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We’ve talked a lot about our international travel packing list over the years, but THE biggest question we get about traveling is “How do you pack into only a carry-on and backpack? I could never!”
Our questions for you…take a look down, how many days have you been wearing those sweatpants or that t-shirt? Multiple? How about your shoes? Do you typically grab the same pair day after day? No judgment here, you’re among friends.
Clothing Calculus
Ok – hear us out. You don’t need to pack a brand-new outfit for every day of your trip. Truly. Outer layers can (and let’s be honest…will) be re-worn, a little laundry can be done for the layers closest to your skin before you hit the hay at night, and don’t you dare bring that pair of shoes you might wear once (unless it’s a special occasion).
Create a Capsule Wardrobe – things that mix and can be worn multiple times in various combinations so they can be restyled. It helps to stick with a color pallet where every piece can be worn with anything else in your bag. This means the brown OR black shoes, not both.
We typically pack 4-5 Days of clothes with the intent to wash them either at the hotel’s facilities or by hand in the sink or bathtub (or in our handy dandy Scrubba Bag). Tossing some laundry detergent sheets in your bag makes this super easy and it’s even easier if you stick to natural fibers or quick-drying fabrics (our favorite is Woolx – here’s a link for $20 off $50 or more). Leave the bulky items that take days to dry behind, and plan to do your laundry with enough time for it to dry before you move hotels. The heated towel racks in your bathroom (at least throughout Europe) double as amazing clothes driers, which makes this even easier and faster.
Our Lists
So, as we prepare to lead our first 10-day adult trip to Scotland (woohoo!!) here’s a look at what is on our travel packing list for October in Scotland. For reference, the temperature will average in the 40s and 50s this time of the year in Scotland, of course with some rain and wind, too.
Tasha – Capsule Colors: Black, Green, Purple, Blue
- 4-5 Leggings/Hiking Pants
- 4-5 Long or Short Sleeve Merino Wool Tops
- 2 Cashmere Sweaters or Cardigans (for dinners)
- 2 Dresses or 2 Dress Pants or one of each (for dinners – weather depending)
- 2 Pullovers
- 4-5 Pairs of Wool Socks
- 4-5 Underwear
- 3-4 Bras in Various Styles
- 2-3 Pairs of Shoes (Waterproof Hiking Boots, Waterproof Sneakers, Leather Flats)
- 1 Waterproof Jacket, Gloves, Hat
- 1 Set of Jewelry – Rose Gold – Studs, Earrings, Necklace, Watch
Jason – Capsule Colors: Gray, Red, Orange, Green, Yellow
- 3-4 Pants (two for regular things and 1-2 that are nicer for dinners)
- 5-6 Long or Short Sleeve Merino Wool Shirts
- 1-2 Button Downs or Cashmere Sweaters (for dinners)
- 2 Pullovers
- 5 Underwear
- 5 Pairs of Wool Socks
- 2 Pairs of Shoes (waterproof shoes for being in cities and nicer shoes for dinner)
- 1 Waterproof Jacket, Hat, Gloves
- 1 Watch
Note that this doesn’t include what we wear on a travel day, so if you plan that intelligently, that can give you additional options that don’t need to fit in your luggage (though it might on the way home, so keep that in mind). We always recommend wearing your bulkiest items on the plane (in our case that usually means hiking boots, a pullover, and jacket).
Also, nearly all of the above will fit into our carry-on suitcase (we currently are loving our new Monos Carry-On Pro Plus Bags <- $20 off $200 or more), which leaves our backpacks for everything else.
Other Bits
What about other stuff? As travel content creators and folks who often work from the road, our stuff load is a bit heavier than it needs to be for the typical traveler. Here is what we suggest if you don’t need to haul along your computer, textbooks, drone, tripod, and GoPro…
We’ve added links for our favorite items.
- Electrical Converter – we prefer this over an adapter, so we don’t have to think about what needs to be converted and what doesn’t. Ours is also a power strip so we can take one thing that lets us charge multiple things at once.
- ONE charging cable with different adaptor ends for phone/headphones/e-reader/battery etc.
- Portable Battery Pack
- Emergency Meds Kit – pain reliever, anti-nausea, cold/flu, Band-Aids, anti-diarrheal, electrolyte powders, stomach soother, and anything where you want a specific brand
- Vitamins/Medications
- Reusable Water Bottle (not glass)
- Laundry Detergent Sheets (sometimes we take our Scrubba washing bag, too)
- Travel Sized Lint Roller
- Travel Pillow
- Travel Steamer in dual voltage or country-specific voltage (we have one for the US and one for Europe because they use a lot of power and will overheat a converter)
- Reusable Shopping Bag (you will be charged for bags in most foreign countries)
- Disinfectant Wipes
- Small Purse or Day Bag or Sling Bag with RFID protection
For the most part, we’re each taking most of the above, so there are doubles of most of this. You don’t necessarily need to do that, but just have a backup plan in case something stops working.
Bathroom Essentials
By now your bag is getting full, but don’t forget your toiletries! If you’re not married to a certain brand, many liquids can be picked up once you reach your destination, so you don’t have to worry about getting them through TSA with the 3.4-ounce requirement. If you ARE married to a brand or need things like contact solution (ask your eye doctor for a couple bottles of the trial size), bring it along. You will save a ton of space if you only bring the amount you will use on your trip and pack into smaller, reusable containers (we like these from Cadence…a lot <- $20 off your first order).
Think basics. Don’t bring your 47-step skincare routine if you can help it. Basic makeup that fits in a small compact is ideal (Tasha doesn’t even pack makeup most of the time). If you’re joining us in Scotland, the rain makes hair products a joke. Embrace your easiest style. A can of dry shampoo can do wonders!
For most of the above, we (Jason and Tasha) agree, but toiletries is where we have different opinions. So, we’ve included some items in both lists, mostly due to brand preference: Jason is usually more open to getting more stuff when we land, while Tasha has more brand preferences and so likes to take some things with her that Jason doesn’t.
Things that can be found abroad:
- Shampoo/Conditioner
- Soap/Body Wash
- Lotion
- Deodorant
- Mouthwash
- Toothpaste
- Dry Shampoo/Hair Spray/Gels
Things to pack
- Contact Solution
- Toothbrush/Paste
- Skin Care
- Deodorant
- Perfumes (use a travel-safe container)
- Brush
- Dry Shampoo/Hair Spray/Gels
- Dual Voltage Straightener/Curling Iron
- Feminine Hygiene Items
Fitting It All In
Now, as far as where to put everything in your bag, here’s how we do it.
There’s a good chance your rolling carry-on bag will be collected from you at some point to store below deck if you’re flying out of a small regional airport as we do. Because of that, we recommend keeping anything valuable or things you absolutely can’t live without (i.e., your medications, money, passport) in your backpack or personal item along with a change of clothes and anything you want on the plane during your flight.
If you’re looking to make your life even easier, consider finding a personal item (your backpack, for example) that has a strap that’ll let you sit it securely on the top of your carry-on as you roll it around the airport. This seems simple and maybe not a big deal, but it’ll save your back and knees more than you might realize.
In the end, travel is supposed to be an enjoyable experience and you want your focus to be on those experiences, not your luggage. So, if you really need something, or it gives you anxiety to go without, then figure out how to pack it in, even if that means you might need to leave something else at home. Still, you’d be surprised how much you don’t really need on a daily basis, or at least what you can go without for a week or so.
One last tip, because we know you’ll want souvenirs. Pack an light-weight packable duffle bag into your bags to use on the trip home (we use this one from LLBean). Even if you don’t come home with souvenirs, I swear our stuff never goes back into our bags the way we originally packed it and we need the extra space. You can check your rolling luggage on the way home (packed with your heaviest items) and use your duffle bag as a carry-on. Just make sure it’s not too heavy, because you’re losing your wheels when you check your luggage.
Take it from us: you’ll be so happy you packed light. We’ve been those people who overpack and then have to lug their entire life through an airport with almost no time between flights. Now we’re the ones who watch those people and wish they’d read our blog. No one wants to haul a heavy bag up multiple flights of stairs or pull it along cobblestones. Learning to whittle down our international travel packing list has made for a much more enjoyable experience for us and, we think, will do the same for you. Never once have we wished we brought more, always less.
