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Packing

How to pack a backpack for three days

Three days is the perfect length of time to find out how much you really need. The answer is almost always the same: less than it seems the evening before you leave. This article walks through packing in order, from an empty backpack to the final check at the door. The result: clothes packed in layers that fit into cabin baggage, toiletries in small containers, documents and tickets saved in two forms, tech charged and your carrier's rules checked in advance. No brands, prices or company-specific allowances here — just principles.

Pack your backpack, then take three things out of it. You will almost never regret it.

— Editor's note

Before you start

  • Your travel dates and the weather forecast for each day
  • A rough idea of the route: how much you will walk and where you will sleep
  • A backpack that is comfortable to carry all day and fits cabin baggage rules
  • Your carrier's cabin baggage rules open on your phone
  • A clear table or bed to lay everything out before packing

  1. Lay everything out

    Take out everything you plan to bring and sort it into groups: clothes, shoes, toiletries, tech, documents. Duplicates become obvious straight away.

    For example, three T-shirts side by side make it clear that two will do.

  2. Pack clothes in layers

    A base layer, a warm layer and protection from wind and rain. Items that go with each other replace half a wardrobe.

    Hypothetical example: one pair of trousers on you, one spare, two T-shirts, a thin jumper and a light jacket.

  3. Stick to one pair of shoes

    Wear your heaviest shoes for the journey, and at most pack light slippers for your accommodation.

    If your shoes are broken in and you can walk in them all day, you usually do not need a second pair.

  4. Cut down on toiletries

    Decant products into small bottles and put them in one clear bag so you do not have to go through your whole backpack at security.

    Solid soap and shampoo bars take up less space and do not count as liquids.

  5. Prepare documents and money

    Keep documents and tickets both in digital form and as a separate copy. Split your card and a little cash between different places.

    Screenshots of tickets on your phone, a paper copy in an inside pocket of your backpack.

  6. Gather your tech

    One universal cable, a compact charger and a power bank. Everything charged the night before.

    If you are flying, put the power bank in your cabin baggage, not in checked baggage.

  7. Pack for easy access

    Heavy items close to your back; things you will need on the way at the top and in the side pockets.

    Rain jacket, water and the bag of liquids at the top; spare clothes at the bottom.

  8. Check the weight and the rules

    Put the backpack on and walk around for ten minutes. Then check its size and weight against your carrier's rules.

    If your shoulders are tired while still at home, take out one more item — it will only get heavier on the road.

Common mistakes

  • Packing things "just in case" that you never end up using
  • Packing a second heavy pair of shoes instead of wearing a comfortable pair for the journey
  • Putting a power bank in checked baggage before a flight
  • Keeping tickets only on your phone without a backup copy
  • Not opening your carrier's rules and finding out about cabin baggage limits at the boarding gate
  • Packing in the last hour before you leave

Alternatives

  • If you are going for one night, a city daypack and one change of underwear will do
  • If cold weather is expected, take a thinner warm layer and wear your bulky items for the journey
  • If you can do laundry where you stay, one spare set will last even four days
  • If your backpack does not meet your carrier's rules, choose a train or bus, where requirements are usually more relaxed

Checklist before you leave home

  • Weather forecast for every day of the trip checked
  • Clothes packed in layers, duplicates removed
  • Toiletries in small containers in one clear bag
  • Documents and tickets saved on your phone, with a copy kept separately
  • Phone and power bank charged, power bank in cabin baggage
  • Backpack size and weight checked against your carrier's rules
  • Backpack comfortable to carry for at least half an hour without a break
  • Transport

    Train, bus, plane and shared rides: pros, pitfalls and what to check with your carrier.

  • Destinations

    Types of nearby one-to-three-day trips and four criteria that make it easy to pick yours.

  • Questions

    Short answers to common questions about packing, the journey and your first hours somewhere new.

Sources

  • European Commission — aviation security rules for passengers (liquids in cabin baggage)
  • ICAO — guidance on carrying lithium batteries
  • Carriers' baggage rules

Information is current as of the date of preparation. Baggage rules, timetables, prices and conditions of carriage change, so check them with your carrier before every trip.