My recent packing challenge was packing for Borneo where we’d be in high humidity, trekking in the jungle, swimming and snorkelling on islands, then spending 4 days in Singapore, a total of 15 days. I was limited to 15kg due to an internal flight in Borneo. My empty suitcase weighted 2.3kg, so I had a 12.7kg packing challenge ahead. I was so concerned that I was weighing items of clothes and only the lightweight, functional clothing made it into the suitcase.

I’m an anxious chronic overpacker normally, so here’s what I learnt and what I packed for Borneo.

Top tips:

• Take lightweight breathable fabrics that are easy to wash and wear and dry fast, such as technical silk from brands Styling You The Label and Airism by Uniqlo
• Avoid cotton, it takes ages to dry in humid conditions
• Function over fashion – this was a hard one to get past as I like fashion, but every item in my suitcase had to perform in tough humid conditions
• You’ll be constantly sweating, so bring enough tops to be able to change regularly
• Streamline toiletries – the bare minimum
• Handwash clothes while away – bring a travel clothes line and clothes wash detergent
• Bring a fan, I instantly had people around me asking me to fan them – it’s hot in Borneo and in Singapore
• It rains hard and fast and at times with little warning, so always carry a plastic rain poncho with you everywhere. I was drenched three times, only once while wearing runners which took almost 2 days to dry. You don’t need a heavy rain coat, a plastic poncho does the job, plus it’s small, lightweight and easy to carry in a handbag / backpack

Wearing plastic ponchos in Borneo after it bucketed down. Photo: Ben King

Leeches

• We were warned about leeches in the jungle before we left and I bought 2 pairs of long football socks. I needn’t have worried, we could rent special ‘leech socks’ and wellington boots from the jungle camp.

What are leech socks?

I didn’t know before signing up for the trip either. Leech socks are long socks with a loose cotton upper that is elasticated. Leeches can attached through clothing that is close to th skin and has a loose weave. The leeches in Borneo were small (thank God!) and best way to get a leech off you is to roll them until they form a ball and flick them off.

Indi modelling jungle wear – long sleeves and pants tucked into leech socks & wellington boots

This is what I packed to travel to Borneo and Singapore

Clothes

• 4 short sleeve shirts in technical silk from Styling You The Label (could be worn day time or to a restaurant, easy to dress up / dress down),
• 2 t-shirts, Airism by Uniqlo (wore one on the plane)
• 4 old t-shirts / tanks that I wear to the gym / pilates, I was happy to dispose of these during the trip (but I didn’t)
• 1 long sleeve fishing shirt from Under Armour for jungle trekking / leech protection
• I packable windproof jacket from Uniqlo (which we discovered is not waterproof)
• 1 long sleeve linen shirt (worn on plane)
• 1 3/4 length pants / shorts from Lorna Jane
• 2 pairs long pants, Lorna Jane (worn on plane) and Hennessy
• 1 pair light weight linen pants
• 1 pair knee-length linen shorts
• Swimsuit
• Board shorts
• Sarong
• 2 bra crop tops (what I’d wear to pilates) – easy to wash and wear
• 2 bras
• 6 undies
• 3 socks for runners
• 2 long socks (for protection from leeches, and I needn’t have bothered as I rented specific leech socks and gum boots)
• Rain poncho – small plastic one $5 from BCF (I bought another one in Borneo)
• Panama hat
• Cap
• Pashmina scarf (worn on plane)

Shoes

• Runners / sneakers (worn on plane)
• Keens Whisper travel sandals – perfect travel shoe for all day walking / getting wet, however, low on the style scale
• Thongs
• Fitflop cova sandal

Non clothing items

• Insect repellent
• Insect repellent velcro bracelet – seemed to work, I hardly got bitten
• Mosquito net for face
• Small binoculars (were useless, bring good ones or go without)
• Head torch
• Neck cooler scarf
• Packable backpack
• 2 packable tote bags Peak Design
• Fan, foldable
• Novel to read
• Wash bag Peak Design (toilet bag) with 4 x sachets of shampoo and conditioner. I made these stretch and only used three, toothbrush, small toothpaste, mini floss, deodorant, 2 x face creams (one with SPF), tweezers, nail clippers, comb, facial cleanser, leave in hair styling product (I usually use 3-5 products on my curly hair, but only brought one), all purpose Savlon cream, body oil moisturiser, cotton buds, face cloth
• Small make up bag: mascara, eye pencil, brow pencil, one eye shadow, 2 lipsticks
• Travel clothes washing detergent
• Peak Design capture clip to carry camera (not used, I used the camera strap each time)
• Silver necklace
• Sleep kit – lavender essential oil, ear plugs, eye mask

Carry on backpack

• Backpack, Peak Design
• Canon R6 camera with 24-105mm kit lens (I was immediately wishing I had a 400mm or better lens)
• Laptop
• Note pad and pen
• Singapore pocket guidebook
• Tech pouch (Peak Design) with all my chargers, cords, cables, hard drives, spare SD cards
• Inflatable neck pillow (which I never used)
• Bose noise cancelling ear phones (for plane)
• Apple ear pods
• Ziplock plastic bag with lip balm, mini hand cream, sanitiser, toothbrush and mini toothpaste, mini face cream
• Print out of my travel documents – vaccination certificate, travel itinerary
• Mints
• Reading glasses
• Face mask – spare

Handbag

• Wallet
• Passport
• iPhone
• Sanitiser
• Facemask
• Sunglasses
• Hair clips and bands
• Mints
• Tissues

My packing was a success. My suitcase weighted 12.6kg in total. This is THE LIGHTEST I’ve ever travelled (besides carry on only on short trips) and it’s certainly the lightest I’ve travelled overseas.

Things I wish I’d packed: Updated 11/3/2024

The only things I missed was having a dress and another pair of long lightweight pants.

I would have liked to have another “nice” outfit for Singapore, however, I made do. I was proud that I was able to take the bare minimum. At the end of the day, it’s about experiencing a new place, not about what you wear … right?

I need to find better hair product – I had frizzy hair for most of the trip, but in such humid conditions, it’s unavoidable – and that’s where it’s great to have a hat!

A Sunbella wrap would have been perfect in Borneo. I took one with me to Rome in the middle of a heatwave and once wet, it really helped keeping me cool. They are also great for sun protection (their original purpose).

I also wish I had a Scrubba portable washing machine – yes, a small foldable clothes washing bag. I don’t like handwashing and I’m not very good at this, a Scrubba really would’ve helped.

Not sponsored
This blog post is not sponsored by anyone and I’m not an affiliate of Styling You The Label, Uniqlo nor Peak Design. I love Styling You The Label clothing and Peak Design products – both were put to the test on this trip and were perfect for the job.

I purchased a Sunbella wrap to take with me to Italy which was about 12 months after my trip to Borneo. I think I will always have a Sunbella wrap with me on every summer trip from now on, it was that versatile and like my own portable air conditioner.

A year or so after my trip, Scrubba did gift me a washing bag to try out; I’m not an affiliate and wasn’t paid to write about them.

Let me know if you have any questions and I’ll try to help.

After planting a tree along a logged area of the Kinabatangan River in Sabah, Borneo. Long sleeves, leech socks and gum boots are must. Mum is in the background