How To Pack For All Seasons Of Travel With A Basic Year-round Capsule Wardrobe
For many people, packing is always the most frustrating part of traveling. For a minimalist like me, it is an exciting process of picking out the most important things. Since I am a petite girl who cannot carry too much heavy stuff, I try to minimize owing things and pack as light as possible while traveling. In this article, I am going to show you the most basic yet very important things to pack for a year-round trip including four seasons: spring, summer, autumn, winter.
1. Choose the right suitcase and backpack
First of all, you need a small travel suitcase or a travel backpack that can hold everything and is light enough to carry on board. I encourage you to invest in a good and durable (heat and waterproof) one because you are going to bring this with you around the world. I will never forget that embarrassing moment when my tatty $30 suitcase broke in the middle of the street in New York City. Of course, you don’t have to buy a super expensive suitcase or travel backpack but it should be at least function-able. Take it as your traveling partner!
Those are pictures of the suitcase and backpack style that I recommend while traveling.
I usually bring one small suitcase (to carry heavy stuff like clothes, accessories, shoes, chargers, etc.) and one light theft-proof backpack (to carry important stuff or things I need more often like: laptop, camera, passport, etc.). When I arrive at the hotel, I will just lock all of my stuff in the suitcase and go out with the light backpack which only contains some necessary items like wallet, phone, passport, etc. I hardly bring my laptop with me outside the hotel because it would be too heavy and ruin my travel experience.
2. Must-pack Items
Before packing, I always write down a list of things and I need to bring and put them into different categories: must-pack items (which I cannot survive without), clothes and footwear (also important but usually buyable while traveling), and self-care items (which I need but can definitely buy later while traveling if I don’t have enough space to pack). And those are my must-pack items which I cannot survive without.
- Traveling documents (ID Card, Driver License, Passport)
- Wallet (Credit Card, Cash, Coins)
I prefer using credit cards (for the sake of my safety) during traveling. I only keep a small amount of cash just for emergent situations. These days it’s pretty convenient to withdraw cash and ATMs are basically everywhere. - Laptop
If you’re doing online side hustles to get by, of course, you cannot live without your laptop. I also use my laptop to plan my itineraries and do research before moving on to the next destination as it’s much more convenient than using phones. - Camera, Tripod, Chargers
If you are into photography, a camera is a must-have item even though it can be quite burdensome sometimes. I usually bring two cameras with me (one mirrorless FujiFilm camera for nature photography and video, one disposable film camera when just want to capture the moments and don’t want to be too invested).
For example, when I am out partying with my friends or participating in activities that require me to move a lot, I would just bring my cheap disposable camera as it would be much easier to control it. - Kindle Ebook Reader
It is impossible to read paper books if you are traveling full-time. They are heavier, cost more and you don’t have enough space to keep all the books you want to read. That’s why having an ebook reader is a good choice if you enjoy reading and don’t want to spend too much on your phone screen. - Small notebook or sketchbook
This is just a personal thing but I usually journal while traveling. I find it more interesting to jot down my thoughts on paper rather than typing on my phone. I enjoy drawing so I also keep a small sketchbook and a portable watercolor set with me while traveling. Just the fact I am a minimalist doesn’t mean that I need to get rid of my hobbies.
3. What Types of Clothes To Pack
Many people pack clothes, footwear, and accessories based on seasons and occasions.
- Basic Items
7 pairs of cotton socks and 1 pair of wool socks
10 pairs of underpants and 3 bras
1 beanie hat that can be worn during Spring, Fall, and Winter
1 pair of formal shoes that are comfortable for daily activities
1 pair of shoes for hiking or outdoor, adventurous activities - Spring or Fall
1 pair of jeans
4 basic T-shirts
1 cotton cardigan
1 light bomber jacket
1 thin knit sweater
1 extra heat-tech - Summer
1 pair of sunglasses
3 basic tank tops
3 pairs of shorts
1 camisole and 2 “air-ism” tops to help you stay cool
1 pair of silk pants
1 summer cardigan that can be worn over any tops (just in case it gets chilly at night) - Winter
3 turtle neck heat-tech sweaters
1 ultra heat-tech crew-neck sweater
1 soft knit sweater
1 comfortable hoodie
1 sweatpants and 1 heat-tech stretchable jeans
1 pair of gloves and a scarf
1 puffer jacket and 1 long coat - Special Occasions
1 pair of checked pants and 1 checked skirt (for formal events)
1 blouse and 1 white shirt
1 little black dress (for a party or hangout)
*I did not include pajamas here since I always sleep in a comfortable t-shirt and my wide silk pants (yes they can be used as pajamas as long as they are clean). You might want to bring a pair of flip-flops or a swimsuit too but I think you can find those pretty much anywhere (if you are traveling to the beach or tropical destination).
This is a picture of my current capsule wardrobe.
4. Self-care Items That You Might Want To Consider
I name this list “Self-Care Items That You Might Want To Consider” because those items are important yet they can be easily found anywhere in drugstores. That’s why it’s up to you whether to pack those or not. For me, I decided to pack those because I want to save money.
- A mini all-in-one cleanser (I use this natural cleanser for my hair, face, and body)
- Sunscreen, a mini bottle of lotion, and moisturizer (as I have dry and sensitive skin, I always have those with me)
- Deodorant, tweezer, nail-clipper (yes it’s all about hygiene)
- Basic make-up items for special occasions (eyeliner, mascara, lip gloss, blush, shadows, makeup remover)
- A small quick-dry towel (just in case they don’t provide free towels at the guesthouse)
Those are basically everything I have with me while traveling. I’d like to pack less and stay comfortable so I can truly experience the joy of traveling rather than being stressed out about stuff. If you feel like I’d missed out on any important items, please feel free to share in the comments below!
I hope you enjoyed this article. Good luck on your next trip!
