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The Best Gear for Travel

By Wirecutter Staff

Traveling well can be one of life’s great pleasures, whether you’re alone or with family and friends.

But what does it mean to travel well? We’d say that along with traveling safely (of course), traveling well involves avoiding hassle, carrying a single bag (if possible), and bringing only the necessities.

“Traveling well is a fine balance between finding inspiration in the unknown while being grounded in something,” said Wirecutter founder Brian Lam. “Sometimes that is a memory of home, a family, a significant other, friends, etc. Sometimes it’s just the familiar, reliable stuff in your bag.”

Over the past 10 years, we’ve spent hundreds of hours researching and testing dozens of products to find the most dependable items that will help you travel well. On top of that, we sought the advice and wisdom of Doug Dyment, author and creator of OneBag—a traveling businessman and public speaker, he has logged millions of miles over the past few decades—as well as travel-gear reviewer Eytan Levy, the Snarky Nomad.

And we relied heavily on the experiences of Wirecutter staff, an especially mobile group of individuals. Our staffers have worked remotely from every continent except Antarctica—the five most frequent flyers among us travel about half a million miles in any given (normal) year.

The research

Flying/riding, just in case, travel tips.

A person walking through an airport with the Travelpro Platinum Elite carry-on bag.

A well-packed bag is one that contains less than you think you need but everything you actually need. If possible, fitting everything into one carry-on and personal item will give you more freedom compared to checking a bag or two. You’ll be glad you did if (and when) things don’t go according to plan. While carry-on-only isn’t feasible (or advisable) for every trip—especially extended business trips or weddings where you need multiple outfits to maintain appearances—if in doubt, it’s better to cut.

Carry-on backpack (non-roller)

travel light gear

Cotopaxi Allpa 35L

A versatile small pack for a week or a weekend.

The Allpa’s clamshell design makes organizing your things simple. The strap design lets you easily wear this durable bag on your back or carry it in your hand while you’re on the move.

Buying Options

travel light gear

Peak Design Travel Backpack 45L

An easily customizable large bag for long trips and expensive gear.

This bag was built with photographers in mind, but most travelers will appreciate its easy accessibility and clever tuck-away straps, and the elegant way the bag expands and contracts depending on how much you’ve packed. The accessory cubes cost extra, though.

We spent six months testing 22 bags, and in the end we chose two as our top picks for travelers determined to never check luggage again: the Cotopaxi Allpa 35L (for most trips) and the larger Peak Design Travel Backpack 45L . Both bags are exemplary carry-on travel backpacks that are designed for comfort, durability, and organization.

A person standing outside in a light blue short sleeve shirt wears the Cotopaxi Allpa 35L backpack, in black with a gray llama-head logo and aqua accents.

The Cotopaxi Allpa 35L features an easy-to-pack clamshell design and highly adjustable straps that make it a great all-around bag for any traveler who’s dedicated to packing light, or for a smaller person who wants less to carry. Handles on all four sides of this bag make it easy to grab no matter where you’ve stowed it, and the Allpa’s straps are contoured to comfortably fit people who have large or small chests. It’s not a specifically gendered design, but our female tester noticed the improvement right away. (In August of 2024, Cotopaxi released a slightly redesigned version of the Allpa 35L; we’re comparing it to the previous version and will report back as soon as we’re able.)

The bag is protected by a full lifetime warranty and has the build quality to back that up. Its front panel is made of a waterproof, TPU-coated 1,000-denier polyester (a strong fabric covered in a flexible plastic coating), which means you can lay it on its back in a wet field or in gravel without worrying about moisture soaking through or jagged edges ripping the fabric. The rest of the paneling is made with 1,680-denier ballistic nylon, which feels similar to a strong canvas but with a more prominent weave. After four years of testing, this single backpack (plus a personal item to store under the seat) has replaced nearly every travel bag or piece of luggage that Kit Dillon, Wirecutter’s senior staff writer who covers luggage, uses.

One caveat: The Allpa has a minimal amount of administrative organization—places to keep pens and papers, spaces to hold tickets, and so forth—which is where the personal item comes in handy (see below).

A tester from behind, wearing the uniformly black, sporty Peak Design bag

The larger Peak Design Travel Backpack 45L is the Swiss Army knife of backpacks: adjustable, customizable, and (if you spring for the extra cubes and organizers) an almost perfect system for a photographer or gearhead on the move. Most bags’ expanding mechanisms aren’t worth the extra zipper they’re built on, and they look about as attractive as a boiled ham splitting out of its plastic packaging. Not so with the Peak Design: It looks just as good fully packed at 45 liters as it does compressed to a 30-liter daypack. You can access the bag through a back panel, which doubles as a computer and tablet pouch, as well as through a front one, if you unzip the pass-through divider. You can also get into the main compartment via two wing-like trapezoidal flaps that run along each side of the pack. In its natural shape, the Travel Backpack holds 35 liters, but an expansion zipper lets the bag swell to 45 liters.

If you want to use the bag as a daypack, you fold in the top corners and snap them down, reducing the bag’s volume to a slim 30 liters. It still feels larger than a normal daypack, but we think that’s a small compromise for the ability to use one backpack as both your travel bag and your daily explorer. The bag itself consists of 400D nylon and polyester fabrics—it feels tough, but not as tough as the Cotopaxi Allpa. As for flaws, it is expensive, especially if you commit to the entire system of packing cubes and camera cubes . The adjustable design and multiple zippers do add complexity, and complexity adds potential weaknesses, though Peak Design covers all of its bags with a lifetime warranty.

Finding the right bag is a personal choice, and no single bag will appeal to everyone. That’s why we have picks in our full review of carry-on travel bags that can double as traveling offices , and bags that are easy to carry while you’re walking long distances .

Carry-on bag (rolling)

travel light gear

Travelpro Platinum Elite 21″ Carry-On Spinner

Great features, great value.

This spinner carry-on offers the best balance of size, value, reliability, and durability, with high-end details. It’s backed by a lifetime warranty.

Since 2015, we’ve researched several dozen suitcases and gone hands-on with the 67 most promising candidates in a variety of tests—including having active flight attendants test bags for us in a fake plane fuselage in their training facility. We determined that for most people the  Travelpro Platinum Elite 21″ Expandable Spinner  offers the best balance of features, durability, and price for most flyers who log less than 25,000 miles annually.

A person sitting in an airport chair with our pick for best carry-on luggage in front of them.

It features smooth-rolling, user-replaceable wheels; solid and comfortable, telescoping handles; and a hard-wearing nylon exterior propped up by a solid internal chassis. The Elite only improves on past iterations in the Platinum line by reducing the size of the stowed handle (which used to jut out about an inch) and adding a second zippered, exterior pocket for easy access on the go and a USB pass-through extension that lets you insert your own battery pack for charging your phone. And at 7.8 pounds when empty, this carry-on bag is about half a pound lighter than its predecessor. Compared with other bags in this price range, you also get surprisingly high-end components and a warranty that covers anything, even airline damage, for the life of the bag (as long as you register the suitcase within 120 days of purchase, which is easy to do on any smartphone).

Upgrade pick

travel light gear

Briggs & Riley Baseline Essential 22″ Carry-On Expandable Spinner

For frequent flyers.

If you fly more than 25,000 miles a year, invest in a bag with unique features, superior details, and plenty of expandable room. This manufacturer guarantees your satisfaction.

If you fly more than 25,000 miles annually and you’re willing to invest in a higher-quality product, we recommend the Briggs & Riley Baseline Essential 22-Inch Carry-On Expandable Spinner. It can fit more clothing than any bag we tested, thanks to a cavernous interior and clever expansion and compression system that can adjust to variable levels beyond open and shut. Over a five-year period before the pandemic, Wirecutter’s founder, Brian Lam, put more than 150,000 miles on his. His only complaint was that longer pants will need an extra fold, or to be rolled. In taller bags, pants will only need to be folded over once.

Personal item (otherwise known as underseat luggage)

As the name suggests, “personal items” are very, well, personal, and no one bag will work for all travelers. Our favorites include the Waterfield Air Porter Carry-On Bag , which shines as a tech organizer that still has enough room to also hold a change of clothes. And it’s still good-looking enough to carry from the plane to the office without raising an eyebrow.

If the Air Porter is too businessy for your taste, you may like the Monos Metro Duffel , a luxuriant shoulder bag with detailed organization and add-ons made specifically for simplifying travel. Should you prefer to roll your personal item aboard the plane, we suggest the remarkably maneuverable Travelpro Crew VersaPack Carry-On Rolling Tote —it’s large enough to carry everything you need for an overnight trip, but it still falls within the average US airline underseat dimensions. See our full guide to underseat luggage for still more options.

Checked luggage

If you need to pack more stuff than a carry-on and a personal item can hold, our first piece of advice would be to reconsider whether you need that extra outfit “just in case.” But you’ll have times when you need to travel with several pairs of shoes, formalwear, a winter coat, special equipment (like diving or camping gear), or all of the above. In these cases, there’s no way to avoid checking a bag.

travel light gear

Osprey Farpoint 55 Men’s Travel Pack

The best travel backpack for those with taller torsos.

Comfortable, adjustable, and carry-on capable, the Farpoint has everything we needed for a week, or even months, of travel.

travel light gear

Osprey Fairview 55 Women’s Travel Pack

The best travel backpack for those with shorter torsos.

Comfortable, adjustable, and carry-on capable, the Fairview has everything we needed for a week, or even months, of travel.

If you’re going somewhere where you’ll need to walk a lot (particularly if there’s dirt or cobblestone roads), we recommend a travel backpack. We like the Farpoint 55 and the sized-for-smaller-torsos Fairview 55 because they’re comfortable and have plenty of room to store, and separate, our essentials. The front of the main pack unzips like a suitcase, so you can easily fit and access a week’s worth of clothes and toiletries. The daypack, which attaches to the front of the larger pack, has room for camera gear, daily essentials, and a small laptop (via a built-in sleeve). It’s also easy to stow. The main pack’s straps can tuck behind a zippered flap, so they won’t catch on anything if you check your luggage.

These bags are made of a heavy-duty recycled polyester that stands up even to long trips–one of our testers has traveled with a Farpoint 55 for years, across dozens of countries for months at a time, without damaging it. If something does happen, though, Osprey has a lifetime warranty.

travel light gear

Travelpro Platinum Elite 25″ Expandable Spinner

The best checked bag for most travelers.

The bag provides a luxury feel at a reasonable price, with a capacity, warranty, and reliability that should suit most travelers. The 25-inch model should offer plenty of room for most people without going over airline weight limits.

If you don’t plan on walking around while carrying all your stuff, the  25-inch Travelpro Platinum Elite Expandable Spinner Suiter is our favorite piece of checked luggage for all of the same reasons we loved the carry-on size: It has excellent organizational features, it’s especially durable, and it has a better warranty than anything in its price range.

Luggage tags

The Ovener Silicone Luggage Tag, our pick for the best luggage tag, shown on a wooden background

Ovener Silicone Luggage Tag

Strong and easy to see.

Rugged silicone and a metal cable mean this tag (which comes two to a pack) may well outlive your luggage. The brightly colored case displays its owner’s name but keeps other personal information out of sight.

A good luggage tag should be durable, simple to use, and discreet. Ultimately, a tag should allow someone to get your luggage back to you quickly and easily, and it should withstand the wear and tear of being thrown onto conveyor belts time and again. After researching the top-rated and best-selling models, reading existing luggage-tag reviews, and comparing fourteen tags , we recommend the Ovener Silicone Luggage Tag for most travelers because it’s the only one we’d trust to survive being smashed by other bags, jammed into walls, and generally abused by baggage handlers. It’s the most durable tag we tested, and it comes in a wide selection of colors to help any bag stand out from the rest.

The Ovener tag’s silicone body seems nearly indestructible and is available in a rotating selection of colors (you get two tags per pack). Whereas other tags also feature metal cables, this tag has a metal grommet to keep the cable from eventually wearing through the silicone case.

Should you lose your bag, the Ovener makes it easy for a Good Samaritan to find your contact information. To fully access the info card, you have to unscrew and remove the metal strap; this lets the card slide out of the case. Most luggage tags we tested secure their info card in this way. It isn’t a difficult or time-consuming process, but it is an extra step compared with using a tag that displays all of your information openly. Still, for anyone who wants to keep their contact information out of view, the extra step is worth it.

Another approach to increasing privacy is to hide information in a QR code, as the Dynotag Smart Deluxe Steel Luggage Tag  does, or to provide a user ID number, as the Okoban UID Luggage Tags do. But these seem like overly complex solutions to a problem that doesn’t really exist.

Compression sacks

Originally designed for reducing the bulk of lofty sleeping bags, compression sacks are stuff sacks modified with additional nylon end caps that can be pulled together by strings or straps to remove air and create a smaller, denser package that’s easier to pack. Most travelers use compression sacks to condense socks, underwear, and other stuff you don’t mind getting wrinkled into a package with half as much overall volume. For example, an 8- to 12-liter sack can compress a fleece jacket and a long-weekend’s worth of socks and underwear into something that fits in one hand. They also make a decent pillow in a pinch.

travel light gear

Osprey StraightJacket (8L)

Easier access, less compression.

It has a full-length zipper on its side that allows access to the bag’s entire contents. However, it doesn’t compress as tightly as traditional designs.

Most compression sacks require you to empty out the stuff at the top to get to the stuff below it, but the side-zipper design on the Osprey StraightJacket allows access to the entire contents of the bag at once. The compression straps attach sideways, and are less likely to get tangled and twisted like on most compression sacks with lengthwise straps. It can also sit up on its own, and the handle design lets you break it out as a last minute carry-on to avoid an overweight-baggage fee. However, it doesn’t compress down as compactly as the traditional designs we tested so it’s not the best option if compression is your top priority.

GobiGear’s SegSac takes a different approach to solving the same access issue: It has four inner dividers that run the length of the sack in order to keep your socks separate from your underwear, winter accessories, towel, what have you. This means you don’t have to take out your T-shirts to get to your socks. Unlike the Osprey, it compresses just as much as a normal compression sack, but it loses points for versatility because the segmentation prevents it from handling large items like a down jacket or sleeping bag.

Packing cubes

Packing cubes could change your life. (Okay, maybe just your traveling life.) Packing cubes are basically bags to hold your clothes that you organize within your luggage. Though seemingly superfluous, they’re brilliant in action. If you imagine your suitcase as a dresser, you can think of these cubes as individual drawers: Put all your underwear and socks in one container, all your shirts in another, and your workout clothes in yet another. Then pull out only the cube you want. They make packing and repacking wonderfully simple.

travel light gear

Eagle Creek Pack-It Reveal Cube Set

Well built with easy access.

Simple and solidly constructed, these packing cubes keep your bag organized while you’re traveling.

The three-piece Eagle Creek Pack-It Reveal Cube Set keeps a week’s worth of clothes organized and moves easily from suitcase to hotel dresser.

The full-size cube is great for shirts, shorts, and insulating layers. The half-cube and quarter-cube are perfect for underwear, socks, and other thin fabrics such as stockings or sleepwear. These cubes are made of 300-denier polyester (a strong fabric) and stay upright when empty, so they’re easy to pack. The Pack-It cubes’ windows are made of the tightest mesh link we tested—better for resisting snags—and the smooth zippers close easily around all corners, even when a cube is overstuffed.

The Eagle Creek cubes have the ability to unzip fully to allow full access to their contents while sitting in a dresser drawer. That means your clean clothes stay protected against some potentially dicey motel dressers. In 2022, Eagle Creek updated the design of these cubes, and now the company no longer uses YKK zippers, which are widely accepted as the best around . That said, we couldn’t tell any difference between Eagle Creek’s zippers and other brands’ YKK zippers, even with a magnifying glass, and their performance was indistinguishable. For what it’s worth, an Eagle Creek product manager assured us that the proportion of zipper-related warranty claims hasn’t changed since the company made the switch from YKK. (In 2024, Eagle Creek redesigned the Reveal cubes yet again; we’re currently assessing the new version.)

Most travelers are likely to be well served by the Reveal set. But if you value lightness above all, the more expensive Eagle Creek Pack-It Isolate Cube Set is about 50% lighter than similar-size competitors (just over 1 ounce for a medium cube, whereas the Eagle Creek classic style weighs about 4 ounces). Unlike the Reveal set, this set is water resistant. However, the Isolate design’s thin sides—which don’t allow the cubes to stand up on their own—make those cubes a bit more challenging to pack than the Reveal cubes. (The Isolate too has been redesigned in 2024; again, we’re taking a look and will report back.)

Buying the right gear can help organize your existing travel kit, but it’s a red herring if your goal is better portability. “It’s mostly the clothing that allows you to reduce what you need to carry,” explains veteran traveller Eytan Levy, better known as the Snarky Nomad . That’s because clothing, which is very voluminous, makes up the bulk of what’s in your bag. He recommends traveling with basic-looking clothes because you can always buy or rent something nice in a pinch, whereas lugging around formalwear just in case will always be a pain. It also helps if you can avoid cotton and stick to merino and synthetic fabrics, which dry faster. This allows you to do laundry by hand in the sink as needed to reduce the amount of clothes you need to carry.

Travel underwear

Men and women's underwear laid out on top of each other.

Good travel underwear keeps you feeling fresh and clean, even when your destination is gritty.  To find the best , we researched an array of underwear designed for men and women to find 37 pairs meeting our criteria: moisture-wicking and breathable, quick-drying, odor-resistant, stretchy, stylish, and cut to fit a variety of body types.

We then conducted rigorous pretesting (wearing the underwear for two days at a time, machine-washing them repeatedly, and tracking their drying speed when hung on a clothesline) before taking them out into the real world. Our testers went backpacking 215 miles throughout Portland, Oregon; hiking in the Canadian Rockies, including walking from the lowest point in the Continental US to the highest; and road-tripping to the national parks of the West. Testers who flew to their destinations wore the underwear on the plane, too.

Afterward, we checked for signs of wear, such as seam breakage and pilling on the fabric. As we continued to test the finalists, we repeatedly checked for durability problems. In addition to comfort and fit, we noted whether each pair seemed lightweight and packable.

travel light gear

ExOfficio Men’s Give-N-Go 2.0 Sport Mesh 6″ Boxer Brief

Best for most men.

Durable, quick-drying, and relatively inexpensive, this soft-fabric version of ExOfficio’s time-tested Give-N-Go undies will get the job done for years.

The ExOfficio Give-N-Go 2.0 Sport Mesh 6″ Boxer Brief is the best men’s underwear for travel because it balances fit, comfort, odor-proofing, and value better than anything else we’ve tested. The Sport Mesh fabric excels at breathing and wicking and has better odor-resistance than other fabrics. It feels soft on the inside and smooth on the outside so it slides against your pants instead of creating friction, reducing potential for chafing. It also features a sculpted crotch area that gives wearers some much-appreciated support, without feeling stifling. These boxer briefs dry quickly, pack compactly, and weigh less than almost all the other boxer briefs we tried—basically they’re everything you’d want from a pair of excellent travel underwear.

travel light gear

Patagonia Women's Active Hipster

Best for most women.

These light, stylish, quick-drying hipsters stay in place whether you’re walking, flying, or hanging upside down.

The Patagonia Active Hipster doesn’t appear special upon first glance. Only after trying everything else and living through their failures to stay put did we remember what “special” really means in a pair of underwear: Feeling as if you’re wearing nothing at all. The Patagonias have the best fit, comfort, and style out of all the panties we tested. The nylon material is fast-wicking and better than most synthetics for odor-proofing, making it well suited for athletic activities. The Active Hipster is lightweight and packable, and is the fastest-drying underwear we tested—making them perfect for minimalist travelers who go weeks at a time with just one or two pairs. But these same characteristics make them great for any traveler looking for comfortable, packable panties, regardless of where you’re going or what you’re doing.

Budget pick

travel light gear

Uniqlo Men Airism Boxer Brief

Comfortable, compact, and fast-drying, these are a great value but don’t fit quite as nicely and aren’t as supportive in the crotch.

travel light gear

Uniqlo Women Airism Ultra Seamless HipHugger

Similar fabric to the Men’s Airism, with a no-ride cut for women, these underwear are the least expensive of any we tested and among the best performing.

If you want to spend as little as possible without sacrificing performance, the Uniqlo Airism line has long been a great choice for men and women who can wear sizes small and medium. In recent years, both lines have expanded their size range somewhat (men to 3XL, and women to XL). If these fit, you can replace an entire underwear drawer on a tight budget, as long as you can deal with the slightly odd cut and less-effective odor-control treatment.

If you’ve never traveled with merino wool socks, you’re missing out. These aren’t the scratchy wool socks your grandpa wore in the army; they are soft and stretchy ones that have natural sweat-wicking and odor-resisting properties that keep your toes comfortable under all conditions—even when wet. This combination of odor, moisture, and temperature regulations makes them ideal for traveling. "Because of its natural anti-bacterial properties, washing merino wool on a daily basis isn’t absolutely necessary,” explains Snarky Nomad , "after letting it air dry overnight while you sleep, it’ll seem brand new.” The only major downside is that merino tends to be a bit pricier than synthetic counterparts. But it’s a worthy trade-off, since you can go for longer with fewer pairs.

travel light gear

Darn Tough Light Hiker Micro Crew Lightweight Hiking Sock (women’s)

The best quality for women.

The best mix of comfort, durability, and cushioning in a versatile height.

travel light gear

Darn Tough Light Hiker Micro Crew Lightweight Hiking Sock (men’s)

For the best quality.

The same great versatile sock as the women’s model, but in different color options and more sizes.

Darn Tough’s Light Hiker Micro Crew socks (both the men’s and women’s versions) have been our favorite hiking socks for years. Darn Tough made its name through its quality guarantee : “We knit a longer lasting sock that stays comfortable season after season. We’re able to guarantee them for life because we knit them ourselves. If yours ever rip or tear, we'll replace them free of charge.” Pacific Crest Trail thru-hikers (hardcore backpackers who walk from Mexico to Canada in one continuous trip) praise them for their durability, comfort, and blister resistance. When you hold a pair of Darn Toughs next to a pair of Smartwools (which only have a two-year guarantee ), the difference is clear. The Darn Toughs are more tightly knit, the yarns are finer and feel sturdier, and the stitching is tighter.

travel light gear

Darn Tough Women’s Coolmax Hiker Micro Crew Midweight Hiking Sock

The best non-wool women’s hiking sock.

This midlevel cushioned sock for women is the best synthetic option for most climates and terrains.

travel light gear

Darn Tough Men’s Coolmax Hiker Micro Crew Midweight Hiking Sock

The best non-wool men’s hiking sock.

This synthetic men’s sock is perfect for day hiking in most weather.

If you are sensitive to wool, prefer a vegan product, or want a cooler option for the summer, we also like the Darn Tough Coolmax Hiker Micro Crew Midweight Hiking Sock, which comes in women's and men’s sizes.

We appreciated how breathable this sock felt. While wearing the Coolmax Micro Crew in hot summer weather, our testers’ feet stayed dry and sweat-free. The shorter micro-crew height makes the Coolmax Micro Crew suitable for both boots and shoes, too. And like all Darn Tough socks, this model comes with a lifetime warranty.

travel light gear

Indosole Flip Flops (women’s)

A quality flip flop in women’s sizes.

These stylish beach sandals come in a wide range of colors. Be careful, though: Indosole sizes tend to run a little small.

travel light gear

Indosole Flip Flops (men’s)

A quality flip flop in men’s sizes.

These beach sandals are the same as the women’s version but cut a bit wider; we still think they run a little smaller than regular shoe sizes.

A good pair of travel flip-flops should be lightweight, comfortable, and waterproof. The men’s and women’s Indosole Flip Flops offer the best combination of quality, comfort, and easy packability. Unlike many flip flops, which slap against the ground with every step, the subtle arch support of this flip flop kept it secure against our feet. Plus they’re made from waterproof, recycled materials. Keep in mind, though, that our testers found these shoes to run a bit small, so we suggest sizing up for the best fit.

Clothesline

While doing laundry at home can be a large weekly event, OneBag author Doug Dyment recommends approaching travel laundry as a part of your daily routine, especially if you’re trying to pack as little as possible: “The laundry should be more like cleaning your teeth—something you do everyday. It only takes about five minutes to do it. Every night, do your socks and underwear and you’ll have clean socks and underwear everyday.”

travel light gear

A secure, hassle-free option

The Flexo-Line attaches easily to a door handle or faucet and grips garments securely between its loops.

Check out OneBag’s laundry packing list if you want specific tips on how to do it and what you’ll need, but it’s a pretty simple setup: All you need is a toiletry bottle of powdered detergent, a towel to help expedite drying, and a travel clothesline to finish the drying process while you sleep at night.

travel gear, flexo-line, clothesline

Specifically, you want a braided—not twisted—surgical latex clothesline with looped ends, which means you want a Flexo-Line . The Flexo-Line can stretch up to 7 feet long, which is enough to span most hotel bathtubs, and it has loops that you can attach easily to a door handle, bath spigot, or faucet. The braided construction is superior to twisted designs made from other materials because the latex does a better job of gripping garments securely between the loops, which means you don’t need any additional clothespins.

Dyment has tried them all, but the Flexo-Line is the one he comes back to. As he explained to me in an interview, “There are others that are fine, but there are far more that are not fine.” More specifically, Dyment says to avoid anything that’s not made of latex , because clothes will inevitably slip out of them. He also says to never, ever trust a suction cup: “They don’t work, period.” If the Flexo-Line is unavailable, Dyment says that the Rick Steves collection from Kiva Designs also makes a nice braided line that is a bit more expensive. If you have a latex allergy, Dyment recommends going with a length of cord ( paracord is nice because it’s durable and you can use it for other things as well) and stainless steel safety pins meant for cloth diapers , because they take up far less space than a clothespin and won’t rust. In fact, it’s worthwhile to get these items even if you can use a latex line because they’re great for making luggage repairs and performing other MacGyver-ish tasks in a pinch. To hang up the clothesline, we recommend using a bowline knot on one end and a taut line hitch on the other. These knots work well together because the bowline creates a simple, slip-proof loop to anchor one end while the taut line hitch allows you to adjust for tension and locks tightly in place. If you could commit any two knots to memory forever, these are the ones to learn.

Laundry detergent

travel light gear

Minisoak Travel Packs

A travel size version of the best delicates detergent.

Perfect for traveling because you don’t even need to rinse it out.

When you’re washing your underwear in a hotel sink, you want a fast and easy experience. For this, we recommend the no-rinse detergent Soak . That’s right, we said no rinse . You just add a drop to the sink, fill with water, and leave your garments to soak. Then press out the water and hang. Done.

In our tests of delicates detergents , Soak cleaned almost as well as our top laundry detergent, Tide; plus, it comes in individual packets of powder  that are great for traveling, as well as in  travel-size bottles of the liquid version . In addition to unscented, it's available in a variety of scents, although Lacey and Celebration are not the most descriptive of scent names. They all smell nice, not overpowering. Soak also comes in an assorted travel pack with two single-use packets of each scent, if you want to test-drive one or two before you buy. In that mini size, you get eight packets for $11 currently, but you really need only a squeeze, not the the whole packet, to wash a couple of pairs of socks and underwear.

One downside to Soak is that you won’t find it in a grocery store or big-box store. But it is available online at Soak’s site . And if you really want to walk into a store and put your mitts on a bottle, you can find it at most local yarn stores.

Don’t feel like buying Soak or bringing along a bit of your own detergent? Shampoo also works pretty well for cleaning garments in a pinch, so make use of that free bottle from the hotel. But a caveat: Neither Soak nor shampoo contains enzymes , which are biological molecules in laundry detergent that break down certain stains. If you have especially stinky or stained clothes, you might need to break out the Tide .

When we first published this guide, this section addressed only toiletry kits and bottles, razors, and packable towels. The times, and traveling, became more complicated. One thing we've learned in the past few years is that face masks can be useful whenever you’re sick and don’t want to share your misery. Fortunately, compared with early 2020, medical-style N95s and KN95s (which many experts recommend as the best protection) are widely available. They’re easy to tuck into a bag, which we do now whenever we travel. 

Toiletry kit

We’ve researched dozens of travel toiletry bags and dopp kits over the past several years, and we tested 23 of the top-rated contenders in our most recent round of tests. After packing and unpacking a week’s worth of travel-size toiletries, conducting spill tests, and living out of the top performers on the road, we have a few different picks that stand out thanks to their style, packability, and quality of construction.

The Sea to Summit bag hanging open from a shower shelf.

Sea to Summit Hanging Toiletry Bag (small)

A space-saving hanging bag.

This lightweight, well-organized bag fits a week’s worth of travel-size toiletries into a compact package. It’s meant to be hung, which makes it good for tight spaces, but it doesn’t have much in the way of internal structure.

The Sea to Summit Hanging Toiletry Bag (small) is compact and durable. It’s small enough to stash in a backpack or laptop bag, but it holds enough travel-size toiletries to keep us supplied for a week. You can open it and hang it from a shower curtain or towel rod to easily see and grab your items. It comes with a shatterproof mirror, two micro-mesh zip pockets and an open pocket for toothbrushes, lip balm, and tweezers, and a large compartment for bulky lotions and hair-care items.

travel light gear

L.L.Bean Personal Organizer Toiletry Bag

For more stuff and longer trips.

With a 6.4-liter capacity and over a dozen compartments, this toiletry bag has a place for everything—and everything will stay put during transit, too. It can also accommodate non-travel-size bottles.

The L.L.Bean Personal Organizer (medium) is a great option for longer trips and people who travel with full-size bottles. Its 6.4 liters of storage spread across a dozen compartments means there’s a dedicated place for pretty much everything you could want to bring on a trip—it even has a removable mesh shower caddy for shampoo and body wash. This level of organization is crucial for larger toiletry bags because, as we discovered after years of traveling with our picks, contents that aren’t securely fastened can shift around in transit, which increases the chance of spilling. The downside of all this organization is that the L.L.Bean weighs 14 ounces when empty, so it’s not ideal for carry-on travel.

If neither of these bags seems right for you, read our full review of the best toiletry bags and dopp kits to learn more about our picks and everything we tested.

Toiletry bottles

travel light gear

Sea to Summit TPU Clear Zip Pouch with Bottles

These six TSA-friendly bottles are sturdy and smartly designed, dispensing liquids more precisely than any of the other bottles we tested.

For traveling with liquids in your carry-on, the Sea to Summit set is your best bet. All six bottles conform to TSA size limitations; three of them can hold 3 ounces of liquid each, and three can hold 1.5 ounces each, for a total of 13.5 ounces. Despite the set’s name, the bottles themselves are made not of thermoplastic polyurethane—“TPU" refers to the zip pouch—but a high-density polyethylene material, much like what you’d see used in most plastic milk jugs. It has an almost-smooth, semi-transparent surface just textured enough that it’s not slippery when wet. The plastic is also flexible enough that you don’t have to squeeze very hard to get your shampoo or liquid soap or whatever going. An insert at the mouth of each bottle helps regulate the flow, and the screw tops prevent liquids from leaking in transit.

Razor (faces)

travel light gear

Gillette Mach3

The best manual razor for most faces.

This classic razor’s three widely spaced blades provide the best balance of speed, smoothness, and safety. Its handle is comfortable and well designed, and replacement blades can be had for a fair price.

We researched more than 100 and tested 11 manual razors for our full razor guide , concluding that the Gillette Mach3 is our top pick for manual razors. Although the three blades require a little extra time for a closer shave, it performs comparably to the latest and greatest offerings for as little as half the price.

The Gillette Mach3 provides the best balance of speed, smoothness, and safety. The Mach3’s simple, round handle is easy to grip and maneuver, and its three blades offer a close shave without over-irritating the skin or getting clogged with hair. And the price of Mach3 blades—$2 per cartridge or less, whether you buy them online or in a store—came close to, or even beat, the pricing of shave-club rivals, and the Mach3 shaved better than those competitors.

Razor (legs/body)

travel light gear

Gillette Venus Smooth

The best body razor.

This classic Venus is one of the easiest razors to grip and maneuver and its three-blade design keeps the blades remarkably free of hair.

Disposable razors (both the completely disposable and replaceable-cartridge variety) are fine to take through airport security , and among them we like the Gillette Venus Original best for traveling. Although it’s now the runner-up pick in our guide to body razors —it was formerly the top pick—we believe that its simple aloe lubricating strips, which don’t become tacky when wet, make the Venus more travel friendly than our new top pick . Plus, as with any Venus, the Original’s body is compatible with any other Venus head and many heads from Gillette’s facial razors, making replacement heads easier to find when you’re on the road.

The Original’s head has three blades separated by considerable slats of space, making it far easier to clean the head between strokes. The Original is intuitive to hold and secure to maneuver, thanks to a contoured handle with corrugated chevrons of rubber. Though our testers have a wide range of hand sizes, no one found the Original difficult to grasp. Despite the significant ribbing, it doesn’t feel too bulky. Gillette claims its razors have lasted for five weeks; we think one razor for a weeklong trip should be fine.

(Know that, confusingly, the Venus appears for sale on some retail sites under the name Venus Close and Clean or Venus Smooth. It’s the same razor. If you’re unsure which Venus model you’re looking at, check for the Original’s three blades and trademark sea-foam blue color.)

Towel (packable)

travel light gear

PackTowl Personal

The best all-around packable towel.

The PackTowl Personal Towel is lightweight, soft, absorbent, quick to dry, and odor-resistant.

We put 20 top-rated towels through a battery of tests including regular shower use, a trip to the beach, camping, and a 48-hour stay in a ziplock bag under the hot Hawaiian sun. After all was said and done, the Packtowl Personal Towel is still the best all-around travel towel for most people. In addition to being the softest lightweight towel we tested, it was more absorbent than competitors made of similar materials. It had the best odor-resisting abilities and comes with a convenient mesh carrying pouch. We also have alternate picks for ultralight and all-natural towels below.

The Personal Towel’s suede-like material was the softest of the thinner towels. The Personal Towel also had superior absorption when compared with other similarly constructed towels such as the Sea to Summit DryLite —in our tests, it absorbed 2.8 times its weight in water, while the others absorbed between 2.3 times and 2.7 times.

travel gear, travel towels

One of just two we tested that featured an added antimicrobial treatment, the Personal Towel was only a little musty smelling after 24 hours in a sealed ziplock bag, and remained unchanged at 48 hours.

If you’re looking for a budget option, consider the Rainleaf Microfiber Towel , which is a tad smaller than our other picks and is made from a seemingly lighter-feeling fabric. Unlike most budget options, it has an antibacterial coating and still managed to carry a pleasant smell after being testing in different environments.

Regardless of how you get to your final destination, it’s likely you’ll be stuck in a seat that’s less than ideal. Travel gadgets that claim to reduce this misery, such as compression socks, are popular. But when they take up precious luggage space for the duration of your trip—not just the flight or train ride–they need to be worth every cubic inch of space. The less you can make do with, the better off you’ll be.

Neck pillow

travel light gear

Travelrest Nest Ultimate Memory Foam Travel Pillow

More support for most necks.

Its tall memory-foam walls let it offer more support than any other pillow we tested. It’s also shaped to sit flush against a headrest, and it compresses to a manageable size.

The uniquely angled back on the Travelrest Ultimate sets it apart from other travel pillows we tested because it can lay flat against the seat back. Most other pillows have a rounded back, which pushes your head away from the headrest. The Travelrest also has rubber grip dots to prevent slipping while sleeping. This pillow’s spongy memory foam cushions the entire circumference of your neck, preventing your head from leaning far in any direction, and its adjustable Velcro strap ensures it can fit most necks. The pillow’s cozy velour exterior is removable and machine-washable. Although it doesn’t pack flat, the Travelrest weighs less than a pound and compresses to a quarter of its size when rolled into its Velcro-strapped carrying case. Our only complaint is that the Travelrest’s high walls, though supportive, can push over-ear headphones off of the ears of people with shorter necks.

Noise-cancelling headphones

travel light gear

Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700

The best over-ear noise-cancelling headphones.

The Bose 700 headphones deliver excellent noise cancellation in a comfortable, lightweight design that’s traveler friendly—but they carry a high price.

The Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 over-ear set has the most versatile active noise cancellation we’ve ever tested. With 10 levels of noise reduction to choose from, everyone should be able to find a setting that meets their needs. We also enjoyed the lightweight and comfortable design and the easy-to-use controls. What distinguishes the Bose 700’s ANC is the amount of adjustability it gives you: Most noise-cancelling headphones offer controls for only on/off or maybe high/low/off, but with the Bose 700 pair you can set the ANC level from 0 to 10, so you have more flexibility to dial in the ideal setting for your comfort. The 20-hour battery life, while not the best we’ve seen, is more than sufficient to get you to most destinations. We have additional options—including earbuds and surprisingly good budget options for  over-ear headphones and earbuds —in our full guide to noise-cancelling headphones .

travel light gear

Mack’s Slim Fit Soft Foam Earplugs

For blocking out the most noise.

These blocked the most noise in our controlled testing and got the most votes from our subjective sleep panel.

When you’re traveling, it can be difficult to fall asleep to unfamiliar noises. That’s why we spent several hours researching new contenders and tested four top-rated models while sleeping in a house that was next to an airport in order to determine that Mack’s Ultra Soft Foam earplugs are the best earplugs  for sleeping.

The Mack’s 37.1 dB noise reduction rating was the highest among the models we tested. According to Cooper Safety , that’s enough to reduce the volume of a gas lawnmower to that of a normal conversation. What made the Mack’s earplugs so effective is the fact that we could insert them and rest assured that they would stay in the whole night. Meanwhile, the Howard Leight MAX1 might be a favorite from crowdsourced sleep-aid review site Sleep Like the Dead , but the earplugs would inevitably fall out in the middle of the night. Thus, they failed to block out the noise of planes landing and taking off throughout the night, despite the MAX1’s 33 dB noise reduction rating. The Howard Leights also made our ears ache on occasion, whereas the Mack’s has a tapered shape that was consistently comfortable night after night.

The Mack’s Slim Fit Soft Foam Earplugs cost about 20¢-35¢ per pair when purchased in a 50-pair pack. They come in a plastic case is about the size of a large coffee mug, which is small enough to toss in a large bag or suitcase. Many other ear plugs like our runner-up, the 3M’s E-A-Rsoft OCS1135 , can only be ordered in industrial-size lots that, while perhaps appealing to those who travel constantly (or run a hostel), are annoying to store and often lack a reusable container of any sort.

travel light gear

Nidra Deep Rest Eye Mask

For air travelers and back-sleepers.

The lightweight and contoured Nidra mask is a light-blocking win for most face shapes, with deep eye cups that allow the wearer to blink freely and arrive feeling refreshed.

When bright lights hamper peaceful shut-eye, we recommend the light-blocking, contoured Nidra Deep Rest sleep mask. Of the 14 masks we tested , the Nidra blocked the most light on the most faces. It’s contoured to rest on your face like a pair of soft goggles, with fabric lenses that sit around your eyes (instead of directly over them). This design provides more space for your eyes to flutter during REM sleep, ensuring that you come through red-eye flights with less redness in your eyes. Makeup wearers will also appreciate that, with the Nidra’s elevated eye cups, there’s a smaller chance of smudging.

travel light gear

Alaska Bear Natural Silk Sleep Mask

A flat, silk mask.

A silken exterior material, a flat design, and an adjustable strap make this mask a fit for almost any face, but it puts pressure on the eyes.

You save $2 (17%)

travel light gear

Mzoo Sleep Mask

A smooth, contoured eye mask.

Soft, structured, and contoured, this mask stays on all night and prevents any light from seeping through

You save $5 (23%)

If the Nidra Deep Rest doesn’t fit your face quite right, we also recommend the Alaska Bear Natural Silk Sleep Mask and the Mzoo Sleep Mask . The Alaska Bear mask lacks contoured eyecups and thus applies some pressure to the eyes overnight like any regular eye mask does. But its flat design easily conforms to fit your face, and its silk exterior feels smooth and soft against skin (the padding is made of cotton). Its relative lack of structure makes it more difficult to knock off when you’re tossing and turning.

The Mzoo mask’s eyecups have a convex gap so your eyes can open and close. That gap is surrounded by a memory foam padding that rests on the perimeter of your eye sockets. The effect is such that you don’t feel like your eyes are being forced closed, but there is a bit of compression near your temples, eyebrows, and cheekbones. Most—though not all—of our testers found this sensation soothing. One liked how the contour of the eyecup kept the mask from brushing against their eyelashes, which makes it a good choice for people who wear eyelash extensions.

Few things are better than landing at an airport, turning on your phone, and having it just work. No hassles, no stress, no worries about brutal roaming fees. You can check in with loved ones, scope out the route to your lodgings, and maybe post an Instagram story or two—because your phone works just like it does at home. This is especially freeing, and it makes travel so much easier. (Of course, phones aren’t the only useful tech to bring: Check out our accessories reviews for guides to the best cables ( USB-C , Lightning , and Micro-USB ), Wi-Fi hotspots , Bluetooth speakers , and more.)

Unlocked mobile phone

One of the most useful gadgets for international travel is an unlocked smartphone that’s compatible with cheap, prepaid phone plans you can sign up for at your destination. Unless your carrier offers plans including high-speed data that you can access internationally (i.e., you’re with T-Mobile or Google Fi), traveling with a phone under contract with a major carrier means paying an arm and a leg for data. Being able to access data-guzzling apps like Google Maps or Google Translate on the fly is worth the hassle to unlock a phone. Facebook Messenger or WhatsApp are free, easy ways to communicate with people you meet on your trip and people from home. Plus there’s checking email, TripAdvisor, banking, social media, and so on.

travel gear, cell phone

An “unlocked” phone means you can buy prepaid SIM cards in the country you’re visiting, letting you access their local network for significantly less money than the roaming fees incurred by your home carrier. With a prepaid SIM, your phone effectively becomes a new phone with a new (now local) phone number. Instead of seeing “Verizon,” “AT&T,” or “Sprint” at the top of your phone, you might see “Vodafone,” “Yes Optus,” “M1,” or whatever provider you choose in the country you’re visiting. The first thing to check is if your phone will work where you’re going. If you’re unsure if your phone will work where you’re going, check the Wikipedia page for your phone or contact your provider.

Your phone will also require a removable SIM. (If your phone has an eSIM, as all new iPhones do, check out our blog post about those.) Most countries require a passport or other ID to buy a prepaid SIM without a contract, but switching the SIMs is easy. Most stores will do it for you while you’re there. Depending on the country/provider, this could take as long as 10 minutes but is often faster. The next question is easily the most complicated: Can you unlock your phone? Each carrier has different rules and criteria. Generally, if you have a brand new, expensive phone, they may not let you unlock it (there’s usually a waiting period after the purchase date). But if it’s a little older, or if you’ve paid it off, they probably will. The thing to remember is that a provider can deny an unlock request without giving a reason. You might be lucky, though; certain phones on certain providers are unlocked by default. Here are Verizon and AT&T’s pages on unlocking. Alternately, you can buy a pre-unlocked phone just for travel. Amazon and Best Buy, for example, sell unlocked phones. This is also a good option if you think you might lose your expensive phone and a cheaper one will suffice while you travel.

Plug adapter

travel light gear

Epicka Universal Travel Adapter

Best universal travel adapter.

With four plugs that will work in most countries, plus faster-charging USB ports (and more of them) than its competitors, this adapter is the best all-around choice.

In a sea of almost-identical travel adapters, the Epicka Universal Travel Adapter stands out, combining the best of the features we look for. It contains the three most common international plugs and a US-style plug, which should cover you in the majority of countries around the world. It has the most USB ports—four of the standard USB-A and one USB-C—of any universal adapter we tested, and it charged more of our devices faster. A replaceable fuse and an included spare should take the brunt of any accidental, unfortunate, or shockingly bad connections. The Epicka is fairly compact and well built, and it even comes with an extra USB cable and a nylon case.

However, no universal travel adapter is truly universal, and they’re all a lot bulkier and more expensive than simple plug adapters. If you want the smallest adapter possible, or if you’re going someplace where a universal adapter won’t work (more on that in a minute), a plug adapter could be what you need.

travel light gear

Ceptics International Worldwide Travel Plug Adapter 5 Piece Set

The best plug adapter.

Individually, these tiny plug adapters are smaller, lighter, and cheaper than any universal travel adapter. To juice up multiple devices, though, you’d need a separate multiport charger too.

The tiny plug adapters from Ceptics are barely larger than the prongs they convert. Small, simple, and cheap, they’re perfect for someone who wants to carry only the adapter they’ll need and who already has a multiport USB wall charger they like. Like our universal adapter picks, this set contains the three most common international plugs and the US plug. However, it also includes a somewhat rarer plug used in some European countries that has two thick, cylindrical prongs. This means that the Ceptics set will likely cover you in even more places—as long as you pack the appropriate plug adapter. These charts should help you find the shape you need before you order.

However, getting your gear to work in different countries isn’t quite as simple as it should be, and there’s no single solution that’s guaranteed to work for everyone. Our picks should work for you, but you may have some random piece of equipment, or be traveling to some country, for which our “good for most” picks just won’t work. (Case in point: One Wirecutter editor visited Iceland a few years back. The house she stayed in had outlets unlike anything on those charts, and the plug adapters she had used elsewhere in Reykjavik didn’t fit at all. It turns out the mystery sockets belonged to an obscure Italian system from the 1960s that was popular in Iceland for a time. Luckily, the hosts had power strips in the house that her adapters fit into.) The world is a big place, and when it comes to electricity and wall outlets, there’s a lot of variation. That’s important to keep in mind.

Whether two-prong or three-prong, an adapter just changes the shape of your plug, not anything about the electricity coming through the wires. However, this usually isn’t a problem because almost every power brick that comes with modern electronic gear is capable of accepting both the 110-volt standard used in the US and the 240-volt commonly used abroad. If your device has a power block on the cord, it likely says something like  “100-240 V ~ 50/60 Hz”—that’s the all-clear to use it without a voltage converter so long as the range covers the voltage of the country you’re visiting . This includes the vast majority of modern laptop and USB chargers.

Products without some sort of power block at the end or with a non-detachable cord—in particular, things with heating elements like hair dryers and curling irons—are more likely to need a voltage converter. Putting 220 V through a US 110 V device would be like attaching a firehose to a drinking fountain—you’re likely to blow your face off. But voltage converters are tricky devices, and most of the inexpensive ones have awful (or dishonest) reviews. Since hotels and hostels will often have hair dryers and most newer gear can do the full range of voltages, we strongly recommend that, whenever possible, you only bring items that work with a much simpler (and more reliable) adapter.

Wire/gadget organization system

Now that every device has a battery, every battery has a charger, and every charger has a cable—never mind power-plug adapters if you’re traveling abroad—the sheer quantity of accessories needed just to keep your gadgets running can take up more space than the devices themselves. And unless you organize them, you can bet on having to blindly fish them out of the least convenient spot at the bottom of your bag. Recently, our pick for carrying tech necessities, the Incase Nylon Accessory Organizer, which had been out of stock for a few years, returned to the Incase website and was briefly in stock. (It’s now out of stock again, alas.) If you prefer mesh to easily see your contents, we also like the Container Store Micro Mesh Pouches .

The Incase cable organizer is a poly-nylon blend, so it’s durable. It is a soft-shell bag, however, so its contents can distort the bag’s shape when it’s full. But the bag’s edges remain rigid—so the seams don’t pucker—its contents don’t fall out, and zipping and unzipping the bag is still easy. We have other picks in our full guide to bag and cable organizers , including a roll-up bag and a stylish duo of cosmetics travel pouches ; we’ll also start testing other options.

USB battery packs

usb-battery-packs-group

A USB battery pack (also called a power bank) can keep your small electronics—from phones and cameras to tablets and more—going while you’re on the road. Although the length of your trip will determine exactly how much extra juice you’ll need to have on hand, whatever your requirements, we have a great USB battery recommendation for you. The Belkin Boost Charge Plus 10K weighs about half a pound, and its rounded edges make it easy to hold or slip into a pocket. Its USB-C Power Delivery (PD) port can charge most handheld devices and recharge itself at top speed (with the right USB-C cable and wall charger), and it can pass power to another device while being recharged from a wall outlet. It only comes in one color, but it has enough capacity to fully charge most smartphones up to three times, as well as built-in USB-C and Lightning cables that are easy to slide in and out of their holsters.

If you’re traveling for leisure, try not to get too wrapped up in technology because you might miss what you’re actually there to do: experience a new place. OneBag’s Doug Dyment said in an interview, “Wearing headphones and staring at a screen is like putting a digital wall around yourself when you’re traveling. It makes you seem unapproachable and uninterested in what’s around you.” That may be a good thing if you do truly want to be left alone, but Dyment went on to say that some of his most memorable traveling experiences were the result of just looking lost and getting help from the locals. “One minute, you’re a lost foreigner in an unfamiliar village, then someone asks if you need directions. Before you know it, you’re eating dinner with his family.”

Travel binoculars

travel light gear

Athlon Optics Midas ED

The overall best binoculars.

Amazingly affordable with great optics, these binoculars have performance comparable with that of many models that cost thousands more.

Our top pick for binoculars is durable and great for near-home hikes. In hot or dusty environments that may call for a clearer optical boost, the Athlon Optics Midas ED 8×42 binoculars deliver top quality. Its focus dial offers a wide range of depths that makes it easier to see whatever it is you desire—birds, grass or darkened areas of the forest. Our recommendation comes with the assistance of a professional ornithologist who spent over 100 hours putting 17 pairs of binoculars to the test in the mountains of Southern California and the rain forests of southern Mexico.

Although the Celestron TrailSeeker ED binoculars don’t offer a clear edge-to-edge view to the same degree of the Athlon Optics Midas EDs , they’re a comparable runner-up model that’ll be lighter on your wallet if having binoculars while traveling is a must. The TrailSeekers are equipped with great light-gathering qualities, close focus, and impressive optical resolution. Or, if you’re concerned about saving space, we liked the Pentax AD 8x25 WP binoculars. While not quite as powerful as our other picks, this compact pair of binoculars is well made and easy to fit into a carry-on while traveling via plane.

Ebook reader

travel light gear

Amazon Kindle (2022)

The best e-reader for most people.

Amazon’s most affordable Kindle is also its most portable, and it’s finally been upgraded with sharper text on its 6-inch screen and support for USB-C charging. Those features bring it in line with much-pricier e-readers.

The entry-level Amazon Kindle finally got an upgrade and is now our favorite e-reader , with the same crisp display and USB-C charging as the pricier Kindle Paperwhite has (and with double the storage space of the previous entry-level model). Amazon’s well-stocked ebooks store remains its biggest selling point, along with the ease of checking out library books via Libby and sending them directly to a Kindle.

Even if you don’t have time for pleasure reading on your trip, it’s worth investing in a Kindle because many major travel guides are available in fully searchable ebook formats now. Furthermore, e-texts will also work on your phone, tablet, and computer, thanks to the Kindle ecosystem.

Packable daypack

travel light gear

Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Travel Day Pack

A pack that fits in your palm.

Toss this lightweight, phone-sized packable bag into your luggage or coat pocket, and you’ll never get caught without a spare bag again. If you need something to carry every day, though, we think you’ll prefer one of our more-structured picks.

Packing a stowable daypack, one that stuffs down to fit in your luggage when not in use, is a relatively small investment of space in exchange for a high return of function and flexibility. After researching dozens of packable daypacks across a spectrum of portability, features, and prices, and then packing, unpacking, loading, wearing, and drenching the top-rated finalists during multiple rounds of testing, the Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Travel Day Pack is the smallest and lightest packable backpack we recommend. Packed up, it is very discreet: nearly the size of a keychain accessory.

The bag itself is a no-frills sack made from a paper-thin siliconized Cordura nylon, which means it’s very light and water-resistant. It has reinforced stitching at stress points, allowing the Ultra-Sil to carry more weight than you would expect. That said, since this pack is made of such thin, light material, carrying large or awkwardly shaped loads is somewhat uncomfortable, especially when compared with our more structured picks.

If comfort or waterproofing is important to you, check out the alternative picks in our review of packable daypacks for travel .

travel light gear

Field Notes Memo Books

For ultimate portability.

Field Notes are cheap but contain high-quality paper that earns praise from pen and stationery geeks across the web.

For writing your adventures as you travel, you can’t beat the portability, practicality, and romanticism of a pocket notebook. There’s nothing better in that category than Field Notes (three-packs available in a variety of styles and types ). These pocket-sized notebooks are widely praised for their excellent paper quality, and the Pen Addict’s Brad Dowdy tells me “Field Notes is pretty much the runaway pocket notebook champ.” Dowdy has praised it for the lack of feathering or bleedthrough with almost any pen, as well as for the light brown ruled lines, which are easier to write over than solid black. Austin Smith of Art Supply Critic told us in an email that his recommendation is “Field Notes has it, no question.” The Well-Appointed Desk has reviewed a slew of different Field Notes variants for those looking for something a bit more interesting.

travel gear, field notes

Field Notes Expedition

A weather-resistant option.

Weather-resistant Expedition Field Notes are great if you’re writing in wet conditions, but don’t get them if you don’t need them. The synthetic paper feels weird and can cause some inks to smear.

If you think you’re going to be writing in foul weather, Field Notes also has the waterproof Expedition version with pages made from a synthetic water-and-tear resistant paper. You should only get these if you really need them, because otherwise, they just feel unnaturally slick and are more prone to smearing ink. At least one user has said that the paper shows less soaking through when wet than the similar Rite in the Rain books . The one caveat is that the synthetic paper will only work with pencils and certain inks ; thankfully, the Uni-ball Jetstream RT , our pick for best pen , definitely makes the grade.

Things can go wrong while you’re traveling, both where you are and where you’re not. Though you can’t prepare for every worst-case scenario, the peace of mind that a little bit of preparation grants will allow you to focus on what’s in front of you, instead of having to worry about what could go wrong. But preparation doesn’t simply mean buying more stuff just in case; it also means making efficient use of what you already have.

travel light gear

Merchant & Mills for Purl Soho Rapid Repair Kit

For the best combination of sewing tools.

The Merchant & Mills Rapid Repair Kit is the only travel kit we found that had objectively high-quality thread and scissors.

There’s nothing quite like a wardrobe malfunction to put a damper on vacation, especially when traveling with limited clothing. A good travel-size sewing kit allows you to mend a popped button or ripped seam on the fly—or even tackle more pressing issues like fixing a tent, sleeping bag, or backpack. After 15 hours of research, interviews with sewing teachers and avid home sewers, and tests of six travel and full-size kits, we found the Merchant & Mills for Purl Soho Rapid Repair Kit had by far the best tools and was the easiest to keep organized. Standard travel sewing kits usually contain mediocre thread and plastic-handled scissors that break easily. They can also be hard to keep organized (a truth we confirmed when testing six top-rated travel and full-sized kits). The Merchant & Mills set was the only one that had high-quality thread, all-metal mini scissors (don’t worry, the TSA shouldn’t stop you ), and a durable tin case (about the size of a deck of cards) to keep everything well organized.

travel gear, sewing kit

Because the sewing pins are neatly stuck into paper inside a slim envelope and the three needles are housed in a mini glass vial, this kit also limits the risk of losing a sharp object in your bags. We found the Merchant & Mills needles easier to thread than others (no need for a fussy needle threader!) and we also like the vintage-looking safety pins that come clipped together along with two small white buttons. Although this kit only comes with black and white thread, the thread is strong and there’s more of it than you’d get in a flimsier set with shorter strands of multiple colors. We do think it would be nice if the kit included a more durable measuring tape than the paper one included, but overall everything about this kit is leagues ahead of anything else we considered. We didn’t find editorial reviews for any of the kits we tested, but the Merchant & Mills rapid repair kit was recommended by several sewing bloggers and is sold in many reputable indie fabric shops.

travel light gear

Repel Windproof Travel Umbrella

The best umbrella for most people.

This is a solidly built, easy-to-find umbrella that holds up in high winds. It also comes in a variety of colors.

price may vary by color or style

An umbrella you take traveling should be small, light, sturdy, and affordable. After putting in 66 hours of research and evaluating a total of 48 umbrellas across five rounds of testing (including one thunder-snowstorm), we found that the Repel Windproof Travel Umbrella is the best umbrella for most people. Its durable, nine-rib construction held up admirably against gale-force winds, and it’s as sturdy as umbrellas that sell for more than twice as much.

The Repel folds up to an 11½-inch long, 14-ounce package that fits easily into most bags and glove boxes. And it forcefully expands at a touch of a button to reveal an ample 37-inch-diameter canopy that protects your head and torso from precipitation in all but the windiest of conditions. Its lengthy, textured handle is easy to grip for hands of all sizes. We also appreciate that the Repel comes in a wide variety of colors, so it’s easier to pick yours out of a crowded umbrella bucket. Finally, despite its affordable price, it’s backed by a lifetime replacement guarantee, but only if you purchase directly from Repel and register the item under the company’s warranty.

A person holding a red Repel Easy Touch umbrella in the rain.

Packing method for clothes

While packing cubes and other organization tools are helpful for maximizing your bag’s usable space, efficient packing is also achievable without the aid of tools and compartments. One Bag’s Doug Dyment tried all manners of folding aids and compression products but was unsatisfied with their claims of compression and wrinkle prevention. Frustrated, he developed his own method of packing clothes compactly called the Bundle Method, which he’s used and perfected over several decades of traveling.

The Bundle Method involves layering your shirts and pants at opposing angles on a flat surface, then wrapping them around a small “core” parcel (e.g. a packing cube full of underwear and socks). We won’t get into details, but Dyment does on his website ; you can watch this easy-to-follow video from NBC . The resulting bundle is compact and has no sharp creases that will require ironing out later on. Additionally, Dyment explains that “the slight tension created in the fabric by the wrapping process, along with the anchoring of the resulting bundle, greatly reduces the chances of wrinkling.” You then put it in your bag and use the tie-down straps to provide just enough pressure to keep it together.

While simple to perform, this packing method isn’t something you can master in one go. It takes a bit of practice, but once you get it, it’s like riding a bike. The downside is that you can’t just leave your clothing packed and expect to be able to access your underwear without fully unpacking your clothes first. But unpacking is a good habit to get into anyway, as it allows your clothes to breathe and avoid wrinkles or mildew. Wirecutter founder and frequent traveler Brian Lam says that unpacking the moment he enters a room has a grounding effect that allows him to feel a bit more at home in a new environment.

travel gear, travel tips

If this sounds like too much of a hassle for you, you can do what we did before we found out about bundling: roll up your socks and underwear tightly and place them in packing cubes, then put your wrinkle-prone items (shirts, pants, skirts, dresses, jackets) in a garment folder—we used the Eagle Creek Pack-It Reveal Garment Folder . This is also travel guru Rob King’s preferred method of packing. Though the garment folder is not quite as space-efficient as the bundle method due to the added bulk of the folder and folding board, the plastic backboard does go a long way towards preventing wrinkles. Just be aware that if you leave your clothes in there for longer than a day, they’ll begin to develop unsightly creases that require an iron to get rid of.

travel gear

A big thank-you to the Hotel Lucia in downtown Portland, Oregon, for lending us a suite to use for the photos in this guide.

This article was edited by Ria Misra and Christine Ryan.

Meet your guide

Wirecutter Staff

Mentioned above

  • The Cotopaxi Allpa 35L is our backpack pick for most travelers. We also have picks for other travelers, including those who want to carry a bit more. The Best Carry-On Travel Backpacks  
  • After 10 years of airport dashes and overhead-compartment stashes, the Travelpro Platinum Elite is still the suitcase we want to carry. The Best Carry-On Luggage  
  • The Waterfield Air Porter Carry-On Bag is a great bag for tech-carrying travelers to slide under an airplane seat. We also have options for other travelers. The Best Underseat Luggage and Personal-Item Bags  
  • After researching 30 models, we found that Travelpro Platinum Elite 25″ Expandable Spinner is the best suitcase for most travelers who check bags. The Best Suitcases for Checking  
  • We chose five luggage tags that will help you identify your belongings in a sea of similar suitcases. The Best Luggage Tags  
  • After researching and traveling with packing cubes for more than five years, the Eagle Creek Pack-It Reveal Cube Set is what we keep in our luggage. The Best Packing Cubes  

Further reading

travel light gear

The Gadgets We Bring on Every Trip

You don't have to be a digital nomad to travel like one. Here are a few gadgets and accessories to make travel as painless as possible.

Hundreds of people waiting in a congested airport security check area.

Air Travel Is Chaos. This Gear Will Help Get You Through the Exasperating Delays.

These things don’t make your flight take off any faster, but they can make the wait a little more tolerable.

A person reading a road atlas while sitting on the hood of their car, parked on the side of a road in the desert.

The Best Gear for Your Road Trips

After hundreds of hours of research and 1,500 miles behind the wheel, we’ve singled out the gear that’s absolutely essential for your next journey on the open road.

travel light gear

The Best Travel Pillow

After testing eight travel pillows on four red-eye flights in window, aisle, and middle seats, we think the Travelrest Ultimate is the best for most travelers.

The Packable Life

My Carry-On Packing List for 1 Week or More [2024 Edition]

Last Updated: September 7, 2024

Carry on travel packing items in a black backpack

I’ve been traveling light and using packing lists for years, and I’ll never take for granted how good it feels to travel carry-on only.

Because I’ve seen how exhausting traveling with excess can be.

That’s why I’m going to give you an up-close look at my do-everything, all-season travel setup.

I want to show you precisely what a lightweight and practical approach to travel looks like.

So, take a look inside my pack and c heck off the boxes of my carry-on packing list as you get ready for your next adventure.

Maybe you can transform your travel bag into something lighter and more mobile, or perhaps you’ll find a game-changing piece of gear to help liberate your life on the road.

Carry-On Packing List

  • Benefits of Carry-On Travel
  • ‘Must-Bring’ Travel Essentials

Carry-On Travel Bags

Lightweight travel luxuries.

  • Light & Packable Travel Clothing

Cold Weather Travel Clothing

  • Travel Photography Gear
  • Connectivity & Organization Gear
  • Compact Travel Toiletries Kit

In-Transit Travel Clothing

  • Final Thoughts on Packing Light

Packing Light: The Benefits of Carry-On Only Travel

A black backpack rests against a van in a driveway

I’ve preached that traveling light and utilizing a carry-on packing list is paramount, so let me tell you why.

Traveling Light is Far More Comfortable

In the world of travel packing, less is more.

  • Less baggage to carry means more  freedom and mobility.
  • Less   stuff to lug around means more energy to focus on the world around you.
  • Less weighing you down means a more comfortable travel experience.

Who doesn’t want that?

Checking Bags Doesn’t Always End Up So Well

I’ve seen and heard horror stories of checking baggage, and I want no part of the drama.

Friends have told me painful tales of bags getting lost and taking weeks  to make it back to them.

I’ve seen a relative’s luggage zipped wide open with clothing spilling out as it rotated slowly along the luggage carousel.

I’ve watched my girlfriend’s heart drop as she opened her checked bag, revealing a mess of scrambled and broken belongings inside.

While situations like these aren’t the norm, there’s always risk involved when you hand your baggage off to a set of busy strangers.

Carry-On Only Travel Saves Time

Packing lists eliminate the stress and guesswork that often accompany organizing your luggage.

By knowing precisely what to pack and what to leave behind, you’ll get ready for your travels much faster and more efficiently.

By choosing not to check bags, you’ll never have to wait around anxiously at baggage claim either.

Must-Bring Travel Essentials

Certain items you cannot travel without.

IDs. Visas. Money. Cell phones. Medications. Important travel documents.

The items below will likely stop you dead in your tracks if you’ve left one (or more) of them behind.

While many of the items below (tickets, insurance info, travel documents, etc.) can be saved and accessed digitally, don’t forget to bring hard copies as well.

Passport/Visa

ID Card/Drivers License

Wallet/Purse

Cash/Credit Cards

Medications

Insurance Documents

Copies of Passport/Visa

Maps/Guidebooks

Travel Itineraries

Travel Reservations

iPhone 13 Pro smartphone

Do-it-All Cell Phone: iPhone 13 Pro

A quality smartphone is a wise investment when putting together your travel packing list. My iPhone 13 Pro has loads of storage (512 GB), a fast processor, an incredible camera, and a beautiful display. Yes, it was expensive, but it was worth every penny.

BUY ON BACK MARKET

Black soft shell travel wallet

Wallet : Slimfold Soft Shell

The thinner the wallet, the better. That’s why I love the Slimfold Soft Shell. Its minimalist design makes it barely noticeable in my pocket. The wallet is soft, simple, easy to access, and holds everything I ask of it. What more could you ask for in a travel wallet?

BUY ON SLIMFOLD

Capital One Venture Rewards credit card

Travel Rewards Credit Card : Capital One Venture

I’ve travel hacked with credit cards to earn dozens of free flights, and I recommend the Capital One Venture to anyone who wants to do the same. For signing up, you’ll get 75,000 points, $250 in travel credit, $100 for TSA PreCheck, two lounge passes, and 2x points per dollar spent. This offer ends on 9/9/24 .

VIEW THE CAPITAL ONE VENTURE

Carry-on travel begins and ends with the luggage you bring along.

Ensure your main piece of travel baggage meets the airline’s carry-on size guidelines , and you’ll be in great shape.

The age-old question, “ Should I use a rolling suitcase or a backpack? ” is entirely yours to answer.

I use a personal item backpack simply because I can move around more easily while wearing it.

Main Travel Backpack

TOM BIHN Techonaut carry on backpack

Backpack : TOM BIHN Techonaut

My TOM BIHN Techonaut is technical, comfortable, durable, and stylish. Sure, it’s a bit spendy, but it’s the best travel bag I’ve ever laid hands on and should be my go-to carry-on pack for the next decade (or two). It’s also made in the USA, which is always a good thing.

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Black waterproof packable daypack

Daypack : Matador Freerain22

I fell in love with the Freerain22 before I ever ordered it. This bag is completely waterproof, weighs only ten ounces, and packs down into the palm of my hand. It’s great for day trips or hikes when bringing along my main travel bag would be overkill.

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Hyperlite Mountain Gear ultralight camera pod

Camera Bag: Hyperlite Mountain Gear

This ultralight camera pod perfectly fits my Fujifilm X-T4 camera, lens, and spare batteries. If my camera and lens kit were any larger, I’d be forced to find another solution. For now, it does everything I could ever ask of it.

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Below are the non-essential odds and ends that always find their way into my bag anyway.

Sure, I don’t need to pack a single one of these items, but that’s not the point.

This particular gear enhances my travel experience enough to warrant a permanent spot on my packing list and in my carry-on bag.

Water Bottle

Travel Locks

Packing Cubes

Battery Bank

Bluetooth Speaker

Blue titanium water bottle

Water Pouch : Snow Peak Aurora

If you’re a budget-minded traveler , you know that paying for water is one of the biggest rackets out there. That’s why I always pack my Snow Peak Aurora titanium water bottle . Like my backpack, it was pretty expensive, but it should last me for the next decade (or longer).

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Lightweight earplugs to pack for travel

Earplugs : Howard Leight

I’m an earplug snob. Sure, it sounds a bit ridiculous, but I’d rather listen to a stranger snore all night than toss and turn while wearing uncomfortable earplugs. I’ve tried several brands and finally found my forever plugs, the Howard Leights. They’re comfy and effective. Second-to-none.

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Black luggage locks

Travel Lock : TSA-Approved Padlocks

I’m no travel lock expert, but I can tell you that these sturdy little padlocks get the job done. They’re well-built and make it easy to set a unique 4-digit combo. They’re TSA-approved, which means airport security will use keys, not lock-cutters, to see what’s in your bag.

Green and black lightweight hiking and backpacking towel

Mini-Towel : Packtowl Ultralight Microfiber

Since the vast majority of hotels and hostels offer free towels, I never pack a full-sized towel of my own. I do, however, pack one of these ultra-compact Packtowls for the rare occasion that I can’t get my hands on a towel when I need one.

Packing cube/shoulder bag combo travel organizer

Packing Cube/Shoulder Bag : TOM BIHN

Organization and functionality are key in the carry-on lifestyle, which is why I pack this handy packing cube that doubles as a shoulder bag. Without this simple piece of travel organization , my bag would be a disaster, and I wouldn’t have a stylin’ shoulder bag for day trips.

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White Bluetooth Apple AirPods headphones

Headphones : Apple AirPods Pro

I love the feel of over-ear headphones (and have traveled with them for years), but it was only a matter of time before I switched to the Apple AirPods Pro. They’re great at canceling noise, work flawlessly for phone calls, and pump out high-quality audio. What’s not to love?

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20,000mAh battery bank for laptops, cells phones, and other devices

Battery Bank : Anker

My Anker battery bank bails me out time and time again on the road. It’s durable and compact, and will fully charge my cell phone three or four times before it runs out of juice. Not to mention, it’s powerful enough to charge my laptop and is a lifesaver when I can’t find an outlet.

Black ultralight headlamp

Headlamp : Nitecore NU25

I don’t use my headlamp frequently when I travel, but it’s sure nice to have around when I need it. Whether packing up camp on the Huemul Circuit or night fishing on the North Shore of Hawaii, my headlamp always shines bright and leads the way.

Small black Bluetooth travel speaker

Bluetooth Speaker : JBL Go 3

Do I need to pack a Bluetooth speaker? No, but I bring my JBL Go 3 on all of my trips anyway. It’s super compact, fully waterproof, and sounds incredible. Sometimes, I just feel the need to rock out to tunes or listen to podcasts sans headphones.

Lightweight & Packable Travel Clothing

The traveler’s tendency to bring far too many clothes along is the biggest hindrance to packing light.

Few things make me cringe more than witnessing a fellow traveler fight and struggle with a bag bursting at the seams with two weeks’ worth of clothing.

I bring a maximum of six shirts and two pairs of travel pants for every trip I take, and I usually manage not to come across as a scruffy and stinky drifter.

  • I pack clothing made from highly breathable materials that stay fresh longer than cotton.
  • I pack primarily dark colors that hide the constant smudges and stains of travel.
  • I utilize laundromats or sink-wash my clothing before it’s reached its limit.

Sweater/Jacket

Travel Pants (2)

Rain Jacket

Athletic Shorts

Button-Up Shirt

T-Shirts (4)

Underwear (5)

Grey crew neck sweatshirt

Sweatshirt : Mack Weldon

My Mack Weldon crew neck sweatshirt is super soft, keeps me warm, and fits like a glove. My partner, Keri, never fails to get a bit perturbed if I wear another sweatshirt instead of it. It’s a quality piece of clothing that I feel great in.

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Black lightweight and breathable travel pants

Travel Pants: Outlier Slim Dungarees

Versatile pants are essential for carry-on travel, and the Outlier Slim Dungarees check all the boxes. They fit super well, match all my shirts, and are lightweight and durable. My uncomfortable days of traveling in constricting pants are now far behind me.

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Black minimalist travel sandals

Athletic Sandals : LUNA OSO Flaco

My LUNAs are compact, versatile, and well-built. Their durable zero-drop soles provide the support and stability of a hiking shoe while enjoying the convenience and breathability of a sandal. These shoes are much more practical than flip-flops and thrive almost everywhere.

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Black lightweight travel packing rain jacket

Rain Jacket : Marmot Precip

While this isn’t my favorite rain jacket for trekking and backpacking, it works well as a lightweight travel jacket. It blocks rain nicely and keeps me warm when worn as a shell with my sweatshirt when life on the road gets chilly.

Black running, hiking and backpacking shorts

Athletic Shorts: Patagonia Multi Trails

A good set of athletic shorts will always have a place on my packing list, and these are my absolute favorites. They’re feather-light, fit comfortably, and dry quickly. They also have three zippered pockets, so I’m not at risk of losing my important travel essentials.

Blue button-down Japanese Oxford travel shirt

Button-Down Shirt: Everlane

I’ve owned my Everlane Japanese Oxford for years, and wear it when I need to transform from ‘scruffy ultralight backpacker ‘ to ‘respectable, cultured traveler’. From what I can gather, it works like a charm (I hope).

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travel light gear

T-Shirts: Wool&Prince

These Wool&Prince t-shirts are perfect for my minimalist travel style. They’re a blend of 78% Merino wool and 22% Nylon, making them soft, breathable, odor-resistant, and moisture-wicking (without stretching out). To top it off, they fit my frame better than any other t-shirt I’ve ever worn.

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Dark blue travel boxer briefs

Boxer Briefs: Mack Weldon

The Mack Weldons are my go-to everyday boxer briefs and get the job done for travel, hiking, blogging, you name it. They’re comfy, breathable, and odor-resistant, which makes them especially great for travel. Never underestimate the importance of a good set of undies.

Black athletic sock

Socks: Darn Tough No Show

Darn Tough makes the most comfortable and durable socks I’ve ever put on. They’re a perfect blend of Merino wool, nylon, and Spandex, keeping my feet feeling fresh and comfortable during travel. Pricey? Yes. Worth it? Definitely.

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Brown and black reversible travel belt

Travel Belt : Jasgood

I used to wear a zippered money-hiding belt, but I’m good enough at deterring pickpockets that I don’t really need it. I now rock this black and brown reversible belt instead. It can be dressed up or down, goes well with all my travel wear, and doesn’t set off metal detectors at the airport.

Sometimes, travel takes you to chilly destinations , so you’d better be prepared with warm, lightweight, and packable travel clothing when the conditions are downright cold.

With all the warm and well-made winter gear on the market, there’s no excuse to let cold weather cheapen or derail your trip.

And, no, preparing for a frosty weather adventure doesn’t mean you have to ditch your carry-on travel mantra either.

Winter Jacket

Long Underwear

Black down jacket

Down Jacket : Arc’teryx Cerium LT

The Cerium LT is by far the warmest down jacket I’ve ever owned. It keeps me comfortable in below-freezing temperatures and is a must-bring on all my cold-weather backpacking adventures. It’s remarkably lightweight and packs down conveniently into its built-in stuff sack.

Black long underwear

Long Underwear : Patagonia Capilene

I love my lightweight travel pants, but they don’t always keep my legs warm when temperatures drop. That’s why I bring these along to all of my cold-weather travel destinations. They provide an extra layer of warmth and take up barely any room in my bag.

Black fleece beanie

Warm Hat : Carhartt Knit Beanie

This fleece beanie is a staple of my cold-weather outfit, whether I’m traveling or not. I love it not only for its warmth and comfort but also for its affordable price tag. When I lost my first Carhartt beanie, I had zero hesitation in replacing it immediately.

Grey wool sock

Warm Socks : Smartwool Extra Heavy

My travel shoes often need a little help insulating my feet in frosty weather, so I pack a pair of Smartwool Extra Heavy socks when the temperatures call for them. These socks are ultra warm, however, so consider a pair of Darn Tough Hikers if your feet tend to run hot.

Black waterproof glove

Gloves : Sealskinz Waterproof

I bought these waterproof gloves solely for hiking and backpacking, but they’ve also proven to be great travel gloves. They’re compact, stylish, and comfortable, and they keep my hands toasty warm on even the coldest winter days.

Travel Photography Gear 

It’d be a pity to travel the world without quality photography gear to capture life’s vivid moments on the road.

Not only do I cherish the thousands of memorable photos my camera has taken, but these images enhance my blog and bring it to life for you, my reader.

Nearly every photo on this blog was captured using the camera and lenses I’ve listed below or my trusty iPhone 13 Pro.

Extra Lenses

Extra Batteries/Charger

Black travel camera with all-in-one lens

Camera + Lens : Fujifilm X-T4

After tireless research into travel cameras, I bought the Fujifilm X-T4 in 2023. It’s been a proud part of my carry-on packing list ever since. It’s sleek, durable, effortless to use, and captures reliably excellent photos and video.

Lightweight packable travel tripod

Tripod : Ultrapod

The Ultrapod II is one of the most compact and affordable travel tripods on the market, so adding it to my travel photography setup was a no-brainer. Sure, its short stature limits its capabilities, but it does everything I ask of it (and nothing more).

Connectivity & Organization Items 

Blogging is my passion, and my professional life revolves around it.

To leave on a trip without the necessary tools to blog would send me into a spiral of panic and sadness.

Thankfully, I’ve found a place in my packing list for each essential piece of my lightweight blogging gear.

That’s right; I can fit all my personal and professional needs into one bag and carry it onto an airplane.

That’s freedom.

Here’s my simple, powerful, and efficient travel blogging setup that allows me to live a lightweight and mobile life on the road.

Laptop Stand

Laptop Case

Pocket Journal

Travel Adapter

13 inch laptop

Laptop : MacBook Pro 14″

Travel blogging could get annoying quickly without a fast and reliable computer, so I invested in the MacBook Pro 14″. This trusty machine has the speed and power to answer all my blogging needs. It’s portable, durable, and lightweight and has never disappointed me.

Black foldable laptop stand for travel and remote working

Laptop Stand : Roost

Elevating my laptop to eye level has been a complete game-changer while working remotely. Gone are the days of slouching over to type, which creates bad posture that can lead to back and neck problems. The Roost is the lightest and most portable stand on the market.

White bluetooth keyboard

Bluetooth Keyboard : Apple Magic Keyboard

Because I use my Roost to elevate my laptop, I need a keyboard to keep my hands at a comfortable level. My Magic Keyboard is essentially a replica of my MacBook’s keyboard, allowing me to type as comfortably as I had before I started using a stand.

White Apple Magic Mouse

Bluetooth Mouse : Apple Magic Mouse

I went all-out Apple and sprung for one of their Magic Mouses (Mice?). So far, it has worked flawlessly for me and has stood up admirably to the abuses of travel. Incredibly, it can last nearly a month between charges. How in the world is that possible?!

Black laptop case for lightweight travel

Laptop Case : tomtoc 360°

Protecting my MacBook Pro while I travel is mandatory. That’s why I carry this generously padded and water-resistant case. I love its external pocket, which is handy for storing cords, pens, notebooks, and other travel essentials .

Leather bound pocket journal

Pocket Journal : Moleskine Soft Cover

I’m a forgetful writer, so my pocket journal is one of my most valuable blogging tools. It has a thick leather-like cover and durable pages that withstand the relentless abuses of travel. With it, I capture fleeting details that otherwise might fade from my memory.

Oval shaped pen

Pen : Fisher Space Bullet

I’d be doing my journal a disservice if I didn’t bring a suitable pen. The Fisher Space Bullet is sleek, reliable, and versatile. It uses pressurized cartridges, allowing me to write at any angle, at any livable temperature, and even underwater.

Grey travel adapter

Travel Adapter : Anker

The Anker is the lightest adapter on the market that’ll charge my MacBook Pro at a reasonable speed. It’s far smaller than anything I’ve ever used and comes in handy during domestic and international travels. It has two USB-C ports and one micro-USB port.

Travel Toiletries

Remember when I said that despite carrying minimal clothing, I usually manage not to come across as a scruffy and stinky drifter while I travel?

My lightweight travel wardrobe deserves a lot of credit, but my compact and high-quality toiletries set should get some recognition too.

I’ve somehow managed to squeeze all my hygienic travel needs into a small, durable toiletries bag that weighs almost nothing

Toiletries Bag

Hair-Styling Product

Dental Floss

Glasses/Contacts

Contact Solution/Case

Ear Cleaner/Swabs

Nail Clippers

Multivitamins

Black ULTRA material ditty bag for travel toiletries

Toiletries Bag : UltraLite Sacks

This nifty ditty bag isn’t advertised as a toiletries kit, but it works perfectly for my current setup. It’s ultralight, durable, waterproof, and fits nicely inside my travel bag. I use an ultralight trail wallet and a small zippered pouch inside my dittyfor extra organization.

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Two bottles of liquid soap

Soap : Dr. Bronner’s

Dr. Bronner’s is a practical and versatile soap with 18 different uses. I use it along my travels as an effective body wash, shampoo, and laundry detergent. It smells great and is full of healthy and sustainable ingredients. A little of this soap goes a very long way.

Bamboo travel tooth brush

Toothbrush : Bamboo

What you see is what you get. This simple toothbrush is cheap, lightweight, and eco-friendly. As long as I rinse it thoroughly and let it dry after every use, it stays clean and germ-free in my ditty bag.

Peppermind toothpaste

Toothpaste : Dr. Bronner’s Peppermint

I’m a sucker for Dr. Bronner’s products. Their toothpaste, just like their soap, is made from simple ingredients that have withstood the test of time. Some natural toothpaste brands (like Tom’s) don’t seem to leave my mouth feeling completely fresh, but Dr. Bronner’s does.

White stick of natural deodorant

Deodorant : Schmidt’s

It took me years of searching and sampling to find an all-natural deodorant that keeps my travel musk at bay. Finally, I came across Schmidt’s, which boasts loads of different scents of healthy, long-lasting deodorants full of natural ingredients you can pronounce.

Sleek, silver shaving razor

Razor : Dollar Shave Club

I stock up on Dollar Shave Club razors whenever I’m back in the US because they’re affordable, convenient, and they get the job done. I’ve tried the mail-in alternatives (Harry’s and Gillette), and DSC beats them in price and quality.

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Teeth flosser sticks

Dental Floss : Plackers Micro Mint

For whatever reason, I can’t stand flossing my teeth the old-fashioned way – with a string of floss and nothing else. Thankfully, someone invented these nifty little ‘Plackers’ to make dental hygiene much more bearable for struggling flossers like myself.

Metal ear cleaner for travel toiletries

Ear Cleaner : Mudder Ear Pick

Traveling with dozens of pesky Q-tips was an annoying reality until I discovered the wonders of the metal ear pick. My shiny new tool is more compact than a handful of Q-tips, and it’s a far healthier device to remove wax from my ear.

Bottle of multivitamin capsules

Multivitamin : Naturelo ‘One Daily’

My diet is all over the place when I travel , so I always pack daily multivitamins to ensure that my immune system stays strong. While I prefer eating fresh fruits and vegetables to swallowing capsules, at least I can guarantee that I’ll get the nutrients I need one way or another.

Whether on a bus, train, or airplane, personal comfort is paramount when I’m in transit for long periods.

This fact of life is why I’ve put together the most comfortable travel outfit possible from head to toe.

The clothes listed below will never actually make it into my fully packed carry-on bag simply because I always sport them on my travel days.

Long Sleeve Shirt

Travel Shoes

Black long sleeve wool travel shirt

Long Sleeve Shirt : Wool&Prince

In many ways, this Wool&Prince Long Sleeve Raglan is the perfect ‘in transit’ top. It’s breathable enough to keep me from overheating in hot and muggy climates but also substantial enough to keep me warm when the A/C blasts down. It’s the best travel shirt in my arsenal.

Grey pair of casual jogger pants

Athletic Pants : Bluffworks Ascender Jogger

A comfortable pair of pants is essential when I’m in transit for long periods, so I always wear these ultra-cozy joggers during my travel days. They’re a cotton/polyester blend, which makes the material soft, stretchy, and breathable – the perfect combo for long hauls.

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Black minimalist travel shoe

Athletic Shoes : Lems Primal Zen

The Primal Zens are tremendous everyday zero-drop travel shoes . I’ve put hundreds of hard-earned travel miles on them and have also worn them into the mountains for long-distance hiking adventures. They’re stylish and versatile and are my go-to travel kicks.

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Black Carhartt five panel travel hat

Hat : Carhartt

I cycle through travel hats as the seasons change, and this Carhartt five-panel cap is my current flavor. It’s breathable and stylish and helps me hide my messy mop when I’m out and about. I tend to procrastinate haircuts, so a baseball hat is a must-have piece of travel gear.

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Black polarized travel sunglasses

Sunglasses : Knockaround Fast Lanes

At only $35 a pop, the Knockaround Fast Lanes have become a vital part of my travel outfit. These rock-solid shades block light and allow me to catch some shut-eye for long stretches in trains, planes, and other less-than-ideal sleeping situations.

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Boxer Briefs : Mack Weldon

As I mentioned before, these are my go-to everyday boxer briefs. That means I definitely wear them on days I travel. For women with undie-envy, check out the ExOfficio Give ‘n’ Go Bikini Briefs , which are also lightweight, breathable, and highly reviewed.

Black wool sock

Socks : Darn Tough No Show

These are such exceptional socks that I had to mention them twice. They work wonders for my feet on busy travel days, keeping them cozy, dry, and fresh. For a higher-cut sock, check out the Darn Tough Hiker 1/4 Cushion .

Live the Carry-On Travel Lifestyle

So, there you have it, an up-close glimpse at every single item inside my lightweight and portable travel bag.

Thanks to my carry-on travel packing list, I can go wherever I want and do as I please in the most efficient way possible.

Now, it’s your turn to take a step back and look inside your travel luggage.

Whatever the inside of your bag looks like, remember this:

Traveling light is a mindset; it’s a conscious decision.

Freedom and mobility are enjoyed by those who lighten their load.

Photo of author

Noel Krasomil

Affiliate Disclosure : Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links. If you click an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Affiliate links help support this website and keep it 100% ad-free.

10 thoughts on “My Carry-On Packing List for 1 Week or More [2024 Edition]”

For too long I have sat at a tilt, with one side of my body precariously and painfully settled atop a bulky, firm wallet. Now, thanks to Noel and the Herschel Charlie, I can rest easy and flatly with no pain to my rear end while knowing my cards and cash are safe and accounted for.

Looks like I’ve saved you from a lifetime of excruciating back pain. You can thank me later for that.

Hey Noel, love your blog! One question, I am contemplating the carry-on travel livestyle for a trip to South America. With the intention to hike a lot. Would you recommend bringing trail runners or walking boots?

Thanks for commenting, Mimi! It really depends where you’re planning on traveling and what kind of hiking you’d be doing in South America, but my instinct is to tell you to bring trail runners. They’ll be much lighter, more breathable, and more mobile, and won’t be a burden in hot weather. If you’re planning on spending a lot of time in chilly, wet climates (ie Patagonia) then maybe you should consider bringing your boots. Can you tell me a bit more about your trip?

Love what you’re up to, Noel. Truly. Two questions about the passport cover: 1) Have you found the need for a passport cover to be waterproof? 2) In foreign territory, do you carry your passport in your bag, in your pocket, or elsewhere?

Clif, I don’t think passport covers need to be waterproof, as you shouldn’t be carrying your passport around for 95% of the time after you reach your destination. The chances of an in-transit spill that ruins your passport are very low. I always carry my passport in a zippered pants pocket and stash it somewhere safe once I reach my hotel/hostel/Airbnb. Hope this helps!

Thank you for sharing Packing List for Hiking & Backpacking, which is most important for adventure outdoor activities.

Traveling light is the key to freedom and comfort. Noel Krasomil’s carry-on packing list is a game-changer for adventurers.

Thanks for sharing your experience on backpacking and essential needs. I’m always looking for new ideals, I’m new to the backpacking adventures. And every little bit helps. Thanks

You’re welcome, Bryan! Happy backpackin’.

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Baby Boomster

Active Women Over 50

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How to Travel Light and Nifty When You’re Over 50

by Rebecca Forstadt-Olkowski 8 Comments

One of my biggest passions is travel, and if I could, I’d do it all year long. But traveling can be taxing for those of us over 50. We have to maneuver through crowded airports, squeeze ourselves into seats like sardines, and haul our luggage from planes into trains, buses, and automobiles. The actual “travel” part of traveling is what takes a toll on our heads, shoulders, knees, and toes. Still, nothing is more thrilling than getting on a plane and taking off to a fabulous destination .  That’s why it’s best to travel light.

It’s not always easy if you’re a female

We like to dress to impress, especially if we’re traveling on a group tour or cruise. The more we stuff in our bags, the more it’s a pain in the neck. . . literally. That’s why I’ve put together my recommended list of travel accessories and essentials to travel light, so you can enjoy your trip and still be in style.

Carry a cross-body bag

Certain items spell out “tourist” and can be prey to pickpockets. Backpacks, Fannie packs, passport holders, and other “designated travel gear” are easy to spot. As women, most of us carry some type of purse but for travel, we need something sturdy and preferably structured. A well-designed cross-body bag will give the most control.

In the interest of traveling light, it is best to find a bag that is medium in size. If it is too small, it’s easy to lose things and if it’s too large, it’s too heavy to carry. Items you may want to carry could include your phone, wallet, documents, a small digital camera, and some snacks . I also prefer a bag with a holder for a water bottle to stay hydrated. The most important feature I look for in a bag is a secure fastener so it doesn’t pop open unexpectedly making it easy prey to thieves.

Travelon makes anti-theft bags that have multiple compartments and zip up securely. They are also lightweight.

Travelon Bag

You can also travel safely carrying a non-travel-designated bag that looks stylish. Tory Burch and Kate Spade have a nice assortment of cross-body bags that don’t cry out “traveler”.

Kate Spade bag

Another cool item to help keep track of what is in your purse is to insert a purse organizer. The organizer below from Etsy has space for a water bottle which I love because I hate when my bottle splashes inside my purse. This will keep it secure and you won’t look like a tourist with a travel bag or backpack.

Purse organizer from Etsy

If possible, only bring a carry-on bag

I like to travel as lightly as humanly possible and always try to limit myself to a carry-on bag along with a second smaller bag that will hold my purse, laptop, and toiletries. That way there is less to schlep when you are trying to get on a train or subway, and you can easily transfer your belongings to the next hotel. I only take basic “ capsule wardrobe ” items that mix and match and are easy to wash and dry.

A spinner suitcase has 4 wheels, rather than 2, making it easier to haul around in different directions. The Samsonite Freeform Hardside Expandable was a top choice on Good Housekeeping. It is available in multiple colors, has a 10-year warranty, and is ultra-light with a strong shell.

Samsonite Freeform Hardside Expandable

Visit the Samsonite Store on Amazon here.

What about winter clothes?

I’ve taken several European trips in November and December when the weather was chilly. It’s not as easy to travel light when it’s freezing outside and you need a warm coat.

One thing I NEVER do is pack bulky sweaters or wool coats. One big sweater will fill up an entire suitcase? Instead, I bring a nylon down jacket that will squish into a small bag if needed. For extra warmth, baselayer tops and bottoms  are wonderful because they don’t take up space in your luggage but more importantly, don’t add bulk to your figure when you are having photos taken.

travel light gear

When it’s cold it’s all about your jacket

I love Columbia outerwear and wore one of their down jackets during the winter . The important thing is you don’t want to look like the Pillsbury Doughboy. Choose one that doesn’t add weight to your figure.

Attractive down jacket by Columbia

Find Columbia insulated jackets on Amazon here.

If the weather is rainy, you may want to take a waterproof jacket with you. Rather than look like a tourist in a plastic poncho, bring along a lightweight rain jacket that folds up compactly instead.

travel light gear

See waterproof jackets from Columbia on Amazon here.

Travel tip – Carry your coat on the plane so you can use it as a pillow to snuggle up in. Airplanes are notoriously chilly.

You may also enjoy:  10 Winter Travel Tips for Baby Boomers

Use packing cubes to organize your suitcase

Packing Cubes

Eagle Creek has a large selection of packing cubes so you can separate items in your luggage and make them easier to find. They come in a variety of colors and sizes.  They’re also perfect for storing dirty or wet clothes

Visit the Eagle Creek store on Amazon here

Don’t forget your camera

When I travel, I love to take lots of photos. Even though my smartphone has an excellent camera, it doesn’t have a zoom lens.  Also, a camera can be heavy and strain your neck. If I need an extra camera I bring my lightweight Canon PowerShot . It takes amazing shots and is affordable as well.

Visit the Canon Store on Amazon, here.

To travel light make your clothing options simple

My travel uniform is usually a pair of comfortable black pants and a black top. I wear black because it hides most of my bulges in photos. I also like to choose a fabric that’s easy to rinse out and dry.  I might also bring along a reversible jacket to give some color to my “outfit”uniform” which is two jackets in one, or a pretty silk infinity scarf so I don’t have to worry about tying it.

If you’re traveling from city to city there is no reason to make multiple outfit changes because no one has seen you before. A small collection of clothing you can mix and match that is no iron, is easy to pack, and saves a ton of space does the trick. It’s also a good idea to pack a simple dark-colored travel dress that can be accessorized for either a casual or more formal occasion.

Make sure your shoes are comfortable

Traveling usually means lots of walking which is healthy so a pair of sturdy walking shoes is a must. To prevent getting blisters, wear durable socks to protect your skin. Your feet will thank you and you’ll have much more fun.

You may also want to pack a pair of flat loafers, ballet slippers, or sandals depending on the weather and your location. Leave your stilettos at home to avoid any accidents that could ruin your vacation.

Here are some suggestions for travel shoes.

A packing tip – Take no more than 3 pairs of shoes and fill the insides with your socks or undies to save space in your suitcase.

This post was updated on 8/2023.

How do you travel light? Please leave a comment below.

Travel Light Over 50

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About Rebecca Forstadt-Olkowski

Rebecca Olkowski is a travel/lifestyle blogger and founder of BabyBoomster.com, for active older women over 50. She is a purveyor of all things fun, loves to venture out in the world, is a foodie, and lives in Los Angeles.

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January 10, 2017 at 11:38 am

Thanks for the tips! We’re traveling to Europe soon!

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January 10, 2017 at 12:00 pm

Very cool! I hope you have an awesome time.

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January 10, 2017 at 2:58 pm

Great tips, Rebecca! I always try to pack light but, rarely accomplish as much as I’d like. Thanks for sharing! b

January 10, 2017 at 3:18 pm

Thanks, Barbara, I know it isn’t easy sometimes. There are always items in my bag that never get used. LOL

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January 10, 2017 at 5:56 pm

As a frequent traveler I endorse your tips 100 percent! I may have to get a parka soon…..i just don’t like them.

January 10, 2017 at 7:22 pm

Thanks, Carol. Living in Southern California, we hardly ever need parkas, but recently it’s been chilly enough. The one I bought for my trips has come in handy.

October 18, 2018 at 11:58 am

I Just felt like tripping around your blog and randomly sharing posts of interest today. 😉

October 18, 2018 at 8:13 pm

Thanks, Carol. I appreciate you stopping by. Very cool!

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Saint Petersburg- What to Pack- Clothing and Supplies Tips

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Saint Petersburg- What to Pack

The climate of St. Petersburg can be unpredictable. Know what to pack so you’re prepared.

No matter what you have planned for your Saint Petersburg adventure, these luggage options are ideal for a short or long-term stay.

Away's Bigger Carry-On

Away's Bigger Carry-On

Everlane's Mover Pack

Everlane's Mover Pack

Herschel Supply Co. Backpack

Herschel Supply Co. Backpack

For summer, pack a light jacket or sweater. It rains a lot, for long periods, so bring waterproof gear, including comfortable, waterproof shoes. High temperatures range from the low 60s-70s.

Winters are cold but buildings are well-heated. Take thermal undergarments, clothes that you can layer, plenty of socks and gloves, and boots for walking in the snow. Bring as much flannel, wool, fur, and fleece as possible.

For the theater, bring a classy outfit, such as black pants and a dress shirt or blouse.

Women should have a head-covering when entering religious buildings.

Clothes to Pack

  • Dress Shirts
  • Casual Shirts
  • Sweatshirts
  • Laundry Kit
  • Leisure Shoes
  • Hiking Boots
  • Dress Shoes
  • Collapsible Tote

Bring an adapter to charge electronics, and memory cards to store photos.

Electronics to Pack

  • Laptop/Tablet
  • Electronics Chargers
  • Travel Adapter
  • Film/Memory Card
  • Electric Toothbrush

Pack your favorite toiletries, including over-the-counter medications. Russian equivalents are marketed under different brands and labeled in Cyrillic. Bring prescriptions (with back-up doses if possible). Carry toilet paper, which is scarce in public places, and spare change. (There’s a charge to use public toilets).

Toiletries to Pack

  • Dental Floss
  • Conditioner
  • Styling Tools
  • Facial Cleanser
  • Face Lotion
  • Moisturizer
  • Contact Lenses
  • Contact Solution
  • Shaving Supplies
  • Makeup Remover
  • Menstrual Products
  • Birth Control/Medication
  • Nail Clippers
  • Hand Sanitizer
  • First-Aid Ointment
  • Insect Repellent
  • Pain Relievers

 Guidebooks

An excellent resource on Eastern or Central Europe is In Your Pocket . Another is  DK Eyewitness Travel Guide:  St. Petersburg .  Bring a good English-Russian dictionary.

Other Essentials

Take a neck or money bag for cash and bank cards. Otherwise, bring coats or jackets with zippered inside pockets.

Bring mosquito repellent (or Vitamin B tablets) during warmer months.

Take copies of your visa and passport in case the originals are lost.

Use cash or bank cards; travelers checks aren’t readily accepted, especially outside big cities.

Editor’s Note:   The information contained on this page was compiled using real traveler reviews about what to pack in Saint Petersburg.

We hand-pick everything we recommend and select items through testing and reviews. Some products are sent to us free of charge with no incentive to offer a favorable review. We offer our unbiased opinions and do not accept compensation to review products. All items are in stock and prices are accurate at the time of publication. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.

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Arc’teryx Just Gave Its Dream Travel Shoe a Rugged Winter Upgrade

Half lightweight slip-on, half winter boot.

tan Arc'teryx shoe

By Jack Seemer

Every product is carefully selected by our editors. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission.  Learn more

After Arc’teryx debuted the Kragg earlier this year, one Gear Patrol writer dubbed it the “perfect travel shoe” for its combination of comfort and technical prowess.

For starters, Arc’teryx designed the Kragg as an approach shoe. Thus, the brand gave it a breathable Spacermesh upper and durable Vibram outsole with extra protection toward the toebox — mostly as a bumper against rocks but more than adequate to handle whatever a foreign city or airport might throw your way. Its slip-on design and a low-profile look also help to expedite security, all the while matching a vast range of outfits.

black slip-on shoe

New for Arc’teryx’s fall and winter collection, a recent update expands on that formula but ushers the Kragg into shoulder season with a pair of winter-ready upgrades to deal with cooler temperatures.

tan Arc'teryx shoe

New Release

Kragg Insulated Shoe

  • $180 at Arc'Teryx

Arc’teryx Kragg Insulated Shoe

The updated Kragg carries over the same slip-on design of the OG model but trades in the low-cut topline for a mid-height upper equipped with sock-like collar reminiscent of another recent release, the Hoka Tecton X 3.

yellow Arc'teryx shoe

Otherwise, it shares much of the Kragg’s original DNA. Taken together, the Vibram Megagrip outsole, rubber toe cap and sidewall, and knitted stretch tongue promise grip, protection and comfort.

Not visible, however, is perhaps its biggest update: the addition of PrimaLoft Gold insulation. Arc’teryx doesn’t specify how much of it is present but the material is comparable to 750 fill goose down and offers superior performance to natural fibers when wet.

tan Arc'teryx shoe

Pricing and availability

The Kragg Insulated Shoe is available now for $180, a $20 premium over the original Kragg.

Unfortunately, the colors are somewhat limited at launch. The model comes in Canvas tan with a tonal outsole, as well as bright yellow Euphoria with black rubber.

tnf x mellow clyffe

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The Essential Camera Gear You Need for Incredible Vacation and Travel Photos

From the best travel camera to the tripods, bags and accessories to consider, this is what you should keep in mind for your next photography trip.

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  • Shortlisted for British Photography Awards 2022, Commended in Landscape Photographer of the Year 2022

A scenic cityscape

Vacations always provide endless opportunities for incredible travel photos, whether you're flying to a tropical island, hiking into the Swiss Alps or simply enjoying a long weekend away in your nearest stretch of quaint countryside. And with powerful cameras stuffed into phones like the iPhone 15 Pro Max and the Galaxy S24 Ultra , along with a plethora of  amazing mirrorless cameras from the likes of Canon, Sony and Fujifilm, getting stunning images packed with memories doesn't require hauling a ton of photography gear with you. 

I've been a professional photographer for over a decade and have traveled the world taking photos in all conditions. Here, I'll take you through the essential gear you need to bring with you on your trip. I'll also recommend some extras to consider if you want to return home with creative pieces of art, rather than just holiday snaps. 

Read more:   Take Pro Travel Photos This Summer With These Easy Tips

Choose the right camera

While you're unlikely going to buy an entirely new camera system just for an upcoming trip, if you're in the market already for a new camera then an imminent vacation is a great excuse to invest. Traveling with a camera used to mean hauling a big, heavy DSLR in your backpack everywhere you go, but mercifully modern mirrorless cameras are typically much smaller and lighter, making them superb for traveling. I took just my Canon R5 and a small, lightweight 50mm f1.8 lens on a three-week trip to Sicily and loved the shots I got from this compact setup.

The R5 doesn't come cheap, nor is it the smallest camera around, but it offers stunning image quality from its full-frame sensor, amazing video skills and has pro features like in-body image stabilization. Want something a bit smaller? Look towards a micro four thirds camera like the Fujifilm X-S10 or the fixed-lens X100VI. Check out my guide to the best cameras if you want inspiration on which model to go for. 

A person wearing a photography bag

Keeping your lens choices to a minimum will help reduce the weight. A standard zoom lens like a 24-70mm gives a great range for capturing wide, sweeping vistas, while providing enough zoom to get closer up on your subjects. I'd also recommend packing a small prime lens (like the 50mm f1.8) as these tend to be lightweight and compact enough to always have in your bag or slung around your shoulder for whenever inspiration strikes.

Read more: Best Camera Phone for 2024

But maybe you don't need a camera at all -- today's top phones can take amazing images and can shoot in raw format allowing for the same sort of editing you'd typically do with images from regular cameras. The iPhone 15 Pro Max takes gorgeous images -- especially using Apple's ProRaw format -- and its multiple rear lenses give creative shooting options for whatever scene you find yourself in front of. 

A person holding a Canon EOS RP

Canon's EOS RP offers full-frame quality but in a very compact size, particularly when paired with the tiny 50mm f1.8 lens.

The best travel tripod

A tripod certainly isn't essential for all travel photography, but when the light fades and you need to slow the shutter speed to several seconds to get a good exposure, you'll need one to secure your camera. You'll definitely need a tripod if you want to nail those nighttime shots overlooking a gorgeous bay, capture the stars above those snowcapped mountains, or pull off those artful long exposures of waterfalls.

A bridge over water with wispy clouds in a blue sky in the background

By using a sturdy tripod, I was able to slow the shutter speed right down to capture the motion of the water and clouds over the Forth Bridge.

Again, size matters and you should look for a compact, travel tripod that can easily fit in your backpack -- or attach to the outside of it. Modern materials like carbon fiber will keep the weight down, but they also tend to be more expensive, so you'll need to decide how much you're willing to shell out. 

As its name suggests, the Peak Design travel tripod is a great tripod for traveling, thanks to its small size when folded down and its light weight. I've done all-day hikes with this strapped to my back and barely noticed its presence -- something I can't say for most tripods. Make sure to check out my full roundup of the  best tripods you can buy . Or, if weight is really an issue, you can even try using your own DIY tripod .

A person wearing a backpack-style photography bag

A proper adventure backpack

A dedicated photo bag should be high on your list. After all, you don't want your fancy new gear getting knocked around and breaking, do you? A good bag will have compartments to keep your camera safe and secure, but will also let you access it quickly. It's important, too, to find one that also has plenty of space to keep other items you'll need while out and about.

If you're going to be out with it all day, I recommend a backpack with two shoulder straps, rather than a single-strap messenger bag. It'll spread that weight over both your shoulders and keep you comfortable longer. Look for things like side-access zips, so you can quickly get your camera out when inspiration strikes; plenty of additional pockets for batteries and snacks; weather-resistant materials; and mounting points to help carry your tripod. 

I've done a lot of the hard work for you in rounding up my top photography backpacks . There are options for all kinds of photography, from short city breaks to multiday hikes with lots of gear. Have a read through that list, and make sure that what you're taking is suitable for where you're going.

People walking in the foreground of a beautiful cityscape

Always keeping your camera handy means you're ever ready to shoot when you see a good opportunity.

The important extras

The list above is really the essential stuff you'll need to take with you. How much more you bring will depend on how seriously you take your photography and the sort of images you hope to take. Those of you going on wildlife safaris, for example, will benefit from packing a big telephoto zoom lens. Always consider having multiple spare batteries and a charger, as even the best cameras will tend to give you only a day of photos. There's nothing worse than getting to a beautiful afternoon destination only to find you exhausted your power in the morning. Keeping a spare in your bag will let you swap it out and keep on shooting into the evening.

Read more: Best Accessories for Photographers

The same goes for storage. It's easy to take hundreds of raw images a day in a beautiful location and all those shots can quickly fill up your card. Thankfully, SD cards are pretty cheap these days, so it's worth buying a few 64GB or 128GB cards to keep with you. 

Then there's the wide array of photographic filters that may help you get certain shots. A circular polarizer can be used to help make blue skies more vivid, or reduce the reflection on water, while a neutral density filter darkens the image, allowing you to use long exposures to blur the motion of water, cars or people. 

A marker sign in water

By using a neutral density filter, I was able to blur the motion of the water until it became a smooth and silky surface.

If you want to shoot video on your travels, you may need additional equipment, such as microphones, higher-capacity, faster storage cards and perhaps even video tripods or gimbals for smoother, professional-looking footage. Check out my guide to the  best accessories for video production  for more info. 

I'm Blown Away by These Photos I Took on the Xiaomi 14 Ultra

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Air Canada could begin suspending flights soon as strike deadline nears

Air canada pilots will be in legal strike position on sept. 17.

A traveller passes a line of pilots holding signs.

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Air Canada is finalizing plans to suspend most of its operations, likely beginning Sunday, as talks with the pilot union near an impasse over "inflexible" wage demands, the country's largest airline said on Monday.

The airline and its low-cost subsidiary Air Canada Rouge are preparing to gradually suspend flights over three days, potentially starting as early as Sept. 15. The carriers operate nearly 670 flights daily.

Unless an agreement is reached, the carrier or the union are likely to issue a 72-hour strike notice or a lockout notice that triggers a three-day wind down plan. The shutdown could affect 110,000 passengers daily.

Air Canada is allowing customers with travel scheduled between Sept. 15 and 23 to make changes right now to their booking at no cost. Customers can also elect to cancel flights and receive a credit for future travel instead.

If a strike or lockout notice is issued and a traveller's flight is cancelled, Air Canada will notify those affected and they'll be eligible for a full refund — but they won't be entitled to any additional compensation under Canada's existing Airline Passenger Protection Regulations.

Barry Eidlin, an associate professor of sociology at McGill University, said that the standoff between Air Canada and the pilots union is standard, as far as negotiations go.

He added that Canadians negotiating union contracts this year have done so in the context of high inflation, which "has really eaten into Canadian workers' paycheques."

"There is this game of catch-up being played, where workers are trying to make up for lost ground and especially ... in the context of collective bargaining agreements that were negotiated prior to the inflationary climate," he said.

'Still time to reach an agreement,' says Air Canada CEO

Talks between Air Canada and the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), which represents more than 5,200 pilots at Canada's largest carrier, are continuing, but both parties remain far apart, the company said.

travel light gear

Air Canada could begin suspending flights next weekend if no agreement made with pilots union

"Air Canada believes there is still time to reach an agreement with our pilot group, provided ALPA moderates its wage demands, which far exceed average Canadian wage increases," CEO Michael Rousseau said in the statement Monday.

First officer Charlene Hudy, chair of the Air Canada master executive council for ALPA, told CBC News in a written statement that Air Canada "should stop threatening to disrupt air travel and come to the bargaining table with serious proposals."

"Air Canada continues to post record profits — and reward its executives handsomely — while expecting pilots to accept below-market compensation," Hudy wrote. "Now, because of their corporate greed, Air Canada is preparing to disrupt flights and inconvenience passengers."

At 98 per cent, the pilots overwhelmingly voted in favour of the job action last month. The union and the airline had entered into a three-week cooling-off period, which is mandated by Canadian law, on Aug. 27.

Eidlin, the sociology professor, noted that pilots are distinct from workers in other industries, as they frequently interact with colleagues from other countries on a day-to-day basis.

"They are members of the same union, and they are talking to fellow workers who work for different airlines, and they know what these disparities are. And so that different context makes a huge difference in how people reference what their pay should be, what their expectations about pay should be," he said.

"Our government firmly believes in the collective bargaining process and Canadians are counting on the parties to get a deal," a statement from Canadian Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon's office said.

Mike Springer, who lives in Bridgewater, N.S., is a lifelong Air Canada customer. But with an upcoming operation scheduled in Toronto, he and his wife decided not to risk a cancelled flight — and booked with WestJet instead.

Springer told CBC News he's "100 per cent" on the side of the pilots.

"When you're sitting beside a plane that's on the tarmac and it's a United flight, for instance, and flying to the same city as you are, and that pilot sitting in the front gets twice as much money as you do, I don't think that's fair," he said.

As for WestJet, Springer said he has no complaints after booking this flight with the carrier.

"And maybe they're going to get new customer out of this in the end."

Pilots want to match U.S. counterparts

Air Canada's pilots have been pushing to close their salary gap with their higher-earning U.S. peers, who achieved lucrative labour deals in 2023 amid pilot shortages and robust travel demand.

"We're flying the same passengers in the same airspace on some of the very same routes, and those pilots are being compensated dramatically more than us," Hudy told The Canadian Press last month.

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Air Canada strike could leave passengers scrambling

ALPA's pilots have previously said the current pay rates at U.S. rival Delta Air Lines are up to 45 per cent higher than the Canadian carrier's hourly pay rates.

"We appreciate [the Air Canada pilots'] frustration, but also note that the situation is not exactly apples to apples given the barriers to entry around pilot supply in the U.S.," TD Cowen analyst Thomas Fitzgerald wrote in a note last week.

  • Air Canada pilots prepare for strike amid ongoing labour dispute
  • WestJet pilots deal grants 24% pay raise over four years

Between March and September last year, pilots at Delta Air Lines, United Airlines and American Airlines secured agreements that included four-year pay hikes ranging from 34 per cent to 40 per cent.

Earlier this year, pilots at West Jet ratified a new deal, averting a strike.

Air Canada also anticipates it would take seven to 10 days for normal operations to resume once the complete shutdown is in place. Flights across its system would be cancelled over three days, with a total shutdown as early as 12:01 a.m. ET on Sept. 18.

The company is in talks with other airlines to accommodate its stranded passengers in the event of flight cancellations, it said, noting that flights under the Air Canada Express brand will continue to operate as they are operated by third-party carriers.

With files from CBC News and The Canadian Press

Related Stories

  • Air Canada says it hasn't cancelled flights today over pilot talks, but some operations affected
  • As Air Canada strike looms, passengers mull their options
  • Air Canada says government must block strike if pilots' deal can't be reached
  • A potential Air Canada pilot strike could impact your travel. Here's what to do about it
  • Air Canada pilots vote overwhelmingly to authorize a strike. It could start next month

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The Saint is closing next month. Here's what's replacing it.

The owners of The Saint have revealed what new concept will be taking the sinful speakeasy's place in downtown St. Petersburg.

The Saint will close next month and be reimagined as The Ball, "a sexy, effervescent upscale bar and lounge."

The inspiration behind the new bar is the disco ball and its significance as a symbol in LGBTQ+ nightlife, the owners said in a statement. With this in mind, the space is designed to act "as an enchanting invitation to meet others, dance freely, and be yourself."

The Ball will feature local DJs, craft cocktails, light shareable bites and a ceiling of disco balls.

Inspired by pop art, owners called the design for the new bar as "equally stunning and immersive" as The Saint.

Renderings of The Ball show bold colors, especially pink, and a giant disco ball DJ booth.

While the owners are preparing to introduce the world to The Ball, they also plan to make the most of The Saint's last weeks in downtown St. Pete.

The Saint is accepting reservations up until Oct. 20, the day of its final service. However, on Tuesday, Oct. 22, there will be a "Club Saint" event to "give as many sinners as possible the chance to experience The Saint one last time."

The final event will feature music by live DJs under The Saint's signature red lights.

According to the owners, the goal is to close for just one week and reopen as The Ball on Nov. 9.

"The Saint may be gone, but the sins must continue," the company's statement said.

Tampa

St. Petersburg   Travel Guide

Courtesy of Getty Images |

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18 Best Things To Do in St. Petersburg

Updated Feb. 12, 2021

St. Petersburg is a great city for sightseeing, with an abundance of art-filled galleries and brilliant architecture to explore. Stroll along the Nevsky Prospekt and have a coffee at a local cafe, explore north end's sites like the Winter Palace and

  • All Things To Do

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Hermitage Museum and the Winter Palace Hermitage Museum and the Winter Palace

Catherine the Great founded the Hermitage Museum in 1764 as a place to house her private art collection. The main museum complex comprises six buildings, including the Winter Palace, which was the home of the czars for almost 200 years. It finally opened to the public in 1852, and since then has been one of the largest and most interesting museums in the world. It draws more than 4 million visitors each year – in fact, this museum is the main reason some travelers visit St. Petersburg in the first place. Recent travelers offered fulsome praise for both the art on display and the opulent building housing the works. For many, the only downside was the constant crowds.

Bursting at the seams with art from masters like Leonardo da Vinci and Pablo Picasso, the Hermitage demands a substantial commitment of time to see even a portion of its collection, which encompasses 3 million works of art and artifacts. Some previous visitors reported spending seven hours touring the grounds. If you plan to spend a considerable amount of time admiring the works, consider purchasing the two-day entrance ticket.

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Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood

The Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood is one of the main attractions in St. Petersburg, drawing crowds to its ornately decorated onion domes and the stunning mosaics housed within. Alexander III commissioned the construction of the church in 1883 as a tribute to his slain father, Alexander II, who was assassinated on this site by a group of revolutionaries. The church's name references this murder and much of the art inside has a martyrdom theme.

Recent visitors invariably raved about the beauty of the building, with the intricate mosaics inside regularly cited as being especially remarkable. Travelers also said the church is small, so you'll probably be able to tour the inside in less than an hour.

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St. Isaac's Cathedral St. Isaac's Cathedral

The construction of St. Isaac's Cathedral was ordered by Alexander I in the early 1800s. This neoclassical marvel was finally completed in 1858 after 40 years of construction. St. Isaac's has an interesting history: it survived Nazi shelling in World War II and even briefly served as a museum of atheism under the Soviet regime.

St. Isaac's Cathedral possesses an imposing exterior presence with its single massive dome, but you'll also want to check out its opulent interior, with its multicolored marble floors and stunning frescoes, which never fail to impress visitors.

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Peter and Paul Fortress Peter and Paul Fortress

The Peter and Paul Fortress is where St. Petersburg was founded. Peter the Great commissioned the building of a fort on Hare Island in 1703 and initiated construction of the fortress. Among its attractions is the Peter and Paul Cathedral, which has a bell tower that remains one of the tallest structures in the city. Along with its impressive height, the cathedral also houses the remains of centuries of Russian czars and their families. The Grand Ducal Burial Chapel, which is connected to the older cathedral, contains the tombs of other members of the Romanov family. At various times, including during the Soviet period, the fortress was used as a prison. Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Maxim Gorky, Mikhail Bakunin and Leon Trotsky are among the notables who were held there. Now it operates as part of the State Museum of the History of St. Petersburg. The St. Petersburg Mint also forms part of the fortress.

The fortress exerts a powerful draw for history buffs. Visitors often single out the cathedral as especially impressive. The fortress is a popular destination and can be crowded, especially in summer. Past visitors suggested timing your visit for noon, when the fortress cannon fires a blank shot. The cannon shot was once used to signal the beginning and end of the work day and commemorate special state events, among other things.

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Catherine Palace and Park Catherine Palace and Park

Though it's located about 20 miles outside St. Petersburg proper, the Catherine Palace and Park certainly merits a visit by anyone in the area, especially enthusiasts of elaborate and fanciful architecture. In 1717, Peter the Great commissioned a building for his wife, Catherine, who succeeded him after his death, but her namesake palace only began taking on its grand stature in 1743, when their daughter, the Empress Elizabeth, engaged a series of architects to expand upon it. The result was a massive building with ornate blue and white facades decorated with real gold. The interior is no less spectacular. What's more, the surrounding 1,400-acre park features multiple fountains and bridges.

Recent visitors offered lavish praise for the palace's extravagance and the opulence of the furnishings. The Amber Room was a particular highlight for recent visitors. The original Amber Room, which was decorated with six tons of amber and other semiprecious stones, was looted by Nazis during World War II. The whereabouts of the original Amber Room remain a mystery, but in 2003 the palace unveiled a reconstruction of the room – which is what visitors can admire today. The only downside to all this beauty? The palace is known to attract crowds year-round, according to reviewers.

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Peterhof Palace & Garden Peterhof Palace & Garden

If you're visiting St. Petersburg in the summer, the Peterhof Palace & Garden is an absolute must-see. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Peterhof was the brainchild and summer palace of Peter the Great. The palace is frequently likened to Versailles , which inspired its design.

While the palace is an impressive site, the manicured gardens and numerous fountains really steal the show, according to recent visitors. Reviewers also add that you shouldn't bother with the palace if you have time constraints, because exploring this palace can easily take an entire day.

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Russian Museum Russian Museum

The Russian Museum boasts the world's largest collection of Russian art. Its main exhibition space has been housed in the neoclassical Mikhailovsky Palace since 1895. The Russian Museum also consists of several other buildings, including the Marble Palace, the Mikhailovsky Castle (St. Michael's Castle), the Stroganov Palace and the Benois Wing. For many travelers, a visit here offers the chance to view artwork not often seen outside of Russia.

The complex is massive, so be prepared to spend several hours here, according to past visitors. It's a good idea to figure out what you want to see beforehand, so you can better plan your tour of this fascinating museum. The rooms in the Benois Wing, which hold works by Kandinsky and Malevich, are particularly popular (and often crowded). The museum usually has at least one excellent special exhibit on display. With a massive collection of more than 400,000 works from the 10th to the 21st century, the museum may be best viewed with a tour guide or by using the corresponding free English-language smartphone app , which offers an audio guide.

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Fabergé Museum Fabergé Museum

The Fabergé Museum in the Shuvalov Palace houses the world's largest collections of works by Peter Carl Fabergé, including nine of the renowned, bejeweled imperial Easter eggs for which the artist is best known. In addition to the Fabergé pieces, which had originally been collected by the prominent American entrepreneur Malcolm Forbes, the museum boasts a collection of more than 4,000 works of Russian decorative and fine arts. Fabergé, who was born in St. Petersburg, crafted his famous eggs for the last two Russian emperors, Alexander III and Nicholas II. He also made jewelry, religious objects, silverware and other items, examples of which can be seen in his eponymous museum. The 4,700-square-foot palace inside which the museum is located qualifies as a popular destination in its own right.

While the eggs may be the main attraction, visitors frequently are impressed, if not awed, by the quality and quantity of other works of art on display. Many also enthuse about the beauty of the building itself.

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Mariinsky Theatre Mariinsky Theatre

Iconic not only for its grand architecture, but also for the legendary performances held here, the Mariinsky Theatre is a must-see for fans of opera and ballet. According to some, seeing a performance here is as essential as paying a visit to the Hermitage Museum to understanding Russian life. Along with the premieres of "Sleeping Beauty," "The Nutcracker" and "Swan Lake," this theater is where dancers like Anna Pavlova and Mikhail Baryshnikov honed their skills, not to mention opera singers like Feodor Chaliapin. Dating back to 1860, the theater building itself is also an impressive sight thanks to its opulent interiors.

Past visitors highly recommended seeing a performance here while in St. Petersburg. Reviewers gushed about the theater's lavishness and the talent of the performers.

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Summer Garden Summer Garden free

After battling the crowds at the Hermitage and taking in countless masterpieces at the Russian Museum , you're going to need a place to unwind. So why not go to the same spot Peter the Great used to go for some rest and relaxation?

Most come to the Summer Garden to just soak in the atmosphere, which travelers describe as tranquil. Classical gardens, Italian statues and lovely fountains will let you know that you made the right call to visit. Other structures housed here include the Summer Palace, which is maintained by the Russian Museum and available for touring for a fee. Because the Summer Palace is modest in comparison to some of the city's other noble structures (it's just two stories and houses seven rooms), many past visitors chose not to tour the interior.

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Alexander Park Alexander Park

Located near the Catherine Palace and Park , the nearly 500-acre Alexander Park is less formal than its neighbor. The Alexander Palace, which was a frequent retreat for the last czar, Nicholas II, sits inside the park. Though the palace is currently closed for renovations, there are still several other attractions within the park worth seeing. The park also contains the remains of the Chinese Theatre, an opera house designed by Antonio Rinaldi (who also designed the Chinese Palace still standing in the Oranienbaum State Museum Reserve ), which was destroyed during World War II. A Chinese Village remains, and its restored cottages were made into apartments, and many of the park's adornments have an Asian motif. The park also features miniature versions of some of St. Petersburg's most famous buildings.

The park is often described as peaceful, pleasant and relaxing. Its pathways accommodate walkers, runners and bicyclists (as well as users of wheelchairs). Past travelers said Alexander Park makes for a nice addition to any visit to Catherine Palace, but they also said it's not worth the trip from St. Petersburg if you don't plan to also tour Catherine Palace.

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Yusupov Palace Yusupov Palace

Also known as the Moika Palace, Yusupov Palace is a St. Petersburg landmark. It was the main residence of the House of Yusupov, which was a wealthy family of Russian nobles.

Travelers come here to take in the luxurious interior. Those with a deep interest in Russian history find the palace especially fascinating. Others said the palace provided a more convenient option than Peterhof Palace & Garden , which sits about an hour outside St. Petersburg.

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Oranienbaum State Museum Reserve Oranienbaum State Museum Reserve

While Menshikov Palace deserves exploration, the palace is part of a larger estate known as the Oranienbaum, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The area also encompasses the Palace of Peter III and the Chinese Palace, both of which were designed by the Italian architect Antonio Rinaldi. The Oranienbaum consists of an Upper Park and a Lower Park. The former features artfully planned canals, ponds and bridges, while the latter was decorated with fountains and sculptures.

Recent visitors praised the impressive gardens adorning the Oranienbaum's grounds and said the palace and its attractions are not as popular as some of St. Petersburg's other royal residences, so the Oranienbaum is much quieter and less crowded. Reviewers were also quick to recommend touring the inside of the Chinese Palace for its opulence.

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Grand Maket Russia Grand Maket Russia

Grand Maket Russia, or Grand Model Russia, is a more than 8,600-square-foot scale model of the country that showcases Russia's urban and rural life. With illumination from half a million electric lights, the model reproduces the country's roads, railroads and waterways. The interactive display also has numerous buttons allowing visitors to put various vehicles in motions. To see all of the display's intricacies, visitors can even borrow binoculars.

Recent visitors expressed amazement over the model's high degree of detail. While frequently described as kid-friendly, this is a highly entertaining thing to do for people of all ages, according to reviewers.

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Menshikov Palace Menshikov Palace

The Menshikov Palace, the first large structure built with stone in St. Petersburg, was constructed for Prince Alexander Menshikov, a close associate of Peter the Great, in the early 1700s. It was used for formal state functions until Menshikov fell out of favor with the emperor's successor. It currently belongs to the Hermitage and displays some of the museum's paintings and sculptures. The palace, which sits on Vasilyevsky Island on the banks of the Neva River, combines extravagant appointments, including ample use of marble, with everyday domesticity. Its blend of traditional Russian architecture and Western European style became known as Petrine Baroque.

Visitors tend to find the architecture rather fascinating and appreciate the views of the river. Though some pointed out this felt more like a grand house and less like a palace. Others said it's not worth making a special trip to the island. However, the palace is typically not as busy as some of the city's other things to do and may provide a respite from the crowds.

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The Naval Cathedral of St. Nicholas in Kronstadt The Naval Cathedral of St. Nicholas in Kronstadt

Read More »

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Nevsky Prospekt Nevsky Prospekt free

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Erarta Museum Erarta Museum

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COMMENTS

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