When I went on my first ever solo trip, I bought myself a 75L rucksack. Yes, you read it correctly. A 75L Rucksack!
I was so happy when I received it. It was huge, and it could carry almost anything.
In my excitement, I packed four pairs of shoes and all the pretty dresses I had. The rest is just a bad memory, Lol. My rucksack became so heavy that I got backache and blisters, and overall physical exhaustion from my trip.
I was so much in pain, that I couldn’t even enjoy my stay. I needed a vacation after my vacation to recover from my vacation!
Read Next: How to Pack Like a Pro & Travel Like a Ninja
The Golden Rule
Pack your bags smartly. There is a golden rule of packing that you must follow if you want to avoid overpacking situations like me.
The Golden Rule: Ditch the what-ifs
If you travel to a place in monsoon, then travel with your boots on. So, you don’t have to think- “should I pack my boots?”
Pro-travelers have a neutral colored wardrobe. I prefer black and blue over any other colors.
As a solo female traveler, as a bonus benefit, remember neutral colors goes a long way. For example, When you are traveling through busy streets or tourist hot spots, and if you dress up in bright colors, you will attract unwanted male attention.
Not only this waste time in causal small talks and saying “No” to offers for drinks and coffee, but it also causes unwanted stress, especially if the place and people don’t appear safe.
But if you wear a neutral color like navy blue, black or gray, you feel at home with the Parisian Women. Make sure your travel capsule has neutral colors which you can mix and match.
Black pants, black jacket, black jeans, and boots can take you almost anywhere in the world. And you can mix and match it with gray and navy blue. Below, there are infographics to show you how to create a travel capsule and yet look fashionable.
There is a saying that the lighter you pack, the farther you go. And it couldn’t be truer.
Travel Capsules – Packing Tips
We have three travel capsules for three seasons you may encounter on your travels: winter, summer, and rainy.
Fall and spring seasons can be planned as a winter destination minus the coats, thermals, jackets, gloves, and boots.
Winter Travel Packing List
- (Inner) Thermals
- Black tank tops
- White tank tops
- Black full sleeves t-shirts
- Grey full sleeves t-shirts
- Black and white striped t-shirts
- Black pants
- Blue jeans
- Black jacket
- Black boots
Summer Travel Packing List
- White tank tops
- Black tank tops
- Black T-shirts
- Grey T-shirts
- Black and white striped t-shirts
- Blue jeans/shorts
- Black pants/shorts
- Tan Sandals
- A Red/black/white dress
Rainy Travel Packing List
- Travel size umbrella
- Light Waterproof /Windproof Jacket
- White tank tops
- Black tank tops
- Black t-shirts
- Grey Full sleeves shirts
- Black and white striped t-shirts
- Black pants
- Blue jeans
- Black boots/tan boots
What About Accessories
Actually, accessorize (watch, bracelets, jewelry) don’t take much space. Also, things such as scarves, belts, and handbags don’t take up a ton of space if you utilize the space and pack them smartly.
This means your default neutral-colored look can be enhanced with beautiful, small accessories of bright colors.
Moreover, there are good chances that you’ll do some shopping on your travel and you can also buy a few accessories or clothes as you travel. If you plan it right, you can carry even fewer stuff than what we have suggested above.
A Word on Souvenirs
Some folks like to collect memorabilia from everywhere they visit. This is a subjective choice and although I respect those who buy 5 magnets and postcard photos and a handmade artisan craft and a bag of local coffee or whatever that place is known for, know that these days you can buy most common stuff everywhere.
Besides, many of the artisans made pieces are not truly “made in fill-in-the-blank” but imported from China or South America.
If you absolutely feel like buying a souvenir for yourself or your family and friends, then buy something that is essentially and uniquely local.
You can choose to buy stuff that helps the local people and economy rather than at the airport or in big stores.
You can also consider donating money or hard cash to local artists or street performers. Moreover, you can take a class for something if you are staying longer.
These memories, good karma, and the new skills that you will learn will give you more joy than the shot glasses, postcards, magnets, or whatever common stuff everyone collects.