The digital nomad packing list: what to bring when your bag is your home

When I first went nomadic, I packed for every possible scenario. Formal wear in case of an elegant event. A full first aid kit the size of a toiletry bag. Three pairs of jeans. A portable printer (I packed a portable printer, I cannot explain this to you, it made no sense then either).

My bag weighed 18kg. My lower back developed opinions. I repacked after week two and have never looked back.

The nomad packing challenge is different from a holiday packing challenge because you need to pack for:

A working life, not just leisure
An indefinite duration
Climates and contexts that vary between countries
Carrying the bag often and for long distances

The result looks different from what most packing lists suggest.

The bag itself

Use one bag. Not one checked bag and a carry-on. One bag, carry-on size, that goes with you on the plane.

This is the single biggest quality-of-life upgrade in nomad travel. No checked bag fees. No waiting at baggage reclaim. No lost luggage anxiety. No dragging something heavy through a city trying to find your accommodation. You arrive at the airport 40 minutes before your flight instead of two hours. This freedom compounds.

The size sweet spot: 25-40 litres. Big enough to carry what you need. Small enough to fit in overhead lockers on budget airlines (check: Ryanair and EasyJet have strict size limits; most other airlines are fine with 40L carry-on).

What makes a good nomad bag:

Clamshell opening (opens flat like a suitcase) rather than top-loading. You can find things without unpacking everything.
A separate laptop sleeve accessible without opening the main compartment
Hip belt optional but useful for walking long distances in cities
Water-resistant but not necessarily fully waterproof (rain covers exist)

Popular choices: Osprey Farpoint/Fairview 40, Peak Design Travel Backpack 45L, Aer Travel Pack 3. All of these have been around the world in capable hands. None of them are cheap. They’re worth it.

Tech: the core of the nomad setup

This is where you spend the most money and make the most consequential decisions.

Laptop: Your primary work tool. Whatever you need for your work. If you’re a developer or work in video editing, don’t try to downsize to a lightweight machine for the sake of your back, you’ll hate your life. If you write, edit, or do web-based work, a MacBook Air or similar thin-and-light handles everything and is genuinely light enough to matter.

Protect it. A hardshell sleeve for travel, a good posture for how you carry it. Laptops don’t bounce.

Laptop stand and external keyboard: A portable laptop stand (the Nexstand or MOFT are popular) costs very little, packs flat, and raises your screen to a height that doesn’t destroy your neck. Combine with a compact Bluetooth keyboard and you have an ergonomic setup you can deploy in any cafe or coworking space. This sounds precious. After one month of neck pain working hunched over a laptop on a coffee shop table, it will not sound precious.

Headphones: Noise-cancelling. Non-negotiable if you’re working in cafes, coworking spaces, or apartments with thin walls. AirPods Pro or Sony WH-1000XM series are the standard recommendations. The difference they make to focus in a busy environment is substantial.

Portable charger: A good one. Anker PowerCore is a reliable option. For days when you’re moving and working, not having a charging point nearby is not a reason to have a dead laptop at 2pm.

Universal travel adaptor: One that covers all plug standards. The world cannot agree on plugs. This is a persistent embarrassment for the species.

Cables: USB-C to USB-C. USB-C to USB-A. MagSafe or whatever your laptop charges from. Keep them in one small pouch so you don’t lose them.

Phone: Whatever you’re already using. What matters more than the phone is your data setup.

eSIM: For a digital nomad, an eSIM is not a luxury item, it’s infrastructure. You need reliable data wherever you are, without queueing at phone shops in every new country, without juggling physical SIM cards, without paying roaming fees. I use eSIMply across most of my destinations: activate the plan for the country before landing, have working data from arrival, manage everything from an app. Full guide to eSIM for nomads here.

Clothes

The nomad wardrobe is a system, not a collection.

The principles:

Everything washes easily and dries quickly. Merino wool and synthetic fabrics over cotton where possible. Cotton dries slowly, absorbs everything, and starts to smell faster.

Everything goes together. A neutral color palette (navy, black, grey, white, one accent color) means every top works with every bottom. You’re not doing daily outfit planning, you’re building a capsule that runs itself.

Fewer items, worn more. You’re washing clothes frequently. Two pairs of trousers that get worn alternately beats five pairs that each get worn twice in a month.

The actual list:

Tops: 3-4 t-shirts (2 basic, 1-2 slightly better for evenings or work video calls) 1 long-sleeve layer 1 smart-ish top for video calls, dinner, occasions

Bottoms: 2 pairs of trousers/pants (one smart-casual, one more casual) 1 pair of shorts if your destinations call for it 1 pair of leggings or workout bottoms

Layers: 1 packable down jacket (warm enough for cold climates, compresses small) 1 rain jacket (packable, waterproof, light) 1 mid-layer fleece or sweatshirt

Shoes: 1 pair of all-day walking shoes (something comfortable enough for a full day on your feet) 1 pair of sandals or flip-flops 1 pair of smarter shoes if your work or social life requires it

Underwear and socks: 5-7 pairs of underwear (merino wool if you can afford it, dries overnight) 5-7 pairs of socks (same principle)

Other: Swimming costume if relevant 1 scarf (doubles as: warmth layer, neck pillow, sun protection, beach mat in an emergency, covers shoulders for religious sites)

This fits in a 40L bag alongside your tech. Barely, but it fits.

Health and wellness

You don’t have a GP you can easily see. You might be in a country where your prescription isn’t recognized. You’ll almost certainly get sick at some point (everyone does). Be prepared.

Any prescription medication you take, plus a copy of the prescription
First aid kit: plasters, antiseptic wipes, painkillers, antihistamines, anti-diarrhea tablets, rehydration sachets
Probiotics (travel disrupts gut health, probiotics help maintain it)
Sunscreen
Insect repellent if you’re in a relevant climate
Travel insurance that covers medical emergencies including medical evacuation

Travel insurance is not optional if you’re doing this long-term. Medical costs abroad, especially for anything requiring hospitalization or evacuation, are catastrophic without it. SafetyWing and World Nomads are the standard nomad recommendations.

Documents

Keep digital copies accessible offline. A locked note in your phone, a secure cloud storage app.

Physical copies in your bag (separate from your phone and wallet): passport, insurance details.

Know your insurance number off the top of your head. You will need it when you’re feverish and panicking in an unfamiliar city and definitely not at peak cognitive function.

The things I got wrong and corrected

Too many cables. One cable per device. If it doesn’t have a cable, it doesn’t travel.

Multiple devices. A tablet AND a laptop AND a phone makes three things to keep charged, three cables, three screens, and a bag that weighs two kilos more. Pick your work device and your phone. That’s it.

“Nice to have” items. The portable fan. The spare notebook. The second camera. They don’t make the second cut. If you don’t use it in the first two weeks, it goes home.

Too many shoes. Two pairs. Three if you genuinely need the smart option. Shoes are heavy and take up disproportionate space.

The first repack is always the most brutal. After that, you’ll never go back.