Contents of Post
Seeing as I’ve been a Scout my whole life and travelled around with just a backpack quite a bit, I decided to let you know what’s on my packing list for women. I remember starting to go on scout camps and always bringing too many clothes and unnecessary items that made my backpack incredibly heavy to the point where I almost fell backwards while putting it on.
Needless to say, I was about seven or eight back then and have grown a bit since then, I’m here to make sure you don’t make my mistakes. Or maybe you’ve already been on a trip and packed too much, just in case you need a nice pair of shoes or thought “This dress isn’t that heavy, I’ll be fine”.
Before we get to the list, I want to give you a few tips on packing in general. Foremost, is to pack less. Trust me, you can live without most of the things you think you need and if something is missing, it can be bought on the road.
The second tip is to look at the items I’m listing and make sure you really need them. There may be some items on here that you don’t require or that don’t fit the climate you’re going. You know yourself best, and you know what you need.
The third tip is to worry less. Take things easy and slow. Nobody is going to care if you wear the same three t-shirts for months, nobody is going to care about you not wearing mascara and this might be bold, but nobody cares about your hairy legs.
This upcoming trip might be the trip of your life or even the beginning of a new chapter, what’s important is that you’re comfortable!
Clothes to bring
In general, I like my clothes made out of cotton or linen. I’ve noticed with synthetic materials I tend to sweat more, plus I like the way cotton and linen feel. I also like to have some form of a sleeve, because it protects my shoulders from the sun and in some countries, it can be offensive to show too much skin. Furthermore, don’t like the feeling of backpack straps on my shoulders.
This is what I would bring to pretty much any climate:
- 5 T-shirts or tank tops, preferably colours that can be mixed and matched with your bottoms
- 1-2 long sleeve shirts
- 1 sweater, even in warmer regions it can get chilly at night
- 2 pairs of long pants or leggings (thermal leggings if you’re in a colder climate)
- 2 pairs of shorts or wrap pants (if you don’t know them, google them!)
- 1 set of sleepwear
- A swimsuit
- 1 sarong (can be used as a dress, skirt, scarf, headscarf, etc)
- 7 pairs of underwear
- 7 pairs of socks (one of them for hiking)
- 2 bras (regular or sports bras)
- 1 pair of multifunctional shoes
- 1 pair of flip-flops or sandals
- A rain jacket
- 1 buff (can be used as a headband, scarf, beanie, protection from the sun,…)
If you’re going to a colder climate, I’d add these items:
- 1 fleece sweater or cardigan (I don’t like to bring wool because I don’t want to have to wash it separately, plus it can be bulky)
- 2-3 collared shirts (I like how they look, plus they can easily be layered with a regular t-shirt)
- Mittens
- 2 pairs of wool socks (I get cold feet easily if I ruin them in the laundry, they’re easy to replace)
- 1 pair of winter boots (waterproof is a must!)
- 1 (packable) down jacket (I can stuff mine in a small bag that came with it so it’s super tiny when I don’t use it yet keeps me warm)
Toiletries to bring
I like to keep things simple and natural. I’ll still list some things that might be necessary. As I mentioned earlier, if you forget something or if you’re out of something, you will be able to find it in foreign countries.
- Toiletry bag
- A bar of shampoo, conditioner, body wash and face wash (I’ve started using bars years ago, and I won’t ever go back to plastic bottles)
- Moisturizer (I only use a facial moisturizer)
- Shea butter (available in tiny containers and can be used as lip balm, hand cream, or foot cream)
- A bamboo toothbrush, toothpaste and floss
- Sunscreen for your face and body (best anti-ageing cream there is)
- Deodorant
- Disinfectant
- Menstrual cup and/or tampons/pads (enough for at least one period)
- Pain medication
- Tweezers and nail clippers
- A comb
- Hair ties, a hair clip, bobby pins
- Travel first aid kit
If necessary:
- A razor
- Makeup
- Makeup remover
- Birth control
- Medication
- Contact lens solution, container, extra contacts
- Small microfiber cloth for cleaning (sun-)glasses
- Mini mirror
- Maps.me (Best map for travelling. Can always be used offline and has great crowdsourced info)
- NordVPN
- Rome2Rio (My go-to for getting from one place to another)
- Reddit (r/backpacking and r/travel are chock-full of great info)
- TripAdvisor
- Booking.com
- Hostelworld
- Agoda (Best for Southeast Asia, but has been growing in the west)
Extras to bring
Here are some extras to make your life more comfortable. They can definitely be left out but are still nice to have.
- Packing cubes
- Head flashlight
- A lock
- A cap
- Earplugs
- Neck pillow
- Headphones
- Sleeping bag liner
Necessities for everyday life
- Wallet
- Water bottle
- Fanny pack/cross-body bag/small backpack
- Charger
- FFP2 masks
- Sunglasses
That is pretty much it! Like I mentioned in the beginning: look at all the items listed and make sure you only pack what you really need. If you’re already on the road and realize you have too much stuff, give things away! There is surely someone out there that will be thankful for it!
If you are looking for packing lists with gear based on weather and climate, Jenson made one for both cold climates and warm climates.
The question I have for you is: Is there anything you can’t travel without? Let me know in the comments! Have a safe trip and happy packing.
