In earlier blog posts, I’ve given you some tips for traveling light, but this post documents everything I took for a one-week trip to San Francisco in July (Temperature: 55 – 70° F).
The Bag
The bag I used was my Patagonia Lightweight Travel Tote Pack – 22L. The bag has two external pockets on each side of the pack. I needed to use that space, but was concerned that loose items might fall out. My solution was to make custom fitted stuff sacks out of some leftover rip stop nylon and cord I used 
in another project. These aren’t fancy and didn’t take long to make. I found some cord locks on Amazon that keep the bags closed. The bags stayed put for the whole trip, but if I was concerned, I could have used a strap around the bag to keep everything secure.
What’s in the Bag?
Large Packing Cube
1 pair travel pants
2 short sleeve tee shirts
1 merino wool lightweight quarter zip shirt
1 long sleeve blouse
1 lightweight long sleeve top
1 pair lightweight short pajamas
3 pair underwear
2 camisoles
1 travel bra
2 pair wool ankle socks
1 pair synthetic quarter length socks
In the Stuff Sacks for the Outside Pockets of the Tote
Flip flops
Clothesline
Small roll of duct tape
Extra plastic bags
Small umbrella
Fold up water bottle
Bandaids, small amount of toilet paper, stall mates wipes in small bag
Spork
Lightweight tote bag
Other Items in the Bag
Toilet kit
Fold up travel backpack
Travel towel
Lightweight rain jacket
Small cube – Flashlight, extension cord, sun glasses, charger cord
Hat
Small airline/hostel bag – gum, ear plugs, sleeping mask, Earplanes, tissues
Exterior pocket – Travel documents
What I Wore on the Plane
Underwear and socks
Walking shoes
Long sleeve tee shirt
Hoodie
Stretch jeans
ScotteVest – Phone, small wallet, extra cash, snack, small phone charger
Strategically pack the bag like a jigsaw puzzle – no wasted space. Write down how you did it or take pictures with your phone so you can do the same when you return home. There you have it! One bag, 12.5 lbs.
I treated myself to a Sea to Summit Clothesline that is a tiny, yet ingenious product. It’s essentially two strings threaded through a series of beads. After you affix the clothesline to something using the built-in hooks, you thread a small part of your garment between the two strings and slide the beads close together to hold the item. Use in the bathroom, on the hostel bunk bed, or balcony (or anywhere else) to hang up your quick dry clothes and travel towels. When you are done, the clothesline stuffs into its tiny pouch. Combined with Dr. Bonner’s soap, this is an easy way to reduce the amount of clothing and underwear you need to bring on your trip.
Lightweight polyester bags – Lightweight polyester or nylon bags like the one pictured take virtually no space but can be very useful. I use a medium sized one to use when picking up snacks or daily groceries for hostel meals. I use a larger one when staying in hostels. Before I go to bed, I put the clothes for the next day in the bag and when showering in the morning, I hang the bag on the door knob or door hook. There’s rarely a dry space for clothes in a hostel bathroom. Using the bag helps me keep everything dry and together so I don’t lose anything.
lightweight packing cube with a handle. On the airplane, I use it to keep my cellphone, charger, ear plugs, lip balm, tissues, eye mask, ear phones, mini-flashlight, pen, snack, e-reader, etc. either next to me in the seat, under the seat in front of me, or in the seat back pocket. It is all within easy reach, and I don’t have to worry about losing any of it. If I am staying in a hostel, I keep the items I want to have in my bunk in the same bag. If I need a tissue or ear plugs, I don’t have to get up and disturb anyone by unlocking my locker to get these items. Many hostel bunks have an outlet for charging electronics so it’s easy to read on the phone and charge at the same time. Just remember to turn off all the sound and vibration on your phone – whether it’s with you or in your locker before you go to sleep.
you are tight for space and want to ‘wear’ what is essentially the airplane bag mentioned above. I wear it under a jacket or hoodie to try not to advertise that I am circumventing the carry-on weight limit for budget airlines or highlight that I am a tourist when I’m at the destination. However, used thoughtfully, these and similar vests keep your items secure and allow you to go hands and bag free when you want to. If I am travelling in minimalist mode, I either have to commit to wearing the vest whenever I change locations or leave it home because there isn’t room for it in my minimalist bag. Another nice advantage is that I can use the vest instead of a money belt. When the vest is zipped, articles in their own zipped pockets on the inside of the vest are reasonably well protected from pickpockets, but the vest allows for easy access to them. It also becomes a light layer for cooler weather.
Small Backpack – If you are traveling light – i.e. U.S. traditional carryon – adding a small backpack (such as this one by PacSafe) or folding travel backpack (mine is by Neatpack) either in the bag or as your 
personal item gives you a place to put your jacket, cell phone, snack, and travel information while you sightsee. If you are traveling minimalist with only one bag, just empty out the bag and use it for your day pack. If everything you have is in a packing cube or stuff sack, your things will still stay organized.
Shampoo and Conditioner – A disclaimer first – my hair is very short and easily washed. If you have longer hair you may need to find alternative products. Shampoo and conditioner come in various small bars. The key to using them is to keep the bars as dry as possible by letting them air out between uses. I cut off a piece or two big enough to last me for the specific trip and store these pieces in a metal or plastic small container. When possible I keep the lid off after use until these items fully dry. By using small pieces at a time, I don’t waste the product if the bar gets too moist and turns into goo. These bars tend to be expensive and this method allows me to get multiple trips out of a bar. I put the pieces of shampoo, conditioner, and soap in one small container to take into the shower.
For shampoo, I’ve tried Liggett’s Old Fashioned Bar Shampoo and Lush Lullaby Solid Shampoo. The Liggetts is more of a basic shampoo at fraction of the price of the Lush product. For conditioner, I’ve used the Bee Beauty Silky Hair Conditioner Bar. The Liggetts bar left my hair squeaky clean, 
but a bit stiff. Adding conditioner, I found that I had to use the Bee Beauty conditioner very sparingly or my hair would get sticky. It may be better suited to longer hair where you just swipe a little on the ends. My favorite is the Lush Lullaby shampoo, which is a gentle shampoo and leaves my hair soft enough to eliminate the conditioner. One product instead of two makes this minimalist traveler happy.
Moisturizer –The skin on my face is very dry and sensitive. I need to use moisturizer twice a day to keep the dryness at bay. Trying to find a solid alternative to moisturizing lotion proved to be a challenge. Honey House Naturals puts out a Bee Bar Hand and Body Lotion Bar, which uses the warmth of the hands to soften the bar sufficiently to get a film of lotion on the hands for 
application. Looking for something more face specific and finding little for adults, I turned to baby products. Babyorganics puts out an organic lip and face balm in a stick that works reasonably well for travel purposes.
sunscreen solid the size of a deodorant stick, but I wanted something smaller. These sticks are good for limited coverage for everyday activities, but probably insufficient if you are going to the beach or pool. If this is the case, it is easy to buy sun block on site. Because my nose easily turns into a beacon, I also use Badger Zinc Oxide Sunscreen All Season Face Stick. This product has a bit of a whitening effect, so I only use it when I’m in strong sun.
Toothpaste – I definitely prefer regular toothpaste, but for a couple of weeks, can deal with an alternative product. Eco-Dent makes a Baking Soda Toothpowder that has enough mint flavor to cover the baking soda taste. Some people make their own toothpaste dots. The 
Other items – Badger makes an After-Bug Balm in a stick which helps with itch relief. Purell comes in individually wrapped travel wipes. Stall Mates makes individual wrapped
flushable wipes. Olay and other brands make facial cleanser-infused dry towelettes that you moisten and use like a washcloth. Amazon and other vendors sell boxes of individual packets of antibiotic and cortisone gel (such as those in first aid kits), but I am not sure how TSA feels about these. I’m experimenting with taking a cotton swab and covering one end with antibiotic ointment and wrapping it tightly with foil. I haven’t needed to use them yet, so time will tell.
Travel Towels – If you are staying somewhere where towels are not provided or need a towel for the beach, lightweight travel towels are great. They take up little room, are super absorbent, and dry fast.
that the roll-up bottles are not as study as the rigid ones and need to be replaced periodically. I always carry a small amount of toilet paper and a Stall Mates towelette in a snack size plastic page along with a couple of bandaids and safety pins. These items take up little space and are nice to have when you need them. A small roll of duct tape can help with a quick temporary repair. I always carry a spork in my day pack so I can pick up meals and snacks at the grocery or convenience store and have something to eat them with. Finally take a couple of small combination locks – certainly a necessity in a hostel (for lockers) but also useful for securing your bag or backpack in troublesome areas.
Backpack Suitcase – I chose the 
Day Pack – In addition, I travel with a day pack either in my bag or if needed, carried as a front pack when using the backpack option on the larger bag. I use this bag for my Surface 3, kindle, small purse, snacks and other carryon items when traveling and as a day pack when sightseeing. I have a Pac-Safe 100 that I have had for several years and use regularly on my daily walks and other times at home. It is designed for travel and although smaller than a typical day pack, holds a couple of water bottles, a jacket, small camera, wallet, cell phone, snacks and 
other items. An alternative backpack to consider is the Neatpack foldup travel backpack. It is inexpensive and designed to fold up small enough to be carried in the regular luggage and used on site.
Super Lightweight Pack – For those superlight trips where size and weight is limited, I use the 
in various sizes and shapes. With good planning, you can configure a selection of packing cubes and sacks of various sizes to hold all your items and fit snugly within your bag. Everything goes in a cube or sack, so if I need something, I just grab that cube/sack without rummaging through the entire bag. Especially when you are staying at a hostel or moving from hotel to hotel, using a packing cube and stuff sack system (and keeping items in their respective spots when not in use) makes packing up a breeze and reduces the chances of leaving items behind.
Toiletry bag – I’ve found a small hanging toiletry bag works best. Often in hostels, there is no place besides the floor to put your bag (yuck) and when hanging, the bag provides easy access to all the contents. I use the Neatpack Small Toiletry Bag, but there are many similar options available.
Toiletries – Decant your daily liquid toiletries into small leak-proof bottles contained by a plastic bag for 3-1-1 compliance. After a few bad experiences with leaky inexpensive bottles, I now use only Neoprene bottles (the 1 oz size is perfect) or the smaller Go Toob squeeze containers. For some trips, I use only solid toiletries, thus eliminating the 3-1-1 bag and the risk of leaks. More on solids in a later blog.
Underwear – I invested in 3 pair of Ex-Officio underwear and one Ex-Officio camisole. Although pricy, the Ex-Officio products wash out easily in the sink or shower and are dry by the next morning. I have another lightweight modal Jockey camisole that dries almost as quickly. For bras, I already had two lightweight, dry-wicking, unstructured bras that would work most of the time. Again, these garments dry overnight. This sure beats the dozen pairs I used to bring when traveling.
Sleepwear – I have a set of Lands’ End lightweight long underwear that doubles as sleepwear in cooler temperatures and a super lightweight pair of shorts and sleeveless top for summer. No need to have specific sleepwear. The lightweight long underwear can go under pants or tops as needed to provide an additional layer.
Layers, Layers, Layers – Speaking of layers, they are the key to any travel clothing system. Rather than packing a bulky, heavy sweater, instead wear your long underwear top or merino wool base layer, followed by a long sleeve top, and then heavier shirt or fleece. If it gets warmer, you can just peel off the layers.
sleeve is nice. Ex-Officio and other brands have long sleeve, button-down, lightweight hiking shirts. These can be paired with a short sleeve shirt to provide a little warmth or protection from sun or insects. In cooler weather, the same button-down shirt over a lighter long sleeve shirt and topped by a fleece can provide lightweight warmth. Merino wool tee shirts (long or short sleeve) are another great alternative. Merino wool is itch free, breathable, and comfortable year-round. It also doesn’t pick up odors as easily as synthetics. The beauty of using lightweight clothes is that they can be washed out in the sink mid trip without too much effort. Because of this, you only need a maximum of 4 – 5 tops in some combination of long-sleeve and short sleeve.
Bottoms – Again, fitness clothing is the key. Lightweight hiking pants and capris, yoga pants, and opaque leggings all work well. I have one pair of EMS Isabella pants in black that are a little dressier looking and when coupled with a tee shirt and my button-down shirt, make a reasonably presentable outfit when needed. I won’t win any fashion awards, but my clothes are clean and comfortable. I often wear a pair of lightweight skinny jeans on the plane/train. That way I have my beloved jeans without sacrificing packing space.
Jackets – This is an area that is very temperature specific. Over the years, I invested in the following pieces: 1) a lightweight down jacket with a hood that compresses to a small pouch, 2) a lightweight goretex rain coat that compresses to a small pouch, 3) a lightweight thermal vest (not down, so it can get wet) that compresses to a small pouch (do you see a pattern here?), 4) a lightweight hoody, 5) a rain resistant ‘soft shell’ windbreaker, and 6) a very light rain shirt that packs down to nothing. Depending upon the weather, I take a combination of these. The rain coat or the softshell jacket, over the vest, over the hoody, over my other layers, can salvage a cold rainy day. In a very warm area, the light rain shirt will keep me somewhat dry in a moderate rain and keep the chill off at night. Don’t forget to add a lightweight hat and gloves if the weather might be chilly.
Other clothing – I often pack one very lightweight travel dress and either a lightweight sweater or pashmina. Occasionally the hiking clothes don’t cut it and this type of dress, even with the TEVA sandals can work. The pashmina or sweater can of course do double duty. Unless I absolutely know that I won’t need a bathing suit, I pack 
one. My recommendation is a good fitting two-piece suit that can double as a bra and underwear in a pinch, coupled with a long-sleeve sun/rash shirt. The shirt of course can be used as a layer if needed. If I know that I only will be using the hotel hot tub, I have an unstructured tank suit that covers all the essential parts.
It all started when I was coming home from a visit to a friend. We had gone on a bit of a shopping spree and although I was joyous when I was able to zip up my already stuffed carryon, that was short lived when I discovered I wasn’t able to lift the carryon into the overhead bin on my own.