It has been 3 years since I last wrote a packing guide.  Not much has changed, I am still using almost the same packs as before.  But I am older and not too keen to carry as much stuff, so an Ebook Reader and photocopied notes has replaced the books I used to carry, a smartphone has replaced my netbook and a Sony Nex 3 has replaced my heavier Fujifilm S6500FD.

While I do not think one should be unduly worried about the items to bring, one should definitely pay more attention to items that cannot be purchased easily (if they can be bought in the first place) in the destination countries. Some of these items are passport, money, credit card, phone, medicine, camera and chargers.  Other items such as clothings and tolietries are usually easy to find.

I also do not think it is necessary to invest in specialised travel products if one does not travel often. A normal cotton towel works just as well as a microfibre towel even if it takes up more space.  A pair of sport shoes are enough for normal walkabouts and a pair of hiking shoes might not be necessary. If you are on a guided tour with vehicles, you might even want to bring along a luggage instead of a backpack.

For my upcoming trip to China (Sichuan, Tibet and Yunan) in November, I would be bringing warmer clothings and here is my packing list with photos.

Backpack:

• Osprey Stratos 34 Litre

Clothings:

• 1 x beanie
• 1 x gloves
• 1 x long sleeve tshirt
• 1 x short sleeve tshirt
• 1 x light sweater
• 1 x socks
• 3 x underwears
• 1 x thermal set
• 1 x pants (convertible to bermudas)
• 1 x fleece pants

Clothings packed into an Eagle Creek’s pack-it bag.

Slippers, thermos and umbrella

All going into the backpack

Tolietries and medical pouch:

• Shower Foam
• Facial Wash
• Shampoo
• Scrub
• Toothbrush and toothpaste
• Sunblock
• Flu, diarrhoea, altitude sickness and other medicines
• Thermometer
• Plasters
• Shaver
• Towel

Electronics and miscellaneous items pouch:

• Ebook Reader
• Notepad and pens
• International travel adaptors
• Power chargers
• Power cables
• Flashdrive
• Locks and keys
• Travel chopsticks
• Torchlight
• Spare spectacles

Adding both to the backpack

Items for front pouch of the backpack:

• Tissues
• Small cloth
• Tea sachets/sweets/nuts
• Plastic bags
• Hand warmers
• Bike lock
• Locks and keys
• Travel Chopsticks
• Torchlight

Adding them all into the front pouch

Items I usually carry in my sling bag:

• Travel papers
• Small bottle of water
• Small pouch of tissues, small change, pen, note pad, keys, compass, mobile phone, earphones
• Camera

Jacket (I might need to buy a heavier jacket if it’s too cold in China)

Both the sling bag and jacket are packed into my backpack for flights. When on the move, these items are usually out of my backpack.

My backpack has a waterbag slot at the back but I use it to carry my backpack’s raincover and a poncho.

Money belt:

• Passport
• Money

Items I carry on my body, outside the backpack:

• Set of clothings and shoes
• Money belt
• Watch
• Wallet
• A packet of tissues

Putting it all together.

The backpack with its contents but without any water weigh around 8kg.