How The New York Times's Frugal Traveler Packs for Any Trip Imaginable

New York Times

17-07-2025

While Glusac often takes a hard-sided spinner carry-on when she's traveling to a single destination, most of the time she prefers a carry-on backpack. 'I like a backpack for trips where I'm moving a lot, like on and off trains or buses. I find it's easier to manage to keep my stuff together safely if it's on my back.'
For this purpose, she loves the Patagonia Black Hole Pack 32L, which is simple, ergonomic, and relatively small, so it works best for her frame and height. But sometimes she opts instead for the Cotopaxi Allpa 35L Travel Pack, which is larger and has a clamshell design that makes it easy to keep organized. (It's also our pick for the best small carry-on travel backpack for most people.)
This pack is Elaine Glusac's go-to carry-on. She says it's ergonomic, simple, and perfect for her small frame. It has a zippered main compartment, a padded laptop compartment, a breathable back panel, and padding at the shoulders and sternum.
This durable bag's clamshell design makes organizing your stuff easy. And its strap design allows you to wear it on your back or carry it in your hand while you're on the move.
To save space, she packs her clothes in gallon-size Ziploc freezer bags, which she reuses from trip to trip. 'You can really press all the air out of it, [and it] just saves so much space,' she told me, saying she can fit four T-shirts in a single bag.
She also uses a liter-size Ziploc bag for her liquids. (She wondered if this was actually good advice, but she, and you, can rest assured: We tested seven TSA-compliant clear bags, including several from major travel brands, and we were surprised to find that a Ziploc freezer bag performed the best.)
This leakproof kitchen staple comes in handy if you need to separate your liquids for airport security. Although it is single-use plastic, it is sturdy enough for multiple uses and meets even the strictest security requirements. Glusac also uses gallon-size Ziploc freezer bags as compression storage bags. $12 from Walmart
(100 count)
In her carry-on, she also stows bags for use at her destination, including a simple canvas tote and a packable hiking backpack. She likes the REI Co-op Flash 18 Pack because it's especially lightweight (less than 10 ounces), it packs well, and it has chest and waist straps to help distribute the weight (though it's missing a water-bottle pocket). Incidentally, it's one of the bags we highlight as a pack worth considering in our packable daypack guide.
This durable, lightweight, water-resistant backpack for day trips easily fits in a carry-on. It has a chest strap and waist straps to distribute weight, but it lacks a water-bottle pocket. While sledding in Switzerland, Glusac used the REI Co-op Flash 18 Pack, a lightweight, packable daypack. Dave Bartusek
'You don't have to reinvent yourself,' Glusac said when I asked her about packing clothes. 'You are yourself wherever you go.'
She tries to pack versatile pieces that she can easily mix and match. She also recommends being respectful to local customs: 'Pay attention to what the locals are wearing and maybe try to mirror that,' she suggested.
Among her most-worn pieces are the PrAna Stretch Zion Halle Pants, which have a whopping six pockets. 'I just love pockets when you're traveling; there's just so much you're trying to keep track of,' she said. She uses them to stash local currency, receipts, her phone, and even a power bank. The pants also have a side zippered pocket and a hidden zippered pocket for items you want to keep a little extra secure. Beyond that, the pants don't wrinkle, they're lightweight, they're forgiving, and they're comfortable in many different climates, she said. (In fact, she loves them so much, she now owns four pairs.)
Glusac's go-to travel pants have six pockets, including a hidden zippered pocket for stashing valuables. They also have a water-resistant coating and UPF 50+ sun protection. The PraNa Stretch Zion Halle Pants, which she donned on this trip, are Glusac's favorite travel pants. Anne Marie Mitchell
For tops, she usually packs Tasc's All Day Short Sleeve T-Shirts, which she said are super soft and long-lasting. Plus, she likes that they wick moisture away, don't seem to smell, and dry quickly, so they're great for hiking and other activities.
Glusac raved about this simple T-shirt, noting that it's incredibly soft and lasts a long time. Plus, it wicks away moisture, doesn't seem to smell, and dries quickly, so it's great for hiking and other activities. $44 from tasc Performance
Glusac always brings a long-sleeved button-up shirt as a lightweight layer that she also uses for sun protection. Although she owns shirts from several brands, she particularly likes the Columbia Women's Silver Ridge Utility Long Sleeve Shirt because it has several pockets. It also packs down small and is made with breathable, moisture-wicking material that has a UPF 50 rating.
For a lightweight layer and sun protection, Glusac loves this long-sleeve button-up, which is made from moisture-wicking material, offers UPF 50 protection, and has back vents for breathability. It also has two front pockets, which you can open from the side and top, as well as an interior pocket.
For cooler weather, she packs a long-sleeved base layer. She loves Kari Traa's base layers because the shirts are long, partly going over the hips to keep more of the body warm. They're available in different weights, as well as neutral colors and fun designs, which add a little variety to a neutral travel wardrobe; Wirecutter mentions the wool-blended shirts as an option worth considering in our guide to the best thermal underwear. She also frequently travels with a SmartWool Gaiter, which is soft, warm, lightweight, and easy to put on and take off.
Kari Traa's base layers — which are available in different weights and colors, including patterns and solids — are Glusac's go-to, in part because they're extra long. This slim-fit style is made from a merino-wool blend that is quick-drying, moisture-wicking, and odor-resistant. The shirts have performed well in our testing but are sold only in women's sizes.
And she always travels with a knit beanie, even in the summer. They're great for cooler outings, such as a trip on a ferry. Another staple is a baseball cap from Mammut that has a unique folding brim, which makes it easy to pack or carry around in your day bag.
'It's so vital to have the right shoes, but they also have to be versatile,' said Glusac. 'It's hard to find durability, comfort, and style in one shoe. Ideally they can go day-to-night or trail-to-town.'
She hasn't found the perfect pair yet, but she does love her Danner Inquire Chukka boots. She said they worked on her recent London trip, both on the trail and in the city, where they blended in. We also recommend a pair of Danner hiking boots as an option worth considering in our guide to the best hiking boots for the very same reason Glusac likes hers: They're leather boots you can wear around town.
Glusac loves these hiking boots, which have a full-grain leather upper, because they work on the trail but are also suitable for wear around town, without looking out of place. Danner says they're lightweight, waterproof, and supportive, with a removable OrthoLite footbed, and Glusac finds them comfortable.
Glusac loves these comfortable, durable rain boots, which she says are popular in Alaska. This pair is a former pick that we still like. It's high-quality, it's flexible at the ankle, it offers super-sticky soles, and it has stood the test of time. But we found that tiny rocks and debris got wedged in the treads and required picking out by hand.
For wet weather, her go-to is a Legacy boot from Xtratuf. The brand, she says, is extremely popular in Alaska. 'I've seen people in Juneau wear them with suits,' she said. 'They're super waterproof and really comfy.'
We agree: Xtratuf's ankle boot is a pick in our guide to the best rain boots due to a rounded toe that makes them 'more comfortable to walk in for extended periods than other boots.' Plus, they outperformed other models in our traction tests.
While you may have already figured out that you'll want your sunglasses on a beach vacation, Glusac has discovered some less obvious things that make certain kinds of trips run smoother.
For beach adventures, she brings a lightweight wrap, similar to a sarong. It rolls down small, dries out quickly, and, she says, is better than a towel at the beach. 'You can use it for anything,' she told me, like a picnic blanket or as a curtain for a quick 'surfer change' in the parking lot.
She also likes to corral her swim gear — which includes a swimsuit and goggles — in an Aloha Small Pouch, which is splash-proof and comes in bright colors and fun patterns. To keep other small accessories organized, she uses small Topo Designs Accessory Bags, which pack flat.
For cold-weather trips, she owns layers that she can pack separately or wear together, such as a lightweight puffy jacket (hers is similar to this jacket from New Zealand brand Macpac) and an outer shell for wet conditions.
Her shell is from the climbing brand Black Diamond. 'It has all these zippers that you can adjust for the temperature,' she said, 'but it moves really well because it was made by climbers that [are] stretching in a lot of different directions.'
Glusac loves this waterproof, lightweight, packable shell. It's designed by a climbing brand, so it stretches well. Plus, it has pit zips for breathability, as well as five pockets.
For road trips, Glusac always brings a headlamp. Her model, the Black Diamond Spot, has been Wirecutter's favorite headlamp for over a decade because it's easy to use, reliable, and equipped with a long-lasting battery. Glusac likes it because it's lightweight enough that it doesn't drift down on her forehead when she's using it. She says it comes in handy if she ends up camping or just has to look for something in the trunk when it's dark.
The Spot 400 is an easy-to-use, bright-enough headlamp that provides long-lasting battery life and reliable performance, year after year. Glusac uses it for road trips and likes that it's lightweight enough that it doesn't slip down her forehead. Glusac used her Black Diamond headlamp while van camping in Death Valley National Park. Anne Marie Mitchell
Glusac starts packing about a week before her trip. 'I'll just put my case out somewhere like a closet … and throw a bunch of stuff in that I think I might want,' she told me. 'From there, I gradually edit and pull things out.'
She also keeps a few essentials packed and ready to go, including sunglasses, dental floss, and a contact-lens case. And she has a travel drawer of accessories to choose from, depending on the trip. She simply opens the drawer and asks herself, 'Oh, is this the trip where I need the adapter? Is this the trip where I need the headlamp?' Or, she joked, 'Is this the trip where I need a flask?'
But that joke speaks to a truth: Even a great trip can be a challenge. The packing part? That doesn't have to be.
This article was edited by Hannah Rimm and Maxine Builder.
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I'm a writer on the discovery team covering travel products, along with related news, fun facts, and tips.