A Backpack for 6 Months Abroad

A Backpack for 6 Months Abroad

So, this is a question I get all the time. It's the second most asked question next to which was my favourite country. I'm well-known for extensive backpacking. We're not talking about a couple week trips, we're talking multi-month half-year-long adventure treks.

What backpack do I bring and what do I cram it full of to survive that long? I haven't travelled with a suitcase in YEARS and travel almost exclusively with carry-on. After exhaustive research years back, I happily committed to buying the Peak Design Travel Backpack in 2019. I chose the 45L version. It wasn't cheap. It was over four hundred bucks, but it was absolutely worth it.

They even replaced it for me under their lifetime warranty after I crammed the bag too full and broke the zipper. Don't misunderstand, the zippers are the most durable and reliable I've found, but I was really yanking it trying to squeeze everything in one trip.

When I was 20, I remember one trip travelling with a green garbage bag full of supplies instead of a suitcase. What the hell? 😂 Suffice it to say, an upgrade would eventually be inevitable.

It's lightweight, durable, and has tons of zippered storage compartments to keep me organized. I've gotten it soaked, and while it's not water proof, it dries quickly and I'm pretty sure it's water resistant. It fits snugly and sizes to suit my needs. Comes with an optional waist and chest strap for proper hiking as well!

I pair this up with a smaller Thule day back for my core essentials. What goes where you ask?

The Day Bag
The small "day" bag is my seat bag for airlines and is on my back 24x7 while abroad. It has:

• Identification: My passport, drivers license, and International Driver's Permit
• A pen
• Sunglasses
• Wallet
• Umbrella
• Toque, Gloves
• Industrial Ear Plugs, Eye Mask
• Water Bottle
• Go Pro
• George Lightweight all-weather black jacket with zipper pockets
• Lulu Lemon zipper-pocketed black pants
• Extra pair of socks & underwear
• Bandaids
• Face mask
• Sandals or my runners (whichever aren't on my feet); Merrell brand for both
  — Technology —
• iPhone with waterproof + normal case
• AirPods
• Emergency external USB C 2 TB hard drive backup
• 2 high durability USB C 4.0 charging cables
• 2 AAA batteries
• 2 high quality travel adapters
• MacBook Air w/charging cable
• 2 Anker 67W wall charging blocks (2x USB-C, 1x USB-A)
• High capacity Anker 737 Power Bank that I keep in the exterior side pocket to charge as I walk.
• Ultra High capacity Chinese power bank with AC power outlet and 2x USB-A ports.
• AirTag
• SIM Eject Tool
• Mini flashlight

The Big Pack

• Lightweight quick-dry towel
• TruEarth Eco Laundry Soap Sheets (packaged in a ZipLock bag)
• 7 button up shirts
• 1 dress shirt
• 2 T-Shirts for sleeping in 
• 7 pairs of boxers, 5 pairs of socks
• 2 swimsuits
• 1 additional pair of black Lulu lemon workout pants with zippered pockets
• 2 cargo shorts (heavier)
• 2 thin cargo-style lightweight quick dry shorts
• Photocopy of ID and credit cards
• AirTag
• Deodorant, body spray, toothbrush, toothpaste, nail clippers, tweezers, sun screen, bug spray, floss, razor with extra blades inside a small durable water tight bag
• Medication
• Condoms (never know, right?)
• Dry bag (to keep dirty laundry which keeps the smells in; multipurpose for boat trips)

Additional Pro Travel Tips

• Bring rain cover for the bag
• NEVER leave the zippers at the top of the bag when closing it. While walking vigorously, or hiking, backpacks have a tendency to unzip. Keeping the zippers together at the bottom left or right will ensure it stays closed.
• Buy black! Fun colored bags like red or pink are going to wind up looking scuffed, dirty, and gross after a few trips.
• Ensure the bag is underweight by at least a few pounds, and has a bit of extra room, to account for any souvenirs or gear acquired while abroad.
• Watch a few YouTube videos for which order to pack the bag, and also how to adjust the straps to best suit your body during a long day of walking.

And that's it as a 41 year old male traveller. I honestly haven't needed anything else even on my longest 6-month trip. Any time I've needed something else I've rented it for it the day, or picked it up locally. But that's a rare occasion.