Most packing guides tell you what you should be able to fit in a bag this size. Not what actually fits.
We wanted to do something different. So instead of guessing, we packed the LEVARE Travel Backpack the way someone would for a real 4–5 day trip, and wrote down exactly what went in.
No filler. No "if you pack really efficiently." Just what fits.
The bag
40 × 30 × 20 cm. Four sections: a main clothing compartment, a separate laptop and organiser area, a toiletries section, and a hidden security pocket for smaller valuables.
What went in the main compartment
- 4 T-shirts
- 4 pairs of trousers
- 1 light jumper
- Pyjamas
- 5 pairs of underwear
- 4 pairs of socks
That's a genuine 4–5 day rotation for most trips — not a stripped-down version of one. If your destination calls for bulkier clothing, you'll trade some of this space for it. This is a starting point, not a rule.
What went in the tech and organiser section
- A 13" laptop
- A tablet
- Charging cables
- A power bank
- Headphones
Kept separate from clothing on purpose. Nobody wants a charging cable tangled in with a T-shirt, or a laptop sliding around loose in a bag full of clothes.
What went in the toiletries section
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- Travel-sized shampoo and shower gel
- Deodorant
- A small wash bag for anything else
Kept apart from everything else, for an obvious reason: nobody wants a leaking bottle anywhere near their clothes.
What went in the security pocket
- Passport
- A spare card
- A small amount of cash
Small, low-profile, and not the first thing you'd reach for by accident if you needed to grab your phone or headphones quickly.
What we left out
We didn't pack a second pair of shoes. We didn't pack a "just in case" outfit. We didn't try to squeeze in more than the bag was designed for.
That's the honest trade-off with a bag this size: it's built for a genuine 4–5 days, not for stretching to a week if you pack differently. If your trip needs more than that, you'll want a bigger bag — and we'd rather tell you that now than have you find out at the airport. You can check the full size and capacity details on the product page, or see our FAQs for more on how many days it's realistically suited to.
If you're flying with it as hand luggage, it's worth double-checking your airline's own cabin baggage rules before you travel — allowances vary by airline and fare type. The UK Civil Aviation Authority's baggage guidance and the UK Government's hand luggage guidance are both good places to check current limits.
Why we're sharing this instead of a generic packing list
We said early on, in our About page, that we'd rather give you honest, tested information than tell you what sounds good. This is what that looks like in practice: not "fits everything you need," but a specific list of exactly what fits, so you can decide for yourself whether it works for your trip.
If it's close to what you'd pack, the LEVARE Travel Backpack is designed around exactly this kind of trip. If your packing looks different, at least you'll know before you buy.
Designed for better travel.