Introduction: why make your long journey with a hand luggage.
Before embarking on my long journey, I knew that I would face very cold temperatures as much as very hot climates. But for several reasons, I decided to travel with a hand luggage. Firstly, we learn to be minimalist and live with what we need and nothing superfluous. Then we save a lot of money by not adding check-in baggage to the price of our plane ticket. Also, it weighs lighter on the back and that is important for our health and well-being. Finally, we don’t have to wait for our luggage at the airport when getting off the plane, with the risks of loss and delays that come with it. I have travelled for almost a year with this bag, taken many flights and have always carried it as carry-on baggage. In the list below, there are essential materials, and things that are not necessary but that I took simply for my personal comfort. Weight of the all-inclusive bag: around 10 kilos. In Asia and Oceania, the weight of hand luggage is generally 7 kilos, but I have always managed to get it through.
Detailed photos of the equipment
From left to right: thermal legging, lycra swimming / sports leggings, shorts, city / hiking pants, linen pants. Yes, they are all black, so I can marry them with everything.
From left to right: a scarf, a lycra t-shirt for swimming, 1 tank top, 3 t-shirts, 1 dress, 2 technical long-sleeved undershirts for the cold.
From left to right: 1 windproof rainjacket with hood, 1 long warm and puffy jacket with hood, 1 fleece, 1 silk bedsheet, 1 microfiber towel, a small light backpack.
From left to right: A pair of city and hiking gore-tex sneakers, a pair of plastic sandals, a pair of flip flops that closes at the back (city walk and swim).
This photo describes the toiletry bag, 1 first aid kit, 1 underwear bag (orange), a pair of gloves, a hat, a warm neck protector.
This photo describes a plastic plate, cup and cutlery (fork, knife and spoon. A carabiner hooks them, you can use it for something else). A night mask and ear plugs. Swimming goggles and tuba (the tuba was purchased on the way). A charger with USB cable (which charges the phone, the camera and the e-reader), a charger for the computer, a padlock, a USB key, a universal charger, a 3 liters water bottle and 1 headlamp.
The purse – inside I have the camera (compact), the papers / bank cards, the power bank (it is very small and light), my little salt/pepper set, the mobile phone.
Equipment description table
Category | Item | Details and Link to equivalent product |
Warm clothes + bad weather | Light and warm fleece | To be combined with the technical merino undershirt and the windbreaker rainjacket for winter
For women – $21.53 – $23.63 – click here
For men – $7.98 – $25.50 – click here
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A long sleeve (merino wool) undershirt + another technical undershirt | To be combined with the fleece and the windproof rainjacket for winter. To wear alone in mild or cool weather
For men 44,99$ click here
For women 59,99$ click here
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1 wind breaker rain jacket very light and compact packableTrespass | To combine with the technical undershirt and the fleece for winter. Wear alone with a t-shirt in case of rain in warm areas
Women – $23.95 – $49.49 – Trespass Qikpac Womens Packaway Waterproof Jacket Lightweight Hooded Raincoat
Men – $27.35 – $79.00 – Trespass Qikpac Packaway TP75 Jacket
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A very light and compact packable Uniqlo long puffy jacket (Ultra light down black) very small once in its bag | Very light but very warm, ideal when it’ cold. I found a similar one on Amazon
Women – 38.88$ – Women’s Packable Down Jacket Ultra Light Short Puffer Coat with Travel Bag
Men – 39$ – Men’s Lightweight Water-Resistant Packable Puffer Jacket
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1 warm neck protector 1 pair of gloves 1 hat | 12,99$ – Winter Fleece Neck Warmer Unisex Windproof Thermal Neck Face Mask for Cold Weather
13.99$ – Winter Gloves Convertible Wool Mittens Warm Women & Men
22.24$ Columbia Unisex Omni-Heat Thermal Reflective Fleece Beanie Hat Cap
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1 thermal legging for cold weather | To put under pants or alone with the shorts over. Can also be used as pajamas
Women – 17.99$ – Women’s Stretch Fleece Warm Underwear Leggings
Men – 15$ – Men’s Lightweight Performance Base Layer
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Clothing | 3 cotton t-shirts | Women – Price: $8.60 – $19.17 – Women’s Heavy Cotton Adult T-Shirt, 2-Pack
Men – $7.14 – $32.14 – Men’s Cotton Adult T-Shirt, 2-Pack
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1 sport t-shirt quick drying | Men – $14.88 – $18.98 – Men’s Short Sleeve Moisture Wicking Athletic T-Shirt
Women – $7.00 – $21.00 – Sport Women’s Cool DRI Performance
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1 tank top |
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1 Lycra t-shirt for swimming | Good for avoiding jellyfish and sunburn. Can also be used as an extra t-shirt
Men – $14.95 – $29.95 – Swimshirt Vapor Apparel Men’s UPF 50+ UV Sun Protection Outdoor Performance Long Sleeve T-Shirt
Women – $21.95 – Swimshirt Vapor Apparel Women’s UPF 50+ UV Sun Protection Outdoor Performance Long Sleeve T-Shirt
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1 lycra black leggin | Good to avoid jellyfish and sunburn, can also be worn as a city or sports legging with the shorts over
Women – 25,99$ – UPF 50+ Women’s Leggings Swimming Tights Sun Protective
Men – 25,99$ – UPF 50+ Men’s Active Surfing Water Leggings Swim Tights Sun Protective
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1 black pants for city and hiking + 1 linen pants | Comfortable elastic pants, can be suitable in the city, being dressed up and also when hiking. Linen pants are perfect when it’s warm. If it’s cold, put the thermal legging underneath each of these pants
Linen pants women – $16.31 – $25.00 – Women’s Linen Pant
Linen pants men – 24,90$ – Men’s Casual Loose Fit
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1 summer dress | $ 19.99 – $24.99 – Click here
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1 black sports short | Quick-drying sport shorts. Can also be used as pajamas
Women – $7.99 – $24.95 – Champion Women’s Mesh Short, Black
Men – $9.99 – $32.49 – Champion Men’s Long Mesh Short With Pockets,Black
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Accessories | 1 scarf | Ideal to put on the head in case of heat or around the neck or shoulders
Men and women – 14.99$ – Cotton Linen Scarf Soft Lightweight Men And Women
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Jewelry | Some jewelry for occasions
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Underwear | Few panties, bras and 1 swimsuit
| Very few, you will have to handwash them every day at your hotel |
3 pairs of socks: 1 normal sock, 1 short, 1 merino wool for winter
| Men and women – $17.99 – $24.99 – 3 Pairs 80% Merino Wool Thermal Wool Socks For Winter, Men and Women Hiking Socks
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Shoes | 1 pair of flip flops that closes at the back. Possibility to swim with it | I prefer flip flops which closes at the back because when you have to walk a lot, it’s much better for maintaining the foot. In addition, I can use it for swimming when the stones hurt my feets
For women $10.40 – $72.36 – Crocs Women’s Serena Flip Flop $11.99 – $29.99 – different one
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1 pair of all-terrain city and mountain sneaker Gore-Tex: Adidas CMTK GTX black continental 75 €
| I wanted sneakers suitable for hiking in the mountains and to walk in the city, that look nice and not like typical hiking shoes. I prefer black color as it suits everything. I opted for the Adidas Terrex CMTK GTX. They are made of Gore-Tex material so it’s waterproof and breathable, weight only 260 grams (my size), keeps you warm if it is cold, really effective non-slip Continental sole. I’m very satisfied.
Men – $93.88 – adidas Outdoor Men’s Terrex CMTK GTX Women – $104.51 – adidas Outdoor Women’s Terrex CMTK GTX
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Toiletry bag | 1 toothbrush 1 toothpaste 1 hairbrush 1 shampoo Hydrating oil (skin and hair) Hair bands A little bit of makeup 1 body soap + detergent A nail clipper Tweezers |
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First Aid Kit
| Anti diarrhea Paracetamol Ibuprofen Bandages Biafine (for burns) Mosquito repellent Solar cream Anti-Irritation Cream Emergency blanket Sterile compresses Disinfectant Sparadra Pharmacy scissors Lighter
| Even though there are pharmacies and medicines all over the world, I prefer to have my medicines always with me in case of an emergency in a remote location. The lighter might be taken away at the airport, as well as the pharmacy scissors.
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Miscellaneous equipment | 1 microfiber towel | Very thin and light, quick dry. Price: $9.99 – $19.99 Link to the towel
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1 headlamp | This is essential 9.99$ GearLight LED Headlamp Flashlight S500 [2 PACK]
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1 plastic plate, glass and cutlery set (a knife a spoon a fork) | Always useful, especially when you want to cook
11.99$ 4-Piece Camping Mess Kit with Bowl, Plate and 3-in-1 Spork Utensil Set
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1 small salt/pepper set | Also useful for cooking | |
Sunglasses | 15.99$ Polarized Sunglasses for Men and Women Semi-Rimless Frame Driving Sun glasses 100% UV Blocking
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1 pair of bathing goggles + tuba For snorkelling | It takes less space than large snorkelling goggles and it works very well
Goggles – 9.99$ – link here
Snorkel Tuba – link here
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Silk travel sheet | Bedsheet in the shape of a sleeping bag. Very useful when you end up in dirty rooms
32.90$ – 100% Pure Mulberry Silk Single Sleeping Bag Liner Travel Sheet
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1 reflective strip | To be visible at night
6.39$ High Visibility Reflective Tape Strip
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1 very small and light foldable packable backpack for daytrip | Small backpack that weighs only a few grams and closes on itself, it becomes tiny. Perfect for day trips
17.98$ – Outdoor 35L waterproof Ultralight Packable backpack folding Daypack One even smaller 10.28$ Quechua 10 Ultra Compact Hiking Backpack, 10Liters
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1 blindfold and ear plugs | Very important for long journeys 11.99$ Silk Sleep Mask Eye Mask Blindfold and Ear Plugs
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1 foldable light bottle | 11.99$ – 0.7L BPA Free Foldable Flexible Water Bottle w/Carabiner
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1 code padlock | Better than key padlock, it avoids losing them
11.99$ – pack of 2 4 Digit Combination
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Electronic | 1 light computer + its battery charger | Asus VivoBook F441 Light and Powerful Laptop, AMD A9 Dual Core Processor, 8GB DDR4 RAM, Windows 10
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1 universal adapter 5 € | A single adapter to charge your devices worldwide 9.99$ – link here
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1 power bank | Very small and light 16.99$ – INIU Power Bank, Ultra-Slim Dual
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1 compact Sony Camera | Small, compact and light camera
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1 mobile phone | Cheap smartphone with a great memory and makes great photos 230$ – Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro 6.53″ 128GB 6GB RAM (GSM Only, No CDMA) International Version
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1 e-reader | To have multiple books in a single device 89.99$ – Kindle
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1 single charger for camera, phone, power bank and e-reader | One cable to charge everything, not very practical but there is no small saving, even for space | |
Purse | Id’s DEbit cards Wallet… |
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The backpack
Travel made with this backpack (photo).
I bought mine at the store Decathlon for 80€. Decathlon is not available everywhere. I found an equivalent from the brand Osprey (40L) that you can carry on in the airplane.
Osprey Fairview 40 Women’s Travel Backpack – click here or on the image to see it
The top pocket of the Decathlon bag (below) must be removed so that it fits into the dimensions of hand luggage. There is a protective pouch included in the bag, which I removed along the way because it takes up too much space. I took the risk of continuing without and I was lucky not to have any rain. If you want, get rid of this big pocket, and buy another smaller and lighter.
Once filled with all the equipment (I removed the pair of sneakers, a t-shirt, a pair of underwear that I wear), the bag looks like this. You can buy it at Decathlon.
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