Pack Like a Pro: The Ultimate Carry-on Essentials for Female Travellers

Have you ever wondered how someone can fit their whole life into a carry-on travel pack and travel the world (with no end)? It’s not that difficult, even for us women, and once you’ve tried travelling light on a short trip, you won’t want to go back, even when you travel longer.

How do I know? I lugged around a 70-litre backpack on a three-month backpacking trip in 2012, and while this was great for toning my muscles, it wasn’t much fun schlepping this monster around in 30+ degree heat and near 100% humidity. I can tell you, travelling with a carry-on is so much more pleasant.

Initially, I struggled with the strict volume and weight limitations – until I came across the concept of the capsule wardrobe. My packing list is based on the same principle. I don’t only share with you my (current) packing list, but also what I’ve learnt over the 8+ years I’ve lived full-time on the road. By the way, my packing list has got you covered for travel in any season and any weather.

That said, you may want to adjust it according to the weather/climate at your destination and the time of year you travel. To give you an example: I added a pair of 200 denier tights before we headed to the Snow Festival in Sapporo, knowing I would be outdoors in sub-zero temperatures for long periods of time.

And lastly, while my article today is for my fellow female travellers, if you’re a guy who’s reading this (or a male loved one could use some advice) you may find our Carry-On Packing List For Men fits what you’re after.

Luggage and Organisation

Let’s start with the stuff that holds my stuff.

Travel Pack / Packing Cubes

If you don’t have carry-on luggage yet, check out our guide to find the carry-on travel pack that’s right for you.

Below are the luggage and organisational items I currently travel with, or – if an item is no longer manufactured and available for sale – what I would purchase if I had to replace it today. To give you an example: My current travel pack is the Osprey Ozone 46, which I’ve had since the very beginning. It’s a great pack and so far, there is no need to replace it. BUT. If I had to, I wouldn’t buy another Osprey pack (at least none of the ones currently available, as much as I like the company). My replacement pack would be the MEC Pangea 40. It ticks all the boxes when it comes to my requirements and going down slightly in volume wouldn’t be an issue (as I never fully utilise the extra volume in my current pack).

Packing cubes and travel packs go hand in hand – another trick for travelling light (even though you’re adding a little bit of weight). They are a great help to keep everything neat and organised (like having drawers in your travel pack), making it easy to pack up on travel day or locate an item on the go.

Daypack / Handbag

Paul and I currently share a Matador Freerain22 Daypack. This is our fourth daypack in 8+ years of travel: We started with a Tortuga daypack. When that broke, we moved to a 16-litre Matador daypack. While the seams were the downfall of the Tortuga, the most significant weak point on the 16-litre Matador was the main compartment zipper. Fortunately, Matador learned from its (early) quality issues: Our subsequent Matador Freerain24 Daypack lasted more than 4 years (the mesh pockets holding our water bottle, snacks, sunscreen, and glasses disintegrated in the end).

Like our daypack, my handbag gets used a lot. So, no wonder I’m now onto my fourth handbag in 8+ years:

• I had a Pacsafe Cruise Anti-Theft All-Day Crossbody handbag before we started our location-independent life. But I always found that it hurt my back after a while, as I carried a water bottle, a tablet device and all sorts of stuff. It was also far too clunky to take on a night out. So, in 2016, I bought a Pacsafe SlingSafe 100 GII. I still fitted a lot in it, surprisingly. But it was better for my back, looked nicer (especially with a dress) and lasted 4 years.
• I bought Pacsafe handbags for their security features. So, when it came to replacing the Pacsafe SlingSafe 100 GII (its zipper and the locking mechanism that connects the strap to the bag had started playing up), I first looked at Pacsafe models. Ultimately, I went with the Travelon Anti-Theft Classic Essential Messenger Bag. This different brand offered similar (yet less obvious) safety features at a competitive price.
• After 3 years of (almost) daily use, the zippers on the Travelon started playing up. I also found that a (typical) handbag annoyed me on travel days and multi-day hikes – whenever I carried my travel pack simultaneously. So, in November 2023, I switched to a sling bag: the Bellroy Lite Sling Mini. It doesn’t have the safety features of a Pacsafe or Travelon. But a sling bag – by nature – sits closer to your body (than a typical handbag); thus, it hopefully won’t need all those features.

Other Organisers

Some people’s purse is a ginormous brick, bursting with loyalty and payment cards, photos, cash, etc. Since my wallet was stolen shortly after moving to London in 2001, I only carry in my wallet what I absolutely need. And thus, my wallet is the smallest I can get away with.

I use a stuff sack/compression sack for a number of reasons:

• to keep my smelly and dirty clothes separate from my clean clothes;
• to store wet clothes when I head to the beach or pool for a swim; and
• to protect valuables in our daypack when out and about on the water or in pouring rain. A waterproof bag inside a waterproof bag – just to be on the safe side.

My shopping bag weighs next to nothing and takes up very little room, yet it’s super-versatile. I use it to carry groceries, take the washing to/from the laundromat, and as a personal item in the rare instances I need to reduce weight in my travel pack to stay within airline restrictions.

Having dual citizenship means we travel with three passports – two for me, one for Paul. I like to keep them together in one place and therefore travel with a super-lightweight passport pouch.

Clothing

When you travel with carry-on only in all four seasons you need to layer your clothes. It’s a simple but very effective trick to travelling light:

• On a hot day, I just wear one layer (not counting my bra): a singlet or a t-shirt.
• On a cold winter’s day, I can wear up to six layers (not counting my bra): a merino singlet, a merino t-shirt, a merino long-sleeve, a merino zipper jacket, my down vest and my rain jacket. This is toasty, guaranteed. Most of the time, five layers are enough (minus the t-shirt or the long-sleeve) – even when skiing in Sapporo.

Below are the clothes I wear or, if they are no longer manufactured and available for sale, what I plan to buy as replacements once they reach the end of their life.

Underwear / Sleepwear / Swimwear / Socks

I’m onto my fifth set of undies in 8+ years:

• For the first two years, I wore Uniqlo Seamless Bikini Briefs. I loved their shape and the fact they were seamless. However, they have become larger and larger over time, and Uniqlo is NOT a role model for ethical and environmentally friendly manufacturing.
• My second set of Macpac Merino Bikini Briefs was only a few months old. After a few months, tiny holes appeared in the fabric around the hips. I left a review on the Macpac website recommending product improvements, but my review was never published.
• After more research, I tried Saint Basics St Eva briefs made of Lyocell, an eco-friendly cellulose fibre from eucalyptus trees. Those briefs lasted over three years (and as Saint Basics went out of business, I had to find another replacement when they finally died).
• My next undies were the best of both worlds – a mix of Merino and Lyocell. Allbirds might be best known for their shoes, but they also make incredible apparel. My Allbirds undies were my favourites so far, but sadly, Allbirds’ undies are not sold down under.
• My current set of undies is Boody G-Strings. The shape is similar to my prior Saint Basics and Allbirds, and they’re just as comfortable. But this time, they’re made from eco-friendly bamboo fibres – just like my bra. So far, so good. Let’s see how long they last.

And speaking of bamboo… At night, I wear a pair of men’s boxer shorts (I’m onto my third pair in 8+ years – always the same brand, and always made from bamboo fibre) and a Boody Sleep T-Shirt. That’s sufficient in any season BTW, at least for me.

As for socks: I travel with four pairs, alternating between Macpac and Mons Royale. I always purchase socks that are made largely from Merino wool as only those keep my feet warm.

To swim (or snorkel), I used to wear bikinis for many years, like these tops and bottoms from Bikini Season. As I’m getting older (and the odd fat blob is turning up where they’re not meant to), I’ve switched to a one piece.

Layers

Layers are the key ingredients for travelling light in any season. In my case, these comprise:

• singlets, t-shirts (short-sleeved and long-sleeved) and a zipper jacket – all made from Merino wool; plus
• a lightweight vest and rain jacket – both made from technical, high-performance fabrics.

For my merino layers, I have tried many different brands over the years: Icebreaker, Kathmandu, Macpac, Mons Royale – you name it. The best one so far however, has been Unbound Merino (especially when it comes to quality, sustainability and customer service).

Isn’t wool too hot in Summer? you may ask. In our first year on the road, I used technical quick-dry t-shirts made by Nike and Under Armour. These t-shirts started to smell after a while, despite regular washing. Merino wool is naturally odour resistant, and I sweat in them less than in those synthetic t-shirts. I can wear the same merino t-shirt three days in a row, and they don’t stink (no matter how hot it is). Merino wool fabric comes in different weights, and a 150-200g/sqm t-shirt is perfect for any season.

Our rain jackets were probably the second most researched items (after our travel packs and before our hiking shoes). Given this was to be my only jacket, it had to be waterproof yet breathable, ultra-lightweight, durable, long enough to cover (most of) my butt and not look like a potato sack.

Marmot has been leading the pack in product development, and we used Marmot jackets for 8 years:

• At only 218g, my Marmot Nano AS Jacket has been my lightest jacket to date. It lasted three years. I maintained its water-repellent qualities by treating it with waterproofing spray. But at some point, the zipper broke.
• While a bit heavier at 349g, the Marmot Eclipse Jacket was the perfect replacement: Rather than being treated with nasty chemicals to create a water-repellent layer (that needs to be reapplied regularly), the use of EvoDry technology meant the fibre itself was water-proof. Made 100% from recycled nylon further reduced the environmental impact of its manufacturing process. Unfortunately, after 5 years of wear, the inner and outer membranes separated where my backpack shoulder straps compressed the fabric (and the inner membrane started to disintegrate).

With the newer Marmot jackets not offering the waterproofness and breathability I was after (at a similar price point to my previous jackets), I had a look around for other brands, and have now replaced my Marmot jacket with the Patagonia Torrentshell 3L, a three layer shell which still only weighs 352g. Its shape is a bit more baggy than the Marmot Eclipse, but that’s a price I’m happy to pay for waterproofness and breathability.

Pants / Dresses

Kühl and Outdoor Research have been my go-to brands for long pants since the very beginning. They fit my body shape perfectly – no alteration required.

Likewise, PrAna shorts used to be my favourite companions for warmer days and sports activities (including yoga). But when it came to replacing my shorts in 2024, I purchased the Alpkit Wind River hybrid shorts (designed to be used on hikes and as swim shorts), which are not only exceptionally quick to dry but also from a brand which is more sustainable than PrAna.

After many years without (I would just roll up my long pants), I now also wear capris – the Women’s Guide Pro by Eddie Bauer. Not the most sustainable brand, but unfortunately, I didn’t find a better one that fit me. Why did I add them? My long pants are made from thicker, warmer materials, and for hikes in hot and humid conditions, like Mt Rinjani or Socotra, I would just get too hot in them.

Most travel dresses look like potato sacks (at least on me) or come in colours that don’t suit me. Toad and Co’s range of lightweight dresses is huge. They are ethically and sustainably made and always look flattering.

Head, Neck and Hand Protection

When it’s sunny, you’ll see me with my (Minimalist Journeys branded) baseball cap, made of 50/50 Bamboo and Recycled PET. I also wear the cap when it rains, as the rim prevents rain from splashing at my glasses. When it’s freezing, I swap my cap for my trusty beanie, and add my buff and gloves. Easy as.

I also travel with a lightweight sarong. Why do I list it here? Because I mostly use it as a shawl around my shoulders (an easy way to add a touch of colour to my black dress on more formal occasions) and as a scarf on extra-cold days. On occasion as a sarong too, but less often.

Shoes

I only own three pairs of shoes – all of which are light-weight:

• I wear my hiking shoes to hike (obviously) but also on days out around the city, and even when we dine out on a cold day.
• My ballerinas fit perfectly to my dress for more formal occasions (including date nights – yes, we do have those – and weddings).
• My sandals are perfect for summer days out and about, and water sports activities. Though I’ve also worn them indoors on cold floors.

I have worn Salomon shoes for years (I’m onto my 4th pair) and found them most suited to the shape of my foot. I’ve also worn Haglofs Trail Fuse GTX for a year. A great company that makes good quality footwear, but the shoe sadly was always a bit too narrow for my (relatively narrow) foot (even though I went up a size). Go figure.

I also tried Merrell’s well-known Moab Speed GTX – but what a disaster. The shoe looked nice and fitted well when I bought it. But the upper started ripping after only SIX WEEKS of occasional wear around the city (I hadn’t even used them on a proper hike). Even worse though was my absolutely shocking experience with their customer service, which was not only incompetent in handling claims but refused to honour standard consumer warranties (even when contacted by NSW Fair Trading, the Australian organisation intermediating in cases like this). Needless to say: I will NEVER EVER purchase ANY Merrell product again.

Technology

Running an online business like Minimalist Journeys requires (of course) several devices and applications – we list those in our resources for small (remote) businesses.

The below technology list covers only non-business items – items a normal traveller may take with them on a long trip. All our technology and electronics are best of breed for the purpose we use them for. Also worth noting: The Nitecore battery pack and OneAdaptr OneWorld135 travel adapter/charger are shared between the two of us, but I include them here for completeness’ sake.

Toiletries

Toiletries are quite personal, so I won’t list every single item I travel with here. However, what we do make sure is that we

• stay within the 100ml allowance for carry-on, and
• use zero waste products wherever possible.

I keep my toiletries in a large Sea To Summit Travelling Light Hanging Toiletry Bag. I bought mine in 2012, and it’s still going strong, thanks to its 30D Cordura® ripstop nylon fabric. Paul uses the same toiletry bag but in the small size. I wouldn’t be able to fit all my stuff into the small version, but for the few things a man needs, the small one works well.

Accessories

Towels

I travel with two towels – of different sizes and for different purposes:

• I’ve had my Hammamas Turkish towel from the very beginning (still the same one after 8+ years). It’s light-weight, doesn’t smell and dries in an instant. Plus it’s super-multifunctional: I’ve used mine as a towel, beach/picnic blanket, wrap dress (on the way home from the beach) and even as an extra blanket when I was cold at night.
• The PackTowl Personal Towel fits perfectly around my head to form a turban after washing my hair. The towel sucks up the moisture and once removed, my hair air-dries in no time – I haven’t used a hair dryer in 8+ years. It’s my face towel at all other times but has also been used as a hand towel and kitchen towel when needed.

Utensils

Our water bottle is one of the most important items we travel with. We don’t buy water if we can avoid it. In many places around the world, tap water is perfectly fine to drink. Where (there is a likelihood that) it’s not, we boil water, let it cool down and then fill our water bottle or use our water filtration kit. Water bottles are notoriously difficult to keep clean, not so the (aptly named) Klean Kanteen Wide Water Bottle. Added bonus: Thanks to its loop cap, I can secure it easily to my travel pack or daypack.

Like Paul, I also travel with a spork. Not an item we use daily but are always glad to have – whether on (multi-)day hikes or to avoid single-use cutlery when we buy meals on the road.

Other

Only the main compartment of my travel pack can be locked, and for that purpose, I use a Samsonite TSA luggage lock. I don’t mind that the other compartments can’t be locked as they don’t contain any valuables, and I usually have my luggage on me (the benefit of carry-on). On the rare occasion I do need to check in my travel pack, I use cable ties to lock the other zippers (I keep a small bag of them in my travel pack).

We also travel with a compact first aid kit (about the size of my fist) and a travel sewing kit (about the size of a standard playing card deck) – both of which are shared between us – plus a reusable face mask and a pegless clothes line each (rolled up, about the size of Paul’s thumb). Neither is essential but all are handy:

• First aid kit: if you’re out on a day trip or (multi-)day hike and got a blister or cut your finger preparing a meal – we regularly replenish items we have used (or which are past their use-by date).
• Sewing kit: to fix our gear (think garment holes, loose buttons, broken seams and zippers).
• Clothes line: we prefer to air-dry our clothes (our merino clothes last longer, and it’s better for the environment) – all we have to do is find two opposing points to attach the hooks to.
• Reusable face mask: Ours are made from merino fabric (and Minimalist Journeys branded) – we wear them when we are in crowded places (especially in Asia, where face masks are omipresent, even post Covid-19).

Last but not least, there is Egon, my travel mascot. A little soft toy monkey not much bigger than Paul’s fist, he’s been travelling with me around the world since November 1999. Which makes him the oldest item on my packing list!

Packing List Summary

Phew… that was a lot to take in. To help you put your own packing list together, here is a handy summary of all the items for you:

Paul travels with a whole bunch of running gear, but my exercise regime requires a lot less stuff.

My pack full of the above (plus my Microsoft Surface Pro) weighs approximately 9 kilograms / 20 pounds, whereas Paul’s travel pack with all his gear weighs approximately 11 kilograms / 24 pounds. So, together, we are below the 10 kilograms / 22 pounds carry-on allowance per person of many airlines.

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