I Spent 23 Days Traveling in Southeast Asia With 1 Backpack-Thanks to These 11 Holy Grail Travel Essentials

"After several years of consistent, extended travel abroad, I am proud to say I've finally learned how to pack like a pro. Last month, my partner and I spent 23 days traveling around South Korea and Thailand on a once-in-a-lifetime trip that took us on a liveaboard scuba boat, to a remote national park, and to the massive hubs of Seoul and Bangkok."

"We moved around a lot during this trip-using everything from flights to motorbikes and water taxis to buses for transport-and my goal was to create the lightest, most streamlined packing system possible. I largely succeeded by choosing to pack versatile, compact essentials that served multiple uses without weighing me down, using Cotopaxi's new Allpa 50 Adventure Pack as my only bag."

"This newly-released Cotopaxi Allpa 50 travel backpack takes everything I loved about the original Allpa 42 Travel Pack but adds an upgraded shoulder strap system and a more comfortable hip belt. The pack also doesn't totally butterfly open, which means my clothes and gear stay in place, and the mesh pocket inside the main compartment is great for separating dirty clothes from my clean ones."

A 23-day trip across South Korea and Thailand combined liveaboard scuba diving, a remote national park, and stops in Seoul and Bangkok. The itinerary used flights, motorbikes, water taxis, and buses, driving a goal of the lightest, most streamlined packing system. A single Cotopaxi Allpa 50 Adventure Pack served as the only bag, with versatile, compact essentials chosen to serve multiple uses and reduce weight. The Allpa 50 adds an upgraded shoulder strap and a more comfortable hip belt, a main compartment that doesn’t fully butterfly open, a mesh pocket for separating dirty clothes, a detachable eight-liter top lid for underseat use, and a large outer pocket. Standout gear included On's Cloudultra 3 running shoes, Eagle Creek's Pack-It Essentials Set, and Lifestraw's Go Series Water Filter Bottle, among 11 highlighted backpacking essentials.

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