Table of Contents
Packing Checklist Overview
This ultimate packing checklist has evolved over many years of travelling. The list is very thorough and well thought out to include all of the absolute essentials alongside all the little things. So the list should cover everything you would need for a trip!
Please keep in mind that packing is obviously dictated by where you’re going and what type of travelling/activities you’re doing. Our trips are generally outdoor based with mostly hiking and sometimes swimming involved. We are not luxurious nor shoestring travellers. This should all be reflected in the ultimate packing checklist.
Is This Packing Checklist for a Short or Long Trip?
This ultimate packing checklist is perfect for someone about to endeavour upon a longer trip, requiring a larger backpack (>50 Litre) and also a smaller backpack (20-30 Litre). Please note that this packing checklist can also be adapted to a smaller trip requiring only a smaller backpack. Plus there are additional items listed for a winter and camping trip respectively.
Generally speaking, longer trips are those trips greater than 2 weeks. Although for extended trips 4 weeks or longer, it is particularly important to get your packing just right. Sure, you can always buy things along the way, but the costs quickly start to add up. Also, having the exact gear available when travelling all corners of the globe isn’t always a guarantee. Plus, the quality may be lacking with last minute purchases on the road.
So without further ado, please find the ultimate packing checklist below. It is designed to be easily followed to help reduce the stress of packing!
Where Can I Find Items From This Packing Checklist?
For information on specific products and brands to travel with – please follow the links. We have tried and tested different travel related items over many years and can recommend the essentials. Head to Top 66 Items You Must Travel With find out more details.
Please read our Terms of Use and additional disclaimer at the bottom of this page before reading the Medications section.
Good luck and happy travels!
The Packing Checklist
Essential Documents
- Passport/national ID card
- Visas
- Student/seniors card
- Driver’s license
- International driver’s license
- Doctor’s letter for medications
- Travel vaccinations, e.g. Yellow Fever record
- Travel insurance policy overview certificate
- Photocopies of passport/national ID card x 5
- Photocopies of other essential documents
- Printed phone IEMI number and serial numbers of electronics
- Passport photos x 6
- Fee-free international transaction bank cards x 4
- Money
- Foreign currency
- Activity/event tickets
Storage of Essential Documents
Electronics
- Phone
- Apple Silicone Phone case – Amazon or eBay
- Backup (old) phone
- Extra-long (3 metre) phone charging cable – Amazon or eBay
- Nikon Digital SLR Camera – Amazon or eBay
- Camera case – Amazon or eBay
- Camera accessories
- Universal plug adapter (with case) – Amazon or eBay
- GoPro Hero9 (with equipment)
– Amazon or eBay - CamKix Waterproof Telescopic Pole – Amazon or eBay
- SanDisk 64GB Extreme PRO SD Memory Card – Amazon or eBay
- Anker PowerCore Portable Charger/Power Bank – Amazon or eBay
- Laptop
- Laptop case
- Apple EarPods – Amazon or eBay
- Amazon Kindle – Amazon or eBay
- Amazon Kindle cover – Amazon or eBay
- Garmin Forerunner 35 Running Watch – Amazon or eBay
- Head torch – Amazon or eBay
- Chargers x ?
- Charging cables x ?
- Spare batteries
Accessories
- Ray-Ban polarised Clubmaster Sunglasses – Amazon or eBay
- Hard sunglasses case – Amazon or eBay
- Mini travel umbrella – Amazon or eBay
- Mack’s Earplugs (5 Pairs) – Amazon or eBay
- Alaska Bear Sleep Mask – Amazon or eBay
- Pens x 3
- Playing cards
- Carabiner spring snap hook – Amazon or eBay
- Gear Aid Seam Sealant and Adhesive – eBay
- Foldable card phone tripod – Amazon or eBay
- 1L Water Bottle x 2 – Amazon or eBay
- Summer Buff Unisex Coolnet Neck Gaiter – Amgaiterazon or eBay
- Car phone holder – Amazon or eBay
- SPF lip balm
- Lip balm
- trtl Neck Travel Pillow – Amazon or eBay
Luggage
- Osprey Aether AG 70L Backpack – Amazon or eBay
- Osprey Skarab 30L Day Backpack – Amazon or eBay
- Osprey Ultralight Waterproof Bag Cover (Large & Small) – Amazon or eBay
- Combination cable padlocks x 4 – Amazon or eBay
Storage
- Resealable snack/freezer lock bags x 15
- Reusable shopping bags x 5
- Gym drawstring bag x 2
- Packing cubes – Amazon or eBay
- Toiletries bag – Men (Amazon or eBay) & Women (Amazon or eBay)
- Medications/medical kit bag – Amazon or eBay
- Electronics bag – Amazon or eBay
Clothes
- Underwear/trunks x 10
- Boxers/briefs x 1
- Hiking socks x 3-4 – Men (Amazon or eBay) & Women (Amazon or eBay)
- Ankle socks x 6-7
- Shirts x 9
- Long sleeved shirt (or base layer) – Men (Amazon or eBay) & Women (Amazon or eBay)
- The North Face TKA Glacier snap fleece jacket – Men (Amazon or eBay) & Women (Amazon or eBay)
- The North Face Venture 2 waterproof/windproof jacket – Men (Amazon or eBay) & Women (Amazon or eBay)
- Lightweight down jacket – Men (Amazon or eBay) & Women (Amazon or eBay)
- Down jacket bag (usually included with down jacket)
- Casual/board shorts
- Trousers
- Belt
- Columbia water repellent convertible hiking trousers – Men (Amazon or eBay) & Women (Amazon or eBay)
- Waterproof over trousers – Amazon or eBay
- Merrell Moab 2 Mid Goretex hiking boots – Men (Amazon or eBay) & Women (Amazon or eBay)
- ASICS GT-2000 7 running shoes – Men (Amazon or eBay) & Women (Amazon or eBay)
- Flip flops
- Hat
- Swimsuit
- Water shoes
Toiletries
- Microfiber travel towel – Amazon or eBay
- Hand sanitiser
- Deodorant
- Toothbrush
- Toothbrush head cover – Amazon or eBay
- Tooth paste
- Floss
- Body wash
- Shampoo
- Razor
- Shaving cream
- Scissors
- Tweezers
- Nail clippers
- Baby wipes
- Small packet of tissues
Laundry
- Sea To Summit Concentrated Laundry Wash – Amazon or eBay
- Sea To Summit Pocket Laundry Wash (50 Leaves) – Amazon or eBay
Medical Kit
- 40 pack waterproof bandaids
- Nexcare waterproof dressing pads – Amazon or eBay
- Rigid sports tape
- Electrolyte capsules
- Multivitamin capsules
- Aquatabs water purification tablets – Amazon or eBay
- Insect repellent spray (with DEET) – Amazon or eBay
- Insect repellent roll on (with DEET) – Amazon or eBay
- Nasal spray/stick
- Banana Boat Sport Sunscreen Lotion (SPF 50+) – Amazon or eBay
Medications
- Paracetamol
- Ibuprofen
- Antibacterial cream
- Antidiarrhoeal tablets
- Antinausea / motion sickness tablets
- Antihistamine/insect bite cream
- Cold & Flu Tablets – phenylephrine hydrochloride (nasal decongestant)
- Chlorsig eye drops/ointment (conjunctivitis)
- Personal medications/prescriptions
- Location/activity specific medications/prescriptions (e.g. antimalarials or altitude sickness tablets)
Winter Extras
- Winter (fleece/wool) neck gaiter – Amazon or eBay
- The North Face Unisex Etip gloves – Amazon or eBay
- Beanie
- Thermal top & bottoms – Men (Amazon or eBay) & Women (Amazon or eBay)
Camping Extras (for multi-day hikes)
- Sea to Summit Aeros Premium inflatable pillow – Amazon or eBay
- Vango Ultralite Pro 200 sleeping bag – eBay
- Sea to Summit sleeping bag liner – Amazon or eBay
- HIKENTURE inflatable sleeping mat – Amazon or eBay
- Vango Banshee Pro Tent 300 – eBay
- Portable mini gas stove – Amazon or eBay
- Gas canister
- Cooking set – Amazon or Decathlon
- Scrubba Portable travel wash bag – Amazon or eBay
- AeroPress Coffee Maker – Amazon or eBay
Packing Checklist Overview
We hope this packing checklist will help you to be prepared for your next adventure. It’s a comprehensive general packing list that covers all the basics and essentials for any style of trip. As speed hiking and outdoor enthusiasts, we have added some packing essentials for hiking and camping, specifically for when on multi-day hikes. For more specific packing checklists for hiking and camping, you’ll be able to find them on our website in the near future. So watch this space.
Not packing for a trip anytime soon? No problems. Bookmark or save this page for future reference. The last thing you want to do is forget something important for your next trip.
Disclaimers
Please note that the medications list should not be taken as professional medical or health advice. You must see a doctor, preferably a doctor specialising in travel, before choosing to travel with any medications. Not only will a doctor recommend, if any, what medications to consider taking, but will also prescribe proper dosage and instructions if you ever need to use them.
A doctor will also provide a medications letter, in case you are ever questioned on any particular medications which may be prohibited or have restrictions associated with them in certain countries. For instance, medications with addictive qualities such as opioids or psychotropics. This list does not replace, in any way, proper professional advice from a doctor. If you were to follow this list without seeking proper medical advice, we are not liable or responsible for any potential damage, loss or repercussions of any description. The medications listed on this packing checklist are generally what a travel doctor has recommended us for longer trips over the years.
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