Just as I have become accustomed to using these foreign contraptions called “drawers,” “laundry machines,” and “refrigerators,” it’s just about time to shove my entire life into a backpack once again. In case it might be helpful to anyone else who is considering going on a multi-month trip, I thought I’d share what I now consider to be the essentials. Any links that I post are entirely on my own accord as I am nowhere near fancy enough to be getting paid.

Clothes

• Socks (x8)
• Underwear (x8) – if you will be in South America for NYE, check ahead to see if certain colors will bring you good luck
• Pants (x2) – these pants are awesome for traveling: (https://www.vuoriclothing.com/shop/products/pants/ripstop-climber-pant/)
• Shorts (x2) – 1 khaki and 1 athletic
• Tee Shirts (x5)
• Collared shirts (x3)
• Tank tops (x2)
• Rain jacket (x1)
• Sweatshirt (x1)
• Shoes (x2) – Vans and running shoes
• Flip flops (x1)
• Belt (x1)
• Swimsuit (x1)
• UnderArmour Cold Gear (x1)
• Bugsaway hat, jacket, and bandana (x1) – these clothes are essentially permanently bug-resistant: (https://www.exofficio.com/exofficio-technologies/technology-bugsaway.html)

Toiletries

• Toothbrush
• Toothpaste
• Floss
• Deodorant
• Hair product/comb
• Beard trimmer
• Sunscreen
• Bug repellant
• Fingernail clippers
• Retainer (not trying to do orthodontia again)
• Chapstick
• Body wash
• Shampoo
• Travel towel
• Contacts/solution
• [Whatever sexual health stuff you deem appropriate. Some things are harder to get–or unusual–when traveling abroad]

Documentation

• Passport (make sure you have all required visas beforehand)
• Driver’s license
• Vaccination card (check to make sure what’s required before you go)
• Health insurance card (I always get travel insurance)
• Credit/Debit cards (I like to leave some in my accommodation and take some with me in order to reduce risk of total loss)

Electronics

• Phone (I use this as my camera, but you can always bring a separate camera)
• Laptop (many people like to leave this at home, but it makes writing a lot easier)
• Smartwatch
• External charger
• Headphones (including extra pairs)
• Kindle
• Outlet converter (I suggest getting one that has multiple outlets and which ensures that the electrical current is also converted appropriately)
• Chargers for all of the above

Food

• Nuts
• Fruit
• Oatmeal
• Green tea

At one point on my travels I was quite tired and couldn’t be bothered to go find a bowl. I improvised by pouring oatmeal into a water bottle and shaking it up. It was satisfactory. In fact, I repeated the process many times throughout my trip. It should be noted that my good friend Brett was appalled at the practice and nearly threatened to renounce our friendship over the ordeal. I’ll leave the cost-benefit analysis to you, but I at least wanted to give you the option.

Final note: be sure to get the “instant oats” instead of the full oats. The full oats in the water bottle were so bad that not even I could pretend to like them.

Medication

I luckily didn’t require any of the below on my first trip (except a Dramamine or two), and I don’t usually like to take medications unless it’s pretty serious, but I’d always rather be safe than sorry!

• Dramamine (for motion sickness)
• Cipro (for traveler’s diarrhea)
• Melatonin (for jet lag)
• Pepto (for various stomach issues)
• Diamox (for altitude sickness)
• Band-Aids (I assume you know what these are for)

Other

• Glasses and sunglasses
• Ear plugs
• Eye mask
• Laundry soap (to wash in the sink if you don’t want to pay for laundry)
• Exercise bands
• Guitar picks (you never know)
• Cards
• Ziplock bags (various sizes)
• Packing cubes (I got these, which work well: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KKXCJQU/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_image?ie=UTF8&psc=1)

Of course, different people need different things. There are probably a whole world of things which women travelers need of which I am completely ignorant. As a general rule, I would say you should pack less than you think you need. It’s amazing how you realize that so much of what you think is necessary is in fact superfluous. Living out of a backpack can be somewhat of a hassle, but it provides a wonderful exercise in minimalist living. You don’t need as much as you think you do.