The goal is to travel for 5 months with one less than 50 pound backpack. If I can keep it to 40 pounds leaving, that would be wonderful - both for being able to walk and having room for additions.

All fairly warm destinations but could be cool at night.

Here's a suggested list 100 things to pack that might require a sherpa.
Here's a Lonely Planet guide for multi- months that says if your clothes take up more than 1/3 of your backpack, you're taking too many.
Tips from 31 experts; very helpful.


My  (less than) 100 things, so far

1 carrier (small purse, cross-body or around my neck for passport & credit cards & money
1 cloth bag for carry-on essentials, if I have to check my backpack
1 pair of sandals
1 extra pair of glasses
1 big scarf, cotton blue
1 swimming suit
1 pair of googles
4 pairs of pants (blue corduroy, gray, khaki, waterproofs)
3 underwear
3 pairs of socks
1 bra
1 bathrobe
1 night shirt
1 black and white striped sweater
1 black sleeveless top
1 black top
1 white tee shirt
1 coral lighter sweater
1 pink scarf
2 tunic tops (gray, blue print)
2 coverups/long tops (pink, blue floral)
1 laundry bag (could also be the carry-on bag)

The list above minus underwear

The above - about 1/2 of backpack used








1iPad (travel books, dictionary, pdfs, leisure reading, etc. pre-downloaded)
1 cell phone
1 charger and cord
  adaptor
1 ear buds
1 frisbee
1 bungee cord

= 38

Wear traveling: orange corduroy pants, pink and orange striped tee, orange cotton sweater,  underwear, hiking boots, hat, belt =9

We aren't leaving for another 24 days but all clothes except underwear and socks are packed and they take up 1/2 of backpack.