A first-time long-term traveler posted their complete packing list to r/onebag before a multi-continent journey from Vietnam to Nepal to Europe. The detailed breakdown—including mouth tape for better sleep and emergency antibiotics—sparked 38 comments offering gentle advice on what to ditch.
The list is a masterclass in what NOT to pack for long-term travel, presented with the earnest over-preparation that every first-timer recognizes.
The traveler packed thoughtfully: a 45L Nemo Women's Persist backpack weighing 9.3kg total, with convertible hiking pants, a Patagonia R1 fleece, a Grayl water purifier, film camera, merino layers, and—this is where it gets interesting—two rolls of tape (one for mouth-taping during sleep).
Experienced travelers responded with the empathy of people who've made the same mistakes:
"You have SEVEN shirts for long-term travel. You'll wear two of them 90% of the time and wish you'd left the other five at home," wrote one commenter.
Another gently noted: "The film camera is a beautiful idea. But carrying film, developing costs, and the weight? You'll resent it by week three. Your phone camera is better than you think."
The most common first-timer mistakes in the packing list:
Too many clothes. Seven shirts, four pants, and five pairs of underwear is reasonable for a two-week trip. For undetermined long-term travel, it's double what you need. You'll find laundry everywhere. Pack for 3-4 days, not weeks.
"Just in case" items. The extra fleece. The backup socks. The convertible pants that can be shorts. You'll use your favorite items 80% of the time and carry the rest as dead weight.
Heavy "nice to have" gear. The film camera is romantic. The Grayl water filter is overkill in most of Asia and Europe where bottled water costs $0.50. The 1L Nalgene bottle is heavy compared to collapsible options.
Overpacking toiletries and first aid. The detailed medication list (loperamide, paracetamol, anti-emetics, antibiotics) reads like preparing for a jungle expedition. You can buy Imodium anywhere on Earth. The antibiotics might be useful, but everything else is available locally.
Backup everything. Spare phone. Extra cables. Multiple dry bags. First-timers pack for disaster. Experienced travelers trust they can solve problems on the road.
The most telling item: two rolls of tape. One is special tape for mouth-taping during sleep (apparently it improves breathing and sleep quality). The other is general use. Combined weight: maybe 100 grams. Psychological weight: "What if I can't sleep without this?"
One commenter addressed this perfectly: "The mouth tape question tells me you're worried about maintaining routines on the road. You won't. You'll adapt. That's the whole point. If you really can't sleep without it, you'll find tape in Nepal. I promise."
What experienced travelers recommended keeping:
Quality base layers. The merino shirts and socks are smart. They perform well and pack small.
Rain jacket. Essential. Patagonia quality will last the journey.
Headphones and power bank. Non-negotiable for digital-age travel.
First aid basics. Band-aids, anti-diarrheal, pain reliever. The rest you can buy if needed.
Packing cubes and dry bags. Organization makes small-pack living manageable.
What to lose before departure:
Half the shirts. Keep three max. You'll buy a local shirt in Vietnam or Nepal within a week anyway.
The extra pants. Hiking pants and one lightweight option is enough. The linen pants will barely get worn.
Film camera. Hard truth: unless you're a serious photographer willing to prioritize this over everything else, digital is better for long-term travel.
Heavy water bottle. Get a collapsible bottle or accept that buying water is fine.
Backup phone. Travelers have managed for decades without this. If your phone breaks, you buy a cheap local one.
One veteran traveler summarized the philosophy: "Pack for two weeks, not two years. You're going to cities, not Antarctica. Everything you need exists where you're going. The skill isn't bringing everything—it's adapting when you don't have something."
The best travel isn't about the destination - it's about what you learn along the way. And the first lesson of long-term travel is always the same: you don't need as much as you think. Half the weight, double the freedom.
