World trip
What to put in your bag on a world tour?
My list and my opinion
There is no universal ideal bag. Just the one that best suits your travel plans and your personality. It’s up to you to define your essentials to feel good during your trip, even if it means leaving some clothes or objects behind during your adventure.
What equipment accompanied me during my 10-month trip around the world?
What to put in your bag on a world tour?
So here is an inventory of what I took, added and removed during my world tour.
About my world trip:
I did a 10,5 months world tour (Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Costa-Rica, Panama, Colombia, Peru, Brazil, South Africa, Thailand, Turkey). It was rarely cold, but it did happen sometimes depending on the country/altitude. It was generally hot and humid.
Both my bags weighed 18kg before I left. I imagine I’ve travelled between 17kg and 20kg throughout my trip. Leaving most of my stuff at the hostel during the day, I rarely carried my bag (between transports) and the weight was quite correct!
What to put in your bag on a world tour?
Bags: the basis
Main backpack
Décathlon - Forclaz 50L
I chose the Forclaz 50L bag from Decathlon after trying it out in shop. It has a large opening all along both sides, which allows a “suitcase” type opening. Very handy for storing and taking things in the bag. It has a storage bag that can be removed. There are two central outside pockets in the front, two outside side pockets and one at the bottom of the bag (ideal for protecting the bag or shoes). There are also small pockets on the inside.
My opinion: I left my backpack at the hostel, it was a bit like my “suitcase”. For day trips I took my secondary backpack. In my opinion, this bag is perfect! Not too big but roomy enough to hold the necessities!
Tip: Put on your protective cover between two destinations! During transport, dirt, dust, rain and even products carried by other passengers can leak out and damage your bag. Putting on the protective cover (supplied with this bag), will protect it. After almost 11 months of travel, my bag has no snags!
Volume: 50L
Dimensions: 56 x 39 x 26 cm
Weight: 2,3kg
Backpack Décathlon Forclaz 50L woman: here
Secondary backpack
Herschel - Dawson 21L
The bag is large enough to hold a computer and camera equipment. It has an internal divider, a large external pocket on the back of the bag, and two small ones on the front. The bag has a drawstring closure, which I have never had a problem with.
My opinion: It has been my faithful companion for many walks and hikes. It fits well and is thick enough to protect the things inside (photo and computer equipment) without being too heavy either. Having different pockets allows you to organise your bag, which is very practical. It is relatively waterproof and doesn’t get too dirty. And an important additional point for me, it is pretty.
When I changed my destination, this bag was always with me (always keep your valuables with you).
Volume: 21L
Dimensions: 41cm (H) x 29cm (L) x 15cm (P)
Herschel Dawson 21 L: ici
Packing bags
Travel organizer Amazon Basic
These are cubes / bags that allow you to store your clothes together, to “compress” them a little. It saves space in the bag and time to put away and find your things!
My opinion: I had bought some cheap ones, I quickly regretted and bought more premium storage bags during my trip. For me, this is one of the essentials for organising your bag and optimising space!
Travel packing organiser Amazon: here
Funny bag
Pull & Bear
Ideal for keeping your phone and purse on your person (and in front of you).
My opinion: I quickly (3 days) regretted not having taken my funny bag with me. So I bought another one very quickly. It is for me an essential for the outings in town, for the small walks or if you go out in the evening. I had a little pocket for my money and my bank card, I also put my phone, a pen, a pack of tissues and sometimes my battery if I needed it.
The one I had bought in Mexico gave up after several months of hard work (really) and several patches. So I bought another one in Thailand for the end of my trip. And without regret, because it was very useful.
Tote-bag
As long as it holds
Perfect for short trips (beaches, chill day in town, shopping) to carry your water bottle, beach towel, book etc. The backpack is practical but when it’s hot and humid, it’s nicer to have a tote-bag than to sweat unnecessarily.
My opinion: Same thing, I quickly regretted not taking one of my tote-bags that I already had at home (there is no point in buying abroad if you already have it at home). I had bought one in Mexico and one in Thailand.
Personally, I had the confidence. I would take my computer if I wanted to work in a café or even my camera equipment for the day. I never had any problems, but you have to be careful.
Waterproof bag
Dry Super - Traveller Gear Part
During boat trips or water activities, it’s useful to protect your belongings from water and sand (photo equipment, papers, money, phone, bank card, etc.).
My opinion: I took one of 5L, enough to put my camera, my lenses, my drone and my money. I bought it at the end of my trip, and it could have been useful much earlier. I found this bag in a small shop in Thailand on an island but similar ones exist everywhere.
Phone waterproof bag
As long as it is waterproof
Far from being essential, it can be useful if you plan to spend time near the sea or if you have water activities planned.
My opinion: I had bought a poor quality one for my Caribbean cruise and eventually my phone took on water. The latest one has done its job well so far. The quality of the pictures and the handling of the phone is very random underwater.
Anti-theft storage belt
As long as it's discreet
A small, discreet belt with an opening on the inside to hold money or paper copies of your documents.
My opinion: I had one but I ended up abandoning it during my trip. I used it at the beginning of my trip maybe 5 TIMES MAX. By respecting security guidelines and not showing my money at every turn, I didn’t find it useful.
Clothes
A bit of the same story, I listened “too much” to my entourage to want to go light and to restrict myself in terms of “style of dress” to avoid being an easy target as a woman. The reality has to be more nuanced. In many countries, especially the more touristy ones, locals are used to seeing tourists and dressed in all sorts of ways. There is a limit to this, of course, and you should always remember that this is not your country, so RESPECT people and avoid making them feel uncomfortable with “inappropriate” clothing. Remember, that generally, the look of the locals will depend on whether the destination is more or less touristy. But shorts, skirts, standard/above-the-knee dresses are enough as long as they don’t see your butt.
So I’ve also been evolving my wardrobe as I’ve travelled, donating, buying new clothes. The list here is the clothes I had at the end of my trip
The list
My essentials
- 6 tops
- 2 long sleeve shirts
- 1 jumper
- 1 warm / technical undershirt
- 3 shorts
- 2 dresses: 1 long + 1 short
- 1 long skirt
- 2 long loose trousers
- 1 pair of sports leggings
- 1 sport bra
- 1 cyclist short
- 1 pair of pyjamas
- 3 pairs of socks
- 6 panties
- 3 swimming costumes
- 2 scarves (for tops or on the head)
- 1 kway
- 1 cap
- 1 pair of sunglasses (with my prescription)
- 1 pair of prescription glasses
Shoes
I chose to take only 2 pairs of shoes for my world tour. To be honest, it was a bit frustrating (in the big cities) but a lot less than I thought. I’m used to having about 20 pairs at home, and in the end you survive well with 2.
Hiking shoes
Adidas - TERREX SKYCHASER GORE-TEX
These are rather discreet hiking shoes (useful for not looking like a big tourist) with crampons and excellent soles. They also have the advantage of not being too heavy and of being rainproof.
My opinion: Perfect! I liked the discretion of these hiking shoes. I climbed a volcano in Guatemala, did some big excursions, jumped in rivers with them and they were perfect!
My advice: TRY the shoes in shops! Make several if necessary. It’s super important to feel good in your shoes and try them on. Keep in mind the conditions of your trip.
Hiking shoes Adidas Terrex Skychaser in Gore-Tex: here
Sandals
Birkenstock
These are the shoes that everyone has when they travel. But they are very comfortable and go everywhere.
My opinion: For everyday life, for the beach and even for transport, these shoes have been my best friends!
Well, I unfortunately lost them and had to buy new sandals (3 times), but nothing could replace them …
The toiletry bag
It’s important to continue to take care of yourself while travelling. Your skin and hair deserve it after sunburns and salt water baths.
If you want to travel with your bag in the cabin on a plane, make sure you take care of the containers. Afterwards it’s cheaper to give your products away and then buy them again at your destination than to pay the extra charge to put your luggage in the hold (I realised this too late 🥲).
The list
My essentials
- 1 shampoo
- 1 conditioner
- 1 face soap
- 1 toothbrush
- 1 toothpaste
- 1 razor
- 1 hairbrush
- 1 comb
- 1 dry hair care
- Make up
- Elastic / scrunchies
- 1 deodorant
- 1 nail file
- 1 nail clipper
- 1 ear brush
- Tampons / pads
- 1 Foucaud rub
- 1 moisturising cream
- 1 sun cream
- 1 mosquito repellent
The joys of menstruation
Menstrual panties
These are panties that act as sanitary protection during menstruation. They are washable and reusable.
My opinion: I had bought some good quality panties (x3) that I used for almost a year before I left. I had totally adopted this solution for periods. However, during my road trip I quickly saw the problems. They didn’t dry fast enough, so they got wet. I had to re-wash them several times and they didn’t dry quickly so sometimes they were still a bit humid. I was moving every 2/3 days and it was hot but humid so the drying was not optimal. Also, to wash them I did the best I could by hand but sometimes I sent them to the laundry and that surely destroyed them (I imagine the wash was at 40°C with machine drying). In short, I had to throw them away because they were not usable and deteriorated.
The electronic
Laptop
Mac Book Pro 2019
I am satisfied, it is quite light and the size is sufficient for retouching as well as to fit in my backpack.
However, my computer is getting old (I use it daily) and the battery and connectivity are starting to fail, which has caused me some problems.
MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2019, Two Thunderbolt 3 ports)
1,4 GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i5
8 GB 2133 MHz LPDDR3
Intel Iris Plus Graphics 645 1536 MB
Hard disk
LaCie 1To
My opinion: Relatively light even if it takes a little space due to the protections. But at least I knew I wouldn’t risk losing my photos and data! After 10 months of travel, I still had room on my hard drive! So I’m very happy with it!
Chargers
Depends on your equipment
- Phone
- Battery
- Headphones
- Photo equipment
- Laptop
My advice: Don’t take 40 cables, one for each type of input/output that you need and you’ll buy again if necessary. Just take a base with several outputs because in hostel it is 1 plug per bed, not more. So make sure you have enough on your adapter and your cradle to charge your equipment.
The photo equipment
I wrote a much more detailed article about the equipment I took with me on my world tour: read here.
Camera
Panasonic Lumix GX9
The RAW mode is impeccable and I really like the colour processing which allows me to retouch the photo as I wish. The quick access to the memory card and battery is a real time saver when changing them. I like the fact that I can charge the camera directly or remove the battery and charge it separately. The screen is partly tiltable (towards the sky), which is very practical but I would have liked to be able to rotate the screen sideways. It’s quite resistant (rain, dust, sand, shocks), it didn’t have an easy life and to be honest I’m very happy to see that it held well! The Wifi mode is very handy to connect your phone and take pictures remotely in WIFI mode or transfer your pictures to it.
Sensor : BSI CMOS 20.3 Mpx, 4/3
Stabilisation: No
Sensitivity: ISO 100 – 25600
Video mode: 4K UHD (3840 x 2160 px), FHD (1920 x 1080 px) pixels, 30 fps
Type: Micro 4:3
Release date: 2018
The camera on the Panasonic website: here
The complete test by Les Numériques: here
The FNAC pack Camera + 3 lenses: here
Camera lenses
Panasonic Lumix G
I had bought my camera in a pack that included 3 photo lenses :
- Lumix G 25 mm / F1.7 ASPH
- Lumix G VARIO 12 – 32 mm / F3.5-5.6 ASPH / MEGA O.I.S
- Lumix G VARIO 35 – 100 mm / F4.0-5.6 ASPH / MEGA O.I.S.
My opinion: I found it extremely useful to have 3 lenses included in the pack, it allowed me to cover all types of scenes I could encounter! The 3 lenses are quite complementary and cover portraiture, details and scenes.
Even if when travelling I sometimes regretted not having a lens that could go up to 200mm.
Drone
DJI Mini 2
My opinion: I am very satisfied with my drone and it is really practical to travel with it due to its weight. But the remote control is still bigger and heavier. The fact that I can do HDR and RAW makes the pictures even more qualitative! The drone is quite wind resistant (but don’t force it either).
The battery life is rather short. 30min in theory but 20min in practice (time to return to the site + safety margin + the beep). It would have been nice to have 1 or 2 more batteries.
Size: 13.8 cm long | 8.1 cm wide | 5.8 cm high
Weight: 236 g with battery and propellers fitted
Camera angle: 83° (24mm f/2.8 focal length in 35mm equivalent)
Sensor: 1/2.3″ 12MP CMOS
Video: up to 4K Ultra HD at 24, 25 or 30 fps
Release date: November 2020
The drone on the DJI website: here
The complete test by Les Numériques: here
Phone
Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G
My opinion: I’ve had Samsung Galaxy cameras for years and I’ve always been delighted with the quality of the photos and the rendering of the photos / videos. I find the colour processing really good and close to reality (even a little better)! The low light quality is really good for a phone and perfect for capturing sunsets! The wide angle camera module is not too bad but prone to distortion.
In short, in general I recommend the whole range of Samsung GALAXY. It is not necessary to throw yourself on the last generation, which is always a little expensive. And the battery life is good!
Tripod
Manfrotto Compact Light Smart
My opinion: Relatively light and compact, it was easy to travel with. When I was using it, I was very happy to have it with me. Afterwards, to be honest, I didn’t use it that much. But I don’t regret taking it with me because I was able to take some good shots, especially when the El Fuego volcano erupted at night in Guatemala.
Weight: 0.84 kg
Maximum height: 131 cm
Closed dimension: 39.8 cm
The tripod on Manfrotto’s website: ici
The useful
Adapter
Amazon
This is essential if you are planning to travel to a country where the plugs are different from those in your country. Make sure you take a good quality one as the plugs are sometimes in a “light” state and it is better to be sure that your equipment will hold up.
My opinion: I had to buy at least 5 adapters during my trip so I can testify to the importance of having a good adapter. My last one broke down recently so I’m using the Amazon one that my boyfriend has been using for years to travel. So it’s robust, practical and works well.
External battery
Anker Power Bank, PowerCore Essential 20000mAh
This is my MUST HAVE! Having a quality battery is VERY important! When travelling, you will be taking long, long journeys, and to make up for boredom or to ensure you have enough battery power on arrival to find/get to your accommodation, it is important. It is also a question of security, in case of a problem, it is better to have your phone at hand! But it’s just as important during long hikes or big day visits (to take photos, videos, have the itinerary).
My opinion: The battery is sufficient for 2/3 phone charges. I also used it to charge my headphones, my camera batteries and a bit my drone. It has USB C inputs for charging and USB outputs. I would have liked to have a USB C output and for it to be less heavy, but quality comes at a price and I have no regrets! I have full confidence in the battery which still works well despite many shocks and many uses.
Weight: 343 g
Size: 5.8 x 7.44 x 1.93 cm
Battery: 1 Lithium Polymer
Capacity: 20000 Milliamp Hours
The battery on Amazon website: here
Towels, bath and beach
As long as it is dry
If you decide to travel on a low budget, your accommodation will not always have towels for your shower. And even less for your excursions to the beach or other places. For hygiene reasons, I decided to go with 2 microfiber towels, one for the shower and one for the beach, pool and excursions.
My opinion: I was happy to have 2! So yes, we are not at the top of the comfort, but it dries you, it dries quickly and it is light without taking up space. I used to wash my towels after an average of 1 week of use and I don’t have any worries about odours at all.
Here is a fouta that I will use for my next trips.
Flask
As long as it is hermetic
For me it is a must, but only if you have a water sterilisation solution. Water is rarely drinkable from the tap, so you have two choices: buy bottled water or have a sterilisation solution. In hot countries you will be drinking a LOT of water, so the 75cl/1L bottle will hardly be enough. Unfortunately it’s easier to buy bottled water than to find drinking water.
If you take one, be careful with the weight. The fact that it is thermal or not is not so important because you will drink the contents of your water bottle quickly.
My opinion: I had a rather heavy thermal water bottle and not with a huge capacity. I also had a solution to sterilize the water with charcoal. But in the end, I had to give up the latter and the water bottle was not very useful so I spent my time buying plastic water bottles (the plastic balance is very bad).
Head torch
PETZL - TIKKINA
A basic front model is sufficient. If the light is removable it’s better.
My opinion: Not used very often but I was always happy to have it when I needed it!
Weight: 92 g
Battery: 3 x AAA
The headlamp on the PETZL website: here
Padlock
As long as it's closed
If you are travelling in a hostel, lockers are available to hold your valuables (money, passport, bank card, computer, camera, etc.). And to lock, you need a code padlock or a key.
My opinion: I had a code padlock that I lost, so I bought a key padlock because it was easier to find. I preferred the code lock because it avoids spending 40 years looking for your key and hoping you haven’t lost it.
First aid kit
My essentials
- Anti-vomiting
- Physiological serum
- Antispetic
- Plasters
- Paracetamol
- Antidiarrheal
My opinion: You will find more pharmacies than in France and medicines more easily than in France (rarely need a prescription). Take things that are a bit “emergency”, anti-vomiting, anti-diarrheal, bandages (blisters and normal), paracetamol (or similar formula), disinfectant. BUT take a MAXIMUM of 10, 1 pack is enough. If you need more, you will find medicines and a pharmacy nearby! 1 pack / 10 tablets will be enough to cover an emergency. And if your stock runs out, you can buy more in the country/city/village.
Pen
As long as it writes
It is always useful to have a pen in your bag! To fill in formalities (border crossing, check-in in hostels), to write down an address or an advice. In short, it’s light and useful.
Anti-moisture bag
Silica
These are the white bags that you usually find when you buy shoes to avoid moisture and rust.
My opinion: I had one in my main bag, one with my papers and one in my toiletry bag. I think it helped a little to avoid moisture problems, at least I didn’t encounter any.
Trekking and travel pillow
Forclaz
My opinion: This inflatable cushion has been a great help to me during long journeys by bus, plane or train. The time is long and the journey tiring, and being able to rest and have some comfort helps a lot. It’s also useful if you plan to camp. Being able to inflate it when I need it and deflate it to store it saves space and weight in my bag! The exterior is soft which makes it comfortable and cosy. You can choose the firmness (as you inflate it). Easy to wash and store. In short, a must have!
The pillow on the Decathlon website: here
Night mask
As long as it's dark
Sometimes in hostels (especially in dormitories) it’s not always dark, and even when travelling, it’s useful to help you sleep. It’s far from being an essential, but if you’re sensitive to light, it can help!
My opinion: I lost mine early on in my trip and often regretted not having it with me.
Earplugs
As long as it works
If you are sensitive to noise and plan to sleep in a dormitory, you will need these. There is often noise in hostels and dormitories, so they can help you fall asleep and not wake up every 30s.
My opinion: after having tried different types, I have to say that it doesn’t work on my ears. I really wish it would have helped me gain a few hours of sleep here and there.
Sleeping bag
Mc KINLEY
A single silk sheet for cooler evenings, for long bus/plane rides (with air conditioning on full blast) or for an extra charge when camping.
My opinion: I haven’t used mine much, but I’ve always been happy to have it with me for those little occasions. It’s light and doesn’t take up much space for the quality of comfort it can add to a road trip.
Travel diary
Physical or digital
Useful if you like to write, if you want something concrete / physical.
My opinion: I used to keep a travel diary on my blog as well and it took a lot of time, so I gave up on the written one very quickly. I would have liked to keep it longer on a regular basis, but I was already struggling to find the time for my digital one and you have to know where to put your energy when travelling. In the end, my logbook was more of an extra weight during my whole trip (having started it, I didn’t want to leave it).
Sewing kit
As long as it sews
- 1 black bobbin
- 1 white bobbin
- 2 / 3 needles
My opinion: I hesitated to take it or to see it in situ, and I should have taken it with me. It’s not as easy to find as you think depending on the area. But very useful for small repairs (clothes, bags). I used my sewing kit several times.
Laundry soap
As long as it washes
It doesn’t matter which brand and whether it’s in solid or liquid form.
My opinion: With little laundry and sweating quite a bit in hot countries, doing laundry regularly is a must. It’s not always easy to find a laundry (automatic or not) or to pay for it (that’s a budget). It’s therefore necessary to have a more practical solution to wash your clothes, whether it is the big ones (trousers, shorts, tops, jumper) or the small ones (underwear and socks).
Water sterilisation solution
Steripen
It’s a water sterilisation solution. You put the nozzle in the water, press a button, wait a bit and the water is drinkable.
My opinion: I had started with charcoal, but I’ve parted with that solution. I’m thinking of investing in a different solution like the steripen.
Documents
The list
My essentials
- Passport
- ID card
- Driver licence (national)
- International driver licence
- International vaccination card
- Bank card(s)
- Paper copies of all documents (but to be honest the copies didn’t last very long)
- Cloud: send them to yourself via email or social networks to find them digitally
My advice: take freezer bags (the plastic ones for food) and put your paper copies in them to protect them.
Backpack world trip: complete list
You will find attached the list of the material that accompanied me during my trip. Small legend :
Item in stripes: taken at the beginning but abandoned during the trip- Article in blue: not taken during the trip but that I would have liked to have
- Article with 🧡 : must-have/essentials
BAGS
- Main backpack: Décathlon Forclaz 50L 🧡
- Secondly backpack: Herschel – Dawson 21 L
- Packing bag: Amazon Basic 🧡
- Funny bag 🧡
- Tote-bag
- Waterproof bag
- Phone waterproof bag
Anti-theft storage belt
CLOTHES
- 6 tops
- 2 long sleeve shirts
- 1 jumper
- 1 warm / technical undershirt
- 3 shorts
- 2 dresses: 1 long + 1 short
- 1 long skirt
- 2 long loose trousers
- 1 pair of sports leggings
- 1 sport bra
- 1 cyclist short
- 1 pair of pyjamas
- 3 pairs of socks
- 6 panties
- 3 swimming
- 2 scarves (for tops or on the head)
- 1 kway
- 1 cap
- 1 pair of sunglasses (with my prescription)
- 1 pair of prescription glasses
Menstrual panties
SHOES
- Hiking shoes: Adidas – TERREX SKYCHASER GORE-TEX 🧡
- Sandals : Birkenstock 🧡
TOILETRY BAG
- 1 shampoo 🧡
- 1 conditioner
- 1 face soap
- 1 toothbrush 🧡
- 1 toothpaste 🧡
- 1 razor
- 1 hairbrush 🧡
- 1 comb
- 1 dry hair care
- Make up
- Elastic / scrunchies
- 1 deodorant 🧡
- 1 nail file
- 1 nail clipper
- 1 ear brush
- Tampons / pads
- 1 Foucaud rub 🧡
- 1 moisturising cream
- 1 sun cream 🧡
- 1 mosquito repellent 🧡
ELECTRONIC
- Laptop: Mac Book Pro 2019
- Software: Lightroom
- Hard drive : LaCie – 1TB
- Chargers
- Headphone 🧡
- Small speaker
- Bag protection for laptop
CAMERA EQUIPMENT
- Camera: Panasonic Lumix GX9
- Lenses :
- Lumix G 25 mm / F1.7 ASPH
- Lumix G VARIO 12 – 32 mm / F3.5-5.6 ASPH / MEGA O.I.S
- Lumix G VARIO 35 – 100 mm / F4.0-5.6 ASPH / MEGA O.I.S
- Drone: DJI Mini 2
- Phone: Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G 🧡
- Tripod: Manfrotto Compact Light Smart
- Memory card: SanDisk Professional 32GB
- 1 extra battery for camera
- Camera lens filter: GOBE
- Battery charger: AYRST
- Drone memory card: SanDisk Extreme Pro 64GB V30 A2
- ND filter: SUNNYlIFE (ND filter 4, 8, 16, 32)
- Propellers, spare screws
- SD and micro SD card adapter
USEFUL
- Adapter 🧡
- External battery: Anker Power Bank, PowerCore Essential 20000mAh 🧡
- 2 towels (shower and beach)
- Flask
- Head torch: PETZL – TIKKINA
- Padlock 🧡
- First aid kit: anti-vomiting, physiological serum, antispetic, plasters, paracetamol, atidiarrheal
- Pen
- Anti-moisture bag
- Trekking and travel pillow: Forclaz 🧡
- Night mask
- Earplugs
- Sleeping bag
- Travel diary
- Sewing kit
- Laundry soap 🧡
- Monopoly Deal (board game card)
- Stéripen
DOCUMENTS
- Passport 🧡
- ID card 🧡
- Driver licence (national)
- International driver licence 🧡
- International vaccination card 🧡
- Bank card(s) 🧡
- Paper copies 🧡
- Digital copies 🧡