Functional and aesthetic travel must-haves—for the girlies who still want to look cute on their backpacking trips.
Here’s the ultimate packing list for your 2025 travels. You’ll be sure not to forget anything important—and you might even discover a few functional gems you haven’t seen in other posts. These are my personal recommendations as someone who has done multiple backpacking trips in the past. Plus, I’ve found the cuter versions of everything, so you don’t end up looking like you’re headed on a fishing trip. For the girls trying to stay aesthetic—you know the vibe
First of all, you need to choose a backpack that will fit everything you need for your travels.
I recommend the Osprey 40L. I’ve had this bag for three years now, and it’s the only one I’ll continue to use. I’ve learned how to optimize every tiny little space in there. Plus, this bag will last you a lifetime. God knows I’ve been hard on it—the zippers still work perfectly, and it’s still in good condition. Dirty? Yes. Worn out? Not really. Not even a single stitch has come undone.
Size
I personally believe that 40L is the perfect size. I’ve survived with this for a full month in countries where I needed both summer clothes and warmer hoodies. If I can do a month, I believe I can do three—or even six—since you can wash and re-wear your clothes.
Personal Tip
Yes, you will get tired of wearing the same outfits, but that’s something you have to accept if you want to be a backpacker. That’s why I recommend bringing a lot of basics you can mix and match to create as many outfit combos as possible.
It might sound weird, but I also like to bring older clothes that I still enjoy wearing but wouldn’t mind throwing away to make space in my luggage as I buy new pieces during my trip—because your girl loves shopping.
Day Bag
You’ll also want to bring a day bag. You’ll use this one for going to the beach, on hikes, and for everyday adventures. This can vary a little depending on your personal preference and the kind of activities you plan on doing the most.
I recommend either the Osprey daylite or sportlite if you’re planning to do more outdoor activities, or the Herschel bag, which I personally bought two years ago. Without planning to, it’s become my everyday bag. It’s cute, sturdy, not too big, not too small, and goes with pretty much all of my outfits. Honestly, you’d be surprised how much I can fit in it. It also works perfectly as my travel bag at the airport. The North Face borealis is another option but cuter
Tip
I always bring an empty tote bag—I fold it and keep it in the front pocket of my backpack. It takes up no space. It’s a little bigger than my Herschel, so I use it when I need a bit more room.
And you know that moment at the end of your trip when you’ve bought all your last-minute souvenirs and don’t know where to put them? The tote is perfect for that!
Shoulder Bag
This is the one I use when I go out or just grab a coffee. I pretty much always have it on me, so it needs to fit at least my phone, wallet, and portable charger. All of that—while still matching all my outfits and fitting the vibe of wherever I’m going: shopping, restaurants, clubs.
My friend has the Lululemon bag and it’s honestly perfect—I 1000% recommend it. The only thing is, I personally felt like it wasn’t my style, so I got this unUniqlo dupe from Amazon instead, and it’s perfect for me.
Packing cubes
Okay, I’ll be honest with you—I don’t think packing cubes always save you space. Yes, your clothes will be a little compressed, but depending on the size of the cubes and how you place them in your bag, I feel like they can actually create empty space. I usually fill that space later, but still.
Packing cubes, though, are the best way to keep your stuff organized. And let me tell you… when you’re changing hostels every few days, repacking becomes a nightmare. Packing cubes definitely save you a headache in that case because you remember what goes where, and the task gets done way faster.
So, conclusion: yes, I do like packing cubes—but not for everything. I usually leave out the big things like hoodies, vests, jeans, and towels.
My favorites are the Osprey ones since they’re super lightweight and the zippers are very sturdy.
I also love these ones as a more affordable option.
Adapter
This adapter fits everywhere, so you’ll never have to worry about it again. Plus, it has 1 USB and 3 USB-C ports, so you can charge all of your electronics at once
Portable Charger
I waited way too long to buy this—and now I have no idea how I lived without it.
For just $20, I never have to worry about running out of battery again. It comes with all four charging options, so you only need this one device to charge everything. Whether it’s your phone, earbuds, camera
Card Game
Yes, a card game! It takes up no space and is a great way to entertain yourself and your friends. I always love to bring Uno—it’s a universal game. It’s easy and fun to play while getting to know others over drinks at the hostel.
Plastic bags
I always bring some Ziploc bags. They take up no space and are super handy. I use them to store leftover food for lunch, to carry my wet swimsuits, or to keep certain items waterproof.
Travel Shoes (2025 Must-Have)
You’ll want a pair of shoes you can walk, hike, maybe even work out in—and look good for everyday wear. The New Balance 530 or the Asics Gel-1130 are, in my opinion, the perfect pair. They’re neutral, so they go with everything, and they’re comfortable enough for pretty much any activity. I’ve even gone on 2–3 runs in them (not over 12km though!).
Water Bottle
I recommend a metal water bottle, especially if you’re traveling somewhere hot. I know it takes a bit more space and it’s heavier, but it will keep your water cold for the whole day even under the blazing sun. It’s 100% worth it. I personally love the Hydro Flask and Owala—especially for the built-in straw.
Poncho
Rain can happen—even in the sunniest places. A poncho takes up no space, and they’re usually big enough to cover both you and your backpack during travel days. Plus, you won’t sweat nearly as much in a poncho as you would in a full rain jacket.
Laundry Soap
This takes up almost no room and can save you time, money, and a headache. Perfect for quick sink washes or when you don’t have access to laundry right away.
Carabiner
I attached five of them to my bag on my first backpacking trip and never thought I’d use them so much. They’ve come in super handy for the most random things—like attaching my shoes to the outside of my bag when they wouldn’t fit inside, or even for making friendship bracelets on the road
Net Bag
I bring a small net bag that I keep in the same pocket as my tote bag. I mainly use it to store dirty or wet clothes until I do laundry. The mesh helps prevent smells from building up, especially from sweat or damp items.