Packing is one of the most important and often overlooked steps when planning a solo trip. Before you take off, you need to make a solo travel packing list.
Often, travelers spend hours compiling a comprehensive itinerary, only to find themselves stuffing their suitcase minutes before their flight. It is essential to be mindful when packing, as it can significantly impact your trip.
After solo traveling to over 25 countries, I have refined my solo travel packing list many times. In this blog post, I will answer important questions regarding packing for a trip. I will also list products that I have personally used during my solo backpacking trips.
Read: 50 Songs for Solo Travel: How to Curate the Perfect Playlist for Your Solo Trip
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What Are the Biggest Packing Mistakes to Avoid?
The biggest mistake any solo backpacker can make is bringing a suitcase. When solo traveling, you want gear that you can easily haul. Suitcases will hold you back from fully exploring. Only bring a suitcase if you plan to stay in the same area during your whole trip.
Overpacking is also a major mistake most solo travelers make. Having to haul a heavy pack from place to place is very tiring. It really is one of the worst parts about hopping from hostel to hostel. So, make an effort not to overpack.
How Do You Avoid Overpacking?
You should list out everything you plan to pack. Make sure you only pack the things you have listed. When it comes to clothing and shoes, you have to pack very selectively. Prioritize comfort over fashion.
Also, try to cut down on your toiletries. Simplify your skin care regimen, and only bring products you will use each day.
Personally, I limit overpacking by only packing a 40L carry-on bag and one personal item (I use a tote bag). These parameters help me save money during my flight (checked bags cost extra), but more importantly, force me to pack light.
What Is the Best Carry-on Backpack to Have for Traveling?
One of the most important items to pack for solo traveling is your travel backpack. It is important that you find a pack that is small enough to qualify as a carry-on while still having enough space to hold all your things.
There are many carry-on travel backpacks on the market, but the Cotopaxi Allpa 42l Travel Pack is my favorite. With the Cotopaxi Allpa 42l Travel Pack, I have backpacked through about 20 countries during multiple month-long trips. This backpack functions like a wearable suitcase and even has a hip belt to help distribute the pack’s weight more evenly.
The best feature of this backpack is its many internal compartments. There is a laptop sleeve with anti-theft zippers. Also, there is a front zipper compartment that allows you to access important items easily without unzipping the whole pack.
What Is the Best Daypack to Have for Traveling?
In addition to your carry-on bag, which will hold a majority of your clothes and toiletries, you need a daypack to use. Most travelers have their own opinion on the best daypacks. I personally like using a large tote bag as my daypack.
Tote bags qualify as a personal item during your flight, so they are a great budget choice. Also, tote bags help you blend into the public during your trip. Nothing screams tourists like an overstuffed backpack. Wearing a tote bag is also helpful for theft prevention. You can easily tuck your tote bag under your arm, making it harder for pickpockets to steal your things.
My Complete Solo Travel Packing List
Now that you know my recommended backpack/day pack setup, it is time to fill those packs! This packing list is perfect for backpacking in Europe or Asia during mild weather months. Solo traveling during winter makes packing light even more difficult.
Everyone has different needs and wants during their solo trip. You might need more items than I do to have a successful trip, which is acceptable. Some travel influencers create travel packing lists with many items so they can maximize on making money through affiliate links.
I am only recommending products that I use on my solo trips. I would love it if you bought the products I’ve recommended through my links. It helps keep my website ad-free! However, I will never recommend a product just to make money. Overconsumption is a major issue, and I am actively committed to doing my part to limit waste.
Essential Solo Travel Items
Whether you are backpacking in Europe or temple-hopping in Japan, packing cubes are necessary for an enjoyable trip. Packing cubes help keep your backpack organized and clothes compressed, making repacking at each hostel much easier.
Having a universal travel adapter will help you charge your phone no matter where you are in the world. Plus, it also organizes all your charging cables into one outlet, which is extremely helpful when backpacking.
AirPods, especially those with noise cancellation, have been so beneficial for preserving my sanity when flying and staying at hostels. Although I don’t use them to sleep (below, I will share my headphone method for sleeping), they are still one of the most important items in my solo travel packing list.
There are way too many water bottles on the market, but I love using my collapsible Hydrapak 1L water bottle. It is extremely lightweight, and you can easily attach a water filter cap to it. This filtration device seamlessly screws onto my bottle, offering peace of mind when drinking tap water abroad.
When solo traveling for weeks at a time with few articles of clothing, you need a laundry wash. Sea to Summit has an extremely concentrated formula that can be used in a washing machine or for handwashing. Some hostels offer laundry wash with laundry services, but you can save money if you bring your own.
Staying in hostels is the best way to save money and meet people on your trip, but doing so can limit your sleep. However, I have a system that ensures I get good sleep in the dorms. First, you need an MP3 Player. Then, download from YouTube a video that features uninterrupted white noise. My favorite white noise video is this one. There are many websites that download audio from YouTube.
Once you have downloaded a white noise MP3 audio, you can transfer it to your MP3 player. Buy headphones that are built specifically for sleep, so you can put those in overnight to drown out the noise that comes from sleeping in a shared dormitory.
I can’t recommend this method enough. It is a way to have a personal sound machine without using your phone. I can comfortably sleep through the night at hostels due to this method.
I feel most comfortable when I have my passport and phone zipped in a fanny pack. Sometimes, I put my fanny pack in my day bag if I do not need access to those items. However, I will still keep those items in that fanny pack to ensure I do not lose them or that they do not get stolen.
You do not have to travel with a camera since most phones have great cameras nowadays. However, I love photography, and all my photos on this website were taken with my Sony a6400. To get photos of myself, I also carry a tripod and use my camera on self-timer mode.
It is smart to have a first-aid kit in case a small injury occurs. You should purchase travel insurance before your trip for peace of mind in case of a more serious injury as well.
- Small umbrella
Having an umbrella that folds down small is very helpful for solo traveling. A compact umbrella is a must-have on your solo travel packing list.
- Plastic silverware
It might seem random, but you never know when you will need a fork or spoon. Having a plastic set of utensils always comes in handy.
- Paper for journaling + pen
Journaling is something I love doing during a solo trip. I just take a few sheets of paper and put them in a plastic sleeve because it is not as heavy as taking a whole journal.
- Sunglasses
It is easy to forget about sunglasses, but I always like having a durable pair in case I go to the beach or find myself walking around on a sunny day.
How to Pack Clothing For Traveling
Picking out clothes for your solo trip is one of the hardest parts of packing. You want to bring t-shirts that do not wrinkle easily. I typically wear moisture-wicking, quick-drying athletic shirts. Making sure your shirts match with multiple pairs of your bottoms is important so you don’t run out of laundry too quickly.
Jackets and long-sleeve clothes take up a lot of space. So, you can only afford to bring one of each. Pants are also bulky, so limit yourself to two pairs. I find Lululemon athletic chino pants are perfect for me. They are breathable and do not wrinkle.
You will probably already have these clothing items in your closet, but you might need to buy travel-specific underwear and socks. First, with socks, get merino wool because they are odor-resistant.
Also, you need breathable, quick-drying, and sweat-wicking underwear. I recommend ExOfficio underwear because this brand specifically designs undergarments for travelers. ExOfficio products are designed to be hand-washed and dry very fast.
- 5 t-shirts
- One long-sleeve shirt/pullover
- 2 pant bottoms
- 3 pairs of exercise shorts
- Swimsuit
- Athletic, everyday shoe (for walking)
- Slip-on shoe (for showering and beach)
- 5 pairs of travel underwear
- 5 pairs of merino wool socks
- Rain jacket
How to Pack Toiletries For Traveling
Everyone varies in what toiletries they bring on their trip. It is important you only bring liquids in 3.4-ounce (100 ml) containers unless you have a checked bag. To save space, you can opt not to bring shampoo, conditioner, and body wash. Most hostels offer shower supplies. Granted, it might not be the type of shampoo you prefer, but you will save space.
I find it is helpful to have a toiletry bag with a handle, so you can hang your bag up during your shower. Also, most hostels offer towels at an extra fee. Bring a light-weight towel that dries quickly. I also use this towel when picnicking on the beach or at a park.
- Toiletry bag with handle
- Moisturizer with sunscreen
- Face wash
- Travel-size deodorant
- Travel toothbrush and toothpaste
- Hair pomade and a small comb
- Electric razor and manual razor
- Nail clippers and tweezers
- Light-weight towel
- Medications
Packing For Your Solo Trip
It can be overwhelming packing for your solo trip. Of course, if you are camping or doing more extreme activities than sightseeing, you will need more items than I included on this solo travel packing list.
However, this solo travel packing list is perfect for solo travelers staying at hostels and who want to explore many places without being weighed down by their own pack.
There is no better advice for packing than to travel light. I have never once been upset that my pack was light. Traveling light will teach you that you really do not need most things. All you need is some durable clothes, a good sleeping system, and a camera ready to document the most exciting adventure of your life.