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My minimalist backpacker list for when I traveled for a year
30
items In 2022 I quit my job and travelled through Latin America for a year with nothing but a backpack. Here are all of the items I brought with me.
Sections
3
Must-haves
Logistical
Nice-to-haves
Must-haves
Non-negotiable items you probably know you need, but here are the good ones
My trusty backpack. Mine is red but they don’t make that anymore. Oh well. The functionality is incredible. You can remove the daypack and zip up the straps to make it a carry on (though not always the right size for that). Versatile and durable. Don...
Farpoint™ 70 Travel Pack
I have the 70L bag but this 55L option is better for most traveling in shorter stints who don’t need to bring clothes for multiple climates. You can remove the daypack and zip up the straps to make it a carry on (though not always the right size for ...
Farpoint™ 55 Travel Pack
Having a quality soap bar bag is truly an overlooked component of traveling. I got mine after a couple months because I was sick of dealing with all the soap rubbing off on the wrong stuff and constantly dealing with hygiene. This is particularly tru...
Matador FlatPak Soap Bar Case | REI Co-op
Please for the sake of your social life, get a shoe bag. It’s cheap and really a non negotiable to not have all your clothes smell like feet. I got this one as a gift and it was so valuable. It fits 1-2 pairs of shoes and separated their rankness fro...
Shoe Pouch
Please don’t even think about not bringing laundry bag. Drawstrings, mesh pockets, and plastic bags don’t do the job. This is a great option, but anything with a zipper or roll top will do
Laundry Bag - Del Día
I did an insane amount of research for my toiletry bag. I wanted something that was versatile, compact, stayed clean, and purpose-built for storing a whole bathroom inside of a tiny space. This is the best. It even comes with a removable clear bag fo...
Gravel Plus™ Toiletry Bag
Having a quick drying microfiber towel that quickly folds up into a case is very important for those on the move. You can also find cheap knockoffs at Walmart, but getting a really nice and super compact one like this is worth the extra $20 for most ...
Matador Nanodry Towel | REI Co-op
This is a must have. Get a cheap one so you can lose it. I don’t sleep with this in my home, but during travel it is a necessity. People who complain about discomfort while sleeping in foreign places are usually just lost: all they need are an eye ma...
Sleep Mask
In much of the world, you’ll need a travel adapter. Buy this one, or buy another one, but don’t forget to do a little research about where you’re going and how their electricity works
Travel Adapter
Earplugs are one of those things that can greatly lower the standard of living you need for a good night’s sleep. Strongly recommend. Consider even buying nice ones built for sleep by Manta or Loop. I go with these junk ones so I can lose them and be...
Sleeping Foam Earplugs
If you find yourself in rural Colombia with horrific diarrhea like I did, you’ll be glad you listened
Pepto-Bismol Chewables
Logistical
The intangible services you should consifer
Google Fi is an awesome phone plan for travelers, and really for anyone. I love it. They basically tap into whatever is the best network. Not sure how the tech of it works but the service works amazingly well. The Unlimited Plus plan allowed for free...
Google Fi Wireless - App Store
The go to for finding hostels, and they have an awesome feature for connecting all Hostelworld guests in a city regardless of hostel, making it very easy to have friends wherever you are. Booking.com is typically a better deal but Hostelworld is a be...
Hostelworld
The go to for quickly finding cheap (and not so cheap) places to stay. Between this and Hostelworld you have all that you need. I don’t even bother with Airbnb outside of the Americas
Booking.com
Download the language offline so you can converse. I did a short trip to Montenegro so I downloaded the language offline and it came in handy for interacting with locals.
Google Translate
Which insurance you pick is dependent on the type of trip. For me, I look for the cheapest option that has disaster coverage—meaning if I need to get emergency services like a helicopter or a major hospital bill, I won’t get hit with a $40k bill. All...
Health Insurance
This is a must-have for US-based travelers. It allows you to take out cash from anywhere in the world without ATM fees or international conversion fees (they reimburse them at month end). Always decline the conversion at the ATM. This makes traveling...
Schwab Fee-free Debit Card
Nice-to-haves
Depending on your trip and personality, many of these are a no-brainer
Packing cubes for nerds like me that like their pack to feel like a dresser
Pack-It® Reveal Packing Cube Set
USB-C charged electric toothbrush that is tiny and has its own case. Love this toothbrush. I initially brought a heavier electric one and this was a major upgrade. Not too expensive either. I still use it as my day to day and my dentist still loves m...
Philips One by Sonicare
Great rubber refillable bottles for shampoo and conditioner or body wash
Travel sized shampoo bottles
Bring a padlock that is lightweight and doesn’t require a key. This one is a link to one at target but it doesn’t matter ultimately; get one that works. You can buy them at a lot of hostels or hardware stores in the country you’re visiting. A must ha...
Coghlan's Resettable Combination Padlock
Do you get shit all over yourself? Same. Bring a tide to go pen
Tide To Go Stain Remover Pen
I don’t personally travel with a power bank but a lot of travelers swear by them. I’d rather risk losing power because it’s a fun adventure that way. But if you want the peace of mind, get yourself a charger box.
Power Bank
If journaling is a part of your idea of a good odyssey, treat yourself to a good one
Moleskine Lined Softcover Notebook Pocket 3.5"x5.5" Black
This book changed my life…it was part of what made me take the leap to travel like I did. That’s the only reason I included it, but books can be a great companion for travel, or any time really
To Shake the Sleeping Self (or a book that inspires you)
Along with other obvious toiletries, just have some tape. You’ll use it for all sorts of stuff—as a bandaid, for blisters, for a torn piece of fabric, whatever
Medical Tape
I always carry these because I have a non-fatal bee allergy, but it’s not a bad idea to carry a single dose in case you have an allergic reaction
Benadryl Tablets
This is a minimalist’s dream: a rain jacket that converts to a drawstring bag. Pretty awesome. It isn’t built super well but I still love the versatility of it and found it to be a very useful item on the trip
Convertible Rain Jacket/Drawstring Bag
A nice passport cover is really worthwhile. It’ll last forever, it adds bulk to your passport which actually makes it harder to lose, it protects the passport book itself, and it allows for storage of important documents. I love mine
Leather Passport Cover, Custom Passport Holder, Passport Covers Personalized, Passport Wallet, Couples Gift, Travel Accessories
I always have a carabiner and I always use it for something. It is just useful
Carabiners