Over the past decade, I’ve had the opportunity to visit more than 40 countries, at least 22 of which I’ve explored as a solo traveler.
Living out of my backpack for several weeks and months at a time has allowed me to strengthen my packing skills and ensure I don’t bring too much or forget any essentials.
Here are the items I never leave at home, regardless of my destination’s climate.
I always carry my belongings in a large backpack instead of a suitcase.
I prefer to bring a 55-liter backpack as my main piece of luggage on almost every trip.
It makes my life so much easier when I’m traveling to multiple locations, since walking to a bus stop, heading to an airport, or strolling through a city is far more manageable with a backpack than with a suitcase.
A 55-liter backpack is also great for plane travel, as it meets many airlines’ carry-on bag requirements. I’ve definitely saved money by not having to pay to check a suitcase.
My most essential items stay in a collapsible daypack that fits inside my backpack.
I keep my valuables and essentials inside a collapsible daypack that I can fold to fit inside my full-size backpack. It’s great to carry when I’m exploring cities and going on daytime hikes.
Whenever I fly, I remove the daypack from the backpack and put it underneath the seat in front of me.
It’s also nice having this daypack with me on crowded trains or buses because I can keep my important items close to me even when my backpack might be stored in another area.
The clothes that make it into my bag are always functional and versatile.
For the most part, I prioritize function over fashion when packing clothing for trips. However, that doesn’t mean I never make space for nice outfits.
I find it important to bring versatile clothes and shoes that serve several purposes and work with a variety of outfits.
My bag always has a couple of T-shirts or tank tops, a sweater or fleece, a puffy jacket, and a rain jacket. I leave the puffy jacket at home when I travel to a tropical place.
These layers are essential if I’m traveling through various climates. Temperatures can also vary throughout the day in many places, so I make sure to pack plenty of garments that will keep me warm.
As for shoes, I limit myself to bringing three pairs and prioritize comfort. I typically pack a pair of flip-flops or hiking sandals, tennis shoes or trail runners, and comfortable boots that can double as more dressy shoes.
Microfiber towels are compact and easy to pack.
I bring my compact microfiber towel on every trip, whether I’m vacationing at the beach, hiking to a lake, or picnicking in a city.
These towels are lightweight and dry in less time than normal bath towels. It’s nice to have one when I camp or stay somewhere that doesn’t provide complimentary towels.
Because of its convenient size, it’s easy to throw it in my daypack before an adventure. After all, I can roll my compact microfiber towel into a cylinder the size of a water bottle.
My Garmin inReach Mini helps me stay in touch when I’m off the grid.
My Garmin inReach Mini is a small satellite device that allows me to text and communicate without cellphone service.
Thanks to this device, I can contact friends and family back home, sending them safety updates and tagging my exact coordinates.
The device also has a feature that sends alerts to emergency-response coordination centers, which is one of the quickest ways to receive help when I can’t use my phone.
As a woman who travels alone often, this device has been a game changer on hikes, road trips, and international adventures.
My personalized first-aid kit helps me avoid last-minute trips to the pharmacy.
A first-aid kit is a must-have travel item. Though I always hope I won’t need to use it, it’s convenient to have it with me and comes in handy for simple things.
Typically, I carry ibuprofen, acetaminophen, and Benadryl in the kit. Although these over-the-counter medications are easy to get at many pharmacies, it’s much easier to have them in my backpack. Plus, it saves me from having to run out and find them when I’m traveling.
My kit also includes a small pair of medical scissors, fingernail clippers, tweezers, and duct tape — supplies I use on every single trip.
Bandages, Neosporin, alcohol wipes, gauze, and medical tape are great items to include, too.
Reusable water bottles and water filters have become staples for me.
When I started traveling internationally, I was disturbed by the number of plastic water bottles I saw tourists use.
I’ve always done my best to carry a reusable water bottle, and when I was in a place where I couldn’t drink the tap water, I’d buy gallons of fresh water to keep it filled.
A few years ago, I bought SteriPEN’s UV water filter, and it’s been a lifesaver.
The rechargeable device is supposed to help “filter” bacteria and viruses out of drinking water, making it a great addition to my travel bag. I use it to purify tap water and river water for drinking during hikes.
It’s a bit pricey (over $100) and may not be for everyone, but I’ve found it to be less expensive and more environmentally friendly than repeatedly buying bottled water.
After much hesitation, I traded my paperback books for an e-reader.
I like holding books and flipping through their pages, so it took me a while to buy an e-reader.
However, the more trips I took with physical books in tow, the more I realized how heavy they were. Plus, the faster I read my books, the more I had to buy.
After purchasing a Kindle, I wasn’t disappointed. I can buy a new book whenever I want, and the device weighs significantly less than the multiple books I used to carry.
A battery pack that can charge multiple devices more than once is an essential.
Whether I’m riding a bus for a long time, sitting around an airport without the proper power adapter, or spending a day outside taking pictures on my phone, it’s nice to have a reliable power source.
I used to carry around a small battery pack that could charge my phone a couple of times. Now, I have a more powerful one that weighs about a pound.
The device can refuel my phone’s battery around 10 times before dying, and it can also be used to charge my Kindle, water filter, and camera battery.
This story was originally published on March 13, 2023, and most recently updated on May 28, 2026.
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