One Bag, 439 Days: What to Pack for a Round-the-World Trip

The author, looking good — and blending in — in Rajasthan. (Photo: John Garay)

Setting out on a round-the-world trip is an exciting endeavor, even when it’s met with a mundane mile-long task sheet — getting visas and immunizations, booking flights, telling your boss you’re outta here, explaining to your eyebrow-raising folks that you won’t be home for Christmas (or Mother’s Day, or Uncle Eddie’s 80th birthday bash). But perhaps no undertaking seems so singularly large as figuring out just what to put into your bag. As a recent graduate of my own 15-month globe-trotting adventure, I can tell you that trying to squeeze precisely 439 days worth of wardrobe and life essentials into one bag was not without its sacrifice.

Yes, ladies especially, be forewarned: Your inner fashionista will take some hits. (I still cringe when I think about the time I ended up at a swanky Madrid rooftop bar wearing Tevas. Shudder.) You will be moderately fashion-savvy at best. Maybe. You will bring items that are sensible, not sexy; and comfort will trump style. Your new goal will be to look decent, which becomes much easier to embrace when you come to the realization that really, truly, in most places in the world, nobody (except you) gives a flying flip about what you’re wearing. I realized this when I wore the same exact black dress and leggings to a half-dozen dance lessons with my tango instructor in Buenos Aires, who I’m pretty sure didn’t notice a thing above my ankles, with his focus strictly fixed on eluding the graceless fall of my foot. And it sure as heck didn’t matter what I had on when passing near the Syrian refugee camps in southern Turkey, where all had been lost, or navigating through the crowds of India.

Dancing in India. (Photo: John Garay)

On a RTW trip, the definition of dirty socks becomes more and more subjective, but you learn to embrace even that. You’re a nomad, a happy vagabond, and sometimes, you wear your socks twice (or thrice). Pack for no more than a week, and adopt a reasonable laundry routine — there are, without fail, laundromats in every corner of the world. Though keep in mind that definitions of “clean” may vary — like when I sent out a load in Varanasi, India, only to learn that it had been hand-washed in the Ganges River, which has a laundry list of less-than-laundry-fresh functions like serving as a communal bath and a sacred cremation pool.

By all means, resist the temptation of over-packing. Less has never been more. Every item you carry will be tirelessly schlepped around, from hotel to train to airport (and back again); it will unmercifully bog you down as you run to catch that bus or wander lost in a strange city. Don’t be burdened by your belongings, or throw your back out with an unnecessarily bulky bag — you’re doing this to carry around lots of memories, after all, not a bunch of stuff.

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It doesn’t really matter what you’re wearing when watching the sun rise over Mesopotamia. (Photo: John Garay)

If you end up ultimately needing something that you overlooked, rest assured that there are actual stores in other countries! You can buy nearly anything you might be missing on the go (bonus: clothes make great souvenirs!). And don’t fret if you end up bringing too much, despite all the warnings — you can toss, give away, or even ship items back home, if necessary.

The best way to begin packing? Make a list of everything you want to bring. Then prepare to cut it in half. And maybe do so again. Adopt these minimalist mantras for the process: “Packing light is right!,” and, “When in doubt, leave it out!”

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Of course, there’s no one-size-fits-all packing list, but here’s a peek inside my own pack that took me from Argentina and Australia to Vietnam and Vanuatu (and plenty more in between). As someone who successful circumnavigated the globe, I learned an important life lesson along the way: one person actually needs very little. Pack smart and travel happy, my friends.

The Pack

Osprey Meridien bag. (Photo: Osprey)

Your bag will be unceremoniously tossed, dropped, and pushed around — invest in one that stands up to the challenge. In my mid-30s, I already felt too old (read: lazy) to carry around a traditional pack on my back for the entirety of the trip, so I instead opted for a hybrid backpack on wheels from Osprey. The company’s durable Meridian 28" ($320) comes with an adjustable zip-away harness, for those times you need to grab and go; for the most part, however, it cooperatively rolled its way around the world just behind me. Note at 28 inches/75 liters, it’s larger than carry-on size — perhaps a deterrent for some — but I personally couldn’t get by for 15 months with a bag any smaller. It also comes with a sturdy zip-off/-on day pack, touting comfortable shoulder straps and a laptop-friendly cushioned compartment.

The author’s daypack: Arc'teryx Cierzo Backpack. (Photo: Arc'teryx)

For everyday on-the-ground use, however, a dependable lightweight daypack is essential — the collapsible Arc'Teryx Cierzo 18 Backpack ($59) proved the perfect ultra-light daily companion.

On-the-road organization assures order and accessibility — neatly pack clothes in eBags packing cubes ($39) and footwear in mesh, fabric shoe bags from Eagle Creek ($13). Easily sort and store wires, accessories, and others smaller odds and ends with portable packing compartments like Travelon packing squares ($24 for a set of three) or Vaultz mesh storage bags ($7 for a set of four).

Packing cubes by eBags. (Photo: eBags)

The Garb

When it comes to clothing, value versatility and comfort above all else. Choose a central color scheme based on dark, neutral tones (I went for solid blacks, blues, and greens) anchored on multipurpose core pieces that easily combine for mix-and-match outfits. If an item is reversible or convertible, even better still. Clothing should be lightweight and pack well (if it needs ironing or can’t be neatly rolled away, say adios), dry quickly (most especially so for socks and undies to be washed in the sink on the fly), and lend well to layering when you need some added warmth.

Icebreaker Bliss Wrap. (Photo: Icebreaker)

Above all, your bag should be full of wool. From socks to T-shirts to sweaters, I stocked my wardrobe with breathable wool pieces that were decidedly stink-resistant, durable, and could be worn again and again. Icebreaker’s Merino line proposes top quality, with an excellent selection of base layers, mid-layers, socks, and more. I loved Icebreaker’s versatile Bliss Wrap ($150) in black, which was easily dressed up or down, and could be worn in multiple styles, as well as the classic black V-neck ($45) that went with everything, day or night.

On bottom, a pair of great-fitting jeans, black leggings, stretch yoga pants, and quick-dry hiking pants will have you covered. For a touch of polish, pack one dress, and make it count — I found a reversible polyester number that offered two comfy dresses in one.

Patagonia Down Sweater (Photo: Patagonia)

For outerwear, the Patagonia down sweater ($229) packed down to a surprisingly compact size and didn’t skimp on warmth. I wore it alone, or paired with a lightweight, waterproof shell from Outdoor Research ($159) for those rainy and windy days. On the opposite side of the weather spectrum, a quick-dry swimsuit is any traveler’s must.

You get three pairs of footwear — a waterproof sneaker/hiking hybrid (like a Gore-Tex hiking shoe from Merrell, $119), a pair of sandals or flip-flops, and a black ballet flat. Don’t skimp on quality here — if boots or shoes were ever made for walking, this is it.

Keep the accessories to a minimum, but don’t overestimate their power to make an otherwise humdrum outfit pop. Pack a cloth headband, some hairbands/barrettes, a collapsible sunhat and knit cap, and a solid pair of shades. My black sarong transitioned from shawl to scarf to beach wrap to skirt with absolute ease.

Apart from a wristwatch, opt to pick up inexpensive jewelry along the way as mementos — leave the pricey pieces back home.

The Gadgets & Gizmos

You should absolutely bring along a lightweight laptop — yes, it will be a pain to lug around, but it will so be worth it. It’ll be your source of entertainment, your connection to back home (email, Skype, Facebook — oh my!), your journal, your news source, your trip research station and travel agent, your photo editor, your mobile office, and your very best friend on the road. (Tip: For backup, keep a portable hard drive in separate area of your luggage.)

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An iPhone, even without service, is still the perfect traveler’s tool. It gets you onto Wi-Fi hot-spots anywhere, and serves as your music player (bring earbuds), alarm clock, calculator, calendar, note pad, and an on-the-go camera, too. If you’re into photos, you’ll probably want to bring a proper camera, too, with memory cards and a padded case. For beach reads and long transits, an e-reader, slipped into a protective sleeve, cuts out the need for clunky books.

Nite Ize gear ties. (Photo: Nite Ize)

Keep all your wires and chargers neatly stored with these reusable rubber twist ties from Nite Ize ($3 for a four pack). And don’t forget about electric converters/adapters for all of your electronics (tip: get one with a USB port, $35).

The Bath-and-Body Works

Pack all the travel-sized toiletry essentials and grooming items you’d need of any weeklong trip (you can refill along the way); use leak-proof Ziploks and a quality toiletries bag like the hanging one from Swiss Gear ($28). Include a small first-aid kit, Airborne, and multivitamins (to help supplement even the worst on-the-road diet), and the germaphobe traveler’s crack that is Purell.

Take only the basics for makeup — I got by with tinted sunblock, an eyelash curler, mascara, and a couple of shades of lipstick. For the love of the travel gods, leave the hairdryer at home.

Don’t forget a laundry kit, including an odor-eliminating laundry bag (Tide; $15), travel laundry line, universal drain plug (to do some hand-washing in the sink), and some portable laundry soap (Travelon; $6).

The Safeguards

On the road, your bag is your life. Protect it accordingly. Always lock your pack, and consider a lock with a cable (Eagle Creek; $15) for securing bags in hotel rooms or while in transit. It won’t deter a determined thief, but it’s enough to sway away an opportunistic one. Sleeping in strange hotel rooms, an alarm-equipped door stopper by GE ($11) proved the perfect security system to go.

Yes, money belts are dorky, but not nearly as uncool as being ripped off and stranded without your passport and credit cards. The nude one I got from Victorinox ($18) was comfortable and not cumbersome. Definitely split up your ATM/credit cards and cash stash — a security pocket from Eagle Creek ($13.50) snaps discreetly to bra straps for close-to-body security.

The Transit

Neck Pillow © Brookstone.com

You’ll be on planes, trains, and automobiles, and plenty else in between, oftentimes for long and uncomfortable stretches. Make your transit—and noisy hotel rooms — more bearable with an inflatable neck pillow, eye mask, and ear plugs — try a three-in-one shut-eye set from Brookstone ($35).

The Office-on-Wheels

You can store scanned digital copies of your important documents and phone numbers in your e-mail account, so don’t worry too much about dragging along a lot of extra photocopied paperwork. But do bring a notepad and some pens for some old-fashioned journaling. Plus, pack away some safety pins, rubber bands, a bit of duct tape (you can wrap some around a pen), and a Sharpie, because you never know when might need to channel your inner globe-trekking MacGyver.

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