What Actually Made the Cut
The first time we packed for a trip together, we brought two bags each and used about half of it. These lists are what’s left after years of unpacking what we didn’t need. Built from real trips, not a checklist we found online and never tested ourselves.
Free, on purpose.
There’s a whole industry built around convincing travelers they need one more gadget, one more organizer, one more thing that promises to change how you pack. Most of it ends up at the bottom of a bag, untouched, for the entire trip.
Our packing lists are free because they’re not a funnel. They’re just the honest answer to “what do we actually bring?” If you want the deeper stuff, full itineraries and the routes we’d actually repeat, that lives in our guides. This is just the gear.
Lists by trip type
Each one is built from a real trip we’ve taken, not a generic template.
Warm Climate & Beach
What survives heat, sand, and sudden downpours.
Coming soonCold Climate & Winter
Layering that actually works, not just looks warm.
Coming soonLong-Term Backpacking
Built for weeks on the road, not a long weekend.
Coming soonCity & Short Trips
Light, fast, and easy to move through an airport with.
Coming soonTry it before the full lists land
A small preview of what makes every list, no matter the destination. The full downloadable versions, sorted by climate and trip length, are coming soon.
The full lists work the same way. Check things off online or download the PDF for offline use.
Want the first list the moment it’s live?
Get notifiedWhat’s in the bag, actually
No script, no staged flat-lay. Just what came out of our packs on a random afternoon.
@jaylonjahmal It’s crazy! Stepping into the unknown! Excited for what’s to come! #backpacking #backpackingtips #backpackinggear #southamerica
The gear that’s been everywhere with us
A rolling look at what’s actually inside the bags. Not a product shot, just what’s been through airports, hostels, and one too many overnight buses with us.
Before you ask
What have we stopped packing, and why?
Not travel pillows. Those still earn their spot. It’s more the new “must-have” travel gadgets that show up in every other video lately. Most get packed once, never touched, and come home exactly as new.
What if we forget something from the list?
It’s usually not a big deal. Most places, even ones that feel like the middle of nowhere, have a shop for the basics. These lists are built to make travel smooth, not to make you panic over one missing item.
How do we actually test these?
By using them. Nothing goes on a list because it looked good in a video. It goes on because we packed it, used it, and would pack it again.
Will we add more categories over time?
Yes. As we take more trips, we’ll keep adding lists that reflect what we actually packed for them.
Are these the same as our guides?
No. These lists cover gear. Our guides go deeper: full routes, honest recommendations, and the things we’d skip entirely.
Know what to pack. Now know where to go.
Our guides cover the routes we’ve actually traveled, with the honest calls on what’s worth it and what isn’t.
See our guides