What To Pack For International Travel, According To Our Travel Editor

Forbes

23-05-2025

As a travel editor who has visited over 40 countries and flies overseas multiple times a year, I know the struggles of figuring out what to pack for international travel. Unlike a domestic trip, an international travel packing list is highly dependent on where you're headed. Overseas travel will require essentials—like a multi-use power adaptor and TSA-approved toiletry bottles no bigger than 3.4 ounces—that you may not already have on hand. Luggage for international travel must also be considered, as international airline cabins often have different size and weight restrictions for luggage and personal items.
Unlike a domestic trip, an international travel packing list is highly dependent on where you're ... More headed.
The simplest way to approach packing for an international trip is to consider which items will go into your carry-on or checked luggage, and which items you'll need to keep in your personal item. While it's easy to shop for forgotten items, it's also imperative to prioritize the items that may be difficult to find in your destination. To curate this list, I considered my own firsthand experience as well as sought insights from Jeremy Maluf, a packing expert who travels the world full-time out of a nine-liter backpack. Here's what to pack for international travel in 2025.
What To Pack In Your Personal Item: Aer Travel Pack 3 Small,Epicka Universal Travel Adapter, Anker 20,000mAh Power Bank, Boacay Travel Document Organizer, Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones,Arc'teryx Men's Delta Jacket, Arc'teryx Women's Delta Jacket, Comrad Compression Socks, Takeya Actives Water Bottle With Spout Lid, Purell Advanced Hand Sanitizer, Venture Large Body Wipes, Weleda Skin Food
What To Pack In Your Luggage: Samsonite Freeform Carry-On, Forge Cable Lock, Mrsdry Travel Bottles, On Cloud 6, Helly Hansen Men's Loke Shell Jacket, Helly Hansen Women's Loke Shell Jacket, Vuori Strato Tech Tee For Men, Vuori Energy Tee For Women, lululemon Men's Surge Jogger, Spanx AirEssentials Wide Leg Pant, Darn Tough Men's Quarter Hiking Socks
Your personal item isn't just extra storage for items that couldn't fit in your luggage. It's your repository for everything you might need in transit and, on the off chance that your checked luggage gets lost, it might be your only luggage for a few days. That means it should contain any essentials you may need on hand—like medication or documents—as well as items to keep you comfortable in transit.
Aer
It all starts with the right personal item bag: While I've traveled with both totes and backpacks, I prefer a backpack as it keeps my hands free and helps avoid any back pain when things get heavy. San Francisco-based gear company Aer makes some of the best travel backpacks on the market, and its Aer Travel Pack 3 Small is an ideal size for squeezing in all of your essentials and fitting underneath the airplane seat in front of you. Its travel-friendly features include a luggage trolley pass-through, lockable zippers, a pocket for smart trackers and quick-access top and side pockets for small valuables like AirPods or a passport.
Amazon
This top-rated international adapter by Epicka features four outlet types—three of the most common global plugs and a U.S. plug—that should have you set up for just about any country in the world. It has two USB-A ports and three USB-C ports, so you can charge up to five devices at the same time. As long as you've got this in hand, all of your devices can be charged in the same place.
Amazon
In case you're ever on a long bus or train ride when you can't plug in, or if you know you're going to burn out your phone's battery taking photos and videos on a full day of sightseeing, an external power bank can save the day. This model by Anker comes highly recommended by Maluf. 'On a good adventure, you never know when your next opportunity to charge will be, and a dead phone can end your day early,' he says. '20,000mah is the sweet spot in my opinion since it gives you several days of charge for longer adventures.'
Amazon
There are a lot of stylish passport wallets on the market, but this is the most functional choice. It's the one place where you can keep all your important travel documents, with a zipper that gives you the extra security to know that nothing will slip out when you're not paying attention. It can hold up to four passports in multiple slots, and features a handy external pocket for your boarding pass. Best yet, it's very affordable.
Bose
I bring these headphones with me on every trip, and find them to be very effective at drowning out the hum of the plane, loud snorers or crying babies. They're incredibly comfortable around the ear, and the precision of audio quality is unparalleled, which is why we named them the best wireless headphones on the market today. They're also very quick and easy to charge.
Amazon
Airplane cabins are usually cold, but they tend to feel colder when you're traveling in the summer and aren't wearing and packing your usual winter layers. This incredibly lightweight jacket from Arc'teryx is a smart solution because it can be folded down into such a small package, it barely takes up any room at all in your bag.
Amazon
I also highly recommend this jacket in its women's style. Designed for alpine environments, its breathable and moisture-wicking fleece ensures you'll stay comfortable all through the long travel day and it's a great layer to have if you're planning outdoor adventures.
Amazon
If your feet are prone to swelling on long flights, a pair of compression socks can help relieve discomfort by improving blood flow when you're sedentary or supporting your muscles when you're walking or standing for long hours. I've been using Comrad compression socks on several of my recent long-haul flights and never feel any swelling or pain in my legs upon landing.
Takeya USA
Dehydration is a major side effect of long flights, and depending on which airline you fly, you may not always have a steady refill of water coming your way. This water bottle can easily slip into your personal item bag and features an easy-to-use spout lid to avoid any spills. Fill it up before your flight and rest easy knowing you'll always have water on hand.
Amazon
After learning a hard lesson about outdoor toilets on a camping trip in Australia ten years ago, I never traveled without hand sanitizer again. I like these small bottles from Purell because you can easily toss them into the small front pocket of your bag. You can also use a bottle holder to clip them onto your bag's zipper.
Amazon
After a long travel day, body wipes are one thing you'll be grateful to have in case you find yourself in between showers for longer than you'd like. You can make do with a travel-sized pack or go all-in with these wipes by Venture, which makes its products from biodegradable materials.
Amazon
If you're prone to dry skin, this travel-sized moisturizer intensively hydrates and is handy to have by your side on any long-haul trip. It can be used on your face and body and is made from plant-rich ingredients like sunflower oil that provide a healthy glow, even after a brutal day of delayed flights.
A well-balanced suitcase should be 50 percent dedicated to your personal style—i.e., cute outfits for photos and stylish shoes for any night out—and 50 percent dedicated to function. Remember that international travel takes you to places you don't normally go (like waterfall trails or windy archeological sites), so you should have a few key pieces that will keep you warm, will dry fast if you do get wet and can be worn multiple times without needing a wash.
Amazon
Choosing the right suitcase for international travel is essential, and the Samsonite Freeform Carry-On is a great all-around choice thanks to it being lightweight and an ideal size for international overhead cabins (23 x 15 x 10). It's easy to maneuver and is built with an expandable panel that allows you to fit in extra clothes. If you're committed to checking a suitcase, it also comes in medium and large sizes.
Amazon
Even if your checked luggage already has a TSA-approved lock built in, it never hurts to have a spare. Cable locks are preferable because they're easier to get on and off than traditional metal U-lock. Forge's cable locks, which we named one of the best TSA-approved luggage locks on the market, comes in packs of four, so you'll have a lock for your whole family or just extra to spare. This model also stands apart from the rest due to its side window, which makes it easier to read the combination.
Amazon
Airport security size and weight restrictions are no joke, and they often fluctuate between countries. This set of 3 ounce bottles are TSA-approved and are small enough that they shouldn't cause you any grief when transporting through the U.K., Europe or Asia. They're made from a grippy silicone that makes them durable and flexible, meaning you won't have to worry about leaks. A set like this is also great to have on hand if you want to 'borrow' some fancy soaps or shampoos from your hotel.
On
Shoes are often the heaviest things to pack, so it's important to choose a lightweight pair that won't take up too much room in your luggage. On makes sturdily constructed lightweight sneakers that are ideal for a wide range of terrains; I wore the brand's Cloud 5 sneakers on multiple trips last year. This year, I'll be traveling with the latest version of the shoe, which offers more cushion and extra durability on the vamp and heel.
Helly Hansen
You should never rule out the chance of rain on an international trip, but you don't have to dedicate too much checked-bag space to your rain jacket either. This jacket can be folded down into its pocket and zips closed to form one tight little parcel that stays out of the way when you don't need it. When you do need it, the waterproof material effectively locks out moisture, but there are vent zippers if you feel you're starting to overheat.
Helly Hansen
The women's style is made from the same waterproof material and offers a flattering, slimmer cut. Much like the men's version, it's incredibly easy to roll up and stuff into a bag as you jet off on a busy day of sightseeing.
Vuori Clothing
A moisture-wicking shirt should be a staple of any packing list, as it can be worn in a variety of different climates without getting too sweaty or unmanageable. Made from soft and quick-drying fabric, Vuori's incredibly comfortable travel t-shirts never take up too much room in a suitcase. This men's style also comes in a large variety of colors.
Vuori Clothing
For women, the Vuori Energy Tee is constructed from a moisture-wicking and sun-protective material. It adds a bit of style to any basic pair of jeans or leggings and the ultra soft fabric will keep its silky feel after years of wear.
lululemon
When you're always on the go, you'll want to bring along at least one comfortable pair of pants that can be reworn multiple times—and still looks stylish. These lululemon Surge Joggers do the trick: They're lightweight, quick-drying and can be zipped at the cuffs, making them easy to pull on and off.
Spanx
A friend of mine recommended Spanx's line of pants to me earlier this year, and I was quickly impressed by how comfortable and supportive they are. This pair is particularly soft, and its wide leg style can be worn on everything from walking tours to lunches at chic cafés.
Darn Tough
If long days of sightseeing are in the cards, you'll want to make sure you bring along a sturdy pair of socks to keep your feet comfortable during long walks. 'I can't recommend these enough,' says Maluf, who always travels with a pair of Darn Tough socks. 'Even though these socks are pricey they're worth it since you're buying peace of mind. I've walked thousands of miles with each pair I own—and no holes.' They're also available in women's styles.
From meticulously testing and reviewing the best luggage to bring with you to the airport to the best packing cubes to keep you organized, we at Forbes Vetted have dedicated ourselves to helping make travel easy. When it came time to put together an international travel packing list, we applied the same unyielding commitment to ensure that our readers have everything they need on hand to see the world stress-free.