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We are currently travelling around Asia for a year and we had to try and fit all our clothes, toiletries and gadgets into one rucksack and one backpack each. To say we struggled would be an understatement and we are still struggling to squeeze it all in even though we have used products up, make it make sense.

This isn’t going to be a checklist-type clothes list as for me they didn’t really help but more of a comprehensive guide to what I have taken with me and whether or not they’ve served me well so you can decide what you need to bring. Also, I really limited myself to actually buying anything for my trip as I had so many clothes, bikinis, and toiletries that I already knew I liked.

Clothes

Bottoms

The key to packing is versatility. I made sure that for each bottom I had multiple top options to I could mix and match easily. I’m not really a shorts wearer at home so I knew I wouldn’t wear them often whilst away. I can’t really wear them without chafing so I’d like to avoid a rash and mosquito bites. But I did pack some for lounging about and just in case I felt a bit more comfortable wearing them further into the trip. So I packed two, black, loose shorts and a denim pair so that they’d match all the tops I was bringing and so far I haven’t worn the denim ones so they might be getting donated soon. The other tourists I see are wearing shorts or short skirts but I do get bitten a lot and if you know you want to visit temples then you have to remember to bring something to cover up with.

I’m not a huge short skirt wearer anymore so I bought two skirts one long and one midi. The long one is red and patterned and was bought using a Next voucher we got for Christmas just before we started our trip, it’s such good quality and is showing no signs of wear yet. I have worn this skirt loads. I couldn’t find the exact one on the Next website but there are so many similar ones and the quality seems to be good across the board at Next. It’s so good for days when I know I need to cover up for temples or in countries that are more modest although if you do want to take a long skirt just make sure it doesn’t actually touch the floor, there are quite a few mystery liquids on the streets of South East Asia. Being able to wear skirts casually and smartly is really handy and nice for when I am feeling like I would like to look a bit more put together. I have since bought one more midi skirt that is all black from Uniqlo that is so lightweight and I actually wear it without the underskirt and some anti-chafing shorts instead. This skirt also has pockets which is amazing!

I did bring a black, satin feel midi skirt from Tesco with me and this is my fancy option for nighttime. It’s still thin and breathable but it is nice to have an outfit that I know makes me feel like I’ve put a bit more effort into and a bit special.

So far I have found that 3 pairs of trousers and working well for me. I have a hiking pair from Decathlon that was a mid-range price and I’ve worn them loads, up volcanoes, the Ha Giang Loop and long travelling days and they are so comfortable. I am able to wear any top with these trousers as well and as they are in black they are fairly versatile. My main travelling day trousers though are a pair from TikTok that are super baggy and stretchy, minus the waistband that’s a little tight, in navy. They are long yet loose and a bit heavy so I usually wear them for travelling so I’m equipped for all temperatures and I don’t have to fit them into my bag. The last pair of trousers I brought have just worn through after 3 months so although I recommend a pair of linen trousers I’d say pay a little more for a good quality pair. Mine were from H&M and I got them last minute to throw on for going to the shop or the beach just as a quick cover so they did their job, and a bit more, as I did wear them on the Ha Giang Loop. I’m not sure if I’m going to replace them to be honest as I actually fit into my fiancé’s linen trousers sand he doesn’t wear them very often.

Now I thought I’d be able to work up the motivation to work out on my trip so I packed two pairs of sports leggings. I have been on a couple of runs, some long walks and been to the gym twice so they have come in handy but I wouldn’t often wear leggings to go out in at home so I don’t wear them loads day to day. They would be great for travelling days if you have a comfy pair you like as some toilets are squat toilets and you don’t want anything too loose in those situations. They were also good to have when we have been to places that are a little colder and I want to keep my legs covered but one pair have now ripped and I will be replacing them as soon as I find a fairly cheap pair.

Tops

I chose my tops based on versatility and making sure I had options on coverage and fit. I have since bought two more tops during my trip, mainly because I just wanted to wear something different but also because one has a built-in bra which is a godsend and the other is an Airism t-shirt from Uniqlo that is super breathable and doesn’t show sweat, that is a much needed quality for clothes in South East Asia.

I made sure every top I was bringing could be worn with at least two bottoms and this has worked well for me in how quickly it takes me to get ready and how it helps me feel good about my outfits and not too bored with them. I packed two sports tops which are thin and good for keeping me cooler, especially on hikes. One of these is a short-sleeved T-shirt which I brought four of altogether that covered my shoulders so if I got sun burnt I could protect my skin, not only from the sun but also my rucksack, it’s constantly on and off and that can rub a little. I have an oversized black T-shirt that gets thrown on a lot for comfort, the other is a body suit that I wear when I want to be a bit fancier and the last one is a not-so-white anymore top that is getting worn less and less because it always looks dirty now.

I did bring vest tops so my shoulders could be out a touch but I only wear them in touristy areas or I wear I wear a shirt over top so I’m more covered. A lot of countries in Asia prefer to be more covered up, particularly the chest area so as to stand out a little less and not be disrespectful I do prefer to be more covered up, it isn’t a requirement in most places but I feel more comfortable that way and it helps to not be stared at as much.

My only possible regret is not bringing a nicer top or a more patterned one just for something a bit fancier for at night or just if I want to feel good. I have seen many people regret not bringing nicer outfits when travelling because although it is hot and sweaty during the day, it doesn’t mean you can’t look nice and still be comfortable. I have come across many tops I like whilst travelling as well but as we are in Asia the sizing is smaller than in the UK so it’s a bit of a struggle to find tops that would fit comfortably. I’m a size 10-12 UK for reference and I would have to find tops that are at least an extra large here to fit nicely.

Dresses

As a kid, I would have never been seen dead in a dress but now I wear them all the time so I was always going to bring some travelling. I brought 5, 2 long, 1 midi and 2 short and I’ve found them the perfect amount. Again the long ones are for temples or more reserved countries but they are both still light and breezy so I wear them loads. They are both colourful and patterned which I enjoy wearing but they also hide dirt well which is great when you don’t know when your next washing machine will be. The pink gingham dress was a gift from my friend and it’s perfect. The other was a last-minute buy from Tesco last summer but Tesco always has good clothing options that are good quality as well. My midi dress was actually a gift from my future mother-in-law from India and is a summer dress so was made for hot weather. It is dark green with some embellishments and it is so loose and thin and shows no sweat, it’s fantastic.

Patterns are definitely a good choice when it comes to packing dresses because my short dresses are also patterned and it massively helps in how long they last. My short green gingham dress, again from Tesco, and long pink gingham dress (I love gingham) are pretty good for hiding splatters or stains but as they are paler they are becoming more yellow. This is something to note, don’t be taking your really nice, white dress and expecting g it to stay white, everything is worn a lot which makes stuff dirty but also the water isn’t always clear, it can be clean but still slightly yellow so your clothes will turn that colour. My short blue dress is actually my sister’s old maternity dress that she didn’t wear much so I now have it and the stretchiness is fantastic. When it’s above 35 degrees the last thing I want to wear is something skin-tight and rigid. I tried to limit myself on buying new things to wear so all the dresses wear what I already had and I’m not expecting them all to make it back.

Shoes

I will probably do a whole post just about trainers and why I picked the ones I did so I’ll keep this brief. Although the fewer shoes the better I need three pairs. You could manage with one pair of trainers and one pair of flip-flops/sandals but I have liked having a pair of walking sandals as well as my Crocs. The walking sandals offer a little more support than Crocs whilst being cooler than trainers. They are from North Ridge and they were a Christmas present, I could have gone up half a size for a bit more room but there still comfy and I wore them before coming away to break them in which is important with any shoes you bring. My Crocs were also a gift, I had decided to not take mine and just pick up a pair of flip-flops whilst away but I’m glad I was given these by my friends. It was quite a squeeze to fit them in my bag but I’ve now found they fit perfectly in my side pockets. I wouldn’t recommend doing much travelling in Crocs or sandals as they can be a bit sweaty with them being plastic and if you go on sleeper buses and such you have to take your shoes off and I know I don’t want my bare feet out and about. My trainers are from Asics and I tried on so many because I had no idea what I was looking for until I tried them on and realised I needed a wide fit, something that wasn’t too soft with a pretty high arch and had good ankle support. Everyone has different feet and I know a lot of people who like Skechers, Solomans or New Balance but I have not had sore feet once in my Asics and we’ve been walking a hell of a lot.

Swimming costumes and Underwear

I used to take so many bikinis on holidays and I was so tempted to pack more but it just isn’t necessary to take 10 costumes. Even if you are swimming all the time you won’t need too many and although they are relatively small and lightweight it is still add-in got your bag. I bought 3 bikinis and 2 swimming costumes that are all slightly different. One of my swimming costumes is high coverage and thicker than the others for any time I might be going to a waterfall or any water activities so there’s no chance of falling out of it.

Underwear-wise, I based how much I packed based on us washing all our clothes every ten days so that’s how much underwear I bought. In reality, we have had laundry done more often than that but it’s a good figure. Only bring underwear you know is comfortable, there’s so much walking a d it’s hot and you just don’t want the faff of uncomfortable underwear. That’s the same with bras, I have one proper bra at home and it’s the only one I wear and it’s not worn very often. I’m lucky I can get away with not wearing a super supportive bra and it’s mainly low-impact sports bras I wear those crop top sort of ones from Primark that have lasted me ages. Socks are so easy to find whilst travelling and as I now have 4 odd socks out of 10 pairs I might have to purchase one more pair myself.

Toiletries

A big chunk of my toiletries is mad eup with contact lenses and solution. I have brought enough for one year of monthly contacts and 3 months of daily contacts so I have enough for a year and some spares. I have seen plenty of places selling contacts and solutions in the bigger cities and also some cheap places to get glasses made so unless you aren’t stopping in many big cities it’s pretty easy to replace anything if you run out. Wipes, soap and anti-bac are essential, there are many places that don’t have hand soap and, as is the same as everywhere in the world, a lot of people don’t want their hands. We brought face masks for planes, and trains and when we are ill or I’d somewhere has heavy pollution to just give us some peace of mind and we don’t want to get ill if we can help it. The first-aid kit has been helpful, not for injuries but for the tape and scissors included although we have needed some plasters. I feel like I was constantly told that sun cream, mosquito repellent and period products were hard to find but I haven’t found that to be the case. Sometimes they are very expensive but if you are desperate it’s available just watch out for anything that says brightening or whitening. I do have very sensitive skin so I made sure I took some Piz Buin allergy suncream factor 50 as I know I do not react to it and although it’s more expensive we shopped around and found it nearly half the price as everywhere else on Asos. Mosquito repellent is harder to find than sun cream but you just have to make sure you get a high deet one because those things are constant and hungry. I get bitten a lot more than my partner and he wears less repellent than I and I’m also allergic to bites and stings so I took plenty of sprays and also took allergy tablets and we found some Neosporin whilst away. I didn’t actually know you could be allergic to mosquito bites but it is so itchy and swells up so just keep an eye on any bites you get in case you are the same. The classics, Dioralyte and Immodium were packed and although we haven’t actually needed the Immodium (touch wood) we have had some Dioralyte on days where it has been super hot in India to replace some electrolytes and if we’ve done any super challenging hikes, it’s so important to stay hydrated. Now I hadn’t heard of Driclor before we were planning this trip but my partner had previously used it so we got some to see if it would help. Now sweating is an important way of cooling down your body so we aren’t looking for it to stop sweating altogether but if you sweat a lot anyway this stuff works. Just don’t use it on shaved or irritated skin because it will sting, a lot. I only brought with me one face moisturiser, one cleanser and an eye cream and I had to buy a new moisturiser and face wash whilst here because they weren’t working for me. They are the ones I usually use at home but in the intense heat and reapplication of sun cream my skin was breaking out loads. With being in the sun all day, every day there are some ingredients to avoid for your face but as everyone has different needs for the skin I wouldn’t like to recommend specific products but what you use at home might not cut it whilst travelling. I have bought a few skincare face masks and if I were to go away I’d probably say to people who asked me if I needed anything some face masks as its a nice treat and they barely take up any room. I brought other bits and bobs and we have used up a lot now so there’s a bit more room in my bag but just remember that you can get most things you need whilst you are away.

Gadgets

Ash was very much in charge of this stuff and I just added in my sunglasses and printer but we have so far used all of this. The waterproof cases are great not just for water activities but to make it easier to carry your phone. I used mine on the Ha Giang Loop when I was on the back of a bike and didn’t want my phone in my pocket. We have trackers in every bag which is a little safety net in case we lose anything or to stop any bickering about where stuff is. The bag straps lasted quite a few flights but they are now lost forever which is a shame because they kept all the straps neat on our bags, we do still put our waterproof covers over and have wires and locks to keep everything compact and safe. The fans are incredible and I’d urge you to get one for your travels, it makes such a difference on days out when you can get a bit of a breeze or in hotels that limit aircon when you are trying to sleep. The printer I brought is one I already had and it’s been great for documenting g our trip in my journal, it was a gift from my work family and it really helps to appreciate everything I’ve done so far, another great gift idea as well. Some places do have scales in the reception but a lot don’t and you do not want any extra charges on your bags when flying so we brought a fairly cheap electric scale so we can just check before getting to the airport how heavy our bags are. Ductape for us has been invaluable as it’s fixed a few holes in things and stopped any bottles leaking in our bags so I would recommend packing some.

One of the best things I have discovered since travelling is packing cubes. I love them! They make it so easy to pack, they all just slip into my bag and I can keep dirty clothes separate. The only downfall is some shave rubbish zips so I have brokn two but they still do a pretty good job and we brought spare. Some places don’t have towels so bring your own. We got microfiber ones and they are brilliant. They are huge but super lightweight and are also handy for eating instant noodles in hotel rooms to stop splashing. We have used the smaller bags for nipping out and the running belts are mainly used by Ash. The rope hasn’t come in handy many times but I guess it’s good as a just-in-case, make-shift washing line or atta thing things to our bags.

I brought my iPad with me for blogging, storage and entertainment and I’m so glad I did, my phone is so full of pictures so I can’t really get any more apps on there. We brought plenty of battery packs but I’d check the airport regulations of the countries you are going to as some places only let you carry one per person. When packing I’d also consider how many electronic items you are taking that need to go in hand luggage because a lot of airports are strict on weight so you might have to juggle your bags around to fit it all in.

Conclusion

I know I’ve rambled on but I was honestly sick of seeing checklists before going away because I don’t wear shorts very often and I wanted to actually know what I could get abroad. My main takeaways are that versatility is key with clothing, you are going to want some flexibility with outfits because they get boring quickly. If you don’t wear something at home because it is uncomfortable or doesn’t suit you then don’t bring it, it isn’t going to magically feel great whilst travelling and you won’t use it or wear it. And pack as light as possible because you have to carry it upstairs, down alleys and over uneven roads and if you do have some space in your bag you can pick stuff up along the way.

One thing that isn’t necessary, but I have enjoyed, is bringing a journal and scrapbook. They are small but I can fill them with tickets, memories and pictures. It gives me something to do when I don’t have internet and I will be able to look back at them in years to come.

Hopefully, this is helpful and helps you pack for your incredible journey to come. I have other posts coming about travelling from inspiration, to the itinerary and, of course, food.

Here are Ash’s socials and YouTube so you can also follow our journey there as well.