The Perfect Packing List for Every Trip

Published June 21, 2022

Written by:

Nick Hilton
Nick Hilden
Nick Hilton

Pacific Northwest native Nick Hilden is a travel and culture writer whose work has appeared in Afar, the Daily Beast,...

Edited by:

Fred Perrotta
Fred Perrotta
Fred Perrotta

Fred Perrotta is the co-founder and CEO of Tortuga. His first backpacking trip to Europe inspired him to start the...

packing a travel backpack

The Tortuga Promise

At Tortuga, our mission is to make travel easier. Our advice and recommendations are based on years of travel experience. We only recommend products that we use on our own travels.

Whether it’s your first trip or your fiftieth, it’s all too easy to forget something at home. Suddenly you’re walking around your destination searching for a phone charger when what you really should be doing is enjoying your adventure.

The solution is a packing list that you can check before heading to the airport.

If you need a packing list for a weekend trip, a road trip, or general wanderlust, we’ve got the travel checklist you’re looking for.

Packing Lists by Luggage Type

Know what and how to pack each type of bag you’ll be bringing on your trip. If you’re traveling carry-on-only, you’ll have your carry on, an optional personal item, and a toiletry bag (in your carry on or personal item).

Travel Backpacks
Laptop Backpack
Travel Bags for Women
4.7
4.5
4.7
Travel Backpacks
Laptop Backpack
Travel Bags for Women

Best Packing Gear

Having the wrong gear can ruin your trip. Fred and Jeremy, the co-founders of Tortuga, learned this the hard way on a backpacking trip to Europe in 2009. After two weeks of traveling with the wrong luggage, they came back to the States and launched the first-ever travel backpack company.

Packing Lists by Trip Type

Not every trip includes a flight and a week abroad. Below are some situational packing lists for shorter trips like a weekend getaway, a road trip, or a wedding.

Types of Trips

Special Occasions

Packing List for Seasons

Packing Lists By Location

Your packing list will change depending on where you’re going. Your clothing needs in the tropics, for example, are very different from your needs in Scandanavia. Be sure to consider the specific requirements of your destination.

Below you’ll find destination-specific packing lists to help get you started. Our readers’ favorite destinations are below.

Travel Backpacks
Laptop Backpack
Travel Bags for Women
4.7
4.5
4.7
Travel Backpacks
Laptop Backpack
Travel Bags for Women

Asia Pacific Packing Lists

Europe Packing Lists

North and Central America Packing Lists

Africa Packing Lists

Middle East Packing Lists

Antarctica Packing Lists

Other Helpful Resources

Nick Hilton

Nick Hilden

Pacific Northwest native Nick Hilden is a travel and culture writer whose work has appeared in Afar, the Daily Beast, the Los Angeles Times, Men’s Health, Fodor’s, Popular Science, Scientific American, Thrillist, Vice, Runner’s World, and many, many more. He’s carried a Tortuga Outbreaker through year after year of traveling to places like Turkey, Tunisia, Thailand, Vietnam, Spain, Serbia, France, Italy, Greece, Mexico, all across the U.S., and beyond. You can follow his travels via Instagram @nick.hilden.

Read more from Nick

Bring everything you need without checking a bag.

Find the perfect pack for your next trip

Shop Travel Backpacks Take the quiz