I decided to pack for a year in one backpack and one small daypack. After over half a year abroad and experiencing everything from hot and humid summer to knee-deep snow, I can say that it works pretty well!
The key to packing for a year in one backpack is to pack for one week… and do laundry every week.
Bags
- Backpack 40L (Forclaz Travel 500 40L)
- Daypack 10L (Quechua Escape NH 150 Square)
- Packing cubes and plastic bags
- Fanny pack for money and documents
Clothes
- 7 undies
- 5 pairs of light socks, 2 pairs of warm socks
- 1 bra
- 1 pair of medium-warm tights
- 5 light tanktops/shirts
- 2 longer pants (one light, one warm)
- 1 pair of convertible pants (truly a lifesaver when it comes to travelling)
- 1 shorts
- 1 sweatshirt
- 1 sweatpants
- Rainjacket
- Winter headband
- Scarf (in winter used as intended, in summer I can use it to sit on the ground in parks)
- Pyjamas (tank top + knee-length pants)
- 2 pairs of sunglasses
- Summer hat
Wait, you might think. It doesn’t seem like you have anything for winter!
That’s because I decided to buy my winter things here, use them during the season, and then ship them back home in one package (which cost me about 25USD – and I threw in some plushies and souvenirs for my family as well)
And I haven’t really bought or paid much! Most of my winter gear comes from Uniqlo, as it’s light and cheap. And since all of the winter things I bought are used for layering with my summer clothes, they don’t need to be too warm just by themselves.
My winter gear was:
- One heat tech turtleneck (Uniqlo)
- One heat tech leggins (Uniqlo)
- Gloves (Uniqlo)
- Winter jacket (secondhand)
…that’s all!
No, I wouldn’t wear shorts during winter – but shorts with tights? Yes! Also, I wouldn’t wear just a T-shirt – but a T-shirt over a winter-only turtleneck? Yup! Also, my convertibles are rather light, ideal for spring. But with leggings underneath, they make a perfect winter setup.
With layering, I can use some parts of my wardrobe all year round, and only need additional layers during winter.
Shoes
- Winter/hiking shoes (I’m always wearing those while moving around since they are way bigger)
- 1 pair of light walking shoes
- Flip-flops
Toiletry
- Microfibre towel
- Sunscreen
- BB cream
- Bottle of shampoo/shower 3-in-1 stuff
- Face cleaner
- Tiny bottle of perfume
- Moisturizer
- Deodorant
- Razor
- Small scissors
- Eye drops
- Lipbalm
- Foldable toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- One reusable earpick (bought in Japan)
My toiletry pack is quite minimal, since (aside from BB cream) I don’t really do makeup. My short hair doesn’t need special treatment as well, so no conditioner or even brush is needed – but things like that one can usually be found in hostels and, in case of Japan, onsens and public baths. I also do not menstruate right now, but if I did, I’d additionally pack a menstrual cup.
Medicine/chem
- 1 year’s worth of my prescribed medicine
- Trusted meds for upset stomach
- A few painkiller pills
- A few sticking plasters
- Laundry leaves
Laundry leaves are the best thing ever! Light, compact, no risk of spilling anything, and you can use half of 1/4 depending on your laundry load and needs – it works perfectly even with hand washing.
Electronics (I pack them all in my daypack during travelling, and I think it’s heavier than my 40L backpack!)
- iPad with pencil and keyboard
- Camera (Fujifilm X-S20 + Fujinon 18-55mm f2.8/4.0 – very versatile lenses!), SD card, one battery
- Lightning to USB/SD converter
- Phone
- Kindle
- Powerbank
- Cables
- Electric adapter with 3 USB ports
- Earphones
“Should I take my laptop or not?” tormented me for a few weeks before my departure, but I decided against it. The laptop is super heavy and requires a big charger. My electronics already weighed a lot. I figured out that I can do most of the things on my iPad or phone – and that’s true. I definitely miss some of the stuff I’d be able to do on PC (like gaming or video editing), but they are non-essential, and I can get by without them.
Comfort/others
- Needles and threads (tiny package for emergencies)
- Earplugs (Loop Quiet – I love love love loooove them)
- Eye mask
- One lightweight climbing stick (which I got myself in Japan for a birthday)
And to be fair… Along the way, I also bought some souvenirs: an umbrella – a necessity for a summertime – small plushies, two wristwatches, and even a Nintendo DS (I thought I was able to survive a year without games… haha!). It all, somehow, still fits.
Yes, my wardrobe and outfits are pretty limited. I do not have anything suited for more formal or party situations (because I don’t get myself in party situations…). I imagine it would be hell for fashion enjoyers, but again, I’m not one.
Yes, sometimes living on a one bag can be a bit of a pain in the ass. But only sometimes, because mostly, it works. And there is something really comforting in being able to pack into a bag I can easily carry on my shoulders – it serves me as a reminder that I don’t really need much to live a fulfilling life.
