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Packing light is not rocket science. Whether you pack for one-week vacation or you’re looking for an ultimate digital nomad packing list for your long-term travels, minimalism is a king.
Traveling light will save you not only space and unburden your shoulders, but it’ll save you considerable amount of time (skipping the queues for checking your luggage), and money (fees for check-in luggage).
Check out some pro travel packing tips based on long term experience of traveling only with a carry on backpack.
The North Face Backpack
It has ideal size, lots of pockets, and also a laptop compartment. Bonus: very good back padding. Check price on Amazon.
You can buy it separately if your backpack doesn’t have one included. It’s lightweight, and you can use it as a cover for your camera bag and as a head/ shoulders cover during heavy rains. Check price on Amazon.
These are life savers! We can’t imagine travelling without securing our “mobile houses”. It’s always good to lock your backpack when you leave your room in a guesthouse/hotel and also every time you travel by bus/train/plane. Check price on Amazon.
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Great space saver! We played with an idea to buy packing cubes, but because of the design of our backpacks, we felt it’d be more convenient to get all our clothes into compression bags which saved a lot of space and we can easily separate clean and dirty stuff in the bag, too. Check price on Amazon. Check this article for the best packing cubes.
Macbook Air 13”
We were choosing our working tools very carefully and this is so far the best travel laptop we’ve found. Gianni edits his photos using Lightroom software and the computer is powerful enough to handle that. I would prefer for my video editing Macbook Pro, but this would add up on the weight so I keep the lighter model for now. Check price on Amazon.
Very useful when you work in cafes and don’t want to carry along your backpack. It’s also a great protection of your laptop during travel days, when the backpacks move around more than usually. A must item in your digital nomad gear. Check price on Amazon.
If you just check your emails when travelling or do “only” writing, maybe you won’t need a mouse. But if you edit photos and videos, a mouse just makes the job easier and faster. Check price on Amazon.
How to store all material from the road is probably the biggest issue when you work as a digital nomad and travel only with a carry-on. If you shoot in RAW, you know the files are too big to store in the iCloud. Carrying a portable external hard drive is so far the only solution how to keep your photographs and videos with you. Check price on Amazon.
A necessary accessory when changing the countries around the world. Check price on Amazon. For different plugs and outlets, check out World-Power-Plugs.com
Very handy if you need to print a flight ticket, new travel insurance, visa letter or other important confirmation emails. Check price on Amazon.
If you travel as a digital nomad, your phone is probably your “second computer” and an important working and travel tool. We use our phone a lot as a map, notebook, cameras and to reply to urgent emails and messages while on the road. Check price on Amazon.
Your portable library! The best option for avid readers and carry-on travellers! Check price on Amazon.
Fuji X-T1
Gianni’s most favourite toy and a great camera for travellers! He’s switched into mirrorless camera after shooting with DSLR for 10 years and never looked back. It’s not only lighter, makes high quality photographs, but you look more “innocent” when doing street photography. Get inspired by our article about Best Camera for Travel Photography. Check price on Amazon.
Fujinon XF 55-200mm f:3.5-4.8
Not sure which camera lens to choose? Read the article Best Camera Lenses for Travel Photography. Check price on Amazon | Adorama | B&H
GoPro Hero
Very useful when you plan to document your digital nomad lifestyle while hiking, biking, running or swimming. Check price on Amazon. Read our guide to GoPro ALTERNATIVES.
A must have thing when traveling and taking pictures. Check price on Amazon.
We do love these bags! It’s a perfect day bag that fits into your carry-on backpack. It serves as camera bag, and it’s easy to carry with you even when trekking or walking in cities for a whole day. Check price on Amazon.
More packing lists to read:
The best choice if you travel with a carry-on! Gianni has been travelling with this model of North Face convertible pants for almost three years (bought a new one after 1.5 year) and he can swear by it. Check price on Amazon.
Honestly, we cannot imagine our travel without KEENs. They’re our most favourite travel shoes. Ideal for light trekking, walking in the cities, even in hot climate (for this we recommend buy a pair with a soft leather sole, not rubber). Check price on Amazon and read some more suggestions on the best walking shoes for men.
A must have item in your backpack if you are keeping yourself fit on the road. Opt for lightweight barefoot shoes if you feel comfortable with them. Check price on Amazon. Read our detailed review on Vivobarefoot running shoes.
This is the moment to remember about your minimalistic packing. Take only 2-3 of them. Check price on Amazon.
Always useful when it happens to attend a more formal occasion. Check price on Amazon.
Great to pack if you visit countries during a monsoon season. Keep it as light as possible, preferably with a hood. Check price on Amazon. Read our guide to the best rain jacket.
A must have item for your travels. Keep it minimalistic, and pack one, maximum two pairs. Tip: Opt for a swimsuit suitable for running. That way you don’t need to pack too many outfits. Check price on Amazon.
Ideal when you intend to go trekking to tropic destinations, and then stay in cooler places or opposite. Great space saver. I do love female models of Meru, NorthFace, or Prana. Check price on Amazon.
As mentioned above, KEEN is the brand we’ve been using since 2008, and we can swear by it. The shoes are durable, and super comfy. Check price on Amazon.
It’s a good idea to pack a pair with you. You can wear it while trekking, or as a pyjama while camping. And, naturally, for your yoga practice. Check price on Amazon.
2 or 3 tops will be perfectly fine. Try to pair it with the colour of your skirt or trousers. Check price on Amazon.
In case you plan to go out somewhere more formal, pack one. Check price on Amazon.
Just take it. You don’t want to stay all the time in your hiking pants or shorts. Pick a lightweight one, preferably with some pockets. Check price on Amazon.
It’s good to have it when hiking through different climate zones or visiting a country in its monsoon season. Check price on Amazon.
You’ll need it in the evening, and it’s a life saver when taking buses or train with strong a/c on your travels. Buy one with pockets. Check price on Amazon.
Well, you’ll need one. Or two, but don’t pack more than two pairs of bikini. Check price on Amazon.
Keep it minimalistic. Max. 4 pieces, no matter how long your travels are going to be. Check price on Amazon.
Bring one sporty, and one elegant. That’ll do it. Check price on Amazon.
A must have for all travellers, especially for those with a carry-on. You’ll be grateful for packing it with you because it’s the most multifunctional item in your digital nomad backpack. You can use it as a scarf, bed sheet, bed cover, curtain, headband, skirt, dress, beach towel, towel and much more! Check price on Amazon.
Love it! We use it as a scarf in buses/trains/planes with strong a/c, as a headband, hairband, camera protector and we clean our lenses with a buff, too. Check price on Amazon.
A toothbrush, a toothpaste, dental floss
Travel size hairbrush
Lip balm
Aspirin
Black charcoal pills for diarrhoea
Plasters
Ankle support
Menstrual cup > lLadies, this little thing will make your travels easier, and your bodies healthier. Check price on Amazon.
Passport
Travel Insurance
Cash
Debit cards
Credit cards
Spare passport photos
Photocopies of passports
Vaccination card (What vaccinations do you need?)
ID cards
Bank reader
A gaffa tape
A ball pen, a marker
A travel writing notebook
Earplugs
Waterproof dry bags for your documents
Swimming goggles
OverBoard Waterproof Dry Tube Bag
Here are other interesting packing articles you might want to check:
Carry On Packing List by Make Time to See the World
Carry-on Size Chart by Travel Made Simple
Digital Nomad Packing List by Hobo with a Laptop
Packing cubes list by Adventure in You
Best Backpacking Gear by A Backpacker’s Tale
Packing lists by Travel Fashion Girl
Travel Freak’s Travel Gear
Never Ending Voyage Packing List
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