What To Pack: Desert Hiking Trip
Carry-on packing for 8 Days in Utah/Arizona in August (no camping)
The last time I paid for a checked bag was in 2013.
I’m just a carry-on kind of gal (hence my username). I like having all of my things with me, and, honestly, I’d rather spend my money doing something on my trip instead of putting it toward my luggage.
Ironically, I’m also a chronic over-packer.
I’m here to prove that you can travel “light” but still have options. I’ve copied and pasted my real packing list below, plus some packing tips to help you on your next trip.
Packing Tips
Plan by day/outfit: This has helped me immensely with my overpacking tendencies. And it makes getting ready less stressful—much needed on our early mornings in Utah.
Match at least 2 tops per bottom: I learned this hack from my mom who would pack for 3 girls, herself, and my dad on cross-country road trips. This exponentially expands your outfit options without adding too many extra items, and tops tend to be smaller/easier to pack.
Compression packing cubes: A gamechanger, imo. These help so much with bulky items and overall organization.
Know your luggage: I’ve used my suitcase enough to know exactly how all the pieces tetris in. Try out different configurations until you find what works best in your suitcase.
Access to laundry: If possible, find accommodations with laundry. We did laundry most nights on this trip, so we could re-wear items and come home with clean clothes.
Luggage
All of the below was packed in:
21" x 13.75" x 9" Calpak carry-on (this version no longer sold, similar available here)
15” x 11.5” x 8” Amazon backpack (no longer sold)
Itinerary
To set the scene, here’s what I had to consider while packing:
2 travel days, including a red-eye flight
6 days of road-tripping and day hiking in National Parks
Desert temperatures ranging from high 50s to 100+ °F
Laundry and pool at our Airbnb
Packing List
This is my real packing list! I organized it by day/outfit in my notes app, but listed it here by category to make an easier checklist for you. I also added notes if I didn’t wear the item or any other tips I wanted to share.
Seriously copy and paste this for your next National Park trip!
Clothes
On the plane I wore one of my leggings and tanks. I tied my crewneck around my waist and wore my Tevas (don’t worry I put socks on for security).
Tops - For Hiking
7 tanks/longline sports bras (wore 1 tank on the plane)
3 short sleeves (I only wore 1 of these, opting for tanks most days)
Bottoms - For Hiking
3 hiking shorts
2 pairs of biker shorts (only wore 1)
3 leggings (wore 1 pair on the plane)
1 convertible hiking pants/shorts (only wore as shorts)
Outerwear
1 sun hoodie
1 flannel
1 crew neck sweatshirt (wore this on the plane there, but packed on the way back)
1 windbreaker
1 rain jacket
Shoes
1 pair of hiking boots
1 pair of Teva sandals
Socks
5 pairs of wool hiking socks (this was too many, but I liked to keep a clean pair in my backpack)
3 non-wool socks (mostly wore around the house or after hiking)
Pajamas/Lounge
2 comfy shorts
2 t-shirts
1 long sleeve t-shirt
Swim
2 bikinis (mixed and matched)
1 one piece (never wore this)
Undergarments
5 sports bras (in addition to longline ones I wore as tank tops)
1 strapless bra (for “nicer” tank top)
10 pairs of underwear (is it a universal truth that you always pack way too much underwear?)
Non-Hiking Outfits
1 “nicer” tank top
1 pair of jean shorts (never wore these!)
Personal Care
Skincare
Cleansing balm (makeup remover)
Cleanser
Vitamin C serum
Hyaluronic acid serum
Salicylic acid toner pads
Face moisturizer
Face SPF (we bought a few bottles of sunscreen there)
SPF chapstick
Lip balm
Makeup
Tinted moisturizer
Concealer pot
Bronzer stick
Liquid blush
Eyebrow gel
Mascara
Hair
Shampoo
Conditioner
Dry shampoo (non-aerosol)
Curl cream
Hair ties
Bobby pins
Medicine
Someone else in the group brought a first-aid kit, so these are just extra medicine-like things I packed for myself.
Inhaler
Ibuprofen
Pepto
Tums
Zyrtec
Bandaids
Other Toiletries
Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Wet wipes
Hand sanitizer
Deodorant
Body wash
8 pairs of daily contacts
Body spray/perfume
Shout wipes
Nail clippers
Tweezers
Lint roller
Razor
Anti-chafe stick (this melted in the car lmao)
Gear
Bags
Hiking backpack
Belt bag
Dry bag
Hats/Accessories
2 bucket hats (one for hiking and one for the pool - I only wore the hiking hat)
1 baseball hat (hooked to the outside of my backpack)
1 hiking headband (this one gets cold if you get it wet and wring it out. My sister also brought cooling towels for everyone)
1 bandana
1 pair prescription sunglasses
1 pair non-prescription sunglasses (I love Goodr for hiking!)
Hydration
2 liter water bladder (fits in my hiking backpack)
40 oz Hydroflask
16 oz Nalgene
5 Liquid IVs (we bought more there, but these were already at my house)
Tech
Phone + charger
Headphones + charger
Fitbit + charger
Kobo eReader + charger
Battery pack
Pen
Miscellaneous
Carabiners
Combination locks (didn’t use these)
Wallet w/ ID, credit cards, some cash
Plane Snacks
I one time took a flight to the west coast, naively thinking we would be served food because of the length of the flight. Now I never travel without extra snacks.
Sourdough pretzel nuggets
Peanut butter trail mix
Souvenirs
I always leave room for souvenirs, but sometimes you need to get creative on your re-packing. Luckily, I got everything back in without needing to expand my suitcase.
1 crewneck sweatshirt (wore this on the plane and packed my other one)
1 t-shirt
1 mug (I always pack breakable things in my personal item and wrap it in socks or a shirt)
5 postcards
1 magnet
1 pin
1 tote bag w/ stickers (kindly gifted to us by our Airbnb hosts. We used it as a snack bag during the trip)
I hope this helps you organize and pack for your next trip! I’ll keep the packing tips coming in future emails, so stay tuned.