When preparing for a months-long journey, many travelers find themselves standing over an open suitcase, unsure how to fit their lives into a backpack. The instinct is to overpack—after all, four months is a long time. But the truth is, most of what we think we need ends up unused, and we carry the burden—literally—of “just in case” items we never touch.
Traveling light isn’t just about convenience. It’s a mindset shift that redefines what we really need when we’re thousands of miles from home.
You Need Less Than You Think
It’s a lesson Matthew Kepnes, a seasoned traveler and author, learned the hard way. On his first major trip, he followed the tour company’s extensive packing list to the letter, hauling around gear and clothing he thought were essential. But at the end of the trip, the realization hit hard: he’d used less than a quarter of what he brought. The rest? Dead weight.
That early misstep sparked a new philosophy—minimalist travel. Now, with over 100 countries under his belt, Kepnes swears by a simple packing mantra: “I do not need as much as I think.” It’s a mantra every traveler should repeat while staring at a growing packing pile.
Dress Smart, Not Excessively
One of the most liberating truths about long-term travel is that no one cares what you’re wearing. Backpackers, digital nomads, and slow travelers alike tend to live out of a carry-on, re-wearing outfits day after day. If your clothes are clean (or at least don’t smell), wear them again. That’s what everyone else is doing.
Access to laundry is rarely an issue. Most hostels offer laundry services or have nearby laundromats. It’s far easier to wash and rewear than to carry around twice as much clothing for the sake of variety.
Let Your Bag Be Your Limit
If you’re serious about packing light, start by choosing a small carry-on-sized backpack or suitcase. This forces you to make decisions. If it doesn’t fit, it doesn’t go. It’s a built-in safeguard against overpacking.
Kepnes recommends traveling with just two bags: a main carry-on-sized backpack for clothing and toiletries, and a smaller daypack for electronics and essentials like your passport, books, and snacks. The combined weight? Around 20 pounds. Manageable, light, and liberating.
A Minimalist’s Packing List
Here’s what Kepnes typically brings on a long journey:
- Clothing:
- 5 T-shirts
- 1 long-sleeve shirt
- 1 light jacket
- 1 pair of jeans or khakis
- 1 pair of shorts
- 7 pairs of underwear
- 1 bathing suit
- 1 pair of flip-flops
- 1 pair of sneakers
- 8 pairs of socks
- Toiletries:
- Toothbrush and small toothpaste
- Razor
- Dental floss
- Small shampoo
- Bar of soap
- Deodorant
- Extras:
- Basic medical kit (band-aids, creams, eye drops, pain relievers, earplugs)
- Hand sanitizer
- Combination lock
- Flashlight
- Plastic bags (for dirty laundry or wet clothes)
That’s it. There’s no magic gear, no “must-have” travel gadget, no extra outfits for every possible situation. If he needs something mid-trip, he buys it. Most places have shops, after all.
Wear, Rewear, Replace
You’ll end up wearing most of your outfits for several days. Clothing gets rotated based on cleanliness, not fashion. And when something wears out, you can replace it locally, often for less than what you’d spend at home. You don’t need to be prepared for every climate and social event at once—just what you’ll face in the next few weeks.
The Freedom of Traveling Light
When you pack light, you gain more than physical ease. You walk faster. You change plans more freely. You don’t have to check bags, wait at baggage claims, or worry about losing your belongings. You’re no longer burdened by “just in case.” You live more in the moment.
Long-term travel isn’t about bringing everything with you—it’s about bringing the essentials and learning to live with less. Not only does this simplify logistics, but it fosters a deeper appreciation for what you do have. It makes you a more adaptable traveler and a more mindful one.
Final Thoughts: Trust the Journey
Packing light may feel unnatural at first, especially in a world that often equates preparation with accumulation. But once you get out there and start living with less, you’ll realize that very little of what we think we need actually adds value to our experiences.
So before you zip up that oversized suitcase, take a breath. Lay out everything you plan to bring—and then put half of it back. Remind yourself: You do not need as much as you think.
Because, in the end, travel is about what you do—not what you pack.
