The minimalist’s guide to packing carry-on only!
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Now that I went over what bag I brought with me on my adventures, let’s get into the nitty-gritty about what I put in it!
(If you have not read my Osprey Ozone 46L Review post, you can do so here)
In my pack, I use varying sizes of packing cubes and pouches to keep my items organized. This is the best tip I can give about packing light and being organized. Each item has its designated spot within the cube or pouch, and each cube has its designated spot within the backpack. It is a well thought out jigsaw puzzle.
To fit my clothes into the packing cubes, all the clothes are folded and then rolled. Rolling your clothing items really does help cut down on space and also helps prevent wrinkles. It’s a win-win!
Before embarking on this adventure, I worked hard on becoming a minimalist and learning what I truly need and what I can live without. It is a struggle and continues to be so, but I have found less stuff=happier life. There is less to worry about and frees up your mind and time. I am also not that much of a fashionista, so I am not worried about what I look like. As long as I’m clean and presentable, that is fine with me.
I keep my clothing very basic and neutral. All my items can mix and match with each other for the most part. I have nicknamed my wardrobe “black and blue all over”. All my items are either black, blue, white, or gray. It was actually totally by mistake. I packed items that I had that I knew were lightweight and dried quickly. They all just happened to be those colors! It is starting to become redundant, but I figure as my items start to wear out, I can start incorporating some new colors into the mix.
So without further ado, below I will list all the items that I packed into my 46-liter backpack when I left Hawaii for Australia. Since being in the land of Oz, the items in my bag have changed slightly, but below are the standard items that I keep.
Complete Packing List
Blue E-Bag Cube: Shirts
- (1) Long Sleeve sweater (gray)
- (1) ¾ Sleeve LuLaRoe Irma shirt (heather blue)
- (1) LuLaRoe Classic shirt (blue)
- (1) V neck shirt (blue)
- (1) V neck shirt (black)
- (2) Cotton T-shirts (pajamas and athletics)
Red Slim E-Bag Cube: Bottoms
- (1) fabric belt
- (1) pair athletic Capri leggings
- (2) pairs running shorts (also used as pajamas)
- (1) pair cotton capris
- (1) pair scrub bottoms (pajamas)
Eagle Creek Small Compression Cube: Delicates
- (1) Buff
- (1) Swimsuit
- (2) Sport Bras
- (2) Regular Bras
- (8) Pairs undies
- (2) Pairs no show socks
- (2) Pairs of regular socks
- (2) Undershirt Tank Tops
- (1) Pair Compression socks
Small Red Slim E-Bag cube: Electronics
- (1) selfie stick (Mpow Selfie Stick Tripod)
- (1) extra SD card
- (1) lens cloth
- (1) USB plug adapter
- (4) various electronics cords (USB to USC, iPod, Go Pro, Fitbit)
- (1) WD – My Passport 1 TB SSD External Hard Drive
- (3) Under Water Go Pro Lenses (Soonsun 3 Pack Dive Filter for Go Pro Hero 7)
- (1) GoPro Super Suit
- (1) Go Pro Hero 7
- (1) Universal Adapter
- (1) Locking Carabiner
Other Electronics:
- (1) Dell XPS 13 laptop
- (1) Mosiso Laptop Sleeve
- (1) USB B to USB C converter
- (1) iPod Touch
- (1) Anker PowerCore 13000 Portable Charger
- (1) Kindle Paperwhite 10th edition, Waterproof
- (2) Headphones – 1 traditional, 1 earbuds
- (1) Cell Phone Charger
Misc:
- (1) Columbia Arcadia II Rain Jacket in a stuff sack
- (1) Black Zip Up Hoodie
- (1) Margot Leather Crossbody Purse
- (1) Microfiber Towel (Blue) – mine is 5 years old, purchased from Decathlon in France
- (1) Peak Gear pack-able day bag
- (1) Rain cover
- (1) Scrubba Portable Wash Bag
- (1) Reusable shopping bag – purchased in France
- (1) pair of Sunglasses
- (1) Double Zippered Faux Leather Wallet with Wristlet
- (1) Hydrapack 750 ml Stash bottle
- (2) padlocks
- (1) Mini Sewing Kit
- (1) Pen
- (1) Passport
- (1) Accordion File Folder
- (1) Lavanilla Vanilla Grapefruit Deodorant
- (1) pack of Icebreakers Mints
- (1) chapstick
Shoes
- (1) pair New Balance sneakers
- (1) pair Bobs
- (1) pair Black Flip Flops
- (1) pair of sandals
- (2) Travel Shoe Bags (flip flops and sandals got in one bag, Sneakers in the other, and usually where Bobs on travel days).
Sea to Summit Toiletry Bag
- (1) Soap Container
- (1) Shea Moisture African Black Soap
- (1) Lush Tin
- (1) Honey I Washed My Hair – Lush Shampoo Bar
- (1) Venus Snap Portable Compact Razor
- (2) Makeup Brushes
- (1) Eyebrow Razor
- (1) Maybelline New York Eye Studio Master Precise Liquid Eyeliner
- (1) Travel Mascara
- (1) Sugar Tinted Lip Balm
- (1) CoverGirl concealer
- (1) Maybelline FIT Powder
- (1) Blush/Bronzer combo
- (1) Eyelash curler
- (1) travel-sized Q Tips
- (1) travel size Wet N Wild Brush
- (1) Norwex Makeup Remover Cloth
- (1) Reach Mint Waxed Floss 200 Yards
- (1) Compact Travel Toothbrush
- I have since changed to a Standard Toothbrush with Toothbrush Head Cover
- (1) Tube of Toothpaste
- (1) Occlusal Guard (Nightguard)
Clear Liquids Pouch
- (See Photo Below)
- (1) Clean and Clear Daily Moisturizer (with Salicylic Acid) 4oz (yes I know it is over 3oz, but I haven’t been stopped since!)
- (1) Maybelline Foundation
- (2) Mascaras (one full-size, one travel size)
- (1) 3 oz bottle of Dr. Bronner’s All-in-One Castile Soap
- (1) Travel tube of Johnsons and Johnson’s Creamy Baby Oil
- (2) Travel-sized perfumes
- (1) Travel-sized bottle of Tresemme Hairspray
- (1) Travel-sized bottle of texturizing spray
- (1) Travel-sized bottle of sunscreen
- (1) Travel-sized bottle of Aloe
- (1) Hand Sanitizer
- (1) tube of Neosporin
Medicine/Extra Bag
- (1) pack of tissues
- (1) pack of earplugs
- (1) Eyemask
- (1) Extra Venus Razor head
- (1) compact foldable scissors
- (1) nail clippers
- (1) sleeve of Immodium
- (1) sleeve of Benadryl
- (1) Travel container Excedrin
- (1) Travel container Ibuprofen
- (1) Bag of various sized Bandaids
- (2) Hair Ties with a bobby pin (All my electronic cords are held together by hair ties as well!)
Travel Outfit:
- (1) pair leggings
- (1) LuLaRoe Classic shirt (white and gray striped)
- (1) Black Sweater
All Packed Up!
And there you have it! What I pack in my minimalist backpack! If you have any questions about the items I bring or the techniques I use, please comment below!
