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What to bring on vacation while sticking to the "carry less, worry less" motto. 

Pack lightly — something that can be easier said than done, but I had a chance to put it to the test this summer: I spent two months traveling across Europe and China. On average, I changed the place where I slept every two days. In between, I used trains, buses, and I had 14 flights through 10 airports. It was my most extensive travel experience so far, and I managed to do it all with just a carry-on backpack. Yet, I didn't miss a thing.

People have asked me how to pack and what to bring in the past, and as I unpack the backpack from the trip now, I thought this would be a perfect time to talk about it. I will cover which luggage I had, what I brought with me, and how I fitted it. Hopefully, you can use some of it for yourself.

---the luggage---

The key is to have one piece of luggage, not two or more. It is far easier to carry around, and you don't need to keep an eye on multiple things, just one. It saves you loads of hassle. Backpacks are the way to go, as you can walk hands-free. This is particularly useful when navigating uneven terrain or narrow spaces, such as when entering public transportation, climbing stairs in your accommodation, or venturing into the wilderness. Compared to suitcases, backpacks are also more comfortable as a pillow when you sleep on a train, and the straps make lifting them into those overhead storage spaces a piece of cake.

Selecting a backpack that suits you is crucial, but fortunately, numerous companies produce decent, durable, and lightweight models in various sizes. I prefer to have a smaller backpack and deal with it on a modular basis. On the trip, I had a backpack sized 25x30x46 cm (10x12x18 in). Here it is, fully loaded.

As you can see in the picture, I strapped my jacket, shoes, water bottle, and other items to the outside. It might not be as sleek, but it provides fast access to things you might need on the go, without the bulk of a larger backpack. A similar setup proved itself numerous times.

But perhaps more important for your trip is what you have inside the backpack. This brings us to...

---the stuff to take---

Clearly, packing depends on your destination, the time of the year, and what you want to do there. However, my trip was rather complex: I swam in the sea and reached heights of over 4,400 m / 14,440 ft above it. The temperatures ranged from 10 °C (50°F) to 40 °C (104°F), and I went on hikes and visited theaters in a big city. If I made all that work with just a carry-on, chances are, you can too.

It is convenient to have a list of things you want to take before starting packing. Here's what I had; feel free to add/remove items as you please. Starting with clothing:

• Hiking shoes
• Sandals
• 4x underwear and 6 pairs of socks — All made from polymer, so you can wash them on the go, and they'll dry quickly.
• 2x t-shirt, 3x shirts. But during the trip, I received a t-shirt and one shirt as a gift. So I ended with a total of 7. The key here is to have various materials, not multiple colors. Some of these were from cotton; others were made of synthetic fibers, great for scorching days. I had one woolen t-shirt, which is warm as a hoodie but takes no space.
• Trousers
• Shorts
• Swimsuit
• Raincoat
• Jacket
• Head/neckwear
• Laundry bag

Now the other, more fun items:

• Passport
• Wallet
• Phone
• Camera + two memory cards
• Keys
• Headphones. If you can, get noise-canceling ones
• Laptop
• Watch
• Portable charger
• Cables to charge everything, a plug converter
• Towel, also from polymer
• Toiletries (toothbrush, paste, razor, nail file, cotton swabs, tissues)
• Skincare (sunscreen, lip balm)
• Sunglasses
• Earplugs
• Padlock + steel wire (handy for securing your belongings on a busy bus journey, in a hostel, or while sleeping rough)
• Rope or a few straps + carabiners. These are mostly for attaching things to the backpack, but can come in handy in other situations, too. For example, I lost four kilos (~9 lbs) during the trip, and since I didn't have a belt, I used a rope.
• Desks with a notebook, pen, paperwork, and foreign currency.
• A water bottle, snacks. Mints are a lifesaver in areas with heavy air pollution.

…I still had some extra space for souvenirs, like that Chinese fan and a package of local sweets. That said, it is good to leave a bit of empty space when you pack.

Ideally, you can get a clear idea of what you want to take. Practice makes perfect, but it is not rocket science. If I'd go only to the mountains, I'd replace those shirts with rainproof trousers and more thermal layers. If I'd go only to the city, I might take different shoes and a jacket. If I'd go in the winter, the shorts and sandals would go to make room for a sweater and warmer socks. A different situation is when you want to skip hotels and sleep outside for most of your trip — for that, you'll be better with a sleeping bag and some pad, which take more space. But even then, it is possible to fit under 10 kilos (22lbs). When your list is ready, it takes no time to pack. Speaking of which...

---how to pack it---

The best way to stuff clothes is to roll them. It is fast, and it keeps the luggage tidy. In my opinion, it is far more efficient than to fold them. When you don't have a boatload of stuff, you don't need to think about organizing things much. Just fit it in, and in you will be able to find anything in that small backpack with ease.

There you have it. No need to carry items that you don't end up using. Good luck!

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If you enjoyed this post, you might also like my other how-to articles about traveling, like:

Why traveling on a budget is the best way to see the world.

How to enjoy traveling with low-cost airlines.

Alternatively, visit my Blog Archives for more categories and topics. And as for the journey I just returned from, I'll write some stories about that later. Stay tuned; thanks for reading!