Women’s carry on packing list for long-term travel – Mrs. NN Edition

Why Carry On only?

We mentioned this already for Mr. NN’s Men’s packing list but it’s worth reiterating. As aspiring minimalists, we made the conscientious decision to live with less as it turns out that less is more. So when it came to packing our stuff, we decided that we would travel the world with carry-on only. Traveling carry-on only came with the following benefits for us:

• Carry on only means less time spent at the airport. Because we do not have to check-in our luggage or even wait at the carousel to pick up our luggage, we spend less time at the airport. We can even be late and still make our flight as we don’t strictly need to be at the airport before the luggage check-in deadline, which can sometimes close an hour+ before boarding starts.
• Carry on only means we are less likely to lose our valuable stuff. Because we always have our luggage with us, it is less likely that the airport crew can lose our stuff during transit, especially when we are taking flight connections.  When all of your belongings are in that luggage, this is especially important.
• Carry on only means we save money (about a free month of rent per year for us). Luggage fees have exploded over the past few years. We fly on average 8-12 times per year and mostly international. The average fee for the first luggage that you want to check-in is usually between $50-$100 (depending if you fly domestic or international). How much does this cost per year? Well, for years when we are not flying much (8 times) this represents a $400-$600 savings per person. For years when we travel more (12 times) this represents a $800-$1200 saving per person. Which is pretty much our monthly budget for AirBnB rentals. And we are not even including additional costs related to additional storage when taking other means of transportation.
• Carry on only means we are more mobile. Because we can carry everything on our backs, we are not dependent on others when we move and can even access more remote places. Have you tried to roll your rolling suitcase on a dirt road? 

Extra Consideration for the Ladies

Lets face it, women have different and more challenges packing than men do. We have more toiletries, makeup, products, bags and outfits than men do. And where are we supposed to put all of our shoes? I don’t speak for all women but here are the top differences that I found from my packing versus my husband’s:

• Makeup: I’m very minimal with my makeup but the basics for me already add 6 more things to select and pack and I know there are others with a lot more essential items!
• Toiletries: We share things like soaps, shampoo, toothpaste and laundry detergent. But Mr. NN is happy to use any soap put in front of him whereas I am extremely selective about the quality, ingredients and type. And yes, that means I carry it all too! Also, I need to carry something for my period which I’ll share what I decided on.
• Bags: As you’ll see, I’m traveling with 4 bags that I put inside of each other! 5 if you count the grocery bag. I just need a different bag for different scenarios and this is pairing down a lot.
• Outfits: Nope, I can’t just rotate free tech t-shirts and swim shorts. I need some dresses, different workout clothes, items that can be dressed up and dressed down. Things that look good but need to be very comfortable. 
• Shoes: I narrowed it down to 3 pairs! I think Mr. NN only had about 3 pair of shoes before traveling so it wasn’t a hard choice for him to pick 2 to pack. Shoes take up a lot of space so this was the hardest thing to select and make sure I had shoes for hiking, urban walking, nicer occasions and the beach. They had to be comfortable and go well with all of my clothes. 
• Food/cooking: I don’t think anyone else will have this category but I am a health nut and since we travel long-term, I often don’t finish spices and special flours and so I bring them to our next destination.
• Self-care: I have miscellaneous self-care items like a gratitude journal. This is not a category that exists for Mr. NN :). 

Another note: you’ll see in my packing list that I prioritize health and wellness, natural products, sustainability, minimalism and I care about fashion but it’s not my priority. Everyone has different priorities but hopefully my women’s packing list for long-term travel will give you some ideas and make the process less intimidating! 

The Ultimate List

Once we decided that we were going to travel carry-on only, we had to understand what we could travel with. Besides the obvious TSA restrictions of what you can carry, the main constraints were defined by airlines companies themselves. Most airlines allow at no cost two pieces of luggage. One item that can fit beneath the seat and another item that can fit inside the overhead compartment. Most airlines allow for the following dimensions:

• For the overbin item: 24″ x 14″ x 9”
• For the beneath seat item: 18″ x 14″ x 8”

Note that many local discount airlines within Europe and Asia have more strict size and weight limitations where we had to check-in our bigger backpacks for a fee.

Important notes:

• Some of these items are definitely pricey but as an aspiring minimalist, I value quality over quantity and I don’t mind spending more on something I will be getting a lot of value out of.
• Everything on this list is TSA compliant since we travel carry-on only. I usually have my larger backpack that goes in the overhead bin and my smaller bag that goes underneath the seat.
• A lot of my stuff is older and may not be for sale anymore, I tried to link the closest item I could find if the exact one is not available.

Some links to the products mentioned below are affiliate links, meaning that if you click and make a purchase, Nomad Numbers may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. For more information please review our disclaimer page.

Packs and Bags

Traveling packs

• Osprey 46L Kyte Women’s Backpacking Backpack– This backpack has served me well for over 5 years. As a backpacking backpack it has a lot more functions than I need for travel but it has a lot of the key features that matter the most: lightweight, durable, waterproof, comfortable and spacious. It only recently had a buckle crack from being checked in but the strap still functions, plus I believe there’s a lifetime warranty through Osprey so I could get it replaced if I needed to. I like the idea that it was built for outdoor backpacking for long days so that it could certainly get me in comfort from point A to point B via a bus, train or airplane.

• Nomad Lane Bento Bag – I used to carry a second smaller backpack as my personal bag that I keep at my seat but I found it awkward to carry two backpacks (you know the look with the front backpack being carried like a pregnant suit). Also, the second backpack wasn’t very well organized because it was built for hiking but not for travel. That’s why I decided on this travel specific bag, you can carry in your hand via the handles or use the cross shoulder straps. The best thing about it are all of the pockets, compartments and cases for all of your organizational dreams come true. The only criticism I have about the bag is that it is built more for the business traveler in mind so the material is on the heavier side and when it’s full, it gets bulky.

Day pack

• Gregory Maya 16L Hiking Day Pack – Ok, I admittedly went a bit overboard with the number of backpacks I’m carrying. Since I no longer carried a second backpack, I needed a small day pack that I could take hiking. This is small enough that it fits inside my bigger Osprey 46L bag and is the perfect size to use for a day hike. It is very well designed with the side pockets, water bladder holder and lightweight material. I’m much more comfortable hiking with this day pack than I was when I was using a bigger backpack that I doubled as my personal bag.

• Patagonia Lightweight Travel Tote Pack – Yup another backpack! This is lightweight, folds up really small and doubles as a tote or backpack. This is the bag I use day-to-day for outings, grocery shopping and short walks. I like that it’s all black so that I can wear it on my shoulder for a more ‘upscale’ look to a restaurant without packing another purse. This is probably the item that I use the most out of all the things that I packed, I love it!

Description of the Capsule Wardrobe concept

Before I go into my clothing, I wanted to describe the capsule wardrobe concept which I tried to apply to my packing. The capsule wardrobe is meant to be a minimalistic and sustainable approach to fashion which uses the least number of high-quality articles possible to create many different outfits. You can see why this would be really practical for travel because long-term travelers are all limited in what they can pack and they need to make things work for multiple purposes and wear the same pieces of clothing for many months to years without getting bored wearing the same outfit everyday.

The basic principles in creating a capsule wardrobe are (1) pick a fairly neutral color scheme where most clothing can be mixed and matched. You can add splashes of color in accessories and statement pieces. For example, you’ll see my color palette is blue, black, white and gray. (2) select classic pieces that you can wear often and don’t change with the trends like a classic white t-shirt, blue jeans or black flats (3) select clothing that can be layered like blouses that you can button up or wear open on top of a shirt (4) especially for travel, make sure the articles of clothing are really comfortable, durable and ideally multi-purpose. (5) Have as few pieces of clothing as possible to create the outfits that you need.

Once you have built the foundation for your capsule wardrobe, you should ideally be able to turn 10 articles of clothing into 30+ different outfits by mixing and matching! So with this concept in mind, this is how I selected the clothing that I packed. I’ve put a lot of thought into each item in building my travel capsule wardrobe but it’s far from perfect and I’ll constantly be making some tweaks here and there.

Clothing

T-Shirts/Tops

• Everlane striped t-shirt (close substitute in link) [x1] – Really comfortable T-shirt, slightly cropped. I wanted a couple of simple T-shirts to wear on a regular basis. Everlane is great for getting the basics plus they are ethically and sustainably made.
• Marine layer crew t-shirt (close substitute in link) [x1] – Another comfortable basic T-shirt to wear regularly.
• Lucky Brand Women’s Long Sleeve Notch Neck Let It Grow Tee (close substitute in link) [x1] – This shirt is great for hot weather because it’s really light.
• Prana zip-up swimming sun shirt [x1] – I used to pack an athletic looking rash guard because I like to go swimming or snorkeling in one for sun protection. But I didn’t wear it that often and I don’t like packing items that get minimal use. This rash guard is perfect because I can use it as a cardigan for daily wear so it is multi-purpose!
• Vetta Capsule Oversized Striped Blouse aka the Boyfriend Shirt [x1] – This blouse was specifically designed for a capsule wardrobe. It can be worn with the buttons in the front or in the back, open or closed, tied in a knot or loose. That makes for a total of 5 ways to wear this shirt! Check out their website for the ultimate capsule clothing. Admittedly, it’s not the best for travel because it wrinkles easily and it’s too warm to wear in hot countries. If I were to stay in Europe for most of the year, it would be perfect and it’s so cute!
• Long sleeve black/white blouse [x1] – Light long-sleeved blouse that is light but works well for sun and mosquito protection.
• White collared shirt (close substitute in link) [x1] – Bought at a secondhand charity shop in Chiang Mai because I wanted a light blouse for sun protection, the warmer ones that I had didn’t cut it anymore in Thailand!
• Lucky Brand blue jean shirt (close substitute in link) [x1] – a classic shirt that I like to wear a lot but hasn’t been getting much use in Thailand because it is warm.

Dresses

• Floral dress [x1] – Bought at a secondhand shop in Portugal because I wanted a lighter dress for hot weather than the ones I already had.
• Blue/white patterned dress [x1] – could be dressed up for a nicer occasion and comfortable. Easy to layer when the weather is cooler.
• Vetta capsule blue shift dress [x1] – I was super impressed with the versatility of this dress. It can be worn backwards for a round neck or frontwards for a v-neck. Plus the skirt can be separated so that it can be worn as a shirt. That’s 4 ways to wear this dress! Again, it’s not perfect for travel because it wrinkles easily and is on the warm side.
• Uniqlo gray t-shirt dress [x1] – comfortable dress that I like to wear to mostly lounge around at the apartment. I like that it has pockets and can be easily paired with any cardigan or shirt.

Pants

• Outdoor voices pants (close substitute in link) [x2] – I love these athletic pants that still look fashionable. They have the comfort, lightness and durability of athletic pants but they look good for everyday use. They also have useful pockets and one zipper pocket for valuables, very practical! I like wearing pants often for both sun protection and mosquito protection. These pants aren’t quite long enough for complete mosquito protection so I still need to be careful because mosquitos unfortunately love me. 
• Athleta Skyline black pants [x1] – These are another pair of fashionable pants made with an athletic material. I most often wear these on the airplane and they are really comfortable, as good as yoga pants but they can be worn to go out. These are full length so I get full sun and mosquito protection. They are also my dressiest pair for nicer occasions.

Shorts

• North Face khaki shorts (close substitute in link) [x1] – These are my more athletic pair for hiking or an active day. They also look good enough to wear day to day.
• J Crew basic shorts (close substitute in link) [x2] – They don’t take up a lot space, match with everything, have pockets and look good.

Hiking

• Outdoor Research athletic T-shirt [x1] – This is a great hiking or workout shirt because it’s so light and airy. When I work up a sweat, it doesn’t get sticky and uncomfortable like a cotton t-shirt would. It’s also nice enough to wear on a normal day.
• Columbia Hiking shirt  (close substitute in link) [x1] – This shirt works well for sun protection and good for cooler weather. It’s also fairly light and airy and very practical for an outdoorsy day.
• Workout capris [x1] (close substitute in link) [x1] – These capris are great because they are very lightweight and comfortable. They work well when you don’t have to worry about mosquitos but I need to wear longer pants otherwise.

Shoes

• Xeroshoes TerraFlex Trail Running and Hiking Shoe [x1] – I wanted hiking shoes that were not bulky and heavy and that did not scream ‘hiking’ or ‘tourist’ so that I could wear them for urban walking too. This is one of the items I spent the most time researching the internet for because it was going to be a big space commitment and it was not easy to find. Most hiking shoes are really bulky, stiff and not comfortable for casual walking. I’m so glad I discovered Xeroshoes! They are meant for barefoot enthusiasts so they are minimalistic, very light and bendable. The black color is also discreet so I could wear it casually for walking around town. You might notice that Mr. NN has the exact same pair for men, we look like quite the interesting couple walking around with the same shoes!
• Xeroshoes z-trail hiking sandals [x1] – These are my favorite pair of shoes ever! You can see in the photo that they are quite worn because I wear them all of the time. They are athletic enough for light hiking on a hot day, cute enough for going to a restaurant, comfortable enough to walk around town all day long and also act as my beach sandals. I could technically only travel with just this one pair of shoes. They are also meant for barefoot walking so they are super light, minimalistic and bendable and pack up really easily. And yes, Mr. NN also has the exact same pair for men!
• Rothy’s flats [x1] – I needed a pair of comfortable flats that I could walk all day in, were cute and compact. I was debating between Rothy’s and Tiek’s and in the end decided on Rothy’s. I like them because they are fairly comfortable, look good and match everything. Plus I like that they are made from recycled plastic bottles. However, they are not comfortable enough for me to walk all day in, maybe half a day. I’m not sure if they need more breaking in. I don’t find myself wearing them as much as I thought I would, I mostly default to my hiking sandals which are extremely comfortable. I still think they are the best option for flats out there, let me know if you have another favorite!

Swimwear

• Prana bikini top [x1] – I find I’m fine with just one top because I can let it dry overnight and wear the next day.
• Prana bikini bottoms [x2] – I happened to pack 2 bottoms and I can mix and match with the top, they are different colors and only a slightly different design.

Sleepwear

• Blue T-shirt [x1] – I wear for sleeping but if I needed another workout or hiking shirt, it’s actually meant to be an athletic shirt.
• Pajama shorts [x1] – straightforward, they are light and I sleep in them.

Outerwear

• Marmot Precip Rain jacket [x1] – Light jacket for those rainy days. I used to own the higher end version with Gore-tex that I lost but I’m happy with this version because it’s lighter and good for hot weather. I also like the blue color.

• Patagonia Women’s Nano Puff Jacket [x1] – I almost forgot to include this jacket! I have to wear this or carry it in my hand when in transit. I find this jacket to have the best weight to warmth ratio, it keeps me really warm for how light the jacket is. We try to only travel to warm places but there are cold days or unexpected colder stops – the Brittany region of France can be really cold even in the summer!

Underwear/Socks

• Thinx Period underwear [x4] – I love these! Use my referral link for $10 off. They work really well as pad replacements, are comfortable, eco-friendly, and look good. They are comfortable enough to wear on days I’m not on my period too. It saves the hassle of having to purchase and carry pads/tampons while traveling and are well worth it!
• ExOfficio Quick-dry underwear [x4] – I had purchased these for a trek that I did in Nepal. They are sweat-resistant and are great for hot weather and dry quickly if you need to do laundry quickly.
• Other underwear [x6] – fairly standard, packed ones that I already owned.
• ASICS Ankle socks [x4] – these are light and hold up for hiking.
• Sports bras [x3] (close substitute in the link) – I probably would be fine with 1 or 2 next time because I’m not doing as many sporty activities as I thought I would!
• Bras [x3] – fairly standard, packed bras that I already owned.

Accessories

Sunglasses

• Marc Jacobs Sunglasses (close substitute in link) [x1] – I bought these sunglasses probably 7 years ago, they’ve survived some drops and misplacements so I’m still using them! The case they came in was very bulky so I put them in this other thin case that seems to do the trick. I debated whether I should get some sporty and durable sunglasses but in the end, they’re just sunglasses so these have worked just fine.

Hat

• Mountain Backpacking Cap Trek [x1] – I wanted a neutral color and light cap without a big brand or logo across my forehead and these are perfect. Nice and airy, functional for a hike and sun protection but also still attractive and match everything. I debated whether or not I also wanted to pack a fashionable sun hat but could not find one that looks good and was packable. I don’t regret not having one so one less thing to carry!

Jewelry

• Simple crystal necklace (close substitute in link) [x1] – the only piece of jewelry I decided to pack to dress up an outfit

Tech

Electronics

• LG Electronics G7 ThinQ 64GB Factory Unlocked Phone [x1] – For phones, I’m an android fan. This phone was a spare phone that was kindly gifted to me by a friend because I had dropped mine in Lake Tahoe – not my smartest moment. I simply use it for pictures, social media, travel apps, and some browsing so it does the trick.
• Apple 12″ MacBook Air [x1] – I’m a MacBook fan and this was the lightest version at the time I was in the market to purchase a laptop. It’s great! I don’t need a ton of memory or bells and whistles because I mostly do everything online.
• Amazon Kindle [x1]- A must-have to read books without having to carry a bunch of books. When I first moved overseas to work 9 years ago, my physical books were the first things to go and I’ve been completely digital since then. Yes, I do miss aspects of physical books but for a full-time traveler, using a kindle is just so much more practical. I could use the iPad to double up as a reading device but I don’t like staring at a lit screen for more than I have to. A kindle does a decent job of imitating the experience of reading paper.
• Apple 10.2″ Ipad [x1] – This is a nice to have. I originally traveled with it to use as a dual-screen with my laptop but I rarely do that now. I mostly use it now to read books with illustrations like cookbooks, for easier browsing or in transit.

Audio

• Headphones [x1] (close substitute in link) – Simple headphones for listening to podcasts in transit or when I’m on my computer. I used to carry the big noise-canceling Bose headphones that Mr. NN does but I decided it was not worth it for me. The amount of space it took was just too much versus how little I was using it.

Documents

• Wallet 1 [x1] – I like having really small wallets, this sardine cork wallet is from Portugal.
• Wallet 2 [x1] – This fabric wallet is from Chiang Mai and I actually use it to carry toilet paper! For those times when you need to supply your own toilet paper.
• Passport [x1] – self-explanatory
• Document organizer [x1] – We’ve had random papers we’ve needed to carry like visa extension documents so this just keeps them from getting wrinkled in my bag.

Toiletries

• Toiletry bag [x1] – I’ve had this forever and it still works fine. I put most of my toiletries and all of my make-up here.
• Travel liquid bottles with case [x4] – used to carry soap, detergent, shampoo and any other liquids.

• Retainer with case [x1] – to keep my teeth straight!
• Tooth Powder [x1] – It was recommended by my dentist for plaque but it’s actually really handy for travel because it’s in powder form and lasts a really long time. Plus it doesn’t require water to spit out if you’re brushing on the go.
• Waxed Dental Floss [x1]
• Bamboo toothbrushes [x1] – It has charcoal bristles, a wooden handle, is BPA Free & eco friendly. Oh and they are also sustainably grown in recycled biodegradable packaging. 
• Toothbrush holder [x1] – This has a suction cup that keeps my toothbrush away from dirty surfaces.
• Makeup pouch [x1] – I don’t wear much make-up so I’m able to keep my packing in this area fairly small, might be different for other women out there though!
• bareMinerals Eyeliner [x1]  – Round the Clock waterproof.
• bareMinerals READY Eyeshadow 4.0 [x1] – The A List, comes in a set of 4 colors.
• bareMinerals Eyeshadow brush [x1] 
• Lip balm [x2] – one Burt’s Bees and another generic one that has SPF.
• Natio Lipstick [x1] – Ruby, for some color.
• Nail clipper [x1] – This is pretty small and does the job!
• Tweezers [x1]
• Comb [x1] – I use a very thin and small comb.
• Hair ties [x3]
• Soap [x1] – This needs to be constantly refilled so we try to find natural soap at a health store in whichever country we are in. Bar form is better for travel.
• Shampoo [x1] –  This also needs to be refilled and we try to find a natural shampoo at a health store.
• Mineral sunscreen SPF 20 [x1] – I make sure to get a mineral based sunscreen because unfortunately a lot of sunscreens have toxic ingredients.
• Laundry detergent [x1] – We started off with Dr. Bronner’s pure-castile liquid soap in a travel sized bottle. This soap can also be used as body soap, shampoo or cleanser. Since we’ve run out, we are now trying soap nuts which are berry shells that naturally have cleaning agents.

• Quick Dry Microfiber Travel Towel [x1] – These travel towels are just very handy and practical for the beach, a boat trip or any place you might be staying that do not provide towels. They don’t take up much space and dry quickly.

Self Care

• Tongue scraper [x1] – an ayurvedic morning practice to get rid of bad bacteria.
• Dry brush [x1] – an ayurvedic practice to dry brush my whole body before showering to activate the lymphatic system and clear dead skin.
• Essential oil [x1] – used to add to baths, I learned the hard way that this is very concentrated and you only need 1-2 drops.
• Chakra Stones / Healing Crystals [x8] – For the mind, body and spirit.
• Moleskine Classic Notebook, Hard Cover [x1] – Daily journal + gratitude.

Miscellaneous

Compression/Organization

• Packing cubes [x3] – I’m using cheap ones from Daiso because I had them and they still work fine. I might upgrade to the fancier ones that Mr. NN has when I need to.
• Laundry bag (close substitute in link) [x1] – Also from Daiso, we put our laundry in this bag to separate from clean clothes.

Sleep gear

• Sleep Mask [x1] – For when I take red eye flights to make sure I can get a good night of sleep, some apartments don’t have good shades and require a sleep mask too.
• Soft Silicone Earplugs [a few] – These are great earplugs that I heard about from Tim Ferriss. Unlike foam earplugs that are inserted into the ear canal and then left to expand, these are effectively smeared over the ear opening. They fit perfectly and block everything.

Others

• First Aid Emergency Kit [x1] – We carry this in our backpack in case of emergency, it’s one of the smaller ones you can get that is still well equipped.
• Scrubba Wash Bag [x1] – This is a portable laundry bag. It was a gift from my coworkers many years ago and we are actually putting it to good use! When we don’t have a laundry machine and just have a few items to wash, the Scrubba does the trick. You simply fill with water, detergent and clothes, scrub against the bumpy board inside, rinse and then hang your clothes to dry.

Zero Waste Kit

• Foldable grocery bag [x1] – very handy for groceries or an additional bag to carry items in transit. Folds up very small and I always keep it on me.
• Premium Reusable Mesh Produce Bags with Tare Weight Tags [x5] – We do a lot of grocery shopping and we aim to use zero plastic bags. These have been super handy for fruits and vegetables.

• Vremi Silicone Food Storage Containers with BPA Free Airtight Plastic Lids [x1] – This kit comes with 4 collapsible containers of different sizes. They are a great way to reduce our footprint when we need to pack our food on the go. They can double as a great storage container too. We took the two biggest ones and each of us carries one. 
• Handkerchief Cloth [x1] – to use instead of napkins and tissues.
• Set of fork + spoon + knife [x1] – this was a gift and is nicely compact. I would recommend getting non-plastic versions.
• Glass straw [x1] – recently added to our zero-waste kit.

• Simple Modern Wave Water Bottle – 17oz [x1] – This water bottle is insulated so it can keep both water hot (for 10 hours!) or cold (for 24 hours). I used the 17 oz capacity but you can get up to 34 oz if needed.
• Hydration Pack Waterproof [x1] – I put this in my backpack when we go hiking. It can store up to 3 liters, which is usually plenty for a full day.
• Reusable water bottle [x1] – I bought this secondhand and added to the collection recently because I found we wanted to get juices a lot and I wanted to avoid using plastic cups.

Food

• Sea Salt [x1] – This is just my crazy priority because I’m particular about my salt, we all have those quirks.
• Turmeric [x1] – ditto
• Black Pepper [x1] – ditto
• Tea bags [a few] – I need to have some tea always handy!

Putting everything together

So there you have it!

How much does all of this weigh? Total weight is about 37lbs (17 kg) which I usually divide into 22lbs (10kg) for the bigger Osprey backpack and 15lbs (7kg) for the Nomad Lane bag (these numbers include the weight of the packs themselves).

Would you suggest other items for us to consider? Please let us know what you think by leaving a comment below.