The Case Against Checked Luggage
This isn't a minimalism argument. It's a practical one. Checked luggage costs $30–60 each way on budget airlines — easily $200–300 over a three-month trip with several flights. It takes 30–45 minutes at baggage claim that you could spend elsewhere. It gets lost (approximately 7 bags per 1,000 passengers checked globally, a rate that sounds low until it's yours, in a country where you don't speak the language). It forces you to return to a hotel or hostel to drop it off rather than going directly from a train station or bus stop to the afternoon's activity.
A well-packed carry-on — specifically, a 40-litre backpack that fits in overhead bins on most airlines — eliminates all of these problems. This guide covers exactly what goes in it, how to think about the categories, and the specific items that make the system work for long-term travel in multiple climates.
The Bag: What to Choose
The right bag for carry-on travel has these properties: top-loading with a clamshell zipper opening (so you can see everything at once), frame sheet for back support (3+ months carrying means your back will notice the difference), hip belt for taking weight off shoulders, dimensions that fit IATA carry-on regulations (max 55cm × 40cm × 20cm, though this varies by airline — 40L bags generally pass everywhere), and built without a dedicated laptop sleeve on the outside (an external laptop pocket announces "laptop inside" to bag snatchers in crowded places).
The bags that consistently work for this purpose: the Osprey Farpoint 40 (travel-oriented, comfortable carry, good organisation), the Aer Travel Pack 3 (urban-focused, excellent build quality, structured), the Tom Bihn Synapse 25 (for lighter-packing travellers — 25L is genuinely sufficient if you're disciplined), and the Mystery Ranch Urban Assault 24 (bomb-proof construction, Tri-zip access). Avoid anything with external pouches that can be unzipped from behind in crowds.
Clothing: The System
The key insight about clothing for long-term travel is this: you are not packing for three months. You are packing for a repeating 7-day rotation that you wash and repeat. The question is not "what will I need over 90 days" but "what do I need for any given week." The answer is smaller than you think.
The Core List (Temperate/Warm Climate)
- 3 × t-shirts — merino wool preferred (Icebreaker Tech Lite, Smartwool), which manages odour well enough to wear 2–3 times between washes. Alternatively, synthetic travel tees (Outlier, prAna) with built-in antimicrobial treatment.
- 2 × long-sleeve shirts — one for cooler evenings, one doubles as sun protection. A linen or merino overshirt covers smart-casual dress codes in most restaurants.
- 1 × lightweight fleece or down jacket — a packable down jacket (Uniqlo Ultra Light, Patagonia Nano Puff) compresses to almost nothing and handles cool nights, planes, and air-conditioned buses. The single most important temperature regulation item.
- 1 × waterproof shell jacket — not a heavy winter coat; a packable rain jacket (Patagonia Torrentshell, Arc'teryx Squamish). Doubles as a wind layer. Essential for coastal and mountain travel in any season.
- 2 × trousers/pants — one pair of lightweight travel trousers (Rohan, Prana, Kuhl) that pass in both trekking and restaurant contexts; one pair of shorts if warm-climate travel is on the itinerary. Jeans are heavy, slow to dry, and take up 20% of a 40L bag.
- 5 × underwear — merino wool (Icebreaker Anatomica) or Ex Officio Boxer Briefs. Either can be washed in a sink and is dry by morning.
- 3 × socks — merino wool. Darn Tough are the benchmark for durability; Smartwool for comfort. Two pairs of medium-weight hiking socks (doubles as everyday) and one pair of no-show socks for casual shoes.
- 1 × swimwear — board shorts double as shorts in casual environments; a bikini or one-piece as applicable.
Adapting for Cold Climates
If your trip includes genuinely cold weather (below 0°C), the system needs two additions: a midlayer (Patagonia R1 fleece or similar), and thermal base layers (one set of merino long johns). These pack small. The packable down jacket already in the system handles the outer layer in most cold conditions. Replace the shorts with a second pair of trousers. Total addition: approximately 500g.
Footwear: The Hard Constraint
Shoes are the most difficult category because they're heavy, don't compress, and determine how much space you have for everything else. The system that works for most long-term travellers is three pairs: walking shoes or light trail runners that cover 80% of situations, a pair of flip-flops or sandals for beaches, hostels, and water, and a pair of low-profile leather shoes or smart trainers if you'll be at events, weddings, or restaurants with dress codes. If smart occasions aren't on the agenda, drop the third pair and travel on two.
The shoes go in the bag vertically along the sides, soles facing out. They take up space but don't compress, so they occupy fixed geometry that needs to be planned around when packing everything else.
Tech and Electronics
- Laptop or tablet — if you need one, a 13-inch laptop in a padded internal sleeve. A 10-inch tablet with a keyboard cover if you need less. Decide honestly: 90% of travellers use their phone for 90% of what they thought they needed a laptop for.
- Phone + charging cable — a USB-C cable covers most current devices. Bring a second cable as a spare.
- Universal travel adapter — a single universal adapter (Skross World Traveller) covers all plug types. Not a voltage converter — most modern electronics handle 110–240V automatically.
- Power bank — 20,000 mAh gives 4–5 full phone charges. The Anker PowerCore series is reliable and widely available if replacement is needed. Check airline carry-on rules (most allow up to 100Wh, which is approximately 27,000 mAh).
- Headphones — over-ear noise-cancelling headphones (Sony WH-1000XM5, Bose QC45) make long-haul flights and noisy buses significantly more bearable. In-ear (AirPods Pro, Sony WF-1000XM5) take up less space and work for most situations.
- E-reader — a Kindle Paperwhite is the space-to-value ratio champion for long-term travel. 300+ books in 180 grams, 6-week battery, readable in sunlight. Essential for travellers who read, which on three months means considerable reading.
Toiletries and Health
Most toiletries are available globally; you don't need to bring three months' supply of anything. The exceptions are items specific to your skin/hair type, prescription medications, and contact lens solution (which is heavy, awkward to find in specific formulations, and worth bringing a supply of if you use it).
The solid toiletry switch matters for carry-on travel: solid shampoo bars (Lush, HiBar), solid conditioner, and solid soap eliminate the liquids-in-a-bag hassle and last longer per gram than their liquid equivalents. A 20g shampoo bar replaces approximately 250ml of liquid shampoo. Solid sunscreen and solid insect repellent are available from specialist brands if you want to eliminate liquids entirely.
Health basics: rehydration sachets, ibuprofen, antihistamines, diarrhoea medication (loperamide), blister pads, a small amount of antiseptic cream, and any prescription medications with a copy of the prescription for customs. Travel insurance — this isn't optional for three-month travel — covers the rest.
Organisation: Packing Cubes
Packing cubes transform the usability of a 40L bag. The system: one cube for tops, one for bottoms, one for underwear and socks. Electronics in a dedicated small pouch. Toiletries in a hanging wash bag. Shoes in a shoe bag (a drawstring bag, or a shower cap — both work) to protect other items from the soles. The packing cube approach means you can unpack and repack in five minutes and always know where everything is.
Compression cubes (Eagle Creek, Osprey, Peak Design) reduce clothing volume by 30–50%. They're worth the cost for the packing confidence they provide.
The Full Packing List (Weight Summary)
- Clothing system: 2.5–3.5kg depending on climate
- Footwear (3 pairs): 1.5–2kg
- Electronics: 1–1.5kg
- Toiletries and health: 0.5–0.8kg
- Documents, wallet, misc: 0.3kg
- Total packed bag weight: 6–8kg — well within most airline carry-on limits (typically 7–10kg)
The bag should feel light enough to carry for 30 minutes without stopping. If it doesn't, something needs to come out.