GET THE ULTIMATE TRAVEL PACKING LIST! (Yes. It's editable, printable & FREE)

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September is the backpackers month on TFG and we’re going to take a look at the different items a traveler might need when planning long term travel.

 


How to Pack for Long Term Travel


 

If you’re going on a RTW trip you probably be visiting the top destinations around the world and want to participate in a range of activities. For indefinite travelers, you may never know where the wind might take you.

 

No matter what your plans, one thing is for sure: you have to be prepared for everything.

 

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How I Pack for Indefinite Travel

 

I’ve been traveling for over 6.5 years. In 2010 I took a 9 month round the world trip and since July of 2011 I’ve been an indefinite traveler. Packing for both types of travel has some similarities, but the main difference is knowledge of planned activities

On a RTW trip you have a planned itinerary. You know what countries you will go to in advance and can thus plan accordingly. Follow the tips featured in this post on traveling for a long time.

For indefinite travel packing is more challenging. You may just book a one way ticket and have no idea where you’ll be going after. You may be tempted to pack numerous “just in case items” and end up over packing.

This happened to me the first time around.

Cancun was my first destination in my new life as a permanent nomad and I packed 18 painful kilos of useless junk. I packed too much of the wrong everything completely clueless about a packing strategy.

 

Choose a Packing Strategy

 

To avoid this from happening to you, make a packing strategy

  1. Pack one outfit for every occasion
  2. Pack as if you’re going a RTW trip
  3. Pack for your interests

 

 

Pack One Outfit for Every Occasion

Using the principles to create a capsule wardrobe, plan to mix and match a variety of clothing, but focus on creating one outfit for every occasion:

  • One outfit for Trekking
  • One outfit for Sightseeing
  • One outfit for Visiting Religious Sites/Museums
  • One Outfit for Going Out
  • One outfit to travel in/work out

 

 

Pack as if You’re Going on a RTW Trip

 

Use this RTW packing list to help guide you in creating a capsule wardrobe of clothing you can mix and match. This set should be about half for warm weather and half for cold weather.

Follow the principles featured in this packing video and keep in mind that all your clothing should be versatile and suitable enough to be worn in various scenarios.


 

 

Pack for Your Interests

Now that I’ve been traveling indefinitely for over 3 years, I’ve adopted this packing strategy. I pack for my interests, which are beaches and scuba diving.

This strategy helps me streamline what I pack and I just buy any items I need along the way.

You may not know your destination but you do know what you like to do:

 

If you like doing all of the above, then use the RTW packing list as your guide.

 

Packing List for Indefinite Travel

 

I use the Maximista Packing List to help guide me in my packing and find that it’s way more than enough clothing.

I ditch things along the way if needed and buy new things when I get tired of wearing the same items.

 

Stay tuned when I reveal my personal packing list for indefinite travel.

 

Final Packing Principles

 

No matter which of the above packing strategies you choose, remember these principles:

  • Pack 2-3 warm jackets/sweaters you can layer over all your clothing.
  • Know that you might have to buy things along the way.
  • Pack a set of comfortable clothing for travel days.
  • Try to pack shoes that match with all your clothing.
  • Be prepared to make mistakes, but learn and adjust as you go.

 


 

For more tips and ideas on long term travel packing, please read the following:

 


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