How to pack for every climate (without carrying your entire wardrobe)

After 3.5 years of travelling, I can say that one of the more frustrating things is deciding what clothing to bring. Sure, if you're heading to South East Asia for six months, all you really need is some light clothing, a swimsuit and a pair of sneakers or trail runners. But when you travel, live or work across different continents, packing suddenly becomes a lot more complicated.

From the warm, humid climate of South East Asia, to the ski slopes of Japan and the windy autumn weather in Tasmania - how do you pack for all of that? And how do you do it in a way that's practical, sustainable and doesn't require a 100-litre backpack?

A little bit of background

Over the last few years of travelling, I've gone from warm to freezing Nepal, hot to snowy Japan, humid India and both summer and winter in Tasmania. All very different climates, but somehow I managed it with one 65-litre backpack. Sometimes that backpack even contained camping gear and climbing equipment as well.

It might feel impossible to prepare for every type of weather, and honestly, sometimes it is. But over the years I've found a few tricks that have made travelling between different climates much easier.

The basics: layers

One thing that has worked really well for me is layering.

So what does that actually mean?

Instead of bringing one enormous winter jacket or completely separate wardrobes for every climate, you bring multiple thinner layers that work together. It's a system that's commonly used in hiking and mountaineering, but it works just as well for everyday travel.

The minimum that I usually carry is:

• one short-sleeved shirt
• one long-sleeved shirt
• fast-drying hiking pants
• shorts
• a fleece
• an insulating jacket
• a rain jacket
• a bikini

Depending on where I'm going, I might also add:

• a windbreaker
• thermal leggings and a thermal shirt
• hiking leggings
• a beanie

Of course, these layers can be adjusted. You can choose a warmer fleece or a lighter one, and the same goes for your insulating jacket. Sometimes leggings make more sense than hiking trousers, sometimes it's the other way around. It all depends on your plans, but overall I've found the layering system incredibly flexible.

Besides these practical layers, I usually bring one or two outfits that simply make me feel good. A lightweight dress, a nice pair of trousers and a couple of tops. Just because you're travelling light doesn't mean you can't enjoy dressing up every now and then.

Stop caring (a little) about how you look

I know, I know. It's nice to look good, even when you travel. You never know who you'll meet ;).

But if you want to pack efficiently, you simply can't care too much. Packing for different climates means being minimalistic and flexible. Clothes that can serve multiple purposes become much more valuable than clothes that only work for one occasion.

For example, I love fast-drying hiking trousers. In tropical weather they're comfortable on their own, and when it gets cold I simply wear thermal leggings underneath. Suddenly those same trousers work in two completely different climates.

That doesn't mean you have to wear ugly outdoor gear all the time. Outdoor clothing has come a long way, and there are plenty of options that look good while still being practical.

Second-hand shops are your friend

One thing I stopped doing quite quickly was trying to prepare for every possible situation before leaving home.

Yes, you'll need warm clothes if you're heading to New Zealand or Patagonia. But do you really need to carry them through six months of tropical weather?

Instead, I started buying things second hand whenever I needed them. Australia, New Zealand and Japan all have amazing thrift shops where you can find warm jackets, fleece jumpers, hiking clothes and even ski gear for a fraction of the original price.

And when I left, I simply donated or sold them again. Not only did this save space in my backpack, it felt much more sustainable than buying brand-new gear for every climate and it was a nice feeling to wear something “new” every once in a while.

Don't be afraid to buy (or leave) clothes

This was probably one of the hardest lessons for me. Before leaving, I wanted to bring everything with me "just in case". But the reality is that almost every country has second hand clothing shops.

If you're moving from Thailand to Canada, buy a warm jumper in Canada. If you're leaving the mountains for tropical beaches, maybe it's okay to leave those thermal leggings behind for someone else.

Your backpack doesn't have to stay exactly the same throughout your journey. Especially during long-term trips, it will evolve together with your travels.

Invest in quality where it matters

While I love second-hand shopping, there are a few things I don't compromise on anymore:

• a good rain jacket
• a warm insulating jacket
• comfortable shoes

These are the items that can genuinely make or break a trip.

My rain jacket has followed me through monsoon rains in Nepal, Tasmanian storms and countless hikes. My insulated jacket has kept me warm at altitude, around campfires and during freezing mornings. 

Spending a little more on the things you'll use every week often ends up being cheaper than replacing poor-quality gear over and over again. Furthermore, they are quite lightweight items. These items are also the ones I’d never leave behind but would always take with me. 

Wash more often, pack less

This sounds obvious, but I think many people still overpack. I used to think I needed enough clothes for two weeks, but now I'm perfectly happy carrying enough for four or five days.

Most places have washing machines, laundromats or at least a sink where you can wash a shirt or a pair of socks.

I'd much rather wash my clothes in the sink every once in a while, than carry another five kilos on my back.

Accept that you won't be prepared for everything

Acceptance is key - no matter how carefully you pack, there will always be a moment where you wish you'd brought something else.

You'll get caught in unexpected snow. You'll end up at a nice restaurant with only hiking clothes. You'll forget gloves. You'll wish you had sandals.

That's just part of travelling.

After three and a half years, I've realised that packing isn't about being prepared for every possible situation. It's about being prepared enough.

Last tips

Nowadays, whenever I'm deciding whether something should go into my backpack, I ask myself three questions:

• Can I wear it in multiple situations?
• Can I layer it with something else?
• Could I easily buy it if I really needed it?

If the answer to the first two is no, and the last one is yes, I usually don’t take it. And so far this has worked. I went down from a 65L to a 55L backpack, carrying everything I need for normal travelling. 

Maybe try it out some time and see if it works to lighten your backpack too?