What to Carry When Traveling the World

Published on March 16, 2015 (ā†» February 5, 2024), filed under (RSSĀ feed).

The story of my 18 months of travel around the world, including this and other articles, is available as a big but humble e-book: Journey of J.

For my 557-day journey around the world I had prepared thoroughly. Emphasis had been on light luggage, and so I had focused on necessities and gear that didnā€™t weigh much and, for clothes, could dry quickly.

Here Iā€™ll share some parts of my inventory. Overall I was pleased with how everything turned out; although I dismissed a couple of items I had initially packed, and replaced others during the journey, the core stayed the same. Much of what I carried is still in use, though thatā€™s mostly due to the fact that Iā€™m still waiting for my old household to arrive in Germany.

Start Gear (August 2013)

Iā€™ll let photos do the talking, and at the end discuss the items I consider key.

All stuff backpack.

Figure: Backpack I.

More stuff backpack.

Figure: Backpack II.

All stuff to wear.

Figure: Carry-on.

All stuff to never want to need.

Figure: Emergency backpack (never deployed).

Within a few days of travel I had dropped a handful of items (like these finger trainers, for example, or that one sweater) but, to be confirmed now, most stayed with me.

End Gear (February 2015)

All stuff clothes.

Figure: Clothes.

All stuff shoes.

Figure: Shoes.

All stuff electronics.

Figure: Electronics.

All stuff cosmetics.

Figure: Cosmetics.

All stuff stuff.

Figure: Stuff.

All stuff backpack stuff.

Figure: Backpack.

(Unfortunately I missed to look at the pre-trip photos above before I shot these final ones. Doing so would have made it easier to compare.)

The most important thing to note is that the last two months of my travels led me through the winter in South Korea, Japan, and then Europe. I hence transported a little more than before.

Key Items

I did carry some stuff, and yet not all of it was critical. Letā€™s have a brief look at what Iā€™ve deemed crucial:

I think that gives a good idea. Iā€™m keeping key items as well as clothes for future tripsā€”Iā€™m longing to wear ties again!ā€”, and Iā€™m then curious about deciding the fate of my emergency backpack. šŸ˜Š

ā§ By the way, compare! See for example someone elseā€™s must-have items for an RTW trip (I disagree by 60%) or, for maximum contrast, what gear you need to climb Mount Everest (Iā€™m just stunned). But, there are many different kinds of trips, theyā€™re our very individual trips, and itā€™s on us to carry what we choose to carry.

Toot about this?

About Me

Jens Oliver Meiert, on September 30, 2021.

Iā€™m Jens, and Iā€™m an engineering lead and author. Iā€™ve worked as a technical lead for companies like Google, Iā€™m close to W3C and WHATWG, and I write and review books for Oā€™Reilly and Frontend Dogma. I love trying things, not only in web development, but also in other areas like philosophy. Here on meiert.com I share some of my views andĀ experiences.

If you have a question or suggestion about what I write, please leave a comment (where applicable) or aĀ message.