Packing Is a Skill. Most People Never Develop It.
The gap between how much people pack and how much they actually use is, on average, enormous. A study of returned travelers’ bags consistently shows that around 30% of items packed on a trip are never removed from the bag. They traveled. They returned. They were never needed.
This list is built from the opposite direction — from what was actually missing, not from what seemed like it might be useful. Everything on it has earned its place.
The Core Universal List (Every Trip)
Documents and Money
- Passport/ID + photocopies stored separately (and in email)
- Physical copy of booking confirmation for first night’s accommodation
- Travel insurance policy number and emergency contact
- Local currency for arrival (ATMs unavailable or unreliable at 2am)
- Credit/debit card that works internationally without high fees
Electronics
- Phone + charger cable
- Universal travel adapter (check destination voltage before departure)
- Portable battery bank (minimum 10,000 mAh — enough for 2 full phone charges)
- Noise-cancelling earphones — one of the highest comfort investments for any long journey
- Kindle or tablet with books downloaded offline
Health and Hygiene
- Prescription medications (enough for the full trip plus 3 extra days)
- Blister treatment (plasters, moleskin, antiseptic) — number one most used first aid item on any trip
- Ibuprofen and antihistamine — covers most acute situations
- Sunscreen SPF 50+ — buy more at destination if possible, but always start with some
- Hand sanitiser and basic rehydration sachets
The Beach Trip Additions
- Reef-safe sunscreen (standard sunscreen damages coral reefs)
- Rash guard (better sun protection than reapplying sunscreen every 90 minutes)
- Waterproof phone pouch
- Quick-dry towel (hotel beach towels are often restricted or require deposit)
- Flip flops that can get wet and still be worn to dinner
The Mountain/Trekking Additions
- Trekking poles (rent at destination if not bringing your own)
- Moisture-wicking base layer (2 sets — one drying while wearing the other)
- Down jacket (compresses small, transforms comfort above 2500m)
- Blister-broken-in trekking boots — never new, never worn out
- Headlamp with fresh batteries
- Altitude sickness medication (diamox — consult a doctor)
The What NOT to Pack List (Equally Important)
- Cotton base layers for cold/mountain trips — cotton holds moisture and can cause hypothermia
- More than 2 pairs of jeans for any trip under 10 days
- A ‘just in case’ outfit that doesn’t match anything else you’re bringing
- Full-size toiletries for trips under 2 weeks — travel sizes or buy at destination
- Books you won’t read (pack one, download the rest to Kindle)
💡 Pro Tip: The test that never fails: pack everything you think you need, then remove 25%. You will not miss those items. You will thank yourself at every airport security queue, taxi loading moment, and staircase that doesn’t have a lift.