Travel Gear:
Lightweight Luggage,
Travel Clothing and Packing Advice
for Travel Writers

I have a lot to say about travel gear because the majority of my travel assignments require air travel.  Everything you can do to lighten your load and make your trip run smoothly makes it a more enjoyable experience.    

When a magazine editor accepts your story proposal, you need to visit your destination.  It's time to travel!

Here's Roy Stevenson, with his magazines and wearing his favorite travel head gear - his Tilley hat!

Seasoned travel writers carry next to nothing when they travel, but what you carry will depend upon the length of your visit, the season, what you need to do while you’re there and your destination. 

If you’re taking a trip in your local region and you can pack up your car, you’ll be able to take all those “just in case” sorts of travel gear.  When you fly, you need to think seriously about what you need to carry.

Let’s face it, lugging around heavy suitcases, a full sized backpack, and a computer bag make air travel miserable.  You’re worn out by the time you arrive at your destination just from hauling all that stuff with you.

My first advice is, when in doubt, leave it out!

Travel Gear: Luggage and Travel Bags

I try to carry as much as I can on-board the aircraft. I prefer not to check any bags. You'll always want to check the airline for size and weight restrictions so there aren't any surprises at the airport. Every airline is different these days.

What do I carry? 

I use a small travel bag on wheels that fits the carry-on requirements (14” x 9” x 22” at this writing) and, if possible, I stuff an empty backpack or small shoulder bag on top, for daily use once I arrive at the destination.  

Besides this piece of lightweight luggage, for my second carry-on I bring my laptop.

If I’m going on a longer trip, I’ll check either the same size bag as above or a slightly larger one, and carry-on my laptop and a small backpack.  In either case, you want to carry-on any electronics (camera, laptop, iPad, etc.), all medications, and other small items of importance.

Winter clothing is bulkier than summer clothing, so you may need a larger suitcase for cold weather travel.  My wife simply wears her bulkiest clothes on the plane so that she can reduce the amount of suitcase space needed.

Make sure your suitcase is expandable, and has several pockets inside and outside, and that the handle and roller wheels are durable enough for rough handling.  I don’t carry expensive, branded suitcases.  It’s not my style and I prefer to blend into the scenery instead of standing out.  

Also, you may be going to remote, rugged areas with plenty of mud, water, dirt, and who knows what other conditions, so a durable suitcase that does not advertise its contents is your best bet.   Did you know thieves usually go deluxe suitcases and tend to leave tattered baggage alone. Travel with middle of the road suitcases.

Travel Gear: Best Clothing to Pack and Wear

Along with a functional, slightly battered suitcase, my travel gear includes well-worn, neutral colored clothing (khaki, cream, brown, green) for daytime use.  I don’t wear designer clothes because I’m not trying to make a fashion statement.  Nor am I trying to call attention to myself in any way.   Sometimes my favorite travel clothing - shirts, shorts, socks, and underwear - are near the end of their lives and I’ve been known to trash them at the end of my trip.  

If you're traveling to a destination like almost anywhere in Asia, clothing is very inexpensive and you will not need anything but the basics.  You can pick up additional clothing in the local markets for a few dollars if you decide you didn’t pack enough clothes.  

If your destination has a tropical climate, pack only lightweight, breathable clothing and a couple of pairs of shorts.  Despite the popularity of microfiber clothing and other types of artificial materials, I still prefer thin cotton.  It’s breathable and does not overheat as these other materials do.  My wife will disagree as she has found some amazing new travel fabrics that are lightweight and comfortable to wear.  When it comes to comfortable shirts that aren’t made of cotton, I’m still looking.

The downside to cotton clothing is that it is heavy for travel and takes a long time to dry.  Microfiber and other artificial fabrics can be hand-washed in a sink and dry very quickly. So, you’ll have to decide what materials work for you.

In the past year I have been wearing long rip-stop hiking pants made of nylon, polyester, or polyamide, that zip apart at the knee into shorts, and I’m having great success with them. They dry quickly and fold down into a very small size in my suitcase.  I truly love traveling with these pants.

For outdoor and adventure activities, these artificial materials are fantastic.  And using them will keep your packing weight down since most of them are very light. 

Finally, in keeping with my mantra of looking inconspicuous and not worth a second glance by potential thieves, I do not wear any jewelry on my travels. In some countries wearing jewelry is like wearing a flashing neon beacon that will attract the attention of thieves, pickpockets, or worse.  Plus, it’s really easy to lose it or leave it behind by accident in your hotel room. 

Leave your jewelry at home, it's not travel gear.

Travel Gear: Packing Advice

Typically, you will have an itinerary for travel at your destination.  Pack enough daytime gear for 2-3 days and plan to rinse out items at night if you’re taking microfibers or other artificial fabrics.  I usually pack one pair of long pants, one pair of shorts and 3 shirts for a week-long trip. 

If you will be doing any formal dining or attending a concert or show in the evening, then pack one set of more formal clothing.  A nice button-down shirt with a collar and a pair of trousers is all that a man will need.  Women like to take more clothes, but I strongly recommend only one dressy outfit for women, too.  Wear it more than once, if needed.

Two things I never pack: a blazer and jeans.  They’re heavy, take up considerable space in your suitcase and are difficult to launder, so leave them at home.

Shoes are space hogs in suitcases, so I wear one pair of sturdy walking shoes and do not pack any other footwear, unless something is specifically needed for hiking or a formal function.  My wife prefers a little more selection and packs one good pair of walking shoes plus a lightweight pair of slip-ons, depending on the weather and the destination.

When it comes down to it, after walking several miles each day on cobblestone city streets or along muddy trails, it's what’s between you and the road that matters.  Footwear with inadequate cushioning cause undue fatigue and sore legs, so wearing your most comfortable walking shoes is most important.

If you’re going to a sunny location, be sure to take a good travel hat that can be scrunched up into your suitcase.  I wear the traditional Tilley canvas hat, which is very comfortable, keeps my head cool, and provides enough shade to stop me squinting when I’m taking photos or sightseeing.   I put my Tilley hat through the wash after every trip and it still looks great.

So that’s the basic travel gear to take along on your assignments when you’ll be traveling by air.  It doesn’t hurt to travel like this even if you’re staying in your own local region and driving.  Lugging heaving travel bags is not my idea of a good time, and it’s probably not yours, either. 

Pack light and enjoy your trip!

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Roy Stevenson is a professional travel writer and the author of www.PitchTravelWrite.com.  Over the past ten years, he’s had more than 1000 articles published in 200 magazines, trade and specialty journals, in-flights, on-boards, blogs and websites and has traveled on assignment around the U.S. and to dozens of international destinations.