What to Pack: My 5 Clothing Essentials I Never Travel Without

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If you’re like me, you prefer to travel light – sticking to essentials and versatile clothing when packing. If you’re not, maybe this post will change your perspective on packing for travel (and save you money with no checked bags!).

I typically travel with my Osprey Kyte 36 L backpack. It’s my perfect travel companion because it’s lightweight, comfortable to walk with (I’m always choosing to walk over taking public transit), and fits as a carry-on (at least on all the airlines I’ve flown with).

The downside of travelling with a backpack is that you have limited clothing options, resulting in needing a little creativity when it comes to outfit options – but don’t worry! That’s why I put together a list of my absolute favourite and versatile travel clothing to give you inspiration to pack a little lighter on your next trip.

I’ve even used all of these pieces when travelling with my 24 L Herschel backpack (thank you Ryanair baggage policy) on 1+ week trips. My disclaimer is that these pieces are geared toward a warmer climate. Packing light during the winter is definitely much harder – but doable! More to come on that in a future post.

Here are my clothing essentials I never travel without:

1. Cotton Button-Down Shirt: The Ultimate Travel Layer

I feel like this one is pretty self explanatory. It’s night time and you’re a bit chilly? Button down. Need a cover up at the beach? Button down. Visiting a church and need to cover your shoulders? Button down. Need an impromptu costume for the hostel party? Button down. (Yes, I did use my button down for a nerd costume this past Halloween in Malta).

Bonus points because it’s super light weight and takes up minimal space.

2. Athletic Skort: Comfy, Cute & Versatile for Travel

I’m so glad that skorts came back into style and that so many clothing brands are selling them! For this one I would suggest either going for a classic black or white one.

The one I’ve been wearing for years is white and from Lululemon (pretty sure they’ve discontinued it now) but it unfortunately got ruined in wash. The first time I wore it out on a trip I spilt a drink all over the side of it – so if you’re prone to messes, maybe a black one is for you. In terms of versatility, I love wearing it when I’m out for the day because the built in shorts prevents chafing.

They’re perfect for any type of hike or athletic activity you may catch yourself in and cute enough to wear on a hostel pub crawl.

3. Thrifted Sweater or Fleece: Cozy & Low-Risk

Specifically, a sweater or a fleece you don’t care too much about. Extra points if you’ve thrifted it (like I did with this fun squirrel fleece).

In general, for most of the clothes I travel with, I like to bring things that I wouldn’t mind if they got lost or ruined. That doesn’t mean I don’t like to look cute and wear new clothes while travelling, I just rather not bring an expensive Patagonia sweater and risk it go missing.

Bringing a sweater or a fleece is an absolute must when travelling. What else would you wear on travel days otherwise? It also doubles as a makeshift pillow for those uncomfy bus or train rides.

4. Black Tank Top: The MVP of My Travel Wardrobe

This one is pretty specific – but hear me out. I wear this tank top on literally every single trip.

I think I bought it from Forever 21 back in high school and it’s still going strong. It goes with literally any outfit (and every piece of clothing I’ve already mentioned).

I wear it to the beach, on a night out, under my sweater on travel days – I literally wear it for everything.

5. Teva Sandals: Lightweight, Packable & Hostel-Proof

My Teva sandals are an absolute essential when I’m travelling, especially when I’m staying in a hostel. A little piece of advice: always wear some type of sandal or flip-flop in a hostel shower.

The versatility of Teva sandals are unmatched. I use them for a beach day, short hikes, walks around the city, and showers.

When I travel I usually only take 2 pairs of shoes: sneakers or boots (depending on the weather) and my Tevas. I currently own a white pair of Original Universal sandals, but I think I will eventually upgrade to the Hurricanes.

The white colour definitely gets dirty – especially from sand, so if you’re not into that, I would recommend getting a black pair.

TL;DR — My 5 Travel Clothing Essentials

• Cotton button-down shirt
• Athletic skort (black or white)
• Thrifted sweater or fleece
• Black crew neck tank top
• Teva sandals

Overall, these are the 5 clothing items that I’ve brought with me on everything adventure since I bought my backpack back in 2022. So whether you’re trying to pack lighter, survive an airline baggage allowance, or just want to stop overpacking “just in case” outfits (guilty), I hope this list gave you a few ideas.

These five pieces have seriously earned their place in my backpack, and I’m always on the lookout for more travel-friendly staples.

Got a ride-or-die clothing item you never leave behind? Drop it in the comments or shoot me a message – I’d love to hear your travel clothing essentials!