The Things We Carry

This isn’t your typical packing list. We are full-time nomads who live in a different place each month - usually an Airbnb or other furnished rental. So when we pack for “moving days,” we’re packing everything we own.

Like most nomads, we travel light. But we’re not roughing it in the wilderness! It’s usually easy to purchase supplies locally when needed. We’re not extravagant, either - we live minimally but comfortably. To make moving days easier, we have curated and pared our possessions to just the essentials, plus a few small indulgences that help us to feel at home wherever we are.

Nomads love to read and share packing lists. So here is ours, with links where available for anyone curious about the details. (♻️ = eco-friendly)

Luggage

Steve and I are in the no-checked-bags camp, so each of us has one carry-on and one personal item. I use the packing skills I learned from decades of work travel. I try to put everything in the same place each time, as it helps ensure nothing gets left behind.

My Away Carry-on (in limited-edition violet) is still going strong after 8+ years. I tried using a travel backpack, but I’m a small person, and carrying it was too hard. So I have gone back to a carry-on with wheels. Steve uses an Amazon Basics travel backpack.
We have both become packing cube converts! I love keeping things organized in my carry-on. I don’t typically need to use the compression feature, but it’s nice to know it’s there. I use one cube in my daypack for 1-2 day excursions.
I use an Away Daypack, in the original minimalist design, with a sleeve that fits over my carry-on handle. Steve has a travel guitar (half-size, carbon fiber) in a nylon case.
We each have a small bag that packs small or flat, for use at our destination. They are great for walking tours, long hikes, day trips, and more. I have a Baggu Crescent Bag , and Steve has an Eagle Creek foldable backpack.

Technology

We’re nomads moving from place to place, not tourists on perpetual vacation. We may be retired, but we’re still very much online. So we carry all our devices with us. My pro-tip for technology is to choose one ecosystem for all travelers and stick with it. This way you can share accessories and passwords, track one another’s devices, and so on. We happen to be an Apple family.

We both have iPhones. (I get a new one every 2-3 years, and give Steve my old one.) I have a Bandolier phone case that holds an ID and credit card, and a crossbody strap that keeps my phone secure. I use the detachable accessory case for earbuds, lip balm, and a bit of “just-in-case” cash in local currency. I don’t need a handbag any longer!
We each have a 13” MacBook My daypack has a laptop sleeve, so I don’t need a separate case.
I’m still carrying my Kindle, though this may get left behind soon because I prefer listening to audiobooks nowadays. Steve has an iPad mini.
We bring our Apple TV with us everywhere. The screensaver is set up to randomly display our family photos, to make each new place feel more like home.
I like Beats Fit Pro earbuds, which have good sound and noise cancellation and stay securely in my ears when I’m walking. Steve loves his AirPods.
I have an Apple charger block with two ports for my laptop and phone, and an Anker Nano charger to use by the bed, both with fold-away prongs. I have one cord each for laptop and smartphone, a spare 2-meter cord, and a couple of super-short ones for charging earbuds and power banks. Everything goes in a small Muji nylon pouch.
I like this power strip best for its compact size and USB-A and USB-C ports. It is totally worth the space it takes up in my bag because 1) hotel rooms and rentals rarely have enough outlets in the right places, and 2) when outside the US, I need only one plug adapter to charge multiple devices.
I carry two of the type(s) needed for where we’re living, one for the power strip and one for the Apple TV. Country-specific plug adapters are smaller and cheaper than “universal” travel adapters, and it’s easy to buy more at the destination if needed.
My carry-on has a power bank. I also carry a super-slim miisso power bank with built-in USB-C and lightning cords.
We stash an AirTag in each of our bags. Occasionally we’ll be required by regional airlines to check our carry-on bags due to small aircraft.

Clothing

We each have just one week’s worth of clothing. I can mix and match all of my tops and bottoms! I like thin, durable fabrics that pack flat and line dry quickly - most of my clothes come from REI. We follow good weather, so I don’t carry a winter coat. If needed, I can stay warm with layers. Note, weekly washing makes clothes wear out faster, though I usually get tired of something before that happens.

I have four of the same REI running shirt in assorted colors, two black shirts with different necklines, and one long-sleeved black shirt that I can layer over the others. Black shirts can be dressed up easily with a necklace or scarf. I’m testing a merino wool shirt; I like its odor-resistance, but it takes longer to line-dry (and was expensive).
I have two pairs of Prana Koen hiking pants (gray and khaki) and one pair of palazzo pants in a black and white print for dressier occasions. Everything has a stretchy waistband and roomy pockets. For warmer weather, I swap out a pair of pants for REI running short tights and/or an Athlete skort.
I have one sleeveless top‍ and one ‍long-sl eeve shirt that double as nightshirts and base layers. They’re soft and warm and bit of a splurge, but totally worth it
I have 8 Chantelle hipster panties and 4 True & Co. wireles s bras that are very light and comfortable, hand wash easily in a bathroom sink, and
I like wearing my Rhone full-zip hoodie on moving days for softness and flexible temperature control. I also have a baby alpaca cardigan I bought in Peru. I love functional souvenirs!
My REI rain jacket is stretchy and breathable, packs small, and layers easily over my sweater or hoodie. It doubles as a windbreaker or extra layer for warmth.
My Sunday Afternoon fedora shields me from sun and rain and squishes flat when not needed. I also have a favorite baseball cap for variety.
I have 2 pairs of Smartwool hiking socks, which are warm and breathable and can be worn repeatedly without smelling! I also have 3 pairs of Wrightsocks double-layer quarter socks because they line dry more quickly than the wool ones.
My On waterproof trail runners have taken me from city streets to mountaintops. My Keen hiking sandals are great for hot weather and can be worn with socks if it’s cold and my other shoes need a break. On Moving Days, I wear the trail runners and pack the sandals.

Personal Care

I could streamline my personal care products to lighten my load, but for now I’m carrying some of my favorite things.

I carry 90-days’ worth of prescription meds and get refills as needed along the way. I transfer the pills to smaller bottles and attach the original adhesive labels. I also use a 7-day travel case to help me keep track. I carry a few over-the-counter medications - pain relievers, motion sickness tablets, and antihistamines - in small resealable pouches.
I have a rainbow-colored Quip Sonic toothbrush that I love. I carry an extra brush head and replace it every three months. Sure, it’s heavier than a plastic toothbrush, and I have to bring the charging cord as well, but I use less plastic and am a better brusher. Worth it!
The nifty Culo Clean is awesome! It’s a small plastic cap that fits almost any plastic bottle, thanks to rubber rings and smart design. Just tilt the bottle and squeeze for an angled stream of water. Voilà! You’ll feel clean and fresh and use less toilet paper. A proper bidet or toilet attachment would be better of course, but for nomads, this ingenious little gadget is the next best thing.
I refill 50ml plastic travel bottles with my favorite haircare products. Face cream goes in a similar plastic jar. My favorite deodorant and sunscreen are travel-sized and last for many months. I’m less choosy about toothpaste and body lotion and buy them wherever we are. All my toiletries go in a clear zipper case.
My detangling hairbrush is full-sized but very light. I also have a razor with a travel case, replacement blades, a nail clipper, a glass nail file, and a pair of tweezers.
We purchase bar soap locally and use a Soap Saver to make it last longer. These small, light pads come in multi-packs, so you can give some to your friends.

Household Items

These items take up very little room in our bags and make life easier, greener, and/or more pleasant.

I carry two of these compact night lights with folding prongs and adjustable brightness. They keep us safe when using the bathroom in the middle of the night.
These HeySunday laundry detergent sheets are unscented and dissolve in cold water. Thirty sheets take up very little space and will last us 3+ months. For hand-washing in the bathroom sink, I just tear off a portion of a sheet.
I have one bag with compartments for lingerie, a small one for bras, and a larger one to hold dirty clothes.
I dislike smelly kitchen sponges. I prefer to have a fresh Swedish dishcloth
each time we move to a new place (usually once a month). These can also be used as cleaning cloths in lieu of paper towels.
Airbnbs never seem to have these, but they are very handy for keeping food fresh. We carry 4-5 of these coated metal clips. They can double as clothespins in a pinch.
Cotton or linen napkins may sound like an indulgence, but they are eco-friendly and so much nicer to use than paper.
We have two foldable totes that squish down small and fit easily in Steve’s pocket. Our favorite bag is no longer available, so when we lost one we replaced it with this Nanobag.
I carry this 0.5L City Bottle with the Tampa skyline. It’s made from sugar cane, and there are designs for many cities around the world. For every bottle purchased, 100L of drinking water are donated.