So I am looking into doing another budget backpacking trip because…well just because I guess. I’m thinking I’d like to see the rest of SE Asia and Asia in the next few months and I’ve decided to try and set myself the challenge of doing the whole thing with only my 30L backpack and not my 70L bag.
So to anyone who has any advice for me in regards to how to achieve this I’d be glad to hear it. I am pretty good at going with less is better, I’ve read a few blogs already that have advice on the matter but any additional advice on
- Essential tips to packing
- Essential items to pack
- Experiences doing a trip like this
- Which size backpack would be ideal (I have a 30L but i’m not against looking into bigger)
- Any additional items I should have to make this easier (compartments etc)
Please let me know below
As always I’d love to hear stories of your times travelling this way so feel free to lay anecdotes on me.
Peace
Mistakes & Adventures 
It’s summer time in SEA…. you need a lot of clothes and mosquito repellant.
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I have heaps of Deet repellent, i’ll see how much clothing I can fit 🙂 Thank you
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Yeah it’s going to be hot so unless you don’t mind doing laundry every few days you’re going to need a decent amount of clothes (atleast more tops). I use luggage separators that you can get on amazon for $15-20 USD. Or I’d look into vacuum sealed bags those are cheap as well and save a TON of space.
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Thank you! I’ll look into them 🙂
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Wishing you all the very best for your upcoming travel adventure.Have loads of fun!
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I will certainly try 🙂
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Compartmentize and segregate with these Vaccum bags for ease of unpack and repack. Yes definitely have more light clothes such as tank tops which does not take up more space. You do need a sweater though if you intend to get to the highlands.
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I was just going to pack everything cotton that I owned haha
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Anyway there will be places for laundry unless you are out in the country…which like anywhere will be a challenge!
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Have you been to Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines before? If so, any tips?
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Well, not backpacking. So cannot help much there! Did recall following someone who wrote a fair bit about backpacking around southeast Asia though.Let you know if we find the source!
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Thank you 🙂
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Hi! Sounds like a good challenge – best of luck with it!! I actually have a few posts which detail everything I pack/how much/how to pack it. I have one on essentials, toiletries and how I pack it all here: https://aletterfromlou.com/2016/05/30/travel-essentials/ . I use the Osprey 55L. I thought I had a post on it but it turns out I don’t – oops! I love this bag – don’t think I could go as low as 30L but I admire you if you manage it! It opens like a suitcase but is worn as a rucksack. It’s really amazing.
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Hello ! Thank you i’ll have a look at them now 🙂 Yeah I have a 70L backpack that sounds exactly like your Osprey, and I could quite simply forgo all of this by taking it but I think I’d rather the challenge haha.
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Yeah go for the challenge! You probably wouldn’t need all the stuff you would take in 70L anyway!
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Nowhere near it! So I’ve read your article, and it’s pretty clear I need a toiletries bag, and compartment bags – thanks for your help.
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No problem! Good luck!
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Just as important as how heavy your bag is is how fast you travel. The faster you go the more you miss and the lighter you have to go. I hope you didn’t mean to say you plan to do all of Asia in a few months. You’d need a year to do Asia. It took me 3 months to travel SE Asia and I skipped Vietnam, Burma, most of Malaysia and the main islands of Indonesia. Borneo was a separate monthlong trip.
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No way haha I was thinking Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, China, Mongolia, Myanmar and Hong Kong
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Make sure you leave some room. If you are travelling through Vietname, especially Hoi An, you can get some incredible clothing tailor made. You should also try to get to Halong Bay and stay overnight on a Junk boat. It was a fantastic experience.
Make sure you remember to pack clothing for both warm and cold weather. The further north you go the colder it will get (depending on what time of the year you go).
Have a fantastic trip!
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Wow what a great adventure! I’m sure you will master this challenge to travel lighter 🙂 My most useful item on any backpacking trip: long string (to hang the laundry you hand washed) a small foldable light ( for reading and playing cards in places with no/barely electricity) and duck tape (fixes basically everything :D)
I would love to nominate you for the “Liebster Blog award” 🙂 If you are interested in it, drop me a message on my blog or via mail at: Braun_Franzi@web.de
Happy preparing for you 😛
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Those are really helpful thank you 🙂 I hope I do master it without any glitches haha. I sent you an email 🙂
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I’ve only been as far as S.India several times, and you don’t really need to take much clothing at all when travelling there because you pick up wonderful stuff there for a fraction of the price and made either right there for you, or ready made. And it’s wonderful to own clothing from these countries in the East.
Have a wonderful journey!
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Great tip! I might take clothes I don’t care about and happily toss them if I find lovely garments from wherever I am haha
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Brilliant idea 🙂
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I’ve only ever hiked in the mountains for 2 or 3 days and nights at a time. I suppose the only advice is pack light, dry food, not too many clothes. That’s it! Good luck and happy back-packing!
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If you are going to India, I would advise wearing a mask in cities.
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Great tip! Hadn’t thought of it even after seeing it all over Japan. Thank you 🙂
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Hey, have you sorted this yet? I downgraded this year to the Osprey Farpoint 55L which is great as it unzips all the way arounf so you can access the backpack like a suitcase and see clearly what is in there. I have found it great so far and it fits into the hand luggage! Check it out, hope it might be useful
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