The Ultimate Carry-On Packing List for Travelers Over 50
This is our ultra light carry-on packing list for travelers over 50. It all fits easily into a 35 liter backpack.
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from Tom and Kris, based on more than 15 years of full-time travel.
- Pack lighter without leaving essentials behind
- Plan better trips with less stress
- Get real-world destination tips for curious travelers
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Our goal is simple: we want to help you travel more and better for less money.
Our blog and newsletter are focused on exactly that: how you can get where you want to go as easily as possible, and how can you have the richest experience once you’re there. It’s our pleasure to offer personalized travel advice, helping our readers sort through travel decisions and providing our best, tried and true travel tips.
We’ve been sharing our experience since we started traveling full time in 2010.
Top Articles
- Our 50 Best Tips — Our experience distilled into 50 practical tips that will save you time, money, and headaches.
- Packing Light — Our complete carry-on packing system.
- Travel Resources — The booking sites, apps, tools, and services we personally use.
- Travel Gear — The tested gadgets that actually earn their place in your bag.
- Travel Insurance — Why you really need it when you’re over 50.
- Mobile Apps — The apps we use for navigation, translation, booking, and more.
- Travel Quotes — The lines that have stuck with us — from fellow wanderers who said it so well.
- Guide to Spain — Our comprehensive guide to traveling in Spain, from people who lived there.
- Guide to Italy — Our comprehensive guide to traveling in Italy.
- The Camino de Santiago — Our comprehensive guide to the Camino.
Our Latest Blog Posts
The Ultimate Ultra Light Packing List for Men
This post was updated May 2026. I will cut straight to the bone – the bare bones of my super light travel packing list. This list should be more than…
Our Ultralight Packing List for Women
What to pack for your trip, what to pack in your carry-on, and how to make packing less stressful. Ultralight packing tips for international travel, short trips, and extended travel anywhere, especially for women.
The Complete Camino de Santiago Packing Guide: What You Actually Need—and What You Don’t
First-time pilgrim on the Camino de Santiago always carry too much. Let us share our experience from our Caminos with you. Packing right affects your comfort, your energy, and ultimately how much you enjoy the experience.
Digest of Audio Posts by Travel Past 50
A digest of audio posts produced by Travel Past 50. This collection includes interviews with travel experts and responses to favorite destinations, plus a couple travel radio interviews with Kris and Tom about their nomadic travels.
10 Basic Tips to Make Your Travel Photos Better
Here are a few rules I try to follow to make good photos. Many, not all, of these tips are based on using an actual camera that has exposure and…