Links updated: March 2022
When we decided on the itinerary for our one-month trip to South America, we realized right away that checking a bag on each of our planned flights would be a big hassle and an even bigger expense. I’ve been packing incrementally lighter for several years, but the idea of carry on only travel for a month is still intimidating.
I’ve always loved to pack for trips. Part of this is the excitement I get from thinking of all of the places I will go and trying to imagine being there and planning the things I will need. The challenge for this trip is that we will be visiting very different climates during the southern hemisphere’s fall season. Easter Island will be hot while Torres del Paine in Chile’s Patagonia region may get closer to freezing with wind and rain storms. So we need an all-season wardrobe that will keep us warm and dry, but won’t be a burden to haul around when we don’t need them.
Tips for Packing Light
Here are some general tips for packing light:
- Small backpack. I carry a Kelty Women’s Redwing 40 liter and my husband, Kevin, has a Kelty Redwing 44. We both really like traveling with these bags. Each one has a large main compartment that zips open completely, roomy side pockets and compression straps on the sides to shrink the load a little more.
- Quick-dry clothing. I pack mostly synthetic fabrics that are quick drying so that I can wash them in the sink when needed.
- Layer! I get cold easily so I bring lightweight clothes that to take off or put on as needed.
- A lightweight laptop (if you need one at all). I’ve never traveled internationally with a laptop. I’ve always been able to get by using internet cafes, computers at the hotel or hostel, and, more recently, my smartphone. But with the increasing availability of wifi, the need to back up the photos on our camera, and (last, but not least!) this blog, I thought it was time to try. I just recently upgraded to the 13″ Macbook Air. It is surprisingly quick, even when processing photos in Adobe Lightroom.
- Learn from past mistakes. One lesson I’ve learned is to never skimp on facial care products. Travel does awful things to my oh-so-sensitive skin. When I’ve tried to skip a step in my normal routine to cut the number of products I bring, I’ve come home broken out and regret it. Bring the things that are important to your daily routine, just, in this case, pour them into smaller bottles.
Here’s what I’m taking (minus the dog).
And again, this is a bit more than half of what my husband and I are taking together. I have all of our personal care, first aid and most of our electronics, but he will have our DSLR camera and accessories (NOTE: Here is our associated Men’s Packing List for Carry On Only Travel).
My all-season carry on packing list for women:
Clothing
- Grey roll-up hiking pants — I have a pair I love that looks like this
- Charcoal gray quick-dry shorts. I have (and love!) this pair by prAna.
- Neutral gray or black skirt (I like this one)
- Black yoga pants
- Lightweight hoodie
- Long-sleeve thermal top
- Long-sleeve athletic top
- Black, quick-dry button up shirt
- 3 lightweight tank tops – good for layering or wearing on their own
- 3 t-shirts (preferably one that is a quick-dry athletic material)
- 3 pairs of quick-dry travel underwear
- 4 pairs of quick-dry socks (include one or more pairs suitable for hiking)
- Sports bra
- Swimsuit
- Shawl/scarf
- Thermal bottom
- Wind-resistant fleece or soft shell jacket–I have one similar to this one by North Face
- Rain jacket/outer shell–I have this one by Marmot
- Hiking sneakers–I have a pair like this (if I were doing a fall/winter city trip, I’d swap these for a comfortable, low leather boot)
- Chaco sandals
- Flip-flops. This sturdy (and cute!) pair is comfortable for walking.
- Hats (a cold-weather beanie and a sun/rain hat, important for hiking in Patagonia and Peru)
- Sunglasses
- Wind-blocking gloves
Accessories
- A quick-dry pack towel
- Travel clothesline (When I’m at home, I use it in the laundry room to dry items that can’t go in the dryer)
- Money belt
- Change purse
- Both of our passports
- One credit card (Chase Sapphire Preferred, no international transaction fees)
- One debit card (Charles Schwab online checking–refunds all ATM fees, even international!)
- Health insurance card
- Notepad/pen
- A handful of Moo MiniCards with our contact info (click here to get 25% off!)
- Folder to organize printed travel documents
- Assorted ziplock bags
- Toilet paper (for camping on Easter Island–I removed the cardboard roll so it could be compressed)
- Emergency whistle (per this post)
- Waterproof pack cover
- Lightweight nylon daypack (folds into its own pocket when I’m not using it)
- Packing cubes (I have a set like this one in medium. I love the colors!)
- A good travel guidebook, like those published by Lonely Planet. Personally, I prefer print guidebooks, but if you use a Kindle or tablet you might like their e-book versions (HINT: If you are only visiting one city or region and don’t want to carry the entire, heavy book, you can buy e-books or individual chapters of any of their book on their website. You can then use them on your tablet, e-reader, or print out a copy–and not feel bad throwing it away when you move on.
Electronics
- Lightweight computer (with power cord and wireless mini-mouse)
- Smartphone (with charger) – I’m currently using the Google Pixel 5a and I love the photo quality!
- Steripen (UV water sterilizer) and a clear, wide-mouth water bottle (Clear, per the Steripen directions, and with a wide mouth so the device will fit into it)
Personal Care
- Eyeglasses and case
- Contact lenses, contact case, and a spare set
- Contact lens solution
- Deodorant
- Sunscreen (I use this one on my face and body It’s effective, non-greasy, made with natural ingredients, and biodegradable, which is important if you’ll be swimming anywhere with sensitive, coral reefs)
- Lip balm with SPF
- Travel-size shampoo
- Travel-size conditioner
- Travel-size Dr. Bronner’s liquid soap (for body, laundry, and dishes)
- Toothbrush, toothpaste, and dental floss
- Retainer and case
- Tampons or menstrual cup
- Comb or brush
- Headband and a few hair elastics
- Clear TSA-compliant toiletry case
Facial care/Cosmetics/Jewelry
- Daily facial sunscreen–I love the ones by EltaMD. This one is not greasy and looks smooth under makeup.
- Cerave PM (I use it during the day under sunscreen and at night, and on body if needed)
- Face wash
- Oil-based cleanser (to remove sunscreen)
- Acne treatment
- Travel-size translucent powder
- Concealer
- Tinted lip gloss
- A few pairs of earrings
- A few brightly colored bracelets
First Aid
Update: I shared more travel health tips in this post–> My Travel Health Packing List
- Ibuprofen
- Pepto-bismol tablets
- Anti-diarrheal pills
- RX antibiotic (in case of more serious diarrhea)
- Motion sickness medication or Sea-Bands
- A few packets of powdered ginger tea (a natural way to treat upset stomach)
- Travel sized mosquito repellent with DEET (I usually recommend all natural products, but I wouldn’t mess around with mosquitos, especially if you are heading to a tropical climate.)
- Benadryl
- Silicone ear plugs, like these ones or the kids size if, like me, you have small ears. Silicone ear plugs are much more effective than the foam ones but they are nearly impossible to find outside of the U.S., so I always bring a whole box! They are life-savers when you wind up in a noisy hotel room or you need to sleep on a bus, train, or plane.
- Small packets of muscle rub
- Antiseptic wet wipes
- Hand sanitizer
- Neosporin–this small tube is perfect for travel.
Want to save this list for your next trip? Click below to pin this post on Pinterest:
What are your tips for packing light? What’s on your personal carry on packing list for women?
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Cassie,
You are so prepared… I wish I was prepared like you when I went to Aus. I had to buy everything there and oh boy, shampoos were expensive.
Vee, I’ve read a lot of online packing lists 🙂 So shampoo there was expensive, even for you after having lived just prior to that in Hawaii? Crazy…any ideas why that is?
Cassie, shampoos are expensive in Australia because Aussies don’t wash their hair often? Hehe… probably bc it’s an island. Darn, I have said two faux-pas in one comment.
I think it’s just the Aussie’s YOU hang out with don’t wash their hair often 🙂
Woohoo! Happy to see you’ve included a safety whistle. No one wants to be chased up a hill by monkeys, right? 🙂 Added your packing list to my resources page too, thanks for a thorough roundup.
Hi, thanks Jodi! You have a very comprehensive collection of resources on your site. Also, after we bought our ticket to Chile, one of the first things I did was listen to an interview you did on one of the podcasts I listen to. Thanks for your great work!
I’m surprized that you can get thru the airport safety check, with all the liquids in your carry-on luggage? I’ve lost 2 x $14 pairs of Cuticle Sicissors and Nail Clippers @ BKK Airport in the past few years. No “sharps” are allowed. I also am stunned at the size of some passenger’s carry-on luggage!
Yes, no problem fitting them into our baggie of the allotted size! I’m surprised you were hassled in Thailand! Our experience has always been that security is only strict about silly things in the US (liquids, shoes, and most recently I was hassled for a package of spaghetti!) We’ve found airport security to be a breeze everywhere else. Nail scissors…sheesh!
No makeup?!
Hehe, nice catch! The translucent powder, tinted face lotion and tinted lip gloss is all I went with this trip as it was mostly outdoors/trekking trip. I’d have brought a bit more if I were doing an urban trip (especially to cities in Europe, NYC, etc.) but I really don’t use that much makeup. The clothes are what I find most difficult for trips like that where you want to be somewhat stylish! On that note, I did feel like a bum most of the time in the clothes I brought on this trip 🙂
And concealer! I do always pack concealer!
Thanks for the backpacking tips. Can I ask what type of hiking shoes you took with you? I’ve been looking for a smaller pair that’s not too bulky. The ones in your picture look perfect!
Hi Brittany, I’m glad to help! This is the pair of shoes in the photo: http://amzn.to/KR1SHp, I bought them a few years ago so there may be a newer model out now. They are comfortable and they are good for travel that involves a bit of hiking and less rugged, city trekking. While they aren’t fashionable (but what hiking gear is!?) they can pass for sneakers when you are wearing them with long pants or jeans, especially if you get the grey color. (Let me know if you get these or a different pair, I’m in the market for a new pair myself — I’ve finally worn this pair out!)
Great list – furiously taking notes for our upcoming trip (well, except for the clothing of course!). Is there anything you’d add/change to the First Aid kit part out of interest?
Hi Stefan, I’m glad you find this useful! And no, there is nothing I would change about the first aid kit. Everything was small and didn’t take up much space. If you need anything else you can buy it at your destination. There are some clothing things that I would change if I had to do this kind of a trip again — like bringing a nicer pair of sandals so I didn’t feel like a slob in nice restaurants in Lima wearing plastic flipflops with my skirt and nice shirt, but that doesn’t affect you 🙂 Everything we took for the W-trek was spot on. Hope that helps!
Thanks for the article…Will your medium ebags packing cubes fit easily inside the Redwing 44? Thanks again
Yes, definitely! Probably at least four of the medium size would fit, depending on how full you stuff them. I usually only use two of them and there is plenty of space for other things. Safe travels to you!
Quick question: all of this fit inside a 40L backpack?
Yes, I packed it all into the Kelty Redwing 40L shown in the picture. Safe travels to you!
I just bought this same backpack and was feeling apprehensive about using it as my main piece of luggage on my upcoming trip to Europe. So glad to have stumbled upon your page to see all that can be fit inside – it has put my mind at ease. I’ll definitely be getting some packing cubes too – thanks for the idea!
Also, sorry if you have already answered this question on another post, but do you use a daypack/smaller travel backpack as your “personal item”? If so, do you have a favorite? 🙂
My husband sometimes packs a daypack into his backpack that we can use when we are on the ground, or out hiking in a place. I always carry my camera bag as my personal item, here’s the one I have and love: http://amzn.to/1ciIcut
Have a great trip and let me know if you have anything you would cut, or add!
I’ve cut back on the things I pack quite a bit since I wrote this (I should update the post!), but this all certainly fits. Packing cubes are the best! Let me know how it goes!
Love your post! I’m so glad I found it, because my boyfriend and I are finishing preparations for our two-month trip in South America. The last thing that needs to be done is organizing and packing our stuff, and that’s what freaks me out each time. It’s not our first trip, but It’s always a great mess when I start packing. Your checklist makes the things much better. Thank you!
Great! Glad it helps! I’ve learned to pack much lighter than even this in the years since I published this, so feel free to cut back even more from this. Safe travels!
Very useful information. I love packing , too. My advice is to withdraw cash before you leave. Some countries are with cash-based society. It is really difficult to pay with card there. Greetings!
Really good tip! I’ve started doing that myself recently just in case. Thanks for sharing this!
Your list contains all the necessary things I need to travel. For me it is very important my luggage to be light in order not to pay extra fees. Thanks
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I always travel with my kindle. It is something that I don`t miss to put in my backpack.I love it! Thank you for sharing your list! It is really useful. Greetings!
Thanks for sharing, Mercedes! Good tip–we have an older model Kindle, but I never got into the habit of traveling with it. Do you carry e-guide books on it, too? I should give it a try again.
Yep I carry 🙂 Greets!
Great list and incredibly similar to mine. I’ve been packing a swimsuit cover up that doubles as a nightgown. Second best thing I will always pack is a pair of footless tights. I’ve hiked in them, worn them under dresses, skirts, shorts and capris – they’re really a handy item for keeping you warm and layering. Best thing I ever bought was this dress: http://www.moosejaw.com/moosejaw/shop/product_Lole-Women-s-Energic-Dress_10231452_10208_10000001_-1_ It rolls up to nothing and I have worn it as everything from a swimsuit cover up to a nightgown to a “fancier” dress and with footless tights when the weather got chilly. I bought it for much more on another website and loved it so much I bought 3 of them in different sizes. I always get compliments when I wear it, its moisture wicking and makes me feel good 🙂 The pattern I got was a grey black lined thingy. The one thing I don’t bring anymore is a travel hairdryer. Hairdryers are almost everywhere. Even little guesthouses I’ve stayed in have loaned me one if I had to dry my long locks.
Ozigal, is this the dress you have? http://www.6pm.com/lole-energic-dress-black-mix I love it and think I’m going to buy it myself! I didn’t notice that it ties in the front to the little hole at the neck. Very cute!
And those are great tips! I’d planning to come up with a more stylish packing list–my one comment on this trip was that I felt frumpy in the cities. I didn’t bring a dress, a nice pair of sandals or dress shoes, just my flip flops and hiking sneakers 🙁 I definitely could have used a few pieces like this! Thanks for sharing!
Ack, they only have the dress in size XS 🙁 Amazon has it in Small, Large and XL, but it’s $49 there: http://amzn.to/1UQlGt3
Hmm, what to do… I’m tempted, it’s so cute!
I have the same backpack! I was wondering which packing cubes to get because I traveled without them and it was a nightmare!! I’m assuming that because you are recommending the eBags medium they work well with the Kelty Redwing 40L Woman’s?
Hi. I’m packing for a very similar trip and wonder how much your bag weighed? I only have half of your list and I am at the 7kg limit?
Hi Brenda! Do you mean the bag itself or the bag packed? The specs say this model weighs just under 3 pounds empty: http://amzn.to/1NbukDp
I did not weigh it packed, it was full but it wasn’t too heavy for me to carry comfortably. Hope that helps!
Packing list noted for my trip. Thanks much!
I really appreciate the information you provide in this article and the packing list. I’m doing a 5 week trip to Chile and Argentina (and a very short side-trip to Machu Picchu in Peru) and am trying to figure out what type of luggage to bring. My trip includes the W Trek in TdP-so there will be some backpacking involved. The logistics are a bit complicated! I see you use the Kelty 40L pack, but the length of the pack is 2″ longer than they allow for a carry-on. This is the challenge I am encountering. The LATAM airlines only allows for a 21″ carry-on limited to 17 pounds. So it looks like I’m going to have to check a bag. I’ll need to bring my overnight pack and probably a rolling duffle. My overnight pack requires accessing everything from the top of the bag–so I’m thinking of bringing a larger rolling duffle bag and actually bringing my overnight backpack inside of it–just empty and lying flat inside. Checking that duffle and bringing a day pack as a carry on. Any tips with regards to this idea?? I’ll be taking about 5 domestic flights within chile and argentina–so lots of flights!