The Ultimate Ultralight Backpacking List for Women
Packing light for a trip abroad can be challenging and is somewhat of a science: you want to keep your luggage light enough to comfortably carry, yet still fit all of your essential items! This ultralight packing list is designed to be minimalistic, yet versatile.
Keep in mind that you can use this list as a guide and simply customize it depending on your destination and prospective activities. Also remember that I travel with a lot of electronics in my carry-on in order to maintain this blog, so you can forgo these items if you don’t require a laptop or aren’t interested in photography.
If you aren’t interested in using a backpack to travel (i.e. you have wheeled luggage), you can still benefit from the packing list below to organize what to pack in your carry-on versus your checked luggage.
Alternatively, if you want to try to travel carry-on only, feel free check out my secrets to minimalist packing post, where I share how I managed to previously travel internationally with only my small 27L backpack.
Ultralight backpacking: General Packing Tips
First things first, let’s talk about backpacks. If you are reading this ultralight backpacking list, I will assume you are already using a backpack to travel (versus wheeled or duffle-bag style luggage).
You may already own your own backpack, but if not, I recommend the Osprey Questa 27L as a solid daypack choice for women. Reasons why? Osprey has a LIFE-TIME warranty (yes that’s right, lifetime) and their products are high-quality. I think my backpack is actually an older model because I got it in 2017 (and it’s still thriving), but it is still sold on Amazon so I’ve featured it below.
Related: Review of the Osprey Questa 27L Daypack
I also use a 65L Mountain Warehouse backpack as my main luggage (pictured below). If you are thinking to yourself, “65L is NOT ultralight”, think again. I probably don’t need 65L because I typically don’t fill it and I have a small frame, but I still love this backpack because of its versatility.
Since it is a tall, top-loading style, it can easily fit larger items like my yoga mat or a tent, but it can also be folded down with its adjustable clips when not full. I also love that it has zipped compartments on each side, top and bottom for easy access and a hidden zipped compartment inside.
Since the bag is on the larger side in height dimensions, I usually stow it for long haul travel and use a luggage tag in the case that it gets lost. You can browse through the best luggage tags for international travel here.
I use the packing cubes featured above (they come in a 3-set of small, medium and large in all different colours) and they help me save space and stay organized. I started with dollar store ones which broke after two trips, so I would highly recommend investing in better ones from the get-go. This brand has lasted me over a year so far. Conversely, if you don’t want to buy them right now, you can opt to use large zip lock bags for the same effect.
The ultimate ultralight backpacking list for women:
My first attempt at ultralight packing back in 2016! Now I use packing cubes to help me and there are few items here I wouldn’t bother with, like the huge stash of multivitamins or my iPod (I use my iPhone now instead). I also didn’t use the running shoes, deck of cards, selfie stick, or water purification tablets. I have since replaced the Swell bottle with a collapsible bladder by Platypus.
Day-pack/ Carry-on:
My packing rule of thumb, is to pack your carry-on with anything you don’t want to get lost or stolen. Essentially you want to keep all of your valuables with you (or on you) during transit. I use my daypack for my plane/train/bus carry-on and always keep it secure in a locker if I stay in a hostel.
I pack a few go-to toiletry items (toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, lip chap, hand sanitizer) in my carry-on for easy access, especially for long haul flights. Be sure to separate the <100mL liquids into a ziplock bag or use a clear plastic case like this one featured below.
- Electronics
- Universal voltage adapter (The one I’ve linked to is the same one I’ve used for years and it’s STILL going)
- Laptop (and charger)
- Unlocked cellphone (and charger)
- DSLR Camera (and charger)
- GoPro Hero 5 (and charger)
- External charger (I use this one by Anker and highly recommend it)
- Earbuds or Headphones
- Electronics pouch (I keep all of my chargers & cords organized in a soft pouch similar to this one I’ve linked to)
- The Basics
- Travel wallet (bring passport, 1 credit card, 1 debit card, emergency cash, immunization documents)
- Travel journal and pens
- Novel or Kindle
- Water bottle (I use a collapsable one by Platypus)
- Snacks
- Toiletries
- Medicine/first aid kit (this may seem like a lot to pack, but you will be SO thankful you have it if you need it. Simply move items from their boxes and stack flat to save space. I use a small linen bag the size of my palm to fit all of these so it’s really not that much to pack in the grand scheme of things). I now travel with a mini first aid kit after getting a motorcycle exhaust pipe burn in a remote part of Uganda and not having any supplies on me.
- For sleeping on plane/bus/train:
- Comfy socks
- Scarf (this linked one has a hidden, zipped pocket)
- Warm layer
- Ear plugs
- Eye mask or BUFF headwear (featured below). If you aren’t familiar with BUFF, it’s a great multi-purpose item for backpacking. I use mine as a hair band, eye mask, head covering and hair protector under helmets.
- Hair tie or scrunchie
Large backpack:
As I mentioned earlier, I use a set of three packing cubes in small/medium/large sizes for my clothes. I use the small one for under garments, a bathing suit, sleep wear, socks and any miscellaneous items like a scarf or jewelry. I usually use the other two to organize my tops versus bottoms, or while on the road to separate clean versus dirty items. I always roll items inside the packing cubes to save space
- Clothing:
- Lightweight pants x 1
- Blue jeans x 1
- Yoga crops x 1
- Shorts x 1
- Athletic tank top x 1
- Regular tank top x 1
- Cotton T-shirts x 3
- Maxi dress x 1
- Hooded light-weight water repellent jacket x 1
- Cardigan (I wrote a review on this one by Encircled)
- Scarf x 1 (in carry-on)
- Bathing suit x1
- Sports bra x 1
- Regular bra x 1
- Underwear x 7
- Sleep wear
- Footwear (Occasionally, depending on the purpose of my trip, I will bring dressier sandals or normal sneakers, it’s just up to you based on the activities you want to do. My hiking boots and simple thong flip-flops are staples for me but that is the style of travel I do)
- Hiking boots x 1
- Hiking socks x 2
- Flip flops x 1
- Toiletry Kit (I keep all of these items in a clear, plastic zipped pouch similar to the one I featured above to go through airport security if I ever want to bring it in my carry-on).
- Solid shampoo and solid conditioner
- Coconut oil (I use this as body lotion, deep hair conditioner and to take off my eye makeup with a face cloth)
- Castile soap (I use the Dr. Bronner magic soap brand for body, face, as shaving cream and as laundry soap)
- Reusable safety razor
- Menstrual cup (I wrote a review about Diva cup here)
- Q-tips
- Nail care
- Roll-on essential oils (I use the ones by Saje for jetlag and sore muscles during travel…some of them, like the lavender, can double as perfume)
- Insect repellent
- Sunscreen
- Note: your hair brush, tooth brush, tooth paste, tooth floss and deodorant are already packed in your carry on
- Make-up: Whether you put your make-up in your carry-on or stowed luggage depends on the length of your flight and how often you reapply. What you bring obviously depends on the amount you wear, but I always pack:
- SPF 50 tinted cover-up
- Bronzer & brush
- Eyelash curlers
- Eyeliner
- Mascara
- Lip chap
- Make up remover (I use coconut oil and a face cloth, but if you have a preferred product you won’t want to forget it)
- Miscellaneous:
- Yoga mat
- Travel towel
- Mini sewing kit (You would be shocked at how useful this really is).
- Headlight and batteries
- Travel utensils and a Tupperware container
- Rain cover for backpack
- Sunglasses
- Retractable combination lock
- Starbucks instant coffee sachets (okay, caught me…I’m need my coffee so I always keep a few of these in case of emergency)
Bonus:
- Items that I sometimes bring with me if I have extra space
- Dry Shampoo
- Sleeping bag
- Pocket language dictionary
- Lara bars or Cliff bars
- Scuba diving mask & log book
- a purse
- Items that I’ve previously packed on trips over the years and virtually never used
- Deck of cards
- Water purification tablets
- Lifestraw bottle (after buying it, I realized it still doesn’t filter viruses so I don’t recommend it).
- A watch
- Extra pillow case
- Neck pillow for plane (some people love these, I just find they take up too much space and aren’t all that comfy)
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