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 adequate for a week-long trip – or even more. In reality, I pack exactly the same whether I'm going for one week, or three months.

This is my ultimate ultra light men's packing list for warm weather travel. For our complete carry-on packing system—including trip planning, packing philosophy, women’s packing advice, and specialized travel packing—see our Ultimate Ultra-Light Packing Guide for Travelers Over 50.

The details on the actual products I use are below, although any equivalent garments and products should work just fine. All of this, if folded/rolled properly will fit easily in my 35 liter Cotopaxi backpack.

If you'd like a visual aid for your packing know-how, see Kris's Packing Light Video.

Men's Ultra Light Packing List – Warm Weather Version

• 1 pair of shoes
• 3 pairs of boxer briefs
• 3 pairs of mid-weight wool socks
• 3 t-shirts
• 2 long sleeve shirts
• 1 pair of pants
• 1 pair of shorts/swimsuit
• 1 belt
• 1 rain jacket
• 1 lightweight wool Buff
• 1 pair of sunglasses
• 2-3 handkerchiefs
• Microfiber towel
• Optional: 1 lightweight down vest
• Optional: 1 wide brim hat

The Backpack

The Cotopaxi Allpa 35L Travel Pack is my first choice. Everything above easily fits into it. And, I have converted to a backpack instead of a roller bag because I just find it much easier to navigate airports and cobblestone streets without a wheeled bag. Packing the way I do, it's light enough to carry easily.

The Cotopaxi also has a separate padded sleeve for a laptop and tablet, if you don't feel like carrying a separate hand item.

The shoes

Nearly 100 percent of the time, unless I'm in for some serious country hiking, I take one pair of my favorite trail/walking shoes, the Adidas Terrex, in black. I wear them on the plane and every day, which means they don't take up space in the bag. I like them because they're rugged, and they fit my foot. Also, in black, they can pass a little bit for dressier shoes.

Recently though, my new favorite Xero Prio shoes and have been wearing them now almost every day. Wide toe box, barefoot feel, super flexible, and very light weight. And they come in a variety of colors and styles for in-city walking and trail trekking. I think they're going to supplant the Adidas as my new favorite traveling shoe. Let their Find Your Shoe feature help you select the right Xero shoe for you.

Boxer Briefs

I've been wearing Ex Officio Give-N-Go boxers since I discovered them years ago. They're light weight. They don't retain odor. And when you want to wash them out in your hotel sink, they'll dry overnight.

Mid-weight wool socks

I have several sock brands I like, but Point6 are my favorites. They wick moisture, which is essential.

T-shirts

The only t-shirt I travel with are Unbound Merino. They're light. They resist odor for days. And, you can wash them out in your sink and they'll dry overnight.

Long sleeve shirts

I've recently converted to Clothing Arts pickpocket-proof shirts. I like the zipped, passport-size pocket, and that they rinse out and dry overnight.

Pants

I like Kuhl pants a lot. Lightweight, washable, comfortable.

Shorts/swimsuit

I like Vuori shorts a lot.

Belt

I really like Arcade Belts for a couple of reasons: They come in dozens of colors and styles; and they have plastic buckles so you usually don't have to take them off at airport security.

Rain jacket/shell

Patagonia is my go-to brand for weather resistant clothes. I love my Torrentshell Rain Jacket.

The Buff

A merino wool Buff neck gaiter keeps the sun off your neck. You can configure it into any shape you want pretty much for sun and wind protection. In cooler weather, it subs for a scarf.

Sunglasses

Since I had cataract surgery which corrected my nearsightedness, the world of sunglasses has opened up for me. I like the wrap around kind.

Lightweight vest

The REI lightweight vest is a great product. It provides just another layer of warmth, has a large internal pocket and 2 zippered external pockets that can stow your phone, keys, wallet, etc. And it stuffs small into its internal pocket for packing ease.

Hat

I've had my Tilley AirFlo Hat for more than 15 years. It's maybe the most durable and useful piece of clothing I have.

Microfiber towel

If you're staying in a hotel, this microfiber towel is probably optional. Even if you're not going to use it to dry yourself, however, it's great for rolling up items you've washed out in your sink to get the last bit of water out of them before hanging them up to dry.

Men's Light Packing List – Colder Weather Additions

When I'm going somewhere colder, I pack the warm weather package with the following adjustments. Of course, if you're going somewhere really cold, like Minnesota or Sweden in the winter, you'll need even more rugged stuff.

This list will take care of you down to freezing and a little below.

• Switch 2x midweight socks for 2x heavyweight socks
• Switch down vest for down jacket
• Add 1 pair of lightweight gloves
• Add 1 lightweight wool hat
• Switch t-shirts for long-sleeve undershirts
• Add 1 heavyweight wool hat

Heavyweight socks

Again, I'm partial to Point6. These Point6 Merino wool socks are my standard winter socks.

Down jacket

Again, a Patagonia down jacket is as good as any. A lighter jacket will keep you warm down to the freezing mark, if you layer with your long sleeve undershirts, a long sleeve shirt. In a pinch, put your raincoat over the thin down jacket for even more warmth.

Gloves

Living in Minnesota as we do, I have about 10 pairs of gloves in all weights. For lightweight gloves, I like these Black Diamond screen tap gloves. It's nice not having to take them off to use your phone.

Wool hat

I like this Smartwool Merino Wool beanie. It's warm enough if it's above freezing, and it packs down really small.

Long sleeve undershirts

Unbound Merino again. Unbound Merino's long sleeved shirts are the best for layering when it's cold.

Men's Light Packing List – Hot Weather Variations

When traveling somewhere we know is going to be hot, i.e. constantly above 80 F (27 C) I pack the basic package and make some adjustments. Note: even for hot environments I usually pack long sleeves and pants to add a little bit of protection from mosquitos and other pests.

• Switch 2x mid-weight socks for 2x no-show socks
• Add 1 pair of shorts/swimsuit (see above)
• Optional: 1 pair of sandals

Minimal Toiletry Kit

Other than recommending the Sea to Summit lightweight hanging toiletry bag, I'll leave it up to you to pick your own toiletry brands. For the toothbrush, floss, and travel sized toothpaste, I use what my dentist gives me at my semi-annual cleaning.

• Sea to Summit Hanging Toiletry Bag
• Toothbrush
• Floss
• razor
• Lip Balm
• Sunscreen SPF-50 or higher
• Small insect repellent, if you're going where you'll want it
• Nail clippers and file
• Tweezers
• Travel-sized toothpaste
• Deodorant
• Medicine

Minimal Electronics

• iPhone, loaded with apps
• Charger/adapter, auxiliary power source, and cables, see our recommendations hereA 30-40 liter backpack or roller bag is plenty big enough to fit everything we recommend packing. If you're planning to bring home souvenirs frequently, maybe go with the slightly larger 40-liter size. You can see our specific bag recommendations here.
• How many shoes should you pack?
  Two pairs should be plenty, unless you're doing something that specifically requires specialized shoes, e.g. doing a lot of hiking, such as the Camino de Santiago.
• Is merino wool worth it for travel?
  In one word, absolutely. Although it can be a little more expensive than your average t-shirt, a quality merino garment will last for years. Moreover, it's great for travel since it doesn't retain odor. You can wear it repeatedly before having to wash it.
• Can you travel indefinitely with carry-on only?
  Again, absolutely. We've traveled for as long as nine months with nothing but the roller bag and a personal item.
• How often should you do laundry while traveling?
  We probably end up doing laundry every 7 to 10 days, depending on activity level. If we're doing something sweaty, such as hiking or city walking in the summer in a warm climate, perhaps on the shorter end of that time cycle.

Check out more of our ultra-light packing tips:

Our Ultra Light Packing List for Women
Our Favorite Travel Accessories
Flying with Only a Personal Item – Our Ultimate Minimalist Packing Tips
Our Personal Item Packing List, for when you're also using a carry-on.