How to Pack for 8 Weeks in SE Asia in a Backpack

We were fortunate enough to be able to go on an 8 week adventure through SE Asia this past fall. Here, we will walk you through how to pack for 8 weeks in SE Asia in a backpack. What you should prioritize versus what can stay behind, and whether or not it worked out as well as we hoped. This picture below is how we carried our bags through the airport. Hands free!

One of the major things that we wanted, was to pack only what we could in our Osprey travel backpacks and Travsessed backpacks. The idea of lugging around a roller bag or suitcase through rocky streets, dirt, sand, water, and whatever else, did not appeal to us. So, we laid out all of clothes and figured out what we really needed versus what could stay behind.

The Bags

Osprey Farpoint 55L Travel Backpack

First up, our Osprey Farpoint 55L travel backpacks. Awhile back, when we knew we wanted to plan a long international trip, we decided to invest in high quality travel backpacks. We had heard so much about how annoying it is to try a lug a roller bag across the cobble stone streets of old Europe, or the beaches of Bali, or the mountains of Patagonia. To say that these bags have been worth the investment, is a MASSIVE understatement.

Clearly, it being a backpack is a huge benefit of it. But, what comes with that, is the ability to fit it in the overhead bin. Meaning you do not need to check a bag and risk it being lost, delayed, or whatever. This worked well for us on our long haul flights from DFW to Bali, and Manila back to SF. We had all of our bags with us, and were able to make our way to customs right away. Now, this did not work for us on our flights within SE Asia, because all of the airlines are strict on their 7kg carryon weight. So, for those flights, the Osprey bags got checked.

These backpacks can seriously fit a ton of stuff! When combined with the Veken packing cubes we use, we were able to fit about 2 weeks worth of clothes each. Even when these bags are loaded up as much as they can, the straps and support system make it very comfortable to carry around. 10/10 would recommend these backpacks to anyone interested a travel backpack!

Quick note, we did not use the day pack that comes with the Farpoint. Instead we used our more versatile and convenient Travsessed backpacks. Read more below.

Travsessed 3-in-1 Travel Backpack

This backpack is literally designed for international travel. Anyone that has traveled internationally knows how many times you need to bust out that passport and show it. It can definitely be a hassle if it is tucked away in your deep in your backpack, and you do not want to just stuff it in your pocket as you go through the airport. This backpack has an anti-theft RFID passport holder on the strap, so it is super easy to access and keep safe. You can also use this holder as your wallet because it has slots for credit cards, ID, or hotel keys.

The size of the backpack is also very functional as well. We were able to easily fit quite a bit in there comfortably. The various pockets, zippers, etc. make for handy spots to store all your stuff. It is also packable, and folds into itself to about the size of a stuffed sandwich. Another backpack that we would highly recommend for anyone planning on international travel.

This also acted as our day pack to hold all the things on our adventures.

What We Packed

Clearly, when you are packing for an 8 week adventure in backpacks, you need to prioritize things. SE Asia having warm weather really made this doable for us. Earlier in the year we did Chilean Patagonia for 2 weeks and packed the same bags, but the bulky cold weather stuff takes up so much space. I won’t bore you with an exact list of everything we brought, but more of a general outline on what we thought was important.

Shoes

We each brought the same for this: 1 pair of Rainbow sandals, 1 pair of Chacos sandals, 1 pair of tennis shoes. Except Erin also brought a pair of flats.

The tennis shoes were mainly for travel days (take up less space in the bag), exercise, and if we were doing a lot of walking in the city. The Rainbows and Chacos were definitely worn the most. The Chacos came in very handy with anything water related that was not just going to hang out on the beach, as well as hiking and cliff jumping. We would highly recommend some sort of water shoe/sandal if you are going to be adventuring in to the jungle or the water.

Shorts/Pants/Bottoms

Both of us love our “athleisure” type clothes, so this is the majority of what we brought. Since we were planning on being pretty active and moving basically every day, this made sense. I brought a couple of pairs of chino shorts for times we were going to be a little more chill when going out. Erin did the same with some jean shorts. Nothing too crazy, mostly just wanted to be comfortable while being active in the hot and humid weather. Overall, I believe I brought 7-8 shorts total, and felt like that was a good amount. We both brought 1 pair of jeans, and a pair of sweats for travel and/or the temples that require long pants.

Swimwear/Bikini/Board Shorts

For guys, it is pretty simple. Pretty much any of my shorts could end up being swim trunks. I did have a couple of pairs of actual board shorts, which dry faster, so it makes it easier. Erin brought a few bikini options. She specifically brought some options from “Left on Friday” because they are designed to be an active type of bikini. Since we planned on surfing, snorkeling, swimming, etc., these worked out well for her, and she would recommend to others.

Shirts/Tops/Jackets

There were a few things to think about for what shirts I wanted to bring, other than just looking good. MOISTURE WICKING. It is so humid there, I was sweating before 9AM almost every day. So, a shirt that can help cool you off is important. I would not recommend much in terms of cotton shirts, but you do you. Another thing I wanted to consider was SUN PROTECTION. I knew we would have some long days out in the sun, so I brought a few long sleeve shirts that we ventilated. I am fair skinned, so I can burn quickly. These kinds of shirts really helped prevent any real bad sunburns on the trip.

I brought one 1/4 zip jacket that is pretty light. It was not cold very often other than in the AC, so it worked for me. Erin runs a little colder, so she brought a light option and a warmer option. Each of us also brought a hat for some more sun protection.

Underwear/Socks

Our goal was to go about 1.5-2 weeks between laundry trips. I always pack more than I expect I will need. I do this for every trip, even a 2 day trip I will bring way too many pairs. Just in case. So, pack enough to get you from one laundry trip to the next. Same with socks. This should be pretty easy.

“Nice Clothes”

This trip was not about dressing up and going fancy places. But, we knew there would be times that we would want to look nicer. So we each packed a couple of options. I brought one button up shirt and one polo. Erin brought a couple nice/casual dresses and tops.

Toilettries

Of course, everything has to be under 3 ounces when flying. Usually that is not an issue. But, 8 weeks can make that 3 ounces a little more difficult to stretch that whole time. We each packed the basics, and some of the hotels/homestays we stayed at had options to use theirs. It ended up working out better than I anticipated, and I had some left over by the time we got back. One thing we wish we had more of was lotion. Some of the showers and soaps we used made our skin really dry, and it was difficult to find a small bottle there.

The one thing that Erin had to consider more, was her shampoo and conditioner. She has a lot more hair than I do, so it is a bit more of a challenge. In her research, she found Viori shampoo and conditioner bars, that we both ended up really enjoying. And they lasted the whole 8 weeks!

Electronics/Chargers/Etc…

In terms of our electronics, we tried to keep it light as well. They can really add weight quickly, so we tried to really prioritize what was essential. Here is a list of what we brought:

• Cell phones and chargers, duh
• Laptop to help with research, do any work needed for next contract back home, and booking hotels, excursions, etc…
• GoPro HERO11 for all of our action videos. Along with a small tripod and mounts for head, chest, wrist, etc…
• International Travel Adapter, this thing is a lifesaver. It has worked all over North and South America, as well as SE Asia
• Anker Power Banks: 10000 mAh, 26800 mAh
• Garmin watch, USB-C, micro-USB charging cables. Luckily, multiple of the cables that are used frequently, because we had some breakage.

To conclude, we tried to bring as much stuff as we could, but stuffed into two backpacks. With just enough extra space to buy small souvenirs and what not for friends and family back home.

Reach out to us if you have any questions, and follow us on Instagram @acoupleoftravelingpts

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