Ultralight Travel Packing List — Carry On Packing Guide - Guide To Backpacking Through Europe

We love traveling light.

But ultralight travel takes it to the next level by limiting yourself packing everything into a small carry-on size backpack. It requires discipline. It forces you to be smart about what you pack. But it’s also one of the most freeing ways to travel.

In this guide, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about truly traveling light and we’ll talk about our favorite clothing and gear that’s perfectly suited for one bag travel.

Ultralight Travel Guidelines

One Bag: You only need one carry-on sized backpack. 45L is the max size that most budget airlines will allow but experienced one-baggers opt for around 22L-40L.
Keep Weight Down: 22lbs (10kg) is the max carry-on weight for most budget airlines. However, 22lbs is kind of heavy for a small backpack so we suggest keeping your load to around 15lbs.
Be Picky: Everything you bring should be used multiple times. If you think you might use something then you probably don’t need it.
Neutral Color Clothes: Every piece of clothing should look good when paired with any other piece of clothing. Essentially, you should be able to get dressed in the dark.
High Tech Fabrics: High-tech fabrics (both natural and synthetic) let you wear your clothes longer without needing to be washed. This is essential for ultralight travel.
Backpack Size Does NOT Equal Trip Size: Remember, you can wash your clothes as you travel. So packing for five days is really no different than packing for 30.
Fewer Better Items: Quality over quantity is the name of the game. Choose fewer high-quality items over multiple cheap things.

Backpacks

The golden rule of ultralight travel is only using one backpack. And we’re not talking a huge hiking backpack. We’re talking a small backpack that’s carry-on size.

The maximum carry-on sized backpack seems to about 45L — but we’re talking about ultralight travel so we’ll focus on traveling with 20L-35L backpacks.

Remember, the smaller the bag the more you force yourself to pack light.

What we love about small backpacks:

Never pay checked luggage fees.
Never worry about airlines losing your luggage.
Never have to wait for your bags at baggage claim.
Easily navigate train, bus, and plane aisles.
Easily walk through crowded streets and busy train stations.
Easily store your bags above your seat on trains (so you don’t lose sight of them).
Handsfree travel.
Fast and nimble travel so you can hit the ground running
Navigate stairs with ease.
You don’t look like a tourist (well, you at least blend in better)
Less weight = happy back.

Backpacks We Recommend

One bag travel has exploded over the past few years so there are now a handful of great travel backpacks built specifically for ultralight urban travel. We’ve listed the best backpacks below (in no particular order) — each has its own pros and cons so take a little time researching which features are most important to you.

Tortuga

Tortuga has two backpacks we really like — the Outbreaker 35L ($269) and the Setout 45L ($199).

The Outbreaker 35L is a heavy-duty and full-featured bag with plenty of storage/organization options. It’s a little boxy but it’s sleek-ish and has minimal branding. It has thick padded shoulder straps and a hip belt so it’s comfortable to wear. The material is also waterproof. But all these features add to the weight (4.6lbs.) and it’s a little expensive ($269).

Note: See our Outbreaker Review

The Setout 45L is a bit bigger than the Outbreaker and it’s designed as a “maximum-sized carry on for city travelers” — which means it’s as big as possible without going over the carry-on size limit. It’s basically a more scaled-back version of the Outbreaker so it has thinner shoulder and hip belt padding, fewer organization pockets, and fewer features. It’s also lighter at 3.3lbs and less expensive ($199).

Available from the Tortuga website.

AER Travel Backpack

The Aer Travel Backpack is another great option that gets a lot of love from the ultralight travel community. This 33L bag weighs in at 3.7 lbs so it’s big enough to carry your stuff while not being too heavy or bulky. There is a decent amount of padding on the shoulder straps, plenty of pockets to keep your stuff organized, and the bag is made really well.

We also think the bag looks nice and doesn’t immediately scream “tourist!”

Note: See our Aer Travel Backpack Review

The Aer Travel Backpack is $220 from the Aer Website.

Osprey

Osprey has been making excellent hiking backpacks for over 40 years and they currently make a few great travel backpacks — namely the Porter and the Farpoint.

The Osprey Porter 30L is a full-featured backpack that weighs in at only 2.8lbs. The shoulder straps have a decent amount of padding and there is a modest hipbelt. It is one of the smaller bags on our list but they also have a 46L version (which is a little large). We like how the Porter doesn’t have any loose straps but it does have a bit of turtle shell shape so it’s not the most “stylish” backpacks (it’s not too bad though).

The Porter 30 costs around $100-$120. Check latest prices on Amazon and Zappos.

The Osprey Farpoint 40L is Osprey’s more robust travel backpack. The shoulder straps and hip belt are comfortable and there is plenty of space for your stuff. Again, the bag isn’t the most stylish but it’s not too bad — especially the black color. The Farpoint 40 weighs 3.1lbs so it’s fairly lightweight. Ohh, and it comes in S/M and M/L sizes so that’s a nice feature.

Note: See our Farpoint 55 Review

The Farpoint 40 costs around $120-$160. Check the latest prices on Amazon and Zappos.

Minaal Carry-On 2.0

The Minaal Carry-On 2.0 is a sleek and sexy backpack. The material feels really nice and the overall bag is well designed and smartly laid out. In our opinion, it’s the best looking backpack but it’s also expensive at $300.

We’d say that the Minaal is truly geared toward ultralight travelers. Minaal doesn’t list its liter size but its dimensions are LxWxH: 55cm x 35cm x 20cm (fully packed) / 21.6in x 13.7in x 7.87in. Basically, you’re forced to be picky about what you pack (but that’s the whole point about ultralight travel).

The straps have modest padding but they’re comfortable. Plus, the shoulder straps have load-lifters, which is rare in smaller backpacks. There isn’t a hipbelt but you don’t need it since you’re forced to pack light. It has a separate laptop compartment which is super helpful at airport security. The Minaal Carry-On 2.0 only weights 3.12lbs so it’s one of the lightest bags on our list.

Available from the Minaal website

GORUCK

GORUCK backpacks have created a cult following — and rightfully so. Their bags are built in the USA and they’re crazy tough… like literally battle-tested by the US Special Forces tough. It’s basically a backpack that should last forever (it even has a lifetime warranty). On the other hand, they’re also expensive and relatively heavy.

First, we have the GR1 — which comes in 21L and 26L versions. They both cost $295. The 21L bag weighs in at 3.2lbs. We love the minimalist/military/industrial/badass look. Again, this is a compact big bag so you’ll need to fully subscribe to the ultralight travel philosophy.

The GR2 is a bigger version of the GR1 and it comes in a 34L and 40L version. Personally, we think the 34L is just about the perfect size for ultralight travel (the 40L is too bulky and heavy unless you’re a really tall dude/lady). The GR2 has plenty of pockets and it’s big enough to carry whatever you have. The 34L version is 4.35lbs and costs $395 (whew).

Available from the GORUCK website

Clothing Packing List

The key to packing light is limiting the amount of clothing you bring — which means you need to be smart about what kinds of clothing you choose. That’s why ultralight travelers tend to buy clothes that are specifically designed for travel.

It’s All About The Fabric

Here’s the deal: you need to limit the number of clothes you bring so that means you have to wear things multiple times before washing — which is why you need fabrics that won’t smell.

The two best fabrics for multi-day wear are merino wool and synthetic high-tech performance fabrics.

Merino Wool naturally blocks odor, dries quickly, moisture-wicking, and is breathable — which makes it an excellent option for underwear, socks, shirts, and base layers. Yes, lightweight merino works well in the summer, and no, it isn’t itchy.

But there are some downsides… Merino Wool is expensive, it requires special washing (washed in cool water and air dry), and it’s not always super durable.

High-tech synthetic performance fabrics are very durable, breathable/moisture-wicking, and they’re usually more affordable. However, many synthetic fabrics hold on to smells. Luckily, most high-end fabrics have anti-bacterial coatings — which helps prevent smells.

These days you’ll see a lot of Merino Wool/Synthetic blends — which gives the fabric characteristics of both materials.

Quick Note About Travel Clothing

These days there are a number of companies making amazing travel clothing that is both fashionable and functional. These use high tech fabrics (either natural or synthetic) that are durable, have stretch which gives you a greater range of motion, resist odors, dry quickly, resist wrinkles, and some even repel stains and liquids.

However, these clothes tend to be expensive — partially because of the quality fabrics used and partially because most of these companies are small businesses.

That said, we’ll do our best to include more budget-friendly options in this guide because we realize not everyone wants to drop a lot of money on new clothes.

Our Travel Clothing Criteria

We look for a few characteristics when choosing the ideal travel clothes:

Fashionable: We only buy travel clothes that we’d actually wear anytime — this is mandatory. Cargo pockets? Weird zip-off legs? Plastic feeling? Unflattering cuts? NOPE! Save that for the mountain. We only wear things that would look perfectly normal on the streets of Paris.
Durable: You’re going to be wearing your clothes a lot so they need to withstand some abuse.
Odor Resistant: It’s easy to work up a sweat but it’s not always easy to find the time to wash your clothes — which is why odor-resistant fabrics are a must.
Comfortable: You want to be comfortable while traveling so we look for clothes that are breathable and flexible.
Quick Drying: You might find yourself washing your clothes in your sink so you want fabrics that will air-dry overnight.
Neutral Colors: If all your clothes are neutral then everything will match. Plus, dark colors help hide stains.

Underwear: 3-4 Pairs

We like to bring three or four pairs of underwear. You can probably get away with two pairs by washing one pair while wearing the other… but underwear takes up virtually no space so we bring a few pairs. You can read more about why we love travel underwear but basically, we love them because they’re quick-drying, moisture-wicking, breathable, odor-blocking, lightweight, and comfortable.

The best travel underwear is either made from special synthetic materials or lightweight merino wool (well, it’s usually a merino/synthetic blend). Synthetic is usually cheaper and more durable but merino has better odor protection but is more expensive.

Our Favorite Travel Underwear

ExOfficio (Synthetic): ExOfficio is the most popular travel underwear brand — they practically invented travel underwear. We personally have multiple pairs and we wear them even when we’re not traveling. They’re not too terribly expensive — usually around $18/pair (prices fluctuate often). ExOfficio has multiple cuts and styles for both men and women. Available on Amazon and REI
SAXX (Synthetic): I’ve been wearing SAXX Quest 2.0 for a few months and I’m very impressed. In fact, National Geographic called them the “ultimate travel boxer” (if that means anything). They’re quick-dry, anti-stink, ultra-light, and have a nice pouch in front (that’s SAXX’s thing). They’re normally priced around $30/pair. Available on Amazon or SAXX website.
Uniqlo Airism (Synthetic): Uniqlo is one of the few large brands that actually make decent high-performance clothing at a low price — normally $10/pair. Their Airism underwear is popular in the travel world because they’re super lightweight (especially the mesh ones), quick-drying, and have anti-microbial/anti-odor properties. I own a few pairs of Airism and they’re pretty good — they’re not super odor resistant and the cut might not be right for everyone. That said, they’re only $10 so there is no harm in trying them out. Available from Uniqlo.
REI Co-Op Boxer Briefs (Synthetic): REI has their own brand of travel underwear that gets fairly good reviews. They’re normally priced around $22/pair but they’re sometimes on sale for under $15. Available at REI.
Under Armour (Synthetic): UA is another popular brand that makes a wide range of synthetic underwear that works well for travel. They make various cuts/styles for both men and women and they’re available on Amazon.
Wool&Prince (Merino/Synthetic Blend): Wool&Prince is a small company that blew up after raising a bunch of cash for merino wool shirts on Kickstarter back in 2013. They now also sell 78% merino wool, 22% nylon boxer briefs that get a lot of love from the ultralight travel community. However, they are expensive at $38/pair. Available at Wool&Prince.
Wooly (Merino): Wooly is one of the few brands that make a 100% merino wool underwear. They’re also fairly affordable as well. Search on Amazon and you can sometimes find them around $25-$30/pair. However, some people report that they start to develop holes after a few months. Available at Amazon

Socks: 4-5 Pairs

Socks are other things we don’t like to skimp on. Just like underwear, the best socks are either made from special synthetic materials or lightweight merino wool (well, it’s usually a merino/synthetic blend). Synthetic is usually cheaper and more durable but merino has better odor protection but is more expensive. Avoid cotton.

You could probably get away with around three pairs, but we prefer four or five pairs so we don’t have to worry about wearing dirty socks. Then again, I know people who wear a pair for about a week before washing (alternating days between wears).

Pro tip: carry an extra pair of socks during the day and switch them out if your feet start to get sweaty — it’s a great feeling.

Our Favorite Sock Brands

When it comes to socks we tend to stick to a few brands. From there, you pick which weight and cut best fits your travel style. Here is an extensive guide to our favorite travel socks.

Here are some brands to check out:

Darn Tough Vermont: We love Darn Tough socks (and so do many travelers) — especially since they offer a lifetime warranty. Almost all DT socks are merino/synthetic blend.
Smartwool: Smartwool is one of the most popular brands of merino wool blend socks. They make a ton of different styles so take a look at the various options.
Outlier: Outlier makes a pair of really nice merino wool socks (47% Merino) that use super high-quality wool. They are fairly expensive at $25/pair.
Wigwam: Wigwam is a good quality budget option. Most of their socks are a wool/synthetic blend.
Thorlo: Thorlo makes quality synthetic blend socks that are very affordable.
Balega: Balega gets a lot of love — especially because they make quality no-show socks (which is kinda rare). All their socks are synthetic and they’re affordable.

Pants: 1-2 Pairs

There are plenty of travelers who only bring a single pair of pants. Truth is, you can wear the same pair multiple times and they’re not going to smell. That said, two pairs should be your max.

A high-quality pair of travel pants is a good investment because you want something that is comfortable, stylish, and durable enough to put up with everything you throw at it. Plus, we only buy travel clothes that we’ll also wear after the trip is over so they have to look good.

Synthetic materials are really the only option because they’re light, durable, and dry quickly. Luckily, there are a lot of really solid options when it comes to travel pants… unfortunately, the best ones are expensive.

What’s the difference between expensive and less expensive travel pants? Basically, the top-of-the-line pants look and feel just like normal everyday pants but perform like technical pants. Cheaper pants start looking a lot more “technical” so they’re a lot less fashionable.

Outlier

Outlier has really nailed it with their Slim Dungarees — some even say they’re the perfect travel pant. The material is stretchy so it’s comfortable but it’s also super rugged and tough. They’re also breathable, moisture-wicking, quick-drying, and they even have a coating to help them repel liquid. You can basically wear these things for months without needing to wash (plus, they can be machine washed and dried). Ohh, and the fabric feels and looks like normal pants — which is great because everything we wear must pass the “would this look good in Paris” test… and these pass with flying color.

The main downside is the cost — $198 per pair. But, I guess that’s the price you pay for made in USA clothing constructed from high-performance Swiss fabric. And, to be honest, I would have no qualms about packing these as my single pair of pants.

Bluffworks

Bluffworks is the other go-to travel clothing company that many travelers really love. They have two main travel pants — the Original ($98) and the Chino ($125). Both pants are super tough, breathable, moisture-wicking, resist wrinkles, and they’re lightweight. The Originals are the most lightweight but the fabric doesn’t stretch and looks a bit more synthetic. The Chinos use a more stretchy fabric that’s softer, more casual, and looks/feels like cotton. Available at Bluffworks

Western Rise

Western Rise is an outdoor-inspired clothing company that makes functional and fashionable clothes that we would describe as “outdoor-chic.” We’re really digging the AT Slim Rivet Pant (available in men’s and women’s). They look like normal slim-fitting pants but they have the benefits of technical fabric. The fabric has a nice structure, texture, durability, and stretch but it does have a slightly synthetic feel (which is virtually unavoidable).

AT Slim Rivet Pant retails for $129 and is available from Western Rise. Click here to get $20 off your first purchase.

Ministry of Supply

Ministry of Supply makes the most dressy travel clothing we’ve ever seen. Their pants basically look like dress slacks and chinos but the high-performance fabric has stretch, is wrinkle-resistant, wicks moisture, and repels water. These clothes are a little too dressy for our travel style but this is a great option if you need to look extra snazzy.

They offer a few different styles and cuts but they’re all priced around $145. Available at Ministry of Supply.

Uniqlo

Uniqlo is your go-to place for cheap clothes that are made from high-tech fabrics. Of course, you’re not going to get the same quality from Uniqlo as you will from other brands on this list but we suggest checking out their offerings if you’re on a really tight budget. We also suggest trying on their clothes before buying as we’ve found that sizing can be a little inconsistent.

Prana

Prana is one of the more fashionable “outdoor” brands and their Brion pants are their most popular item. The fabric is durable, soft, has 4-way stretch, dries quickly, and repels water. Personally, we think the pants are cut a little too wide/loose so they still give off a slight outdoorsy/techy vibe… but you can always get them tailored for $20-$30. They retail at $75 but you can often find them on sale. Available at Prana.

Rohan

We’re not the biggest fans of jeans for ultralight travel but we still love the look of denim. These Newton Jeans from Rohan are made with a blend of cotton and quick-drying Coolmax polyester. They won’t dry as quickly as other pants on this list but they do dry 30% quicker than normal cotton jeans.

Button Up Shirts: 1-2 Shirts

Most ultralight travelers only pack one or possible two long-sleeve button-up shirts. The key is versatility so you want something that looks presentable at a restaurant but is also casual for everyday wear. Button-ups are also nice because you can roll up the sleeves when it’s hot or roll them down when you need more warmth or a more polished look.

Stick with dark fabrics because those hide stains better and wrinkle-resistant fabrics are a big plus. You’re also going to wear your shirt multiple times before washing so merino wool and high-tech synthetic fabrics come in handy here.

Wool & Prince

Wool & Prince makes excellent merino wool button-down shirts in multiple colors. As you can see, these are great looking shirts. The fabric feels nice, looks great, is durable, and is fairly soft. I own two and have worn them for multiple days and never had any issues with any odor. In fact, the owner wore his shirt for 100 days without ever cleaning or ironing so you could easily wear this shirt every day of your travels. The only real care instruction is that it can’t be machine dried.

The main downside is the price. Each shirt is $128. But, they should last for years with proper care. Available at Wool & Prince.