The Ultimate Solo Trip Packing List

Traveling alone is already nerve-wracking without the added worry of distinguishing what you want to pack and what you need to pack. After traveling solo, you will not only find your groove in making reservations and tourist plans for one, but will also filter through a lot of unnecessary buys. As someone who's spent much of the last few years hopping on planes and visiting new places by myself, I’ve most certainly fallen victim to those aforementioned excess buys. 

I’ve flown to San Antonio, Texas to celebrate Día De Los Muertos, relaxed beside a luxury pool in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, and lived in Florence, Italy for months at a time. With various countries under my belt, it's safe to say that I’ve clocked a lot of solo travel time, which has made me extremely comfortable heading to an unknown city, state, or country on my own. 

I’ve learned that you want to travel light while factoring in maximum comfort, functionality, and safety — especially as a female solo traveler on that last point. Plus, staying organized is a must. Keep reading to see which essential items I always pack and what to leave behind for a solo trip.

Packing Checklist for Solo Traveling

You already know that you need your passport, important identification documents, and to check airport security guidelines before flying. Whether you're a seasoned solo traveler or embarking on a solo trip for the first time, there are products that you are bound to not have thought of ahead of time. That’s why we put together the ultimate packing list for venturing alone so you can prepare your backpacks well in advance.

Tech

• Best Earbuds: Samsung Galaxy Buds2 True Wireless Earbuds 
• Best eReader: Amazon Kindle Paperwhite
• Best Portable Charger: Anker Portable Charger
• Best Outlet Adapter: Epicka Universal Travel Adapter
• Best Headlamp: Black DiamondSpot 400 Headlamp

Bags

• Best Carry-on Backpack: Cotopaxi Allpa 35 L Travel Pack
• Best Anti-theft Bag: Arden Cove Carmel Convertible Backpack and Crossbody
• Best Money Belt: Molarun Travel Money Belt
• Best Card Holder: Baggallini RFID Card Case
• Best Passport Wallet: Lo & Sons Magnolia Leather Wallet

Accessories

• Best Packing Cubes: Calpak Packing Cubes Set of 5
• Best Personal Safety Device: She’s Birdie Personal Safety Alarm
• Best Water Bottle: Brita Hard-sided Plastic Premium Filtering Water Bottle
• Best Electrolytes: DripDrop Electrolyte Drink Mix Variety Pack
• Best Waterproof Phone Pouch: Pelican Marine IP68 Waterproof Phone Pouch
• Best Packable Towel: Matador Nanodry Towel
• Best First-aid Kit: Thriaid Mini First Aid Kit 
• Best Tripod: Manfrotto Element Traveller Small 5-Section Aluminum Tripod
• Best Wet Wipes: Dude Wipes 
• Best Reusable Plastic Bags: Rezip 3-Piece Stand-Up Reusable Bag Kit

Shoes

• Best Walking Shoes for Men: Hoka One One Men’s Clifton 8 Running Shoe
• Best Walking Shoes for Women: Reebok BB 4000 ll Shoes

Tech

When packing your valuables, like headphones or an eReader, it’s important to keep it simple. You don’t want to bring any technology that is wildly expensive or treasured in the extreme case that it gets forgotten or stolen. With my Airpods likely still lonely on the ground in the middle of Genoa, Italy, trust me when I advise you to opt for products that work well, are easy to replace, and don’t break the bank. And, luckily for me, Airpods were incredibly easy to replace.

Best Earbuds

SAMSUNG Galaxy Buds2

$90 at Amazon $113 at Best Buy $160 at Samsung

In my opinion, good earbuds are essential to any trip. You’ll have a lot of downtime — especially on planes and trains — so you’ll want earbuds that have Bluetooth capabilities, are noise canceling, and are lightweight. If you prefer to travel with bigger headphones, I also swear by these Sony WH-1000XM4 Headphones since they’re still supercomfortable after long-term use. Pro tip: don’t discount packing your wired headphones from years ago either. I bring them on every trip and have used them as a backup.

Best eReader

Amazon Kindle Paperwhite 16GB

$150 at Amazon $133 at Target $150 at Best Buy

I love to read, especially physical books. However, paperback and hardcover books can really hold some weight and space in your bag. That’s why it’s best to go handheld with this Amazon Kindle Paperwhite. It has an adjustable warm light (which is handy when it comes to night transportation) and holds up to 10 weeks of battery life. It’s also waterproof, making it the perfect beach or poolside accessory. Plus, you’ll never run out of authors to read, which often becomes a problem if you’re traveling for a long time and finish off the one or two books you’ve brought with you.

Best Portable Charger

Anker Portable Charger 325 Power Bank

$26 at Amazon $39 at Walmart View on Anker

This Anker Portable Charger will allow you to charge two devices at the same time. The charger is compatible with the Samsung Galaxy and iPhones 12 to 15. It provides a range of four to five charges for phones and two and a half charges for an iPad mini, which is essential when you’re constantly taking photographs and looking up map directions. It’s also quite compact and can fit into your pocket or backpack for walking around all day or hiking.

Best Outlet Adapter

Epicka Universal Travel Adapter

$20 at Amazon View on Epickatech.com

After traveling from California to London without the right outlet adapter, I have made it my life’s mission to find the best one. This one covers over 150 countries, including the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Japan, Italy, Australia, and more (though it excludes South Africa and India). You can charge up to six devices simultaneously, which is ideal for when you don’t have time to wait for one-off recharges while traveling

Just remember to avoid packing hair appliances (like straighteners, hair dryers, or curlers) because the compatible voltage and plugs in the U.S. are different in other countries. 

Best Headlamp

Black Diamond Spot 400 Headlamp

$50 at Amazon $50 at REI $38 at Backcountry.com

This is the perfect choice for an all-around headlamp, whether you’re camping, hiking, or just reading before bed. It includes proximity and distance modes, strobe, dimming, red LED night vision, and lock mode. If you find yourself caught in a downpour with the headlamp on, it can be underwater for a maximum of 30 minutes. Note that items containing batteries may not be greenlit through TSA, so you may have to remove the batteries of the headlamp before hopping on a plane and then purchase batteries at a convenience store afterward.

Bags

Take it from me, it’s worth it to invest in high-quality gear for traveling alone. The handle strap on my last carry-on backpack broke immediately upon arriving at the Los Angeles airport, so I learned that lesson the hard way. In my opinion, it’s more beneficial to purchase something that costs a little more and lasts long-term than something low-quality, especially when it comes to your valuables as a frequent traveler.

Best Carry-on Backpack

Cotopaxi Allpa 35L Travel Pack

$110 at Amazon $225 at REI $225 at Backcountry.com

Available in an array of colors, this T+L tested carry-on backpack from Cotopaxi is ideal for solo travelers. The bag, made of recycled fabric, has a 15-inch laptop compartment (which is essential for me), air-mesh shoulder straps for comfort, and a luggage pass-through that slides over the handle of a roller bag. The backpack meets carry-on size restrictions for the bulk of airlines, but always make sure to check restrictions before traveling.

Best Anti-Theft Bag

Arden Cove Carmel Convertible Backpack and Crossbody

$242 at Amazon View on Ardencove.com

One of my well-kept travel secrets is to pack a mini backpack within your carry-on backpack. No matter if you’re solo traveling or with others, you’ll need more room than just a purse or fanny pack while walking through cities and checking out tourist sites. 

This Carmel Convertible Backpack from Arden Cove is not only trendy, but also quadrubles as a backpack, handbag, shoulder bag, or crossbody. It’s waterproof (which is ideal for unexpected rainfall) and offers built-in RFID-blocking material.

Best Money Belt

Molarun Travel Money Belt

$8 at Amazon

A money belt should be slim enough to hide under clothes, but roomy enough to fit essential items and documents like your phone, passport, or cash. This compact travel money belt was tested by T+L editors and deemed best for solo travelers or light packers. The belt, meant to avoid uncomfortable heat and moisture along your skin, includes a mesh slip pocket, a small front-zippered pocket, and a main compartment with two pockets. It’s super easy to use, comfortable, and a good bargain at a low price point. It’s also double-stitched to prevent wear and tear, encouraging durability and long-term use.

Best Card Holder

Baggallini RFID Card Case

$17 at Amazon View on Baggallini.com View on Bloomingdales

An anti-theft card case that protects your personal information is key. The Baggallini RFID Card Case is small, compact, and easy to use. Available in a handful of colorways, it will help you keep your important cards safe. I recommend keeping your ID, bank cards, most used credit cards, and insurance cards on hand at all times. If you have allergies or some sort of medical condition, type them out on a piece of paper, cut it out into a card, and laminate it. If there is ever a medical emergency and you’re solo, it will come in handy for any bystanders or medical professionals. 

Best Passport Wallet

Lo & Sons Magnolia Leather Wallet

View on Loandsons.com

Remember when I said to invest in products that will last? This Lo & Sons Magnolia Leather Wallet comes at a steeper price, but it's worth the buy. Available in various types of leather, this wallet is durable and the ideal size for your traveling essentials. It offers a main pocket, center pocket, horizontal card slots, vertical card slots, and several slip pockets. I always make sure there’s a top zipper, like this one has, so any valuables stay safely inside. Its slim, sleek design is minimal enough that it’s just what you need without becoming overly bulky.

Accessories

Don’t underestimate the power of travel accessories. They will not only make your life 10 times easier, but will also come in handy at the most random of times. If you’re worried about safety, then a personal alarm and first-aid kit will put you at ease. If you’re looking for practical items that you wouldn’t have otherwise thought of, a filtered water bottle and packable towel will do the trick. You will be thanking yourself later for packing these handy products. 

Best Packing Cubes

Calpak Packing Cubes 5-piece Set

$68 at Nordstrom $58 at Calpaktravel.com $68 at The Container Store

In typical T+L fashion, editors tested out various packing cubes, and these Calpak breathable mesh packing cubes made the shortlist. They will organize your items for long or short trips, as they consist of one large, one medium, and two small-sized cubes. Plus, there’s an additional water-resistant envelope pouch included for any skincare, valuables, or toiletries. If you are the type to take your clothes out of the suitcase or carry-on bag and spread them throughout the hotel room, these will be a total game changer. They also come in stylish prints, ranging from polka dot to orchid fields.

Best Personal Safety Device

Birdie Personal Safety Alarm

$30 at Amazon $27 at Walmart $30 at Shesbirdie.com

When traveling solo, the first product that likely comes to mind is a safety device. With over 10,500 five-star ratings on Amazon, I brought the She’s Birdie personal safety device — aka the “loud siren” — with me throughout a three-week excursion in Europe, and I felt much more secure with it. Luckily, I haven’t had to use it for its purpose, but if you do have to, you just remove the top pin to activate it and it will make a loud sound with flashing strobe lights to help deter an attack. I recommend testing it out in a safe (and maybe even soundproof) area to ensure that it works correctly, and so that you can gauge what it does. 

Best Water Bottle

Brita Premium 26oz Filtering Water Bottle

$17 at Amazon $23 at Target $21 at Walmart

Once again, I learned the hard way to buy a filtered water bottle (we don’t need to get into the specifics there). Whether you're traveling internationally or within your own country, it’s important to always have a water bottle filled and on hand. This Brita Hard-sided Plastic Bottle will not break easily and I’ve never had a problem with leaking.

The 26-ounce bottle is big enough to hold a nourishing amount of water, but small enough that it’s not too heavy. It also fits inside the side pockets of your backpack for easy access. You only need to replace the filter approximately every two months.

Best Electrolytes

DripDrop Hydration Electrolyte Powder Packets

$28 at Amazon View on Dripdrop.com $10 at Walgreens

A 6-mile hike in Joshua Tree during a brutal heat wave taught me the importance of electrolytes for staying hydrated. The DripDrop variety pack offers individual packets to keep on hand for these instances. All you have to do is mix one packet into an 8-ounce water bottle to hydrate faster than water alone can do. I like how easy they are to slip into your bag. I certainly recommend drinking water in addition to these though, and don’t leave the powders in any super warm compartments where they can clump up.

Best Waterproof Phone Pouch

Case-Mate Pelican Marine IP68 Waterproof Phone Pouch

$25 at Amazon

A waterproof pouch isn’t just for water sports. It can also be utilized during unexpected rainfall, at the beach to prevent leaving your phone unattended for a quick dip, or while you’re visiting popular waterfalls. The Pelican Marine Waterproof Phone Pouch is heavy-duty with thousands of five-star ratings on Amazon. A must for me is that you can use your phone through the waterproof enclosure, and this pouch does just that. You’ll also have easy access to your phone’s side buttons and a detachable lanyard to wear around your neck.

Best Packable Towel

Matador Nanodry Towel

$35 at REI $35 at Backcountry.com $35 at Dick's

Believe it or not, towels can be hard to come by when solo traveling (I’m looking at you, Italy). While a packable towel may be an afterthought, but it’s definitely an item that you’ll be grateful you brought. You can use it to lay on a stunning beach you stumble upon, or simply after showering if there is a lack of towels (because, believe me, that happens in hostels often). The machine-washable Matador Nanodry Towel comes in colors like black granite, making it difficult for stains to show. Plus, it’s lightweight, which is the key.

Best First-aid Kit

THRIAID Mini First Aid Kit

$13 at Amazon

The first time I ever traveled abroad, my father handed me a giant first-aid kit. At first, I thought it was ridiculous and completely unnecessary, until the day that the contents of that first-aid travel kit came in handy. For solo travelers, you’ll want something compact but well-equipped. This miniature kit is water-resistant, making it ideal for camping, hiking, or any form of traveling. You can even keep it in your car for road trips. It includes 100 pieces of hospital-grade medical supplies, spanning from bandages to gauze pads. It’s even helpful for non-emergency situations, like bandaging your heels to prevent blisters.

Best Tripod

Manfrotto Element Traveller Small 5-Section Aluminum Tripod

$90 at Amazon View on Manfrotto.com $145 at Adorama.com

When you’re alone, it’s not so easy to capture yourself and the scenic background. And, if you have even a touch of social anxiety, asking a stranger to take pics from multiple angles and views can be a daunting task. That’s why a tripod, like this Manfrotto one, is your best bet. It’s only 2.5 pounds and incredibly compact with a storage bag to easily fit in your backpack. Its maximum height reaches approximately 56 inches — which is perfect for memorable Instagram videos. My favorite way to take travel photos is on a lens width of .5 on your iPhone so you can truly capture the landscape behind you.

Best Wet Wipes

DUDE Wipes Flushable Wipes

$13 at Amazon $11 at Riteaid.com $9 at Lowe's

Having wet wipes on hand helps for obvious reasons — aka the bathroom kind of reason — or for cleaning surfaces like your plane seat, tables, or phones. You could find yourself without toilet paper in the stall, in the middle of the woods during a hike, or in a particularly dirty hostel that you feel needs a little extra cleansing. 

Whatever the case is, these Dude Wipes are ideal because they are flushable and fragrance-free. They come in a three-pack with 144 wipes in total.

Best Reusable Plastic Bags

Rezip 3-Piece Stand-Up Reusable Bag Kit

$20 at Amazon View on Rezip.com

Reusable plastic bags can be used for an array of things: toiletries, valuables, snacks, emergency items, and more. This three-piece set is leakproof with a double-lock closure, BPA-free, and freezer/dishwasher safe. If you’re staying in a place with a fridge, these can be particularly helpful. Note that you can’t place them in the microwave or high heat. In case something leaks in your backpack or you just need a bit more organization, reusable plastic bags are the way to go.

Shoes

This may seem obvious, but it’s seriously a game-changer when you have solid walking shoes while traveling. There’s a good chance you’ll be doing 10,000 steps or more a day. As a person who wears shoes for both fashion and function, I’ve found that your feet will likely hurt after a long travel day regardless, but you can at least make yourself as comfortable as possible. I recommend packing one pair of walking shoes for the day and one pair of sneakers for strenuous exercise (aside from hiking, of course, in which you’ll need proper hiking boots).

Best Walking Shoes for Men

Hoka One One Men's Clifton 8

$165 at Amazon $140 at Dick's View on Fleetfeet.com

Hoka sneakers feel like clouds. That’s not just a blanket statement, but a fact that I’ve experienced as a fairly active person with Hoka shoes. The Clifton 8 Running Shoe comes in a large variety of colorways that are bound to match most of your outfits. We tested out the best men’s travel shoes with Hoka’s claiming the top spot as the best walking shoes, so we can’t recommend them enough for solo travel. 

Best Walking Shoes for Women

Reebok BB 4000 ll Shoes

$39 at Amazon $90 at Dick's View on Reebok.com

I’m not joking when I say I’ve walked tens of thousands of steps in these comfy walking shoes. I traveled with them to Washington D.C. with over 20,000 steps a day for a week, used them for several years in my daily life because they were my go-to classic white shoes, and trekked with them around Italy for two months. That is until I — begrudgingly — had to toss them because I wore them down so much. The Reebok BB 4000 II shoes are available in men's and women's sizes, with a simple lace closure that lends to virtually any outfit. They serve a retro style while looking clean and crisp for vacation photos.

What to Know Before Packing for a Solo Trip  

Stay organized 

Coming from someone who needs to take their own advice: stay organized. When you lodge for the night somewhere new, try to keep all of your packed items together, especially your digital and physical documents in a place where you can access them quickly. Be sure to still put products and clothing away as you use them.

Go into a solo trip prepared 

Don’t wait until the last minute to pack for a solo trip, as it can require much more planning than a regular trip. It’s inevitable that you won’t have something you need last minute anyway, so always attempt to purchase packing items well in advance. To be ultra prepared, make sure to research which kind of plug the country uses, what the liquid TSA rules are, and the weather of where you’re going to pack the appropriate clothing. 

Consider the type of luggage to bring

The type of luggage you bring depends on where you’re going and the length of your trip. If you’re backpacking, then the answer there is pretty clear. My general rule of thumb for trips that are only a few days is to bring one lightweight carry-on bag. For one- to two-week trips, you can bring both a small backpack and carry-on suitcase. For trips longer than two weeks, you may consider checking a bag, but only if you really need to. Remember, the more you bring, the more you have to lug around with you for the entire trip. 

Why Trust Travel + Leisure

Olivia Bria is a T+L contributor with an extensive resume in the commerce writing world. As a freelance food, travel, and shopping journalist, Olivia is always on a plane headed to a new destination (and with that, comes a lot of trial and error while packing). She relied on her personal solo travel experiences throughout the U.S., Europe, and various countries while incorporating insights from our editors, who’ve thoroughly tested products in the T+L lab and during their own travels.

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