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What to pack for international travel

Updated: March 26, 2021 6 Comments

What to Pack for International Travel

I have been traveling the world for over 4 years now. When I first started traveling, I was lugging around a heavy bag. Over time I have learned how to pack and what to pack for international travel.

Many of you have been asking what do I pack, how do I pack and what are my essential items for international travel. Here are the list and recommendations.

Just so you know, I carry more than just essentials. I am a full-time traveler, blogger, and digital nomad. So I have a few things that are necessary for me to support long-term travel and a digital nomad lifestyle.

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What to pack for international travel

Whether you are a first-time traveler or a seasoned traveler, there are three key points to keep in mind when you start to pack for a long trip – lightweight, quick-drying, and warm weather.

1. Lightweight

Lightweight gear takes less space and adds less weight. You can easily pack all your gear in a carry-on bag. It saves you money from paying for the bags. You can also avoid wasting time at the baggage drop-off or baggage claim and any baggage delay issues.

2. Quick Drying

Quick-drying clothes dry much faster than regular ones. You can easily wash them in a sink and dry them overnight. There are two advantages to this. It saves you money from paying for the laundry. And, you don’t need to pack a ton of clothes as you can wash and dry them anytime, anywhere.

3. Warm Weather

If you are targeting warm weather, you do not need to carry any winter clothes such as sweaters, jackets, hats, gloves, etc. Winter clothes can be heavy and take up space in your backpack.

***

Essential Items for International Travel

There are a few important things to carry while traveling. Without these, you can’t even leave your home. Without further due, here is the list of my essential items for international travel.

Essential Items for International Travel- Osprey Farpoint 55

Backpack

A backpack is the first and foremost essential item. It will hold all the items that you carry while traveling. It must be lightweight, durable and strong. Invest in a good backpack that will last for several years.

Your backpack must be small enough to pass as a carry-on bag. Get a backpack that’s about 40L. Anything over 40L may not work as a carry-on bag.

I highly recommend Osprey backpacks. I use Osprey Farpoint 55. It’s a 55-liter backpack. The cool thing about this backpack is it comes with a daypack attached to it. If I have to check-in my bag for some reason, I can detach the daypack and take all my valuables with me on the plane. The main bag is about 40-liter, so it passes as a carry-on on most planes.

I used to use an Osprey Farpoint 40 before, which is a perfect carry-on size. Osprey Porter 46 is another excellent carry-on size backpack.

PRO TIP
Get a travel pack instead of a regular backpack. Regular backpacks are top-loading. If you need something that’s at the bottom of the backpack, you have to remove everything out to retrieve it. A travel pack is also a backpack, but it’s front loading. It opens like a suitcase, so it’s easy to pack and repack. Osprey Farpoint 55, Farpoint 40 and Porter 46 are all travel packs.

Essential Items for International Travel - Columbia North Plains Hiking Shoes

Shoes

Shoes are the second-most essential item. You will be wearing them most of the time, so investment in a good pair of shoes. I suggest getting a pair of hiking shoes. They work well for hiking/trekking but also work pretty well for walking around the city.

I use Columbia North Plains hiking shoes. These are built with Omni-grip and tech-light technologies. Meaning, they have a great grip and are ultralight. These are the lightest hiking shoes I have found so far. They are also extremely comfortable. They held on amazingly well on my Everest Base Camp trek. I highly recommend these shoes.

PRO TIP
Wear your hiking shoes when traveling from place to place, so they won’t take up space in your bag or add weight to it.

Essential Items for International Travel - Apple iPhone 6

Smart Phone

A smartphone is less of an essential and more of a necessity. It’s your phone, camera, computer, navigator, and communicator. You need it to keep in touch with your folks, look up maps, research on places, take pictures and many other things.

I use an unlocked iPhone 6. I usually purchase a SIM card at the airport when I arrive. I pop in the SIM card and I’m good to go.

Essential Items for International Travel - Columbia Rain Jacket

Rain Jacket

A good rain jacket can work as a jacket, raincoat, and a wind protector. Even while traveling in warm countries, you might occasionally end up in highlands where it can be windy and chilly. Make sure your rain jacket is lightweight and compressible. It should not add additional weight to your backpack.

My recommendation is to get a Columbia rain jacket or something similar from Decathlon.

Essential Items for International Travel - Columbia Silver Ridge Convertible Hiking Pants

Pants

A pair of hiking pants can work as your all-purpose pants. If the hiking pants are convertible, they even work as shorts. Pack at least two pairs of pants.

I use Columbia Silver Ridge convertible hiking pants. They are lightweight, convertible and quick drying. I have even used them on my EBC trek. They held up great to the wind, cold and high altitude. Invest in two pairs of these pants and you are set for the next couple of years. They are extremely durable.

Essential Items for International Travel - Columbia Silver Ridge Shorts

Shorts

If you have convertible pants, you do not need extra shorts. Your convertible pants will work as both pants and shorts. But if don’t have convertible pants, get 2 pairs of lightweight and quick-drying shorts.

I recommend the shorts from Columbia or something similar from Decathlon.

Essential Items for International Travel - Columbia Quickdry T-Shirt

T-Shirts

Pack at least 6-8 t-shirts. Make sure some of these are quick drying and the rest are cotton.

I currently carry 3 t-shirts that I bought in Bangkok and 3 from Ninomax in Vietnam.

Swim Trunks

You need at least one pair of swim trunks. You can, of course, use them for swimming or at the beach. But they can also work as an extra pair of shorts.

Essential Items for International Travel - Quick Drying Towel

Quick-drying Towel

Hostels usually charge for towels. Also, if you Couchsurf or stay at a friend’s place, you should have your own towel. Regular towels can be bulky and take up too much space. Get a microfiber quick-drying travel towel. It packs small and dries quickly.

I carry a travel towel that I bought at Decathlon.

Essential Items for International Travel - ExOfficio Underwear

Underwear

Pack at least 3 good pairs of underwear. I use and highly recommend Exoficio underwear. They are breathable, comfortable, odor-free and antimicrobial. On top of all, they are quick drying. They dry in just 2 hours.

You can travel the world for months with just 2 pairs of this underwear. They are slightly expensive but worth the money.

Essential Items for International Travel - Patagonia Merino Hiking Socks

Socks

Pack at least 3 pairs of lightweight socks. Preferably, one pair of hiking socks and 2 pairs of anklet socks.

I use and highly recommend socks from Patagonia. They held up and worked amazingly well on my EBC trek. They are lightweight, quick-drying and odor-free. If you can’t find these, get similar ones from Decathlon.

Essential Items for International Travel - Flipflops

Flipflops

Pack one good pair of lightweight flip-flops. You need a pair to wear at the hostel/hotel, to walk around or at the beach.

I bought a pair of Havaianas about 2 years ago in Rio de Janeiro. I’m still using them. They are super comfortable but not really lightweight. You can get lightweight and durable flip-flops in Decathlon.

Essential Items for International Travel - Liansing Travel Power Adapter

Power Adapter

This is an essential item to pack when traveling. Different countries use different types of plugs. You need an adapter to plug your phone charger, laptop, etc.

I do not recommend spending too much money on this. Just buy something that works.

Essential Items for International Travel - Kolumbo Luggage Lock

Luggage Lock

You need a luggage lock to secure your bag or the locker in your hostel.

Not all hotels have safe deposit lockers in the rooms. You can keep your valuables in your backpack and lock up the zips together with a luggage lock.

Most hostels provide a locker for the luggage but will not provide a lock. You can use your luggage lock to secure the locker.

Get a 3-4 digit combination luggage lock. Do not get a padlock with keys. You will easily misplace the keys. I have been using the Kolumbo luggage lock. It’s a 3 digit combination lock. It’s small but sturdy and strong.

Essential Items for International Travel - Philips Norelco Trimmer

Electric Trimmer or Razor

Pack an electric trimmer or a razor. I use and highly recommend Philips Norelco trimmers. They are small and durable. They can also be used to cut your own hair if you know how.

PRO TIP
Yes, electric trimmer and/or razor are allowed in carry-on/cabin bag.

Essential Items for International Travel - Oakley Sunglasses

Sunglasses

Invest in a good pair of polarized sunglasses. Do not buy those cheap ones from the roadside. They may look good on you, but they don’t really protect you from strong UV.

I use a pair of Oakley polarized sunglasses. They are a bit expensive.You can also get a really good pair of UV coated sunglasses from Decathlon for $5 USD.

PRO TIP
Get a lightweight case for sunglasses. A case will protect your sunglasses when you pack, squeeze or toss them in your bag.

Essential Items for International Travel - Toiletries

Toiletries

Pack all essential toiletries such as a toothbrush, toothpaste, dental floss, soap, shampoo, sunscreen, shaving cream, hair oil, mouthwash, hand sanitizer, etc. You can buy these anywhere so no need to pack big ones or in large quantities.

PRO TIP
To pack toiletries in your carry-on bag, make sure all bottles/tubes are 3.4 ounces (100 ml) or less in size. Put them all in a quart-size clear/transparent plastic bag or ziplock bag. While going through the security check in the airport, take the plastic/ziplock bag out from your backpack and place it on a tray.

***

Additional Travel Products and Accessories

I carry a few additional things that are necessary for my travel style. I don’t use them all the time, but there were occasions where I have used them. So, here are a few travel products and accessories that I carry while traveling.

Additional Travel Products and Accessories - Jeans

Jeans

Occasionally you may have to go to a party, attend an event or dinner. A good pair of jeans is great for special occasions. They also come in handy when traveling in highlands or in cold weather.

The problem with jeans is they are heavy and do not dry fast. There are many brands that are making somewhat lightweight jeans these days. I carry a pair of Buffalo jeans. They are somewhat light and easy to pack.

PRO TIP
If you pack a pair of jeans, wear them when traveling from place to place. That way it won’t take up space in your bag or add weight to it.

Additional Travel Products and Accessories - North Face Down Jacket

Down Jacket

You may need a down jacket if you will be traveling or spending time in cold weather.

I carry a North Face down jacket. It’s highly compressible and ultralight. It stows into its own pocket. It was extremely helpful on my EBC trek.

Decathlon also has some really good down jackets.

Additional Travel Products and Accessories - Toad & Co Ventilair Collared Shirt

Collared Shirt

It’s nice to have one or two collared shirts. You can wear them for parties, events or dinners.

I carry two quick-drying collared shirts from Toad & Co. They are ultralight and quick drying. Toad & Co is a really cool travel clothing company.

Additional Travel Products and Accessories - Scrubba Washbag

Scrubba Washbag

If you travel light, you pack a few clothes. That means you have to wash them more often. You can wash them in a sink or use a washbag. A washbag can give you a machine quality wash.

I carry Scrubba washbag. It’s a portable laundry system. It looks like a dry sack, folds small and thin. It’s a bit pricey for what it is. But, it can save you money in the long run.

Additional Travel Products and Accessories - Steripen UV Water Purifier

Water Purifier

UV water purifiers are safe, effective and chemical free. I use SteriPEN Freedom UV water purifier. It’s slightly larger than a pen but small enough to stow in a pocket. It uses UV rays to eliminate bacteria and viruses.

This purifier has come in handy many times including my EBC trek.

Additional Travel Products and Accessories - Vapur Foldable Water Bottle

Foldable Water Bottle

Buying water bottles all the time can get expensive. It’s not environment-friendly either. Plastic, aluminum or glass bottles take up space.

I use Vapur foldable water bottle. It folds so small, it can easily be stashed in a pocket. It’s durable, freezable and BPA-free. One of the best investments I have made. I highly recommend it.

Additional Travel Products and Accessories - Alaska Bear Eye Mask

Eye Mask

An eye mask is useful for a good night’s sleep in dorm rooms and planes. I carry an Alaska Bear natural silk eye mask. It’s smooth and super comfortable on the eyes.

Additional Travel Products and Accessories - Foam Earplugs

Earplugs

A good pair of earplugs can get you a good night’s sleep in dorm rooms and planes. Earplugs are essential to pack when traveling if you are a light sleeper. Get foam earplugs that are light, soft and comfortable.

Additional Travel Products and Accessories - Kryptonite Cable

Flex Cable/Chain

You may need a cable/chain to secure your backpack to a bedpost or pipe. In hostels with no lockers, you can use a chain or cable to lock up your backpack to something stationary and strong.

A cable/chain can also be used to secure bags when traveling overnight on trains where thefts are common.

I carry a Kryptonite flex cable. It’s small and lightweight.

Additional Travel Products and Accessories - Headlamp

Headlamp

You may need a headlamp if you are camping, hiking in the dark or in the dorm rooms. Get an inexpensive LED headlamp.

Additional Travel Products and Accessories - Sleeping Bag

Sleeping Bag

If you couchsurf, stay at friends’ or camp, you may need a sleeping bag. Even ultralight sleeping bags can take up space and add to the weight of the backpack. Carry a sleeping bag only if it’s really needed.

I carry a REI ultralight sleeping bag which I bought from REI in the US. I have used this sleeping bag only a few times in my entire travels. But, it was very useful on my EBC trek. I did not have to spend money on renting a sleeping bag. It was small and lightweight, so I was able to fit easily into my hiking bag.

Decathlon has small and ultralight sleeping bags at inexpensive prices. Check it out.

PRO TIP
Get a compression sack for your sleeping bag. A compression sack can squeeze and compress your bag to 1/3 of its size. You can find an inexpensive one at Decathlon.

***

Travel Tech Gear

These are all the electronics I carry with me to sustain my travel lifestyle.

Travel Tech Gear - Apple MacBook Pro

Laptop

A laptop is essential if you are a freelancer, blogger or an online professional. If you are not one of these, you can easily manage with a cell phone or a tablet.

I use a MacBook Pro. MacBooks are light, durable and easy to work with. I use Incase Icon Sleeve for my MacBook. It provides cushion and protects my laptop during traveling.

Travel Tech Gear - Apple Bluetooth Magic Mouse

External Mouse

If you are spending hours on your laptop, an external mouse can make your life easier. I use Apple Bluetooth Mouse, which pairs very well with my MacBook Pro.

Travel Tech Gear - Amazon Kindle

Kindle

Carrying physical books can add to the size and weight of your bag. A kindle can take your entire library with you.

I made my switch to kindle about a year ago. My bag has become much lighter. Now I have all my guidebooks and my entire library with me. I highly recommend a Kindle instead of print books.

Travel Tech Gear - Samsung T3 External SSD

External Hard Drive

It’s extremely important to backup your photos and data while traveling. Computers break down or get stolen. It’s better to be safe than sorry. Carry at least one external hard drive with you.

I use Samsung T3 Portable SSD external hard drive. I use this to store photos and backup the data from my computer.

This hard drive is an SSD, so no spinning disks inside. It is less susceptible to breakdowns or malfunctions. It’s also one-fourth the size of external hard drives out there. So it takes less space in your bag. It’s also shockproof, so no need for a case or protector.

It’s a bit expensive than normal external hard drives. But it’s worth it for its durability and compact size.

Travel Tech Gear - Sandisk Flash Drive

Flash Drive

There will be situations where you will have to get prints of some documents. Visa letters, flight itineraries and what not. Flash drives can come in handy. Copy your file onto a flash drive and print it at an internet cafe or at the reception in your hotel/hostel.

I carry 2 SanDisk Ultra flash drives each of 64GB. They also work as additional storage and backup drives.

Travel Tech Gear - RAVPower External Battery

External Battery

You will be on the road most of the time. You will be traveling, exploring, or hiking in the forest. An external battery can be extremely useful in situations where there is no power source nearby. Or in situations where you cannot sit and wait for your phone to charge.

I use RAVPower portable external battery. It has built-in wall plug and charging cable. There is no need for me to carry additional cables. All I need is this external battery.

***

Travel Photography Gear

Travel Photography Gear - Nikon DSLR D7100

Camera

A cell phone or a compact point and shoot camera should work in most cases. You only need a DSLR if you are into photography.

I have been using a Nikon D7100 with an 18-105mm lens. This is my first DSLR camera and I am still using it.

Over time, I have learned it’s not the camera that takes good pictures. It’s the eye for creativity, proper lighting, and software that makes the pictures great.

Travel Photography Gear - MeFOTO Travel Tripod

Tripod

If you use a DSLR and need to shoot crystal clear pictures, you may need a tripod. Especially shooting in the night and waterfalls.

I use MeFOTO Aluminum Backpacker tripod. It’s small, light but also extremely strong. It’s small enough for me to pack it in my carry-on bag. I have used this tripod to shoot cityscapes, canyons, and the Himalayas.

Travel Photography Gear - ThinkTank Camera Bag

Camera Bag

I recommend using your daypack as your camera bag whenever possible. The less the bags, the easier to travel.

If you need a separate camera bag, I highly recommended ThinkTank camera bags. They do not look like typical camera bags with bright logos. They are discrete with no logos or names on them. Not every place you travel can be safe. A discrete bag not only avoids attention but can also minimize theft.

Travel Photography Gear - Cell Phone Tripod Adapter

Cell Phone Tripod Adapter

I use a cell phone tripod adapter to place my cell phone on the tripod. I use this setup to record videos with my cell phone.

Travel Photography Gear - Sandisk Memory Card

Memory Cards

I use two SanDisk Extreme memory cards for my camera. They are cheap and durable. They hold up to a thousand pictures.

***

There you have it. My list of things to carry while traveling. My essential items for international travel, additional travel products and accessories, photography gear and whatnot.


WRITTEN BY THIRUMAL MOTATI

Thirumal Motati - Owner and Content Creator at Visa Traveler

Thirumal Motati is a world traveler and digital nomad from India. He is on a mission to travel to every country in the world on his Indian passport. He believes that his weak passport cannot stop him from traveling the world. Through this blog, he inspires many to take up the life of travel despite their weak passports. His guidance has helped many secure their visas and fulfill their travel dreams. 

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WRITTEN BY THIRUMAL MOTATI

Thirumal Motati

Thirumal Motati is a world traveler and digital nomad from India. He is on a mission to travel to every country in the world on his Indian passport. He believes that his weak passport cannot stop him from traveling the world. Through this blog, he inspires many to take up the life of travel despite their weak passports. His guidance has helped many secure their visas and fulfill their travel dreams.

PLAN YOUR TRAVEL WITH VISA TRAVELER

I highly recommend using these websites to plan your trip. I use these websites myself to apply for my visas, book my flights and hotels and purchase my insurance.

01. Apply for your visa
You can get a verifiable flight itinerary for your visa application from DummyTicket. Flight itineraries from DummyTicket are valid for 2 weeks and works for all visa applications.

02. Book your fight
You can find the cheapest flight tickets using Skyscanner. Skyscanner includes all budget airlines and you are guaranteed to find the cheapest flight to your destination.

03. Book your hotel
You can book your hotel from Booking.com. Booking.com has pretty much every hotel, hostel and guesthouse from every destination.

04. Get your onward ticket
If traveling on one-way ticket, you can get your proof of onward flight from Expedia. Expedia offers free cancellation on tickets booked within 24 hours. Or use OnwardTicket to get a proof of onward ticket in just 2 minutes.

05. Purchase your insurance
You can purchase travel medical insurance for your trip from HeyMondo (for all international trips + 15% discount for visa traveler readers) or VisitorsCoverage (for US trips).

LEGAL DISCLAIMER
We are not affiliated with immigration, embassies or governments of any country. The content in this article is for educational and general informational purposes only, and shall not be understood or construed as, visa, immigration or legal advice. Your use of information provided in this article is solely at your own risk and you expressly agree not to rely upon any information contained in this article as a substitute for professional visa or immigration advice. Under no circumstance shall be held liable or responsible for any errors or omissions in this article or for any damage you may suffer in respect to any actions taken or not taken based on any or all of the information in this article. Please refer to our full disclaimer for further information.

AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE
This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. Please refer to our full disclosure for further information.

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About Me

About Thirumal Motati, founder and travel writer at visa traveler
Hi! I’m Thirumal Motati. I’m on a mission to travel to every country in the world on my “weak” passport. As a digital nomad, I have been traveling full-time for over 6 years. My knowledge and experience have helped many secure their visas and fulfill their travel dreams. Want to learn how to travel the world on a weak passport? Start here

Get your travel medical insurance from HeyMondo
Get verifiable flight ticket for visa application from dummyticket
Rent an onward ticket at OnwardTicket

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