Packing for longer term travel isn’t easy, different travelers have different requirements. It becomes even more complicated when you’re embarking on a multi Country journey instead of a return trip to the beach for the weekend. It is a compromise between convenience and mobility. You need stuff at your destination and mobility while you’re on the move. Let me show you how I balance both.
Current packing gear:
- Eagle Creek 60L Migrate duffel bag
- North Face Vault 25L backpack
- 4x Amazon packing cubes – medium size
- Laundry bag – usually an old plastic bag
My previous travels
When I was about to go on my first significant trip abroad I almost defaulted to taking a standard sized suitcase on the road with me. A few days before I flew out I saw an Eagle creek duffel bag, at a surf shop of all places, and decided to buy it. I don’t think I’d ever heard of the Eagle creek brand before but I liked the look of the bag for some reason. I guess it was just good fortune because it served me well for over a decade of use.
The duffel bag instead of the suitcase was a great choice. If you’re going on a 2, 3 or 6 Month adventure you need something appropriate. That means a rugged bag, preferably one you can put on your back, or over your shoulder, a good quality backpack, and one that can safely hold a laptop plus keep other electronics safe if you’re carrying them. Using this combination of luggage made me mobile, I was able to put everything on my back or over my shoulder. It allowed me to go with whatever was happening while I was on the road, like taking spontaneous side trips to places like Myanmar while traveling in Thailand.
How I pack now
With that in mind, how would I pack today? There are some extra things to think about with some of the modern day electronics most people will carry whilst traveling.
One difference is I use a much nicer day pack. In previous years I have used a cheaper backpack with no problems but most of the time I am traveling with a laptop/tablet for which I want a reliable padded section in the backpack for protection. These days I travel with a North Face Vault backpack. There are similar options like the Jester and Pivoter. I found a good deal on the Vault which at 28 litres is a good size and features a reliable padded sleeve that fits up to a 13inch laptop. It also has a large main compartment and a smaller pocket. It has been a great, durable backpack so far, I’m very happy with it.
I was so happy with the durability of my previous Eagle creek bag I bought another one. I got the 60L Migrate bag, I wanted the one with separate pockets on the ends but that was out of stock. This one still as all the other advantages, it’s just as durable as I expected given my previous experience with Eagle Creek, maybe even more so – time will tell – and has the advantage of pullout backpack straps. This has made it even more versatile than a regular duffel bag. I can put my main travel bag on my back.
The backpack straps on the 60L Eagle creek bag have proved extremely useful on my trips so far. being able to put the bag on my back has been very convenient. The bag is also very durable, it is made with a thick TPU fabric and it feels like it would take a lot to damage this bag. It is also “water resistant” (not waterproof) but the material is thick enough that I’m not so worried about a little rain.
If you can find it, I’d also check out the Eagle creek cargo hauler bag. Its the one I was originally looking for and has separate compartments for shoes and such. It comes in a 60L too and I’d be surprised if that wasn’t made just as well as the Eagle creek migrate duffel bag.
Separating gear within the bag
As I said previously, I had original been looking for an Eagle creek bag with separate sections for shoes, toiletries etc. The way I have gotten around this is by using Amazon packing cubes to separate out clothes, shoes, washing and whatever else needs to be separated. The Amazon packing cubes are great and reasonably priced. I’ve seen other, more expensive, brands and maybe they’re even better but the Amazon ones are fine for me to separate anything that needs it.
What to pack?
By most peoples standards, this is a pretty light setup. Why do this? Well, I like to be able to put my gear on my back or over my shoulder and walk. I find it a lot easier than carrying wheeled suitcases around. Of course, this comes with compromises on how much you can take. Things that take up a lot of room like shoes, heavy jackets etc I try and limit. One pair of shoes, one pair of sandals (if going somewhere warm). I think this setup gives me a good compromise between luggage volume and mobility.
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