RTW Packing List for Men: 45L Backpack

Once you decide you’re ready to take this trip, the big question becomes: “What do I take with me?” I’m going to go through how I packed, which will hopefully help answer that question for you. Keep in mind, we’ve just started our travels. We’ll be sure to update this list once we get a few months in, so I can tell you what I’ve discovered after some time on the road. Also keep in mind, when trip planning, we decided to follow warmer weather for our destinations to cut down on bulk while packing, which was a huge help.

(This post is pretty detailed. If you’re not interested in reading the whole thing, scroll to the bottom for a simplified downloadable packing list.)

The Bag

Megan and I love our travel backpacks. A few years ago, after doing a bit of research on travel bags, I bought a 45L Outbreaker backpack from Tortuga and haven’t looked back since. I love how sleek it is; it has the features that are most important to me and how we travel; and I don’t have to worry about dragging a rolling suitcase across cobblestone streets anywhere I go! Keep an eye out for a more in-depth post on our Outbreaker backpacks and why we ultimately chose them over other options.

The Clothing

Clothing is obviously going to be most of what you’re taking on a trip like this. Being that we are traveling light, we invested in good quality clothing with important features (such as quick-drying and antimicrobial fabric) for items we’ll be wearing often and sometimes multiple times without being properly laundered. This typically led us to merino wool and/or synthetic fabrics.

Fair warning: These items tend to be expensive, but you have to remember how much use you will get out of them. Megan and I have been planning this trip for awhile, so we kept an eye out for good deals and sales whenever possible and received some items as gifts. Also, take some time to do a little research (or shoot us a message with a question…we’d be happy to help!) as there are typically multiple options for every budget and type of traveler. Here are the clothing items I packed:

• Swim/workout shorts (3) – I really like these Patagonia & Vuori shorts
• Casual shorts (1)
• Pants (2) – one pair of hiking pants, one pair of casual pants
• Short-sleeved T-shirt (2)
• Long-sleeved T-shirt (1)
• Long-sleeved polo (1)
• Boxer briefs (5) – these are the best I’ve found so far
• Socks (5) – Smartwool, Darn Tough, REI Farm-to-Feet, Icebreaker
• Neck gaiter
• Vest (1)
• Rain jacket (1)

Again, as I included links for these items I was reminded how expensive some of these are. Keep an eye out for deals! I definitely did not pay $100 for a Smartwool long-sleeved T-shirt; I found a deal on an Eddie Bauer wool blend that unfortunately they no longer have. That being said, I’ve taken that T-shirt soaked with sweat after a workout, hung it up to dry (no rinse…nothing) and reworn it a couple hours later. No stink, no dampness, no problem.

Note: We are returning to the US in May for some family obligations, so I plan to switch out my vest for a fleece jacket and also leave one pair of swim shorts behind. During our time in Central America, I figured the vest would suffice and extra swim trunks would be useful.

The Footwear

This one is pretty simple. I got a pair of super comfy Adidas running shoes that I can use for walking, working out, travel and easy hikes. I opted for the simple black/white color scheme. I would’ve preferred solid black/grey but they did not make this shoe in that color and comfort prevailed over style. My other pair of footwear is my Teva hiking sandals. These will be used for showering, hiking, walking, etc. I pack my sandals in my bag and wear my Adidas shoes on travel days to save space.

The Tech

I was fortunate enough to have an employer who offered for me to work remotely part-time during this trip. That made an impact particularly on the electronics we brought with us. For example, we had not planned to bring a tablet on this trip, but I brought an iPad to help with my remote work. I’ve got:

• Unlocked iPhone
• iPad Pro, Apple Pencil & keyboard case
• Kindle Paperwhite
• Bose noise-canceling earbuds
• Serious portable battery charger
• GoPro Session 5 Camera, wrist strap, Floaty, & carrying case
• Headlamp
• 2 TB external hard drive & Bluetooth mouse
• Power converter/adapter

An important thing to note here is Megan and I are traveling together, so we split up certain items. She is carrying our 2-in-1 Lenovo Yoga laptop, but I had more room for the mouse and external hard drive. Also, she is carrying the chest harness for our GoPro among other items.

The Toiletries

Megan and I each have a TSA-approved liquids bag as well as a non-liquids bag for other toiletries. Most of this stuff is the same as what you’d take on a weekend to visit your parents, so I won’t touch on the typical items like anti-perspirant and toothpaste. Instead, here are the more non-typical items I’ve packed:

• Camp soap (for washing clothes in the sink)
• Small tub of Vaseline (for dry skin and chapped lips)
• Mini first-aid kit (bandages, antibiotic ointment, steri-strips, etc.)
• Medications (pain relievers, motion sickness meds, antibiotics [Cipro], melatonin, etc.)
• Earplugs
• Chlorine tablets and water filter (for emergency water treatment)

Miscellaneous

Here we go:

• Cervical Denneroll (foam block to stretch my neck due to an old sports injury)
• Rubber workout bands
• Lacrosse ball (for self-massage & maybe a game of catch)
• Rocktape (to help w/ a recent knee injury if it flares up on the road)
• Klean Kanteen
• Packable daypack
• Paracord (for use as a laundry line or whatever else we can think of)
• Plastic spork
• A waterproof pouch (for protecting documents)
• Notebook (I really like this Nomatic one)
• Deck of cards, LCR dice game, crossword puzzle book
• Sunglasses (Shady Rays provides a good replacement plan)
• Watch (I opted for this simple one w/ dual time zones and alarm)
• Sink stopper (for washing clothes in sinks/bathtubs without drain plugs)
• Small combination lock (larger ones may not fit small hostel lockers)
• Door stop (for security in shared accommodations; Megan is carrying)
• Travel wallet (RFID-blocking wallet that fits my passport, cards, ID and cash)

As I mentioned earlier in this post, Megan and I are traveling as a team, so we have the luxury of breaking certain things up between our packs. Definitely keep that in mind if you’re solo traveling. I highly suggest giving her female packing list a skim, as she also mentions items she is carrying for both of us.

View/download Jonathan’s RTW packing list for men:

Disclaimer: None of the brands or products in this post are sponsored; we just really like their stuff. We do use affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission on items purchased from some of our links at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting Tristao Travels!

---