Over the past several years, I've travelled a lot. More than most. I live in various AirBnBs around the world, and have not owned or rented a home in 3 years.
During my time of travel, I've figured out some fairly efficient ways of staying light on my feet, while not sacrificing on the day to day comforts. In this post, I'll share some of the tips that I've found, and hopefully we can get a discussion going on some tips that you use as well. I'm always open to learn new tactics for light, minimalist travel!
Every day is a journey, and the journey itself is home.
-Matsuo Basho
1. Pack as Many Light T-shirts as Possible
I've made the mistake many times. I've overpacked clothing by constantly telling myself, "I need a tea jacket" and "these rain boots will look cool when I'm walking around in London." The truth is, when I overpack clothing, I don't actually wear 90% of it, so why pack it? After long sessions of trial and error, I've realized what works and what's completely unnecessary.
The problem with the overpacker's mentality is that when you're in the midst of planning, everything seems essential. I've heard it all before:
"Yeah..this mechanical toothbrush and it's 100 widgets will be perfect for this trip."
or
"I'll be sitting on the beach a lot, so I'll probably need a beach towel...and also, a camp chair."
This sort of thinking is exactly what you need to stay away from, especially when it comes to clothes. Clothing is something we can all dangerously justify in our heads, because our comfort is directly affected by it. Instead of analyzing the situation from the perspective of, "What can I bring?", look at it from the lens of, "What can I get rid of?".
This has made me rethink all of my clothing choices, especially when the seasons are changing. Let me give you one simple piece of advice: The t-shirt is your lifesaver.
This winter, I traveled across Europe for 90 days in the coldest of conditions. My top layer was a thick coat, but I found that I rarely ever removed that top layer. I just spent my days wearing a coat. When I did remove the coat, I was always sporting some sort of cool, unique t-shirt design.
The thing to remember about t-shirts, is that they're fashionable and lightweight. You don't have to overspend on t-shirts, and your bag can carry up to 10 rolled up t-shirts fairly easily.
I will add a caveat to this section by saying, if you do decide to pack only t-shirts, make sure the quality of material is good. I'd always recommend American Apparel shirts over any other brand that I've found.
A lot of this post was spent on clothing because I believe if you can get your clothing right, everything else will fall into place. And it's very easy to overthink clothing. Watch out for the warning signs. There's never an excuse to bring a fishing jacket, or boat shoes. Simply stay away from excess thinking.
2. Zip-Lock Bags are Life
One of the single best tools for minimal travel is the ziplock bag. I always separate my items into a few subcategories, and keep them organized using ziplocks. I keep my important documents in one bag, my toiletries in another, my cords and electronic accessories in another, etc.
Once you've separated your entire life into plastic bags, spend time and remove the air from each one. This will ensure that you're not taking up valuable space unnecessarily.
Image Courtesy of This Grandma is Fun!
3. Bag Quality is Everything
I'd say the number one mistake of new and novice travelers is buying an inexpensive bag that has too many wheels, and not enough weight distribution. If you're trying to create frustration when running to your next flight, bring a crappy bag.
Wheels will break, handles will tear, holes will form, underwear will spill. These things will all happen when you've brought a terrible bag on your trip to Tunisia, or Toledo.
I spent $100 and bought an Osprey Porter 46 three years ago and I am confident in saying it's the best travel purchase I've ever made. I'd buy this bag again and again. It's small, compact, has no wheels and is considered a carry on. The side straps help keep your items safely in tow, while packing everything into one tight little ball.
Buy the Osprey Porter 46 on Amazon!
The pack is everything! Don't skimp on this purchase. Buy something that will last you for years, without worrying about your items. I promise, you won't regret it.
When you carry a great travel bag, your bag will end up carrying you.
4. Know Your Season
One common mistake of the newbie traveler is not quite understanding the season of the location they're visiting. For example, if you're from Florida and will be traveling to Northern England for the fall, just know that the fall season is much different in England than in Florida so plan accordingly! Don't pack shorts, because you probably won't need them. Also, make sure to not over-pack on things that you think you'll need.
Do your research, know the climate and don't pack too much or too little. Ask others what they're packing and make sure you've packed just the right amount of the necessities.
5. Disconnect from Ownership
"You can't take things with you when you die. You came into the world naked, and you'll leave naked. Memories are all that matters."
Okay, now that I've gotten the cliche travel quotes out of my system, let's talk about minimalism.
Do you really want to be the person who collects useless statues or figurines? Is that something that you really need to have? I'm not dissing on anyone who owns important collectables, and to an extent, we all have things we cherish but when does ownership become excessive? On their deathbed, has anyone ever said, "I wish I owned more stuff."
NEVER.
Most people's number one regret is that they'd hope for a deeper, more meaningful life experience. More travel. More time spent with loved ones. Less work. Less ownership.
In order to travel happily, one needs to disconnect from a sense of owning things. Collect pictures, stories and happiness. If you're standing on the beach of the Adriatic and thinking about Baseball cards, you're doing something wrong.
6. Never More Than One Bag
Anything more than one bag is a burden. Nothing more needs to be said about it.
7. Allbirds and Crevo Boots, the Only Two Shoes You'll Ever Need
Ideally, your shoe game can be on point while you're traveling. I'm not gonna lie, I like having nice shoes. I have to constantly stop myself from thinking that an extra suitcase of shoes is a good idea. :-) That's why I've adopted two major shoe categories for successful travel; one pair of light tennis shoes, and one pair of heavy but dressy boots.
Let's break this down a bit.
a.) Light tennis shoes - I like to run while staying fit and active on the road. I need a pair of tennis shoes that I can wear into a restaurant but can also double as a nice pair of sport shoes when the time is necessary. That's why I'm a huge fan of Allbirds.
Seriously, these are the best crossover tennis shoes I've ever owned. They feel like wool socks, with a strong sole. They're not too hot in the summer, they're not too cold in the winter. They're perfect for a mixture of style and sport and pack extremely lightly. The wool body is extremely compact, making them a minimalist's dream. They're a little on the expensive side, running about $95 USD, but I believe in spending extra money on quality. These shoes are as quality as they come.
b.) Rugged but Dressy Boot - I also enjoy hiking, walking long distance and when tennis shoes simply won't cut it, you need to bring out the big guns. Ideally, the perfect boot has a memory foam sole, strong ankle support and the ability to be polished and look like a dress boot. You need something you're not afraid to scratch, but those scratches can simply be buffed out for a nice, dressy look.
In my opinion, the perfect boot company for this purpose is Crevo. They make incredible and inexpensive boots for both Men and Women. I have personally owned and travel with the Crevo Men's Camden Boot that runs about $95.00 on Amazon.
Crevo CV1217 Men's Camden Boots
While traveling, these boots have served me loyally as my daily wearer and hiking boot when necessary. I have summited mountains in these boots, and eaten at fine French dining establishments in these boots. Regardless if you chose Crevo as your boot brand, I'd recommend purchasing a boot that can serve a dual purpose on your travels.
9. EBooks Only
If you're anything like me, reading is an essential pastime, especially on long flights and airline terminals. I've considered carrying a small paperback book many times, but simply cannot justify the space in my pack. Carrying a bulky paper book simply does not make sense when you're trying to keep it light.
I'd recommend downloading the Kindle app on your phone and getting used to reading from an iPhone or Android. Staring at a screen for 2 hours is kind of difficult but a small price to pay when it comes to keeping excess weight out of your bag. This is a small tip, but you'll thank me later.
Conclusion
For me, packing the proper bag means everything in the success or failure of your trip. The last thing you want is constant frustration over bulky, unnecessary items in your bag. If you overpack, and are planning on traveling for a while, I promise, you'll end up throwing items in the trash. If you think of it that way, overpacking is simply wasteful and is sure to stress you out.
Spend some time and really analyze every item in your bag. Make sure that what's there has earned it's place in your daily life. If you don't use the item every day, look for a way to get rid of it.
Packing light is an investment of time and takes constant practice to get it right, but when you do, it'll be a life of blissful minimalism that you'll enjoy for years.
