I know, I know… I said in one of my blog posts before that backpacking “isn’t really my style.” And honestly? It’s still not. I genuinely appreciate a proper trip: luggage with wheels, keeping my travel outfits on point, decent meals at the restaurants, and a private room where I don’t have to share anything with strangers.

However, for my recent trip, I decided to compromise a little. I went for the backpacking vibe, but with a half-proper-trip twist… meaning I carried a backpack, but I also treated myself to good stays, nice restaurants, a tour guide here and there, and even airport transfers. Basically, I tried to keep the adventure fun without inviting unnecessary stress into my life.

For the trip, I carried my Karrimor 45L+10 rucksack, the same one I’ve been using since 2016, and honestly, it has never failed me. I love how durable it is. I was a little worried at first that it might rip during the trip, but it held up so well that it practically felt brand new. I packed all of my essentials into it, but I also brought a 20L Adidas backpack for important things like my travel documents, power bank, GoPro, and camera gear—basically everything I absolutely couldn’t afford to lose—that one I carried in front of my body.

And let me tell you…

No one warns you how awkward and uncomfortable it is doing the two-backpack combo: one at the back, one at the front. The front straps kept sliding off my arms, and I ended up hugging the bag like a clingy koala just to keep it from slipping.

Very cute. Very inconvenient. 😆😂

Since most of my trip involved walking, hiking, and being outdoors, I kept my packing simple and practical. I chose pieces that went with everything, were easy to wash, and easy to rewear. But even with that strategy, I still managed to overpack—I ended up leaving a few things behind because I was convinced my bag was already heavier than the cabin limit for my next flight to Georgia, especially after I bought some souvenirs in Kazakhstan. 

All of my flights were cabin luggage only, except for my Oman flight, where I had a 20kg check-in allowance. So I really had to make sure I didn’t exceed the cabin weight limit for the rest. It was stressful… but thankfully, aside from AirAsia, none of the other airlines actually weighed my bag.

Here’s what I packed for my 2-week trip with just a backpack—in case you’re planning something similar and need a little inspiration. 

You can download the packing list here: [2-week backpacking checklist]

Most of these items are available to shop here: [Travel Essentials] and [Travel Gear]

And that’s pretty much everything I packed for my 2-week backpacking trip. I’m not a minimalist packer by any means, but I’ve learned how to make things work without carrying half my house on my back. This trip definitely taught me what I actually need and what I really don’t.

Now I have a much better idea of what I’ll pack next time.

If you’re going on a similar trip, I hope this list gives you some ideas or at least saves you from overpacking the same things I did.

Have fun, travel smart, and may your backpack never exceed the cabin weight limit! 

– Auri Duham🌸

Coffee helps me write. Support helps me shine. 🥰