Packed in a Single Backpack: How to Travel Light and Avoid Getting Dragged Down

Are you one of those people who fight with a giant suitcase before every vacation, sitting on it just to get it zipped, only to sweat at the airport worrying if you’ve exceeded the weight limit? I have a piece of advice for you: Leave the suitcase at home and take just a small backpack. Yes, you heard that right. You can easily pack for a week in Europe or two weeks in Asia into a backpack that fits the dimensions of free airline carry-on baggage. It just takes a system and letting go of the "what if I happen to need this" syndrome. Here is my guide on how to do it. That said, what works for me might not suit you perfectly. But in the end, it's all about getting used to it.

1. Clothing: Versatility and Functionality Above All

Forget about fashion shows. The key to traveling with a small backpack is layering and quick-drying materials.

• My Game Plan: My absolute favorite gear is a pair of versatile zip-off pants by Columbia. In the chilly mornings, you have long trousers; in the sunny afternoon, you just unzip the legs and boom—you have shorts. Pair that with just one extra backup pair of shorts, and you're set.
• Performance Shirts: Forget about cotton, which takes an eternity to dry. Pack technical shirts (or merino wool). They are lightweight, take up zero space, won't get sweaty on day one, and you can easily rinse them in the hotel sink at night—they’ll be bone dry by morning. This naturally applies to both socks and underwear. There is nothing more miserable than getting chafed skin on a trek due to bad underwear. And women's thongs? Wearing those on a long hike is straight-up masochism.
• Footwear: It is equally vital to have functional and comfortable shoes. I chose waterproof Gore-Tex shoes by Salomon. My partner, on the other hand, swears by barefoot shoes. You absolutely need to break your shoes in and test them out (even on shorter walks) to see how they fit. Nobody wants blisters or pressure sores. Plus, if you head to a humid country with the wrong socks combined with bad shoes—well, you're in for a world of pain.
• The Golden Shopping Rule: Don’t pack an outfit for every single day. If you happen to run out of clean shirts, there are stores in every country on Earth. Buying a local t-shirt as a souvenir is a much better story than hauling 10 old ones from home.

2.The Cosmetic Purge: What to Leave Behind

A bulky toiletry bag is the ultimate enemy of a small backpack. Most of the things we pack in there are completely unnecessary.

• What NOT to pack (because you can buy it on the spot): Shampoo, shower gel, toothpaste, and sunscreen. You can grab all of these at any local supermarket or convenience store for a few bucks right after you land. Plus, most hotels and Airbnb rentals provide complimentary soap and shampoo in the bathroom anyway.
• What to bring: If you use a highly specific face cream or makeup, transfer it into small travel bottles (max. 100 ml). Solid shampoo bars are a lifesaver—they won't spill in your bag and they don't count toward your airport liquid limits. Alternatively, every drugstore nowadays carries mini travel sizes of every cosmetic product imaginable, from shampoo and toothpaste to makeup remover. I usually just pack makeup remover wipes, one small face cream, a toothbrush, and tweezers. Recently, I added miniature compressed coin tissues to my gear—you just drop them in water, and they expand into full wipes. And, of course, don't forget your phone/camera chargers.

3.First Aid Kit: Emergency Minimum Only

There is absolutely no need to haul your entire medicine cabinet from home. Pharmacies exist all over the world, and you can often buy over-the-counter medication abroad much more easily than back home (unless you are traveling to a highly remote or specific country). Just pack an emergency first-aid kit:

• Something for fever and pain (Paracetamol / Ibuprofen).
• Medication for stomach issues (Activated charcoal / Smecta—especially vital for the Balkans or exotic destinations).
• A few blister band-aids for when you're doing a lot of walking.
• Any personal prescription medications you take regularly (e.g., allergy meds).
  Everything else can be easily sorted out at a local pharmacy at your destination.

4.Other Useless Items You Can Safely Leave at Home

• Standard Towels: They are massive and take two days to dry. Replace them with a compact, quick-drying microfiber towel.
• Hair Dryers: Any decent accommodation will have one, or you can just take a break from styling your hair for a few days.
• Books: Paper books are heavy. Download your reading material to your phone or get a Kindle. Or just pack headphones and listen to an audiobook!

A Final Word

Traveling with a single backpack grants you an incredible sense of freedom. You don’t have to waste an hour waiting at the airport baggage carousel, there is zero risk of the airline losing your luggage, and you can walk straight out of the airport to explore the city without dragging a heavy, wheeled box behind you. Try it just once, and you’ll never want to travel any other way!