How to PACK for LONG TERM TRAVEL in 2024 (with only carry-ons) + FREE PACKING LIST
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- čas přidán 28. 06. 2024
- How to pack for long-term travel in 2024 - only carry-on luggage! Packing to fit into a carry-on is not easy! We frequently get asked how we managed to pack everything for full-time travel in only a carry-on bag each.
In this thorough packing guide, we will show you exactly WHAT we pack, what we wish we did or did not pack, and HOW we pack.
📰 FREE PACKING LIST: ericandsarah.ca/free-packing-...
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*** DISCLAIMER: Although we left Canada with carry-on only, during our travels we needed to purchase hiking poles so Eric must check his bag now, even though it fits the carry-on size limit. This does allow us to purchase larger liquids and other items that are not appropriate for carry-on as we can put them all in his bag. We wanted to still include all of these items because we believe it is useful information and you can adjust accordingly for your own packing needs.
/// THINGS WE RECOMMEND ///
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/// OTHER VIDEOS YOU MIGHT LIKE ///
📓 How to prepare for a travelling abroad: bit.ly/3Uo6JDi
🌎 How to master a new country: bit.ly/3UhHbr4
💰 How to save money when travelling: bit.ly/3UM6fa6
🛅 How to survive long travel days: bit.ly/3W2Ivzy
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/// ABOUT US ///
Hi! We are Eric and Sarah, a couple of Canadians currently travelling around Peru. We’ve been married since 2017 but have known each other since we were only 6 years old! During our last year of university, we spent 4 months in Honduras on a semester abroad and fell in love with Latin America. Since then, we began planning and saving to do an extensive Latin America tour. 2020 delayed those plans by half a year but during this time stuck in BC, we explored a new hobby (like everyone in the pandemic) of videography and photography. We are now using our new skills to document our adventures around South America. Our desire through these videos is to provide helpful and inspiring content for other travelers while also showing people around the world how beautiful South America truly is!
CHAPTERS:
0:00 - Intro
0:53 - WHAT WE PACKED: Clothing Tips
3:08 - WHAT WE PACKED: Eric's Clothes
4:00 - WHAT WE PACKED: Sarah's Clothes
9:09 - WHAT WE PACKED: Health & Hygiene
13:09 - WHAT WE PACKED: Electronics
15:48 - WHAT WE PACKED: Misc.
20:22 - PACKING REGRETS
25:30 - HOW WE PACK: Best travel backpacks
27:32 - HOW WE PACK: These are BETTER than packing cubes
29:23 - HOW WE PACK: Packing our bags
31:26 - Any Questions??
32:20 - Best Bloops Ever
FILMED NOVEMBER 2021
#packing #longtermtravel #howtopack #minimalistpacking #carryon #southamerica
*** Disclaimer: Some of these links are affiliate links where we earn a small commission if you make a purchase at no additional cost to you
Our new take on Packing Cubes (we were wrong...) 👉 czcams.com/video/omRlRp7KTbg/video.htmlsi=szdmvOAvIPIa_W5k
If you're interested in our electronics or other items we talked about, check out our Amazon storefront! www.amazon.ca/shop/thebomsaway
If there's anything else we missed or if you have any questions, let us know below! :)
This is an amazing video and it is sooooo cool that you guys respond to comments! 🤯🤯🤯😃 Most excellent!
@@Mizz.Person of course!! We love to interact with you. It’s why we do this 🥰
@@EricandSarah what brand is yr bag?
Interesting video..ty for sharing ...instead of a down jacket, I always carry a decent fleece jacket, like a North Face, along with a thin lightweight waterproof jacket..that way I can dress in layers depending on the weather & together they work well even in winter snow...
@@jefflockaby702 yes layers is KEY! Good to have multiuse clothing :)
I have autism, to me the packing cubes are essential. They lessen anxiety, because every item and type of gear has it’s own place :)
Just swallow your pill and be happy 🥳
@@mickey1849, there’s no pill for autism…
@@chellierose There are plenty of anxiety pills available though!
As a solo female traveller I always have a kinda wood triangle to stick below my room door. Hotel staff has a dobble of your key or if there is no proper lock and twice in cheap places, I got unwanted visits at night. With that "triangle" stuck below your door even if someone has the key, it is no way to open the door. Have fun you all traveling the world 🌍
Like a wedge? Great!
Oh yes! I remember my Mom brought one of those (it was rubber) on a trip we had together.
I do the same thing when I travel and stay in hotels. I have these adjustable vertical bars all over my house too, along with a thingy that is put between the door and lock for extra security. NO ONE is getting through any of that! I live in a very, very, safe area, but you can't be too careful these days. I sleep so much better knowing I'm secure. 😊
So say I went searching on the web, would I say door wedge, lock or what exactly?
Great advice. Thx.
As a retired paramedic, I’d suggest you carry some Benadryl (generic is diphenhydramine). It’s very handy for unexpected allergic reactions to food or insect stings.
Great suggestion! Benadryl is illegal in some countries. One does not need the hassle of being "asked" for longer than necessary as to why you have a certain item or medicine... no need to ask how I know : )
Another suggestion to consider is to know before you go what's allowed for you to bring. If you know the generic name, more than likely it may be available in the country you are visiting. One item may be allowed in one country while not in another.
That’s true. I was in the airplane when someone developed Allergic reaction to something and nobody has anything
Does Benadryl work better than other allergy meds for this? Just curious.
@@specificsoup Benadryl or diphenhydramine is the gold standard most know about & it's great for emergencies. However, Zyrtec
& Allegra work well as well as some other antihistamines. One should always carry meds & needles in its original prescription bottles/containers when traveling especially outside the USA. You should pack the prescription label for your Epinephrine pen along with your pens - bring more than one for long trips. You can get a prescription for some of these antihistamines like Zyrtec - under certain circumstances. For external reactions like hives, swelling - ice works wonders. There is NO guarantee that you won't have an issue with these drugs when traveling outside the USA.
Benadryl is also great to take at night to ensure you can fall asleep & are less likely to wake up with a sinus headache.
I used to travel with all those things. Carried it all in an 45 litre M.E.I. Voyageur convertible backpack. They made me check my Voyageur.... was not allowed to carry it on. (Cathay Pacific, Bangkok Airways, Dragon Air) Then I went smaller and bought a 35 litre Minaal 2.0 Carry On convertible backpack. Finally allowed to carry it on all my flights.
Then I bought my present bag.... the 21 litre Minaal Daily. I carry that... plus an Osprey cross body sling bag. Carry on only. Minimalist traveler now. No matter how long I go for... (months at a time.) But.. like yourselves...I'm from Canada and I go only to tropical destinations. So only one pair of socks.... (for the plane), two pairs of men's Teva Holliway sandals. Wear one pair, pack the second pair. (Barefoot in my sandals in the tropics ...never socks except on flights) (they have proper arch suport and heal strap, and hiking sole. Can get them soaking wet no problem) Three men's summer weight material zip off cargo pants... wear one... pack two. Three Columbia PFG men's shirts.... summer weight material with roll up sleeves. Shirts and pants one size too large,for air ventilation in the hot tropics. Three pair of underwear... I wash my clothes in the sink or shower as I go... or give my laundry to a local laundromat. Tiny roll up clothes line like yours. Ventilated floppy bucket hat. Small waterproof first aid kit. Small packable am/fm/sw radio. (Eton E100)
I no longer pack my Macbook Air. I now pack only my iPad Mini 256 GB tablet in a protective case. and a smaller iPhone, and a military spec tough waterproof unlocked Sonim XP3 flip phone with lots a lots of frequencies and a 128 GB Sandkisk micro SD card for photos and music. (not an old flip phone... newer design flip phone.) My book collection is on my iPad MIni and iPhone.... so no packing books.
I Ranger roll all my clothing. (CZcams....Ranger Roll clothes) and use compression packing cubes with double zip.
Remember keep all your vaccinations up-to-date.... and get vaccinated for Tropical diseases.... (I even got the three dose pre-exposure Rabies shots) And if you start out from Canada.... take your two doses of Dukoral oral vaccine for Cholera and E.Coli traveler's diarrhea. It gives you about two years protection from Cholera, and three months or more of protection from the most common cause of traveler's diarrhea... E. Coli. (other things can also cause traveler's diarrhea)
I have never had traveler's diarrhea even going for many months in isolated regions of north Thailand and living in poverty stricken villages in tropical Cambodia, sometimes not sure what it was I was eating.... and seeing food prepared with not the best Canadian type hygiene... with the two poor families I help support.
Check out Dukoral.
For your important documents.... take high definition photos of the important pages of course... but don't just store the photos on your phone or tablet... Get a couple of Cloud Storage accounts ... and store them there also. That way... if you lose your phone or get robbed and lose all your stuff...... all you need is to get to a computer connected to the internet... and you can get all your documents back.... so much easier replacing your documents when you have high quality photos of your important documents.... I use Google Drive.. OneDrive, and DropBox. The different Cloud services.... They offer enough free storage for a basic account... costs me nothing to store copies in the cloud. Anywhere in the world, I can access my documents even if I lose everything.
I'm 70 now.... traveling ever since I retired.... and I learned to take a lot less stuff... and go minimalist..carry on) As long as I can carry my bag... (no wheelie bag...not yet) I'll be traveling... The oldest backapcker traveling the world is apparently 95 years old.... ( he might have died recently) so I guess maybe I have a few years left if I am lucky.
www.timetravelturtle.com/worlds-oldest-backpacker/
www.aguaplano.org/en/a-tribute-to-keith-wright-world-oldest-backpacker/
I leave the big heavy binoculars at home... and pack a tiny monocular that fits in it's little case and takes up almost no room at all and weighs next to nothing. But they are hard to find. Try eBay.
i.ebayimg.com/images/g/FCcAAOSwe3tffodi/s-l300.jpg
Take care...... thank you for the videos... .
Wonderful advice! Thank you
Great advise, thank you!
Excellent advice.
Wish there was an option to downlod a pdf of this comment. And wish that was me when I’m your age. Good luck on your travels!
To the creators of this video - please pin this comment.
I would recommend a plain sarong. Works as extra towel or blanket/sheet, beach cover up or privacy curtain. I never travel without one.
I have one with sleeves like a kimono that I used for all kinds of outfits!!!
Great tip!
TIP: carry quick-dry, moisture-wicking underwear from Smart Wool or Ex Officio! You can wash them in the sink, squeeze in a towel and they dry in just a few hours. And they’ll last for years! As a hiker, I’m used to packing very little and already have a lot of this gear, but still picked up some great ideas from this vid - thanks for sharing with so many specifics!!
Thanks for the great tip! Glad you enjoyed the video :)
Someone turned me onto merino wool a few years back, and now I swear by it, especially for travel clothing! Like you said, wash it in the sink, dries quickly, anti microbial so you can wear multiple days, and it’s very good at moisture wicking and temperature regulation in a wide range of climates. Ultimate minimalist travel clothing!
Ex officio panties, yes, I just bring 1 spare!
@@bernadettesandoval3990 A friend loves the ones from Duluth Trading, going to try those too! Some of the athletic companies also make them, but they tend toward thongs and low-hipped boy shorts - not quite sure they’re for me. 😂
I'm a fan of merino clothing as well. But you have to be careful with it as it gets holes in it really quickly.
Clicked to figure out why I shouldn’t use packing cubes, only to stay and watch the whole thing because you both are entertaining and realistic about traveling. I thoroughly enjoyed this video and I’m very impressed by how much you both were able to pack into those back packs. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for this comment! Made our day 🥰 So glad you enjoyed the video!
I literally did the same thing 🤣
Same!!😂
Me too! So enjoyable and fun couple.
@@SkyeBleuOfGreenAcre you are all too sweet! 🥰
I appreciate that you included packing regrets - I haven't seen that included in a travel video before and after every trip I'm always trying to tweak my packing list. 👍
So glad you enjoyed that part! We had lots of people asking what we'd do differently so thought it was useful to include!
Helpful. I've found the same things useful. I'd also add. Sleep wear. Triple antibiotic ointment. Multiplug. Silk sleep sack. Day bag. Small clear dry bag with neck strap for phone that you can use it through when in water. Jacket with internal pockets and zipper pockets to prevent loss/theft. Zip lock baggies for liquids and creams to prevent spilling.
Great suggestions!
Where do you typically sleep? Hostels? AirBnB? A silk sleep sack and pillow case protects from things people might ‘leave behind’ as well as bedding that might not seem newly washed.
My eye mask has saved me along with silk pillow case and one pajama as mentioned. I also use hooks for larger items like my sound cancellation headphones to help me while flying for the trip. Probably not great for outdoors stuff but great for travel in general.
@@trinityvillanueva9313 those large sound cancellation headphones are not traveling light!! TONS of space. it's earbud time sweety! you'd be surprised at how well in ear buds can cancel noise these days
I would never travel without packing cubes-best thing ever!
Great tip on the compression sacks. Old fart here who still travels with backpacks. Losing cubic inches to wheels and handles frustrates me. I like the Kelty Redwing, and also have an Osprey which, though heavier, offers more protection. My under seat bag is an ultra light pack. Easy to carry both, one on back, one on front. I feel pretty safe because my hands are free...there's nothing a thief can easily grab out of this old Grannie's hands.
We agree! We’ll keep using backpacks as long as we can carry them!
We have been travelling with only carry on for many years, it’s the only way to go. I have even gone to the point of weighing clothes and pick the lightest items! Good rain jackets are so under rated for travel, it means that you can still go out and see the sights and stay comfortable when the weather is bad. Good tips
It depends. Sometimes I prefer an umbrella. Fortunately, they are pretty cheap everywhere.
One more addition to your packing list: a short extension cord and a 1 to 3 outlet adapter. I filed the male prongs down to fit into a non-polarized outlet and made sure the females are polarized. I carry this because quite often outlets are at a premium in airports and someone usually already is plugged in. If you have the extension cord with three outlets they will normally allow you to unplug their charger momentarily to plug in your extension cord and then both you and they can use the outlet.
Such a great suggestion! We’ll have to be on the lookout for one of those 😄
I never would have thought of that but thats an amazing idea. I stayed at a hostel once that had 15 beds in the room and 1 outlet. Having a cord like that would have been amazing.
Fabulous and fun video! Thanks!
@@shellsisacoolpear .
Brilliant 🤩
"Just need to pack until the next time you do laundry" Literally the best phrase I've ever heard in my life about packing. For real, that is so so true and at the same time so dismissed.
Great video, great photography and audio editing, great content and chemistry. No waste watching you guys, thumbs up and subscribed
Hahaha we’re all about practicality 😂
And thank you for the kind words! We really appreciate it! ☺️
This was fun. It’s been a year but Still helpful. Nice relationship guys! I’m sure you always have fun together. I only need the big bag that shrinks! Hahaha!😂 I have the rest. Take care!
@@EricandSarah this phrase made me: I can trust them, they know what they are talking about :)
A few years ago someone turned me on to linen towels. They’re maybe slightly heavier than microfiber but pack smaller, dry faster, and work just as well.
Awesome! We’ll have to check those out!
Another plus about KELTY products is if anything goes wrong with them they have a LIFETIME WATRANTY 👍 I found a sleeping bag at Goodwill for $10 the zipper was broken. Sent it to them and they fixed it good as new 🙌
That’s amazing! Love companies with great warranties!!
Silk is great for travel: a long sleeved silk shirt and a silk dress. I had some made in India una couple of days and traveled all around Asia.
This is one of the best, most realistic and helpful videos I've seen on this topic: clear, useful, informative. I especially appreciate the inclusion of the first aid kit, explaining that certain things may be hard to get or are very expensive at your destination (sunscreen, allergy medicine) and the "regrets." Ps, you guys are adorable 🥰
I'm huge on packing cubes but why didn't I think of packing sacs in my travel bag? That's so clever! I will be utilizing that on my trips with longer stays. I've traveled enough to get by on a carry on only. It really is so liberating.
Yes! Both are great! Just for different purposes. Thanks for watching :)
You guys are amazing. I am embarrassed about how big my suitcase was in 2008 for a 2 week trip to Greece. But in my defense there were no CZcams videos then.
I love overpacking for short trips, outfit choices galoreeeee
@@chels4723 lol for real. I like big suitcases because I always shop alot when I travel.
@@midgygal7811 You are my soul sister. I bring 2 suitcases and I put a smaller one inside the big one. My carry on is packed to capacity. I can never understand people who travel light
Alice, I do the SAME THING !!! There's a place for both packing styles, it just depends on what you are doing for that particular trip
Best packing video I've seen! Spent 8 years backpacking across Asia on my own before returning to Canada to raise my daughter. She's 11 now & we just sold our house and are heading back abroad long term at the beginning of March. Was definitely trying to figure out how to pack now with the 2 of us vs before when I was on my own & then I came across your video. Thank you so much! I'm feeling inspired & am off to do some online shopping with your links! Happy New Year!
Thank you!! We’re so happy you found it useful and inspiring! Happy packing!
Wow you and me alike! I did Asia for 10 years and now have a 5 year old ! Also starting the preparation to go travel again, with her this time! Wishing you the best!
How do you finance these trips if you are traveling for years?
Is It long term? How is she going to go to school?
@@gladlock Have you found an answer to the question?
For dress clothes, I always packed a stretchy tube skirt or short dress with a sheer shawl. It dresses things up and you don't have worry about wrinkles. Put your toiletries/medicines in Ziploc bags and use your toiletry roll for your electronics.
Great recommendations!
Something I learned from people who are into hiking. The way to fit the most items in your bag is to put the soft items like clothes and tents at the bottom of your backpack and use the whole backpack as a giant stuff sack. The kelty redwing was designed specifically for you to do this.
I've tested it myself and you can fit alot more items into your bag using this method than using a stuffsack.
It's easier to fish out clothes from the bottom of your pack than a stuffsack.
It is also less harsh on your clothes than a stuffsack.
That stuffsack looks like it'll wrinkle clothes to the point of unwearableness.
I find the compression packing cubes the best option. You can organize into smaller cubes, but the compression feature allows you to pack more in the same space. Same concept as the larger compression sacks you guys use, but in smaller, more organizable cubes.
Love those too! We have a few of those for socks and smaller items. The compression is key 👌
I’m not a hiker but travel by motorcycle. And use many of the same tips you presented. People are often surprised at how efficient my packing is.
That’s awesome! I’m sure many of the same strategies apply 😊
I came across your video and wanted to THANK YOU for sharing your traveler pack list. Your explanation of each products reason for packing is very beginner friendly (and affordable). Most traveler channels that I have come across review expensive high end gear that may not be attainable for all budgets and those videos make long term traveling seem unattainable due to cost of supplies. I have most of these items already which makes me even more stoked to get traveling.
You are very pleasant to watch.
Have you thought about being guide hosts? If that’s even a thing? Help newbies and dreamers (like me) prepare for their trip and be their guide on the trip. You seem very notable and knowledgeable. Keep up the great work!
You are too kind 🥰 Thank you for taking the time to say such sweet feedback. Means a lot to us 😊 We’re glad that you found the video so helpful! We have considered being guides… never thought of being guides for pre-trip experiences though! We’ll have to keep that on the idea list!
Getting ready for a 21 day ROADTRIP from NY to Miami that includes a 7 day cruise. First time using packing cubes and trying to downsize stuff that we're taking. Thanks for such a cute and informative video! 👍👍
I have the perfect item for 'a nice set of clothes': A black, longsleeve, knit silk/wool wrap dress. It always travels with me. It is superbly versatile and practical.
It looks right in place in the most high-end restaurants, while at the same time being comfy enough to sleep in and practical enough to hike in.
It also layers to perfection: As a base layer, as a "skirt" with a sweater, with any top underneath, and also worn open used as a cardigan.
Only issue is that it is handwash only, but being silk/wool it takes a long time for it to become stinky and it is easy and fast to handwash it, and it dries fast.
Unless it is visibly dirty I will just wash the armpits.
What brand is your dress?
I was all prepared to roast you for your lack of packing cubes, but the compression sack is a totally good and viable option, especially if your clothes are wrinkle resistant. Great info, thank you! Safe journeys!
Haha we got you 😉 There’s definitely a time and place for both!
Such good stuff here! Thanks for making this for all us travel wannabes! Also I LIVE for your bloopers! I am all for a comedy channel. Love you two! 💜
Thanks Fina!! WE LOVE YOU! We’ll keep including the bloops just for you 😉😉
You are far more experienced travelers than I, but I found a set of 4 long skinny rectangular packing cubes that slide side by side in my back pack. They are basically about the depth of the backpack. Really makes it easy to locate something without dragging everything out to get something on the bottom just slide out one bag.
Office supply clamps can keep chargers or ear phones looped together untangled.
🎒☑️🗽☺️
The priceless value of flipflops is preventing athletes' foot infections from communal showers.
Great tips and I learned something new. My pre-plague travel included a month long, round-the-country Amtrak trip with a week spent on a rowboat to Alaska. My friend and I took one carry-on bag each because we didn't want to chance losing our luggage intermodally. We had an extra rolling carry-on for the wine, which was left at the Green Tortoise Hostel for the rowboat cruise. 😉
For myself, I had a black capsule wardrobe and used layers to go from 100 degrees in the South to as low as 40 degrees in Alaska--rain included. I washed out woolen-based underlayers daily and other items as needed. I even dressed up for two formal nights on the rowboat. Just an uncrushable, two ounce, colorful and floaty tunic over black skinny jeans and a tank top. The freedom of having fewer items in one carry-on made it extremely easy to "decide what to wear".
Oh very cool! We love hearing how others pack!
Do you mean a cruise ship? You can't possibly mean a rowboat...
@@amybee40 My friend and I called it a rowboat, as a joke.
This is such a high energy, clear walk through of how to pack best! I am going for a continuous 2-month tracking-through-Europe trip and I am only bringing my rugsack and small North Face duffel bag (not the most ideal travel bag, but it's perfect for carry on luggage) . I've never traveled in this way for just travelling and working while travelling. But the items you guys packed, is similar to what I layed out. Just dubbing if I should have three bra's instread of two, and maybe remove one of my summer trousers. I am more of a dress person, versus shorts + tshirt, so I have a bit more bulk unfortunetely. But I'm set to go. For the carry-on bag how much Kg does it end up weighing often, not sure if you have weight restrictions flying from Canada to southern countries. I love the sport bands, the extra lock, and the printed passport prep, deffinitely a must to bring! I think I will regretting taking a second pair of shoes with me (my Paladiums), it's just my feet are shit and I need to change shoes every few days or so. So have my hiking shoes for when I go hiking, and for city walks I'll wear the paladiums, shoes are just awfull to travel with. I should deff research into shoes that I could wear constantly while travelling. Thanks again, I enjoyed watching this video a lot!
P.s. As for doing laundy, I highly, highly, reconmend purchaging eco washing strips as detergent! I discovered them last year, and then you won't have to pay 5 dollar/euro's for detergent in laundryrettes or at the hostel.
The way she smiles at you melts my heart man. Hope you guys stay that way forever. Thank for the guidance
🥰🥰🥰
I bought compression bag here in Cusco today. it takes a lot of hassle out of packing clothes and reduces bulk. Cost less than $12. Thanks for the suggestion.
Love packing videos and this was really great! We packed for the coldness of Russia through to the heat of the dessert so are always looking at others experiences/tips, we’re just about to head to South America. You’re right about the rain gear, we haven’t needed it often but when we’ve needed it, we’ve really needed both the jackets and trousers!
That’s amazing! What awesome travel experiences. And yes rain gear is ESSENTIAL when you need it!
Love how straightforward this video was while still being able to explain everything you brought. Definitely also loved that you included a regrets section. So many great takeaways! Subscribing!
So glad you found it useful! :)
When I was in my 20s I traveled around Scotland and Ireland for a month with only a frameless day pack and a fanny pack. I had a sleeping bag and rain poncho, but no other camping equipment. I didn't have much in the way of electronics back in the day. I only had a little film camera that had no battery, of course no smart phone because they didn't exist. I definitely could have used a small flashlight or headlamp, because rural ireland and scotland are incredibly dark at night. My only bottoms I brought were a single pair of jeans that got so dirty that I had to buy a second pair in a thrift store so I could wash the first ones. Jeans definitely aren't ideal for traveling in rural Scotland and Ireland. If I had that trip to do with today's gear I would definitely bring merino wool leggings, some modern hiking pants and a pack cover. Also, some kind of lightweight, poly blend skirt with an elastic waist would have been more versatile than a second pair of heavy pants and would have helped me blend in a bit better in clubs and pubs. I'm am one of those annoying packing cube evangelists, but when I travel now with my family all three of us pack with one checked suitcase. We have different colored cubes for each person we can fit enough clothing for a week and do laundry frequently. The cubes also double as laundry bags and give you a bit of compression as well.
Great video! Love the cinch sacs/compression sac! My last vacation, I had such issues with space in my luggage. That sac will make it easy to use a backpack instead of a full sized suitcase!
Glad you found it useful! Happy packing 😄
Love, love, love this video. For myself I wanted to see a slower version of the packing at the end; was way to fast for me. Still learned heaps. Thank you!
Absolutely incredibly what you manage to pack in those bags!
I have a neck pillow designed for children. It is 1/2 the thickness of the one you show, but very comfortable. It fits easily into my travel backpack!
For young people traveling and hiking throughout the world this is great. For traveling to different places for different ages and different needs, lots of these things do not suit, but the principals are the same. I have learned that whatever you carry, you have to lug it around. If it is heavy, you will lug that load stone around with you. The packing for two weeks is a good principal. I'm going to England for a month so my needs may be a little different. I am older so I will not be backpacking. I will be rolling. I wish for you both good travels and wish I could go back to my youth and do what you all are doing. Just living on a prayer and having the time of your lives.
Every traveler is different. We hope everyone can find some useful tips and adjust to their own needs! Happy packing 😀
I am so proud of the both of you. You represent Canada well
Your videos are informative and fun. Keep up the great work. 👍
Thanks Sandra! We do our best to always share good Canadian humour and spirit 😄
Tip about headlamp; I loved having mine. It made me feel safer walking & biking at night. However on my sunrise hike at Tikal Mayan Site; Guatemala, it attracted bugs to my face. I'm not talking irritating little nats, I'm talking gigantic jungle bugs. I actually got stung on my eye by a bee/wasp. Luckily I'm not allergic & it wasn't a poisonous creature of the night, but my eye did swell, it made me ill & I saw weird green fogish. So at night I'd suggest (here's the tip) to but the lamp around your chest. I even do this when biking at night at home and use the red flashy setting. The headlamp is amazing & waterproof. I love them for normal camping too. Hands-free & ur not miss placing the flashlight al the time (another tip) just tilt it downward so when you look at someone you don't blind tgem.
Great tips! Bugs definitely love headlamps! Haha
Beautiful. Great job. I liked your back packs. My head is still spinning with all the things that you brought with you. Most of the things that you took were lightweight and were items that did not much space. You did a terrific job of packing everything. It was a fun video!!
Thanks so much! Definitely a bit overwhelming when it’s all laid out like that but hopefully it was helpful! We’re always surprised by the random things we have as well. Haha. Lightweight and minimal space is key 👌
One of the best packing videos I’ve watched! Thanks guys 🤙🏼 safe travels!
Thank you for the feedback! We appreciate it 🥰
I have the Foldable toilet bag with a hook which have had for 20 years ! I use use on all my holidays and it is the best thing for travelling !
Yay! Bringing a pair of flip-flops is such a good idea for showers. Many packing lists leave these out! Also, depending on if you plan to go to any events or dinners or anywhere else even a little fancy, a pair of non-bulky shoes for these occasions can be useful. Happy travels!
Yes! Flip flops are essential! And yeah a nicer pair of shoes is nice… if you have space ;)
@@EricandSarah instead of flip-flops I used my Keen sandals in the shower...Keeps are the Swiss Army knife of footwear..good for the beach, light to moderate hiking, casual dress, etc..
this was INCREDIBLY useful - thank y’all so much for going into so much detail - safe travels !
So glad you thought so! You’re very welcome!
I watched this whole thing to learn about compression sacks, and compression packing cubes, and honestly, worth it! thanks for the vid!
Glad to hear it!! 😄
I've never heard of compression sacks! My partner and I are also full time traveling but we opted for suitcases as we do more city traveling, but I like the versatility of backpacks. Thanks for sharing!
You should try them out! (Although they definitely work better for backpacks and packing cubes seem more optimal for suitcases). Happy travels! :)
Love this video. Unlike other packing videos. Very useful, very informative. Love it! Thanks
Thank you so much! Glad you found it helpful 😄
Here's a super easy fix for those clothing wrinkles you have mentioned: I carry with me a small (empty) spray bottle. Fill it with water. Hang up the wrinkled clothing. Spray water on the wrinkles. When it dries, the wrinkles are gone.
That’s such great advice! We will have to try that out
I am lazy to iron. I do this all the time as it works! After spraying or just sprinkling water on the wrinkles, I use my hands to stretch out the wrinkles.
I do the same type of packing when I travel, and only use a carry-on whenever possible. I use the vacuum bags that you are able to squeeze out the air instead of requiring a vacuum hose. It does wonders for conserving space. I did like the down jackets, and how they compress down to almost nothing. It is now on my wishlist before my next trip. I've traveled to areas in the summer where the temperature has dropped to slightly above freezing for a day, and could have used one. Rain gear, so important, even if you're not hiking in the mountains. Great video guys, your adventures are awesome.
please could you be so nice to write down a link or the name of the item, I wasn't able to find those vacuum bags without the pump 😊
@@elenafedeli I bought them years ago, at a local store. I'm sorry, but I don't have a link. The brand name on them is "embark", and they are called hand-pressed compression bags.
@@gruncletim thank you so much your informations were so useful, searching for "Embark + Hand-pressed Compression Bag No Vacuum or pump needed" I've found other brands that sell them as "Roibon"
Travel Pillow Tip (I hope you see it, it might help you next time!)
There's one called the Trtl and I love it. It fits in my purse easily and the fabric that touches your skin stays safe on the inside so it's clean. Easily washable. It's not inflatable and actually supports the head.
I've had mine for years, can't recommend it enough! Plus it helps that you can switch the support from side to side.
Turn it around, the opening in you’re neck.
It was an aha moment for me, when I found that out. 😁
Thank you so much for the suggestion! :)
woh! Just looked it up - looks great but $325 is a lot of money for a travel pillow!
@@wildone1392 325 are you serious? I paid 20 maybe 40 for mine years ago, no way its worth that.
Just checked amazon and the basic (mine,i guess) is 30 and a "fully adjustable" one (fancy, I guess) is 90. Not sure where you looked but check its not some weird reseller maybe.
Great video! Been doing carry-on only for about 20 years now. I like to use 3 packing cubes. A med with 3 outfits a small with 1 outfit for quick weekend travel when I have a base location and small for toiletries. 2 bags (osprey farpoint 40 & sling bad that holds my electronics/quick trips when I have a base location). I also pack camera gear. But, one thing you missed (or maybe I didn't notice) is a way to exercise. I changed my exercise routine to using fitness bands. They pack smaller and lighter than any other fitness equipment.
That sounds like the perfect set up! Organizing based on outfits is brilliant :) And we did quickly mention exercise bands in the “miscellaneous” section… great to have along for longer travels!
You two are so cute together. I love how you both are always smiling!! I hope y’all are always this happy together. Happy & safe journeys!!
As a fellow Canadian, I really appreciated your presentation and all the travel tips, even for short-term travel. Keep laughing!! 😊
So glad you enjoyed it :)
Packing cubes are amazing for smaller things OR if you're looking for a solution to organize and compress your stuff into a small backpack imo (22L or something like that). I've never really backpacked long term, the most I've done is travel for a month but I did use a suitcase for it cause a backpack didn't make sense. I've traveled a fair bit for short term visits (max 1 week) with just a carry-on, though, and packing cubes are really useful!
REALLY GUYS??? Such an AWESOME video!! We’ve been following you guys since you have started!!! You guys are so inspiring! Nice work! (As usual)!
Thank you SO MUCH! We appreciate all of that so much 🥰
Also - a towel large enough to double as a blanket (we were so glad to have this in asia!), business cards with photo/email/IG to keep in touch with people we met, some candy from home (reese's pieces and pb cups were such a hit with locals). and wayyyy modest bags for laundry and groceries -- the fancier your bags are, the more ripped off you'll be when negotiating prices for food and washing.
This video is so delightfully well organized, ugh, what a joy. Great info, thank you!
You’re too kind! 🥰
Great point that only enough clothes are needed to reach the next laundry day!
Thank you for the wonderful tips and detailed information. I pack things thinking I need, but never end up using them. Your tips make it a lot easier to assign priorities to packlight. Here's to many more safe trips for both of you.
Thank you for your feedback! So glad you found it helpful 😊
Hello Sarah & Eric. I'm planning a 20 day trip to Europe and this is the first video that appeared on my research for ipacking tips. Give me lots of idea and I still have plenty of time to get ready. Loves the video and what thrilled me most that you were on my country Honduras. Espero que haya tenido una bonita experiencia. Gracias! Gracias! Gracias! porr este video! Saludos, Kristhianne de San Pedro Sula, Honduras
This makes us so happy! Honduras has a VERY special place in our hearts 🥰 Sarah has actually been there 6 times. We hope to visit beautiful friends there one day soon. Happy planning y feliz viaje ☺️
This was super helpful!!! Better than other packing tutorials. Thank you!
So glad you enjoyed it!!
Wow! We are leaving Quebec Canada décember 10th for Peru (for a month, and then to Equador for an another month) with our two children. We watch your videos (that are really well made, you're good!!!) in family and we enjoy all of them. It wil be our second back pack travel with the kids (the last one before the pandemic was in guatemala) Your videos are very inspiring, since we only have a month at each place, we can have a preview of what's worth the view (and the 6 hours and more bus ride!) We will live at La Punta in Lima (where the navy school is) Thank you for your sunshiny videos (even if it's cloudy outside!) you are amazing.
Hey! Thank you so much for watching! So glad that our videos inspire you guys and give you good information about Peru and Ecuador :) we hope you have a great time and that everything goes smoothly! Take care 😁
I think the cubes are fantastic for city travelling. I'm definitely going to buy those compressions bags for hiking as well as 1 compression cube for dirty clothes, especially if I can find them waterproof. Wouldn't mind some extra space in my hiking backpack, and not having to sort of unpack and then repack making camp.
What I found important was to have inside pockets in my jacket. Easier to put phone etc. valuables there, also while hiking keeping some of the electronics warm. Smart phones don't work great in the cold. Also gym leggins were my best friend while hiking, they don't cause sores and dry quickly even when you're wearing them.
That’s a great idea! We can see cubes being amazing for suitcases/city travelling.
I've always used packing cubes but I might give those stuff sacs a try! Thanks guys!
Great ideas on towel’s and rain gear. Love my puffy jackets
You two are so funny - love the bloopers 😆 We are actually currently travelling with a burner phone lol
Here's another packing hack: bring a skipping rope - doubles for exercise and a rope to hang your laundry!
We also made copies of our passport and laminated them which makes it easier to carry the copies around.
Haha glad you liked them. Took us forever to film because we couldn’t stop laughing that day 😂
Those are both brilliant tips!! Thanks for sharing 😄
@@EricandSarah By the way, if you find yourself in Buenos Aires shortly, I will gladly take the dry shampoo off of you - for me it's a must when travelling! Safe travels!
Yes! Compression paks, just discovered them this year. Not sure how I missed them previously. 👏👏👍👍
They’re amazing!! We don’t know how it took us so long to discover them either! Now we gotta spread the word ;)
Alright that the best video on one bag travel I have seen so far. No tech bullshit, just actual useful stuff. Thanks to you two !
We love to hear that!
I don't plan on taking a long term trip, but this interested me because it helped me to think in terms of a core wardrobe and caused me to question all the things I own and don't use.
We love to hear that!! We’ve definitely learned from travelling how little you need to be content and still feel comfortable. So glad you found some inspiration through this video :)
Thanks for this video y’all. Leaving for Peru tmrw, appreciate the content!
Enjoy Peru!! 😀
This is great! I love a good packing video 😊 Quick question: what size is your small dry bag?
I always appreciate when people talk about what they travel with but don't use, so thanks for that. For a gear bag, i love my Peak Design Tech Pouch so much and before that, I used a BagSmart bag. Best of luck with future travels!
Thanks! So glad you liked it. The dry bag we have is 20L. Very handy for all weather. Thanks for the recommendation! We may need to look into that one :)
This was great...I am learning with every trip I take! But this learning from my desk was also great!
Some really useful tips here. Also, it's good to hear an opposing view to things like packing cubes. Thanks guys. Happy travels.
Glad you enjoyed it! Happy packing!
great job guys :) best packing video I have seen so far, Awesomesauce!
Thank you so much for the feedback! Glad it was helpful :)
As to my own experience, I would also add to your first aid kit an elastic band (a long one) + cream, in case of ankle, knee, thigh or whatever trauma ! A compressive bandage could save a trip and a LOT of pain and trouble. Eventually, if you know how to use it, strapping band (ex-gymnast here, this maybe explains that ^_^ )
Thisnis EXTREMELY helpful ! Thank you both. It’ll make my 3 month European vacation a lot easier . Who woulda thought, compression stuff sacks . Now that’s something I’m willing to try.
We shipped replace tent poles and break pads (for our bicycles) to Peru, worked out but was a story in itself. Clothes we brought way less but we were bicycle traveling and really only brought the bare necessities, as we carried also a full set of camping gear so we could camp and stay anywhere we wanted. In some muggy hostels we also liked using our own dishes and pots.
Awesome! That must've been quite the trip!
Hi. Thank you for the video. I never went on long time hiking only one day (13-25 km), but I plan to go to the National Blue Trail in Hungary (~1100km) w/ my dog (one day, hopefully) Your recommendations were a big help, because it give me more perspective. I also would bring w/ me sport cream, because I had calf cramp one time (,I fortunately had the cream, so it went away quickly). Maybe a little solar panel (palm size), that you can put top of your backpack? I don't know if it would got enough sunlight. I definitely over prepp all the time (mini sewing kit? headlamp?) But first ting first I need to train my dog for carrying some light gears and special command, basic guard dog stuff too. Also Iron table and some basic biscuits. (My grandma said if you had nausea drink Coke it will burn everything, then eat biscuits or pop corn to absorb the Coke. (100% guarantee from a person who had to take medicine, because of dizziness) Also, little self- heating pad (with a liquid and some metal in it, after use you need to cook it to reuse it) I am rambling, sy for my bad English. Have a nice Day!!! 🐻
What I'm wondering is how you deal with weight limits. I never check in baggage, but use a 40l backpack which I bring onto the plane. I usually have trouble staying below weight limits rather than things not fitting in my backpack.
How do you deal with weight limits?
A partial solution I found was to bring a small shoulder/sling bag where I keep electronics and anything else that might fit. That, and wearing heavier clothing on the plane, such as jeans.
Hmm we definitely wear our heavier clothes on the plane. Then pack all electronics, journals and other heavy stuff in our personal item backpack because that’s never weighed.
Although our backpacks do fall under the weight limit for SA flights, we always keep them on our backs when checking in and have actually never been asked to weigh them. Confidence is key 😉
Came across your channel - great tips! This makes me excited to hopefully travel this season. Your ending cracks me up because we say the same things! “If you’ve made it this far” and “no one is going to watch this”
😂😂😂❤️❤️.
Hahaha it’s always good to make fun of yourself a little bit right 😉😉
Wow! Just WOW!!!! This was extremely well done, entertainingly presented and had more specific packing information for a long-term traveler that ANY other vidoe I've seen - and I've watched way too many! I'd never heard of the compression sacks - great idea! Thank you!!!
🥰🥰 thank you for the feedback!
I love packing cubes as it organizes my stuff. Especially for socks and undies! I’ll have to look into those compression bags. Packing cubes are better to keep clothes organized in a hotel. I can see how the compression bag might be better in some situations
We definitely still use packing cubes for small things (like socks and underwear)! And they are perfect for suitcases! But for packing lots into a backpack… we love our compression sacs :)
Love this. Thank you! You're so efficient at getting so much into your bags, do you end up exceeding the weight limits?
No we haven’t! But honestly they rarely weigh backpacks or check the size at all! (At least on larger planes that we’ve experienced). We also have most of the heavy stuff in our personal items so that helps too.
Seems like a huge amount to take but in fairness you know what you need. Carry-ons are a must for expediency. Well done guys.
Thank you very much for such a realistic, yet anybody-can-do-it packing video!! I appreciate your tips and regrets that were similar to mine!!😉😄🤗
I suggest S-hooks (hanging clothes etc.), bungey cords(clothes line, strapping objects on your bag etc.), bulldog clips(more secure than pegs), pillow cases(make your own pillow, laundry bag, seat cover, sling/padding etc.), and several carabineers!! These are some of my must-haves!! Traveling mercies y'all!!🤗🧳
Thanks for adding so many great recommendations!
Well prepared, great editing! Pleasant to watch. Thanks for the attn to detail. Your speaking syntax and presentation was excellent in my opinion. No "uh", no " you know", Thanks!
Thank you so much! That all means a lot to us. We tried to create a video of high production value so glad you appreciated it :)
That. is. AWESOME!!!!! Cannot thank you two enough for this video. Best "how to pack" video I've seen so far, and I've seen a lot. I may have more questions in the future, but for now, how do you edit your videos without a laptop?!?!? That's impressive! (P.S. keep the bloopers - great content, eh! My apartment smells of rich mahogany and I have many leather bound books.)
Glad you liked it! Sorry it took us so long to finally make it ;) We do both have laptops actually! We just showed electronics for “average” travellers… not digital nomads. So we do have an assortment of filming/editing gear as well… maybe a video for the future :)
And glad you liked the bloopers… we don’t know how to put this, but we’re kind of a big deal. People know us ;)
Started watching before you hit 100 and still watching and look forward to your travels
Before moving to Ecuador we purchased or had
- Two Anchor battery chargers which are awesome.
- A few multi-chargers that I bought a few years earlier.
- Old GoPro 5 Back and a new GoPro 9 (but the water case broke and lost the camera in the water, NOT IMPRESSED)
- Back up the phone which came in handy when we had our phone stolen while sitting in a taxi stuck in traffic and no it was not in full view, darn window being down
- Water Shoes are very important and light to carry
- Personal snorkel and mask of good quality not just because of COVID but also bad experiences in the past
You guys are awesome! Thanks for always watching :)
And thanks for the added item tips! Definitely some good things in there. How frustrating that your GoPro was lost... ours broke the day before our Galapagos cruise so we had to buy a new one on the island... also not impressed!! 😞 And yes we forgot to mention that we purposefully bought sandals that double as water shoes... very necessary!
I love your video and all the tips! I'm the worst at packing and I really hate it to be honest, so I'm always looking for tips to make it simple. Thank you for really taking the time to explain every aspect of it! Hope to see more videos like this!
So glad you enjoyed it! Packing isn’t always fun… but the less stuff you have the easier it is 😄
As a traveler myself, this is a good list of recommendations!
As for water bottles check out expandable water bottles. I actually learned about them after returning to the USA (after 10 years of Asia, and for the obvious reason been stuck here since. Thank goodness the world is opening back up!) I digress.. expandable water bottles! When not in use, you can compress it to be a lot smaller, and then when needed, you can expand it for a regular size water bottle! The one I have has a carabiner clip on it so it’s all around super convenient and never in the way :)
I'm actually looking for an expandable waterbottle, but I'm afraid I'll get one that will leak or break quickly :( Which one do you use exactly? Is it durable?
@@1TheMissKitty Did you find out?
Which expandable water bottle do you use or recommend?
@@mbz4652 Hi! Yes, I got one from Decathlon, doesn't leak or break (even after using it consistently for like 5 months) and it has a little loop to add a carabiner clip, it's great!
An interesting video. At advanced ages, packing tends to involve bigger bags. In younger years, I could use only carryon luggage for business trips far from Canada that lasted two weeks. That included an SLR and 3 lenses. Not much in electronics back then, but now is a very different story! Enjoy your trip and stay well.
One thing I always bring in my backpack anywhere I go is a mini foldable fan with LED flashlight, and it also doubles as a mini powerbank perfect to charge earphones or watches.
I can't stand the heat and this is my best investment ever. The LED has been great at dark streets. It also helps keeping the fire on some bbq nights lol. They say itcan last for 24+ hours on low, but I only charge them every few weeks since I only use them for a quick fresh cool air under the sun.
Oh interesting! That sounds super useful!