Good packing has one rule: the skill isn't filling the bag, it's leaving it empty. The system below works the same for any trip from 1 week to 3 months — because you travel 3 months with a week's worth of clothes and do laundry in between.
The right pack: 35-45 litres
A cabin-sized (55×40×20) 40-litre pack boards most airlines free of extra charge, is easy to carry with a hip belt, and physically protects you from over-packing. A 60+ litre pack is regret bought to be filled.
The one-week rule: clothing list
- 5 t-shirts / tops (at least two quick-dry synthetic or merino)
- 2 bottoms (1 long trousers + 1 shorts/skirt), 1 swimsuit
- 5 underwear, 5 socks (merino doesn't smell)
- 1 light jacket/raincoat + 1 warm layer (fleece or thin down)
- Footwear: the walking shoes you wear + flip-flops/sandals in the pack
The heart of the system: packing cubes
Get 3 packing cubes: tops, bottoms, underwear-socks. Bag searches drop to 30 seconds, and on the way back dirty clothes gather in one cube. Instead of folding, roll your clothes: it saves space and reduces wrinkles.
Electronics and documents
- One multi-port charging adapter + 1 power bank (10,000 mAh, carry-on)
- Universal plug adapter — check your destination's socket type in advance
- A photo of your passport on your phone AND in the cloud; 1 backup bank card kept SEPARATELY from your main wallet
The never-bring list
"Might need it" books (you have an e-reader), a third pair of shoes, a towel (hotels provide them; microfibre if needed), a giant medicine kit (everything is sold on the road — except prescription meds), and any garment that needs ironing.
The final test
Pack the bag, put it on, walk for 15 minutes. If your shoulders ache, take something out. Target: final weight under 8-10 kg. For the Southeast Asia route, our Bangkok, Bali and Phuket guides have climate-specific notes.