What Packing Guide Works Best for Minimalist Travelers?

The more I travel, the more obsessed I become with packing as light as possible.

When I first started traveling solo, I carried a massive 75-liter backpack that felt like it was breaking my back. But at the time, I thought I needed everything!

Then, I switched to a 55-liter backpack, which felt like a big achievement. Eventually, I downsized even more to a 33-liter pack.

For the past year, I’ve been traveling with just a 30-liter minimalist backpack. Believe it or not, I can fit everything I need in it and live comfortably for weeks—even up to seven months!

After more than 20 years of solo travel, I feel like I’m finally close to perfecting the ultimate minimalist packing list. And in this post, I’m going to share it with you!

Tips on Creating your own Minimalist Travel Packing List

The more I travel, the more obsessed I become with packing as light as possible.

When I first started traveling solo, I carried a massive 75-liter backpack that felt like it was breaking my back. But at the time, I thought I needed everything!

Then, I switched to a 55-liter backpack, which felt like a big achievement. Eventually, I downsized even more to a 33-liter pack.

For the past year, I’ve been traveling with just a 30-liter minimalist backpack. Believe it or not, I can fit everything I need in it and live comfortably for weeks—even up to seven months!

After more than 20 years of solo travel, I feel like I’m finally close to perfecting the ultimate minimalist packing list. And in this post, I’m going to share it with you!

My Minimalist Packing List for Females

No matter if I’m heading out for two weeks or a few months, I always start packing the same way.

I use two bags for every trip:
✅ My travel backpack
✅ My travel daypack

And I organize everything into four main groups:
1️⃣ Travel Capsule Wardrobe
2️⃣ Dry & Wet Toiletries
3️⃣ Other Necessities
4️⃣ Items for My Travel Daypack

Below, I’ll break down exactly what I pack in each category—with photos of everything inside my backpack!

1. Travel Capsule Wardrobe

First, I pack one of my biggest essentials: my minimalist mix-and-match wardrobe. I roll all my clothes into two small packing cubes and keep my shoes in a shoe bag.

Here’s my full travel wardrobe:
👕 T-shirt
👚 2 tank tops
🩳 2 pairs of shorts
👖 Jeans or pants
👗 Dress
🧥 Sweater
🛏️ Set of clothes for sleeping/working out
🩲 7 underwear
👙 2 bras
🧦 2 pairs of socks
🏊‍♀️ Swimsuit
🧣 Sarong

Shoes:
👟 Nike Free RN Flyknit sneakers
👡 Birkenstock Mayari sandals
🩴 Havaianas Slim flip-flops

Also Read: How can I Pack Efficiently for a Long International Flight?

2. Dry & Wet Toiletries

I keep my toiletries in two separate bags:
📌 One for dry toiletries (stored in a Muji hanging toiletry bag)
📌 One for wet toiletries (kept in a transparent Muji case for easy airport security checks)

Dry Toiletries

🪥 Toothbrush
🦷 Floss
💇 Comb
🧼 Kitsch Rice Water Shampoo Bar
🧴 Deodorant
🖊️ Eyeliner
💄 2 lip balms
✂️ Tweezers + nail clippers
⚡ Diva Cup
💊 Cotton pads, Q-tips*
📎 Bobby pins + safety pins
🔪 Travel scissors

Wet Toiletries

(These go in my clear Muji case for TSA checks.)
🦷 Toothpaste*
🫧 Facial cleanser*
💧 Toner*
🧴 Face cream*
🌞 Sunblock*
👁️ Contact lens solution + case
🌿 Travel-size reed diffuser + essential oils

Note: I only bring enough for a few weeks and restock as needed.

3. Other Travel Necessities

Besides clothes and toiletries, I always bring a few small but essential travel gadgets.

🔌 Universal travel adapter
📸 Xiaomi selfie stick/tripod with Bluetooth remote
💊 First aid kit + medicine
🛍️ Canvas bag (for groceries/laundry)
💻 Laptop + mobile phone charger
🍴 Reusable utensils (fork, spoon, knife, chopsticks)
📦 3 medium ziplock bags

4. Travel Daypack Essentials

My Fjällräven High Coast Totepack holds everything I don’t want to lose. Even if my main backpack goes missing (which probably won’t happen because I never check it in, but knock on wood), I’d still have these important items with me.

💻 MacBook 12” + laptop bag
📱 Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
🎧 Headphones
📖 Muji blank notebook + 2 pens
💰 Coach wallet with cash, 2 credit cards, 2 ATM cards
🛂 Small pouch with passport, $100 USD backup cash, paperclip (for SIM card swaps)
🚰 Dopper Water Bottle
👓 Prescription glasses + case
🕶️ Sunglasses + case

Also Read: Which Anti‐Theft Backpacks are Recommended by Frequent Travelers?

Minimalist Travel: How I Put Everything Together

If you want to keep your backpack under 7kg and fit everything inside, choosing a lightweight backpack is a must!

I personally love my Osprey Arcane Duffel Travel Backpack—it’s my go-to minimalist backpack because of its sleek design and practical layout.

It has one main compartment, and here’s how I organize it:

🔹 Scratch-free pocket – Lock, waterproof cover
🔹 Main compartment – 2 packing cubes, dry toiletry bag, and wet toiletry bag (I keep this at the top for easy airport security checks), shoe bag, and other essentials

Simple, organized, and hassle-free—just how I like it!