- I'm taking a trip around the world that will have me traveling for many months on end as Business Insider's International Correspondent.
- I wanted to bring only a carry-on suitcase and a backpack so I could travel lighter and avoid baggage fees on the numerous flights I'll be taking.
- Most of the packing lists I found online were ridiculously minimalist. I couldn't afford to be, with travel plans ranging from business meetings to hiking trips.
- Packing properly required a lot of planning to make sure all the travel essentials I need.
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I'm taking a trip around the world with only a carry-on suitcase — here's everything I packed
I'm taking a trip around the world with only a carry-on suitcase Here's my entire packing list for everything from business meetings to hiking trips.
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I'll be spanning Beijing's frosty early spring to Hanoi's sweltering summer and situations ranging from boardroom meetings with executives at Chinese tech startups to hiking China's Zhangjiajie National Forest Park (the mountains the 2009 film Avatar was based on).
With all that in mind, I decided to eschew the minimalist mantra of the backpackers of the world and go maximalist.
Consider this carefully planned packing list my Watch The Throne.
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I'm going to take a ton of flights, so I don't want to deal with checking baggage. I decided to bring a carry-on and a backpack for efficiency.
Packing the carry-on was a lot easier using packing cubes to keep things organized.
While I rarely buy travel-size toiletries, a few items like moleskin and Gold Bond can make long trips far more enjoyable.
Specialty travel undergarments like those made by ExOfficio can make it a lot easier to pack light.
(1) Uniqlo Sprz NY Pocketable Parka: It's a rain jacket that folds up into a tiny bag. Perfect for travel.
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(2), (3) Hanes ComfortSoft Boxer Briefs
(4) ExOfficio Give-N-Go boxers: These boxers are lightweight, durable, and can be washed and dried in a matter of hours, making them the perfect travel companion.
(5), (6) Uniqlo AIRism boxers: ExOfficio boxers are great, but expensive. I'm hoping these Uniqlo boxers, which have a lot of the same features (quick drying, anti-microbial, etc), will offer similar performance.
(7), (8), (9), (11) Black athletic socks
(10) Black silk Tie: A black tie matches with just about anything and is just as appropriate in party wear as business attire.
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I pick pants, and shorts, that serve multiple purposes.
(1) 14th and Union navy blue trousers: These might be the most comfortable pants I've ever owned. Seriously. They feel like pajama bottoms.
(2) Outlier New Way Shorts: These shorts are super expensive, but they look stylish and promise to be useable for athletics and swimming. I'm excited to put them through their paces.
(3) Levi 511 Slim Fit Jeans: These are the only jeans I've been wearing for the last two years. They are super comfortable, stylish, have just the right amount of give, and come in a variety of washes and colors.
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I try to stick to neutral tones that match with lots of different pants and shorts, like gray, blue, and black.
(3) Banana Republic button-down
(4) - (14) Five t-shirts, one RBX Active workout t-shirt and one long-sleeve Henley shirt, and one Uniqlo HEATTECH long-sleeve shirt.
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Here's what my carry-on suitcase looked like once it was all packed up and ready to go.
I purposely picked a backpack that could carry a lot of extra equipment. As a photographer and journalist, it's hard to travel light. Particularly when you are on assignment.
(20) More pens, and a highlighter
(22) Fuji W126S Batteries
(23) Hakuba Card Wallet — For storing my SD cards after I fill them up with photos.
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Every piece of clothing I picked, from my boots to my pants, had a particular purpose in mind.
(8) Passport
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