Franz Eliz
Many people often find packing challenging, regardless of how short or long the trip is, locally or overseas. Minimalists usually don’t worry much about this – since they don’t have much stuff – but that doesn’t mean they always find packing easy.
While I’m generally a minimalist, I always strive to get better at staying organised and comfortable on the road.
In this article, I’ll share reasons to consider minimalist travel and how you can start travelling like a minimalist traveller. My opinion is based on my experience of travelling light. This is a detailed guide, so get your tea or coffee ready!
Minimalist Travel Perks
I started embracing minimalist travel after realising how unkind I was towards my body while travelling – by filling my backpack with unnecessary things. As a petite woman, I dislike lugging my bag around if it’s not necessary. Unless I’m going camping, I don’t see the point of torturing my back carrying stuff I can probably be okay without.
Minimalist travel helps keep me stay happy on the road. It might do the same for you, too.
Photo by Taryn Elliott via Pexels
No Need To Stay Far From Your Belongings
Since you don’t need to deal with a heavy bag, you can move around quickly. With less stuff, you can opt for a small to medium-sized backpack, which can easily fit most public transportation compartments. I like having my bag right under the seat in front of me. It’s not a problem since I don’t have long legs.
You Can Avoid Baggage Fees
Baggage fees are becoming more expensive today – a good enough reason to rethink how we pack for our travels. You can avoid baggage fees by ensuring you travel with the right-sized carry-on.
There’s No Need To Wait for Your Bag at the Conveyor Belt
That’s right. Just walk straight to the immigration counter as soon as you land. You also don’t have to worry about losing your bag.
Many travellers have had their bags lost in transit; retrieving them takes time. Because of this concern, it’s best to have a small carry-on containing a few travel essentials, such as an extra shirt or small toiletries, in case your checked bag doesn’t arrive at the airport on time.
Anyone Can Travel Light
Packing tips are popular searches on the Internet. It’s just to show how concerned travellers are about packing effectively. The right packing strategies can help travellers avoid hefty baggage fees and make enough space for their travel essentials. That said, simplify your travels and travel like a minimalist.
While minimalist travel can be a rewarding experience, it can be a little overwhelming, especially for first-timers. Rather than rushing into it, take it slow. Do it step-by-step, just as how you’d slowly declutter your home. Don’t rush.
It’s important to understand that everyone has their own ways of doing things. Minimalists also have different ways of embracing minimalism. What’s minimalist to you isn’t always considered minimalist to other minimalists around you.
After all, minimalism is a tool to help us identify the most important things and how they can add value to our lives. Regarding travelling, most travellers search for moments that can add value to their journeys. In the end, it goes back to our individual experiences.
Explore your options, travel goals, and yourself. Only then will you be able to create an approach that can help you simplify your travels. Below are some tips on travelling light.
Don’t Overpack
Many people think travelling with just a carry-on is challenging for long-term travelling, but that’s not always the case.
While many of the long-term travellers I met in the past were minimalists themselves, some weren’t. You don’t have to be a minimalist to find heavy bags troublesome. To avoid overpacking, carry the stuff you’ll need for the road.
Here’s how you can pack light and travel like a minimalist:
- Bring clothes suitable for your activities. You’ll want clothes that you can easily mix and match. I like black outfits because I find them versatile and easy to manage.
- Get creative with your things. Some things are useful even after they’re broken.
- Avoid travelling during winter. That way, you don’t need to pack warm clothes that are usually bulky. But if you must travel when it’s cold, it helps to opt for merino wool or a packable low-temperature-tolerant outer shell.
I had to travel to Jakarta for work a couple of years ago. My travel bag wasn’t big. It was a medium laptop bag from Targus. The bag was big enough to keep everything needed for a one-week trip. While I don’t use it much now, sometimes I take it with me for a weekend trip around my home country.
Consider Travelling With Fewer Gadgets
When you have fewer things in your bag, you have less weight to carry, allowing you to move faster on the road.
I like travelling without heavy gadgets. But I don’t always get to do that. Since I work online, I typically travel with a laptop. I have a 15-inch ASUS laptop I often travel with. Ideally, I’d love something lighter. Hopefully, I’ll be able to replace it with something smaller and lighter.
Recently, I travelled to Vietnam for almost a week without my laptop. It felt very weird not having it with me. My travel buddy convinced me that I would certainly not have time to work.
Deciding whether or not to bring my laptop was difficult, but I did what I usually don’t do: I left it at home. Turned out that my trip was so hectic that it was almost impossible to have the energy to work. Since I spent several days on a motorbike trip in Ha Giang, it was important to travel as minimal as possible.
Check out my latest road trip in Vietnam:
Pack Fewer Clothes
That also means you may have to wear the same pairs of clothes over and over again while travelling.
There’s no need to be ashamed of it. You’re going to move so often that most people wouldn’t remember what you’ve been wearing. I also do it a lot when I travel, but only when I’m in places where I don’t sweat much. I change my clothes more often when I sweat more.
Okay, I’m not saying you don’t have to wash your clothes. Please do.
Bear in mind that some people tend to sweat more than others. Therefore, determine which fabric is best for the climate you’re in. That brings us to the next tip.
Choose Your Outfits Wisely
Size, colour, shape – all of these matter. For me, my bottom outfits are usually in dark colours while my tops are usually in light colours. As mentioned earlier, I like wearing black as it can be easily matched with any other colour as is easier to maintain.
Clothes that are in darker colours don’t easily look dirty. It’s not that they’re not dirty, but they don’t stand out like those in light colours.
I usually avoid dark-coloured tops when travelling in hotter countries as they make me feel hotter. I prefer not to wear anything white if I know I’ll spend a lot of time under the sun. That’s because the colour can get yellowish after some time. My white top (as seen in the picture) became yellow after a week of hitchhiking in Thailand.
Consider Wearing Merino Wool
I didn’t know about merino wool back then, so I never considered it for travelling. That has changed, and now I always have a pair of merino wool in my backpack.
Merino wool is a great fabric because it can be worn year-round, thanks to its insulative properties. It’s moisture-wicking, keeping me dry even while sweating. Thanks to its antimicrobial properties, it doesn’t stink easily, allowing me to wear the outfit for days – even up to a week or more – without needing to wash it.
Pack Sports Bra or Camisoles
For female travellers, I recommend packing sports bras as they’re usually easier to pack and handle than regular bras.
Some people opt for padded camisoles, like the Uniqlo AIRism Bra Camisole, allowing them to leave their regular bras at home. Camisoles aren’t just for wearing at home; many women wear them as a stand-alone or part of their layering system. I love wearing mine and pairing them with long-sleeved buttoned shirts.
You’ll find many women today who don’t always wear a bra wherever they go. So, they don’t need to worry about making space for bras in their bags. I often go braless in the winter since I can layer up comfortably without worrying about having my nipples exposed.
Whether to pack a bra or not all goes down to personal choices.
Consider Packing Singlets and Tank Tops
I’ve got a friend who travelled long-term with very few clothes, a beige singlet being one. He would always wear it; I rarely saw him wear anything else. Since the singlet was easy to wash, he could wash it in the morning and have it dry the same day. The material was thin but not see-through.
Consider packing a lightweight singlet or tank top to help you make more space in your bag. One is usually enough.
Dress However You Like
Travelling like a minimalist doesn’t mean you should only wear white and black colours or plain-looking clothes. Go ahead and wear pink, even clothes with colourful patterns if you like. Ultimately, the goal is to ensure your clothes don’t add too much weight to your bag.
Minimalism isn’t just about aesthetics. It’s about prioritising what truly matters – to you – without stressing you out.
Wear Simple and Practical Footwear
What kind of footwear do you have for travelling? I know some people who travel with just one pair of slippers – and that’s the only footwear they have, which they don’t even have to pack. As for me, I usually travel with one pair of slippers (or sandals) and one pair of shoes.
My previous travels taught me that while an extra pair of shoes would come in handy – like when doing adventurous activities – it’s not always necessary. So before I head out, I must decide on the best footwear for the activities I’ll be doing. Sportshoes like Sketcher shoes are an excellent choice for walking around cities.
New Balance shoes are my go-to shoes. The one I have is so comfortable and durable. I’m glad I got them at discounts! New Balance is a brand worth considering if you’re looking to buy quality shoes from a company with ethical practices.
Hiking Shoes and Sandals Are Also Great for City Walks
As discussed, you don’t always need more than one footwear while travelling. It would be great if you could get something suitable for any kind of activity, like a pair of hiking sandals you can wear around cities or in the wild.
Suppose you want to travel with two types of footwear. Wear the bulkier item and pack the lighter one. Doing so will help you make more space in your bag. Your beg is less heavy, too.
EVA Sandals Can Be Worn in Different Settings
While many guest houses provide bathroom slippers, not all of them – especially budget ones – not all of them do. So it’s better to have your own.
If you’re fine with entering your guest house’s common bathroom without wearing any slippers, then you won’t even have to worry about this at all. I don’t recommend it, though. It’s not hygienic.
I like EVA sandals, like the Birkenstock EVA sandals. I have been wearing my Birkenstock Gizeh EVA Sandals for several years, and my feet have never felt better. They’re still going strong and continue to explore new places with me. I like them more than the cork ones as I don’t need to worry about getting them wet. Plus, they look great with any outfit I put on. And because they look good, I can confidently wear them anywhere, even to fancy restaurants.
Another popular Birkenstock sandals are the Arizona sandals, so check them out.
Bring What You’ll Use Only
Many minimalist individuals set some rules for their everyday living, like what should and should not be kept around the house. If something doesn’t get used within six months, it should be removed right away.
You might want to apply this rule to your travels, too. If you haven’t used something in your bag – such as your tent – after 6 months, consider letting it go. Also, consider letting go of the things you think won’t be useful for your next destination.
Many backpackers travelling in campervans in New Zealand would leave their camping essentials behind for other travellers to use. That way, they don’t add extra weight to their bags.
Only You Can Decide What Should Stay or Go
Purging things that don’t get used in six months – is this okay for everyone, even while travelling?
The answer is: not always. Some travellers refuse to throw their stuff because it isn’t practical from a financial standpoint. They know they’ll use it again, although not necessarily soon. Why spend money buying things you already have and will eventually use, especially when they’re still in good condition?
Often, we worry about what could happen. So, we always try to prepare ourselves for ‘what if’ situations. That’s something I think we all can relate to.
But it’s important to consider why you have what you have in your backpack, why you need them now, how they’ll impact you if you don’t have them anymore, etc. In the end, only you know the answer.
What you have in your bag now is yours, and what you want to do with them is entirely up to you. Explore options to help you manage your journey better. Packing the right things can help reduce the weight you’ll carry later.
Selling or Donating Your Things Can Help Reduce Your Baggage Weight
Many backpackers would sell items they no longer need to other travellers. Getting a bargain usually isn’t difficult, especially when the items need to be sold quickly. Consider selling or donating items you don’t need even while on the road. Some travellers ship their items back to their home country, but this method is usually costly.
If you buy souvenirs for your friends and family along the way, you can go to the post office to mail your gifts. Many long-term travellers do this. By mailing your gifts, you won’t have to carry them around, especially for an extended period.
If you ask me, I rarely spend money on souvenirs. Also, people seldom ask me to get them anything, and I always choose not to ask them if they want anything. I usually don’t have the space to keep the souvenirs. Besides, being assigned to buy specific items for others sometimes stresses me out. It’s not always easy to do that on the road.
But occasionally, I would send postcards to friends and families. Some of my friends are doing the same as well. In 2020, I gave my friends chocolates from the French Alps.
Reading Digitally Isn’t Such a Bad Idea
For bookworms on the go, consider leaving your books somewhere after reading. I left mine at the guest houses I visited. As paperback books can add significant weight to your baggage, I recommend opting for a kindle instead. It’s lightweight and can store hundreds of books, all in one place. Also, e-books are usually cheaper than paperback books.
Note: Some people prefer physical books to a kindle. They like to hold and feel their physical books. In addition, physical books don’t need charging.
But the kindle has some advantages, too. It doesn’t use much energy to operate, meaning frequent charging isn’t necessary. Furthermore, you can read with it in the dark without a lamp. Reminder: It’s best to limit your time reading in low light; reading in low light can strain your eyes.
Electronics Like Kindles Help Make Your Reading More Flexible
When I was travelling in Thailand, I had two physical books with me. They weren’t very heavy, but they surely added more weight to my bag.
Having known that, I tried my best to speed up my reading. Thus, I spent more time reading than interacting with the people around me. All I wanted to do was complete my reading and then leave it somewhere so I could reduce the weight of my bag. I would’ve avoided that if I had a kindle.
Alternatively, you can read from your smartphone via apps like Amazon Kindle App, Apple Books, Google Play Books, and Kobo Books.
Carry Lightweight Gadgets
Earlier, I recommend travelling with fewer gadgets. If possible, consider travelling with just your smartphone, especially if you don’t need to work while travelling. A good smartphone can help you capture moments and do many other things.
Suppose you must travel with a laptop. Consider getting a small, lightweight laptop. I travelled with an 11-inch laptop before, weighing around 1 kg only. It allowed me to have more space in my bag and keep my baggage weight down.
Today, I travel with a much bigger laptop, mainly for work reasons. Hopefully, I’ll be able to upgrade to a better laptop soon.
Don’t forget a travel-friendly power bank, meaning it’s powerful but unnecessarily heavy.
You Don’t Always Need a DSLR To Take Beautiful Photos
While a standard DSLR camera would be nice to have, it’s not always practical if you’re looking to travel as light as possible. You can find many compact cameras on the market that can give you stunning footage and images, like the Sony a6400 or the Fujifilm X100V.
Many smartphones today also take good pictures, like the iPhone 13 Pro Max or the Sony Xperia I IV. Even new budget smartphones today can take decent photos. With better cameras on smartphones, mobile photography has become increasingly popular.
Keep Useful Apps Only
People want smaller bags because the more weight they carry, the slower they move on the road. Whatever gadget you take with you, make sure it serves its purpose.
Just because your phone has all the space you can have, doesn’t mean you should feed it with tons of apps you don’t need. When you make room for your smartphone to ‘breathe’, it can run more efficiently – so will you.
I keep different apps on my smartphone that help me stay connected with people or manage my travels. Here are some of the apps I use:
- Communication: WhatsApp, Gmail, FB messenger, Instagram, and Slack
- News: YouTube and Google
- Transportation: Uber and Grab
- Entertainment: YouTube and SoundCloud
- Travel booking: Agoda, Traveloka, and Booking.com
- Navigation: Maps.me and Google Map
- Expenses Tracking: 1Money
Other apps commonly used by travellers are Tinder, Couchsurfing, Airbnb, TripAdvisor, and Skyscanner.
Reconsider Everything You Want To Pack
Whatever you decide to pack for your travels, make sure they can fulfil your travel needs without adding too much burden to you and your journey.
Minimalist travel doesn’t mean you need the smallest backpack. The size of your backpack may be different from others due to various reasons. Everyone has different needs. I know some people who travel long-term with a school bag.
The Smaller the Bag, the Fewer Things You’ll Carry
I had previously travelled to New Zealand, Asia, and Europe with the 25L Osprey Escapist backpack. For many, that’s pretty small. But being a small woman, my clothes and footwear are small; therefore, they fit well in the bag. The bag was designed with cyclists in mind. But it also makes a good travel backpack for minimalist travellers.
Back in Laos, I travelled with a 30L Quechua hiking bag. I liked it a lot, but I decided not to use it as my main travel bag. I reserve it for hiking trips or when I stay in remote places.
I also travelled with a 40L Quechua backpack with a clamshell opening. It was a second-hand backpack gift. I enjoyed travelling with it. If you’re interested in something similar, you might want to check out the Tortuga Outbreaker Backpack 35L or the Cotopaxi Allpa 35L Travel Pack. They both have a clamshell opening.
After testing different bag sizes, I think 35L is the ideal size for me if I don’t need to explore the wilderness for an extended period. It’s not too big or too small. Just nice for me.
Using Multi-Purpose Items Is Ideal
I have yet to travel with just one or two sets of clothing while doing long-term travel. Maybe someday. To save more space in my backpack, I always try using things that can help me multitask or things with multi-purposes.
For example, I wear a scarf to protect myself from the sun or the cold. I can also use the scarf as a sarong or pillow cover.
I know some people who don’t even use a towel to dry themselves. They just air dry themselves. So, they don’t travel with a towel. Have you done that, too?
No Makeup, No Problem
I often hear my female friends say that guys find packing for a trip easier than women because they don’t care much about what they pack. They can travel in a few boring-looking clothes, and they’ll be okay. And most importantly, they don’t need to carry makeup and all kinds of skincare.
That’s not always the case, though. Many men do care about what they wear or what they pack. Some men wear makeup, too. And if you open a man’s toiletry bag, you may find a razor, shaving cream, or whatever they find important.
Many women are like men, too, regarding fashion, beauty, and skincare. Not all women wear makeup. Some women (me included) don’t mind using one soap bar to wash their face and body. No need for fancy skincare products every time. We don’t mind wearing “boring” clothes, either.
But those who don’t want to miss their makeup and beauty care on the road can always carry travel-size products. Check out the humangear GoToob Refillable Silicone Tubes. They’re great for storing liquids, from skincare products to condiments.
Some Minimalists Prefer To Travel With Suitcases
Minimalist travellers don’t just travel with backpacks. Some of them prefer suitcases for many different reasons. I’ve got a friend who only uses a suitcase when travelling because she has a back problem.
I do travel with a suitcase now and then. But I usually prefer backpacks to suitcases.
First of all, suitcases are heavier and bulkier than backpacks. Backpacks are likely to win over wheeled travel bags in situations where one has to run at the airport to catch their flight or when they need to go up and down the stairs.
Furthermore, it’s not possible to comfortably put a suitcase on your lap while on public transportation. Some people like to keep their bags close to them because theft can happen on public transport.
But there’s always a backpack suitcase hybrid, like the Osprey Farpoint Wheels 36, if you’re interested in buying one.
Some Small Items Are a Must-Have in Your Bag
A scarf is a must-have travel item, and so is the sarong. You can’t go wrong with a sarong. This multi-purpose item can be used as a pillow sheet, headscarf, towel, blanket, and the list goes on.
You might also want to keep rubber bands in your bag. They don’t take up much space, and you can use them for tying things, from your hair to your clothes. Some people tie their clothes after rolling them. Doing this helps the clothes fit better in the bag.
Resealable poly bags are awesome, too. They can be used to keep food or travel items. These waterproof bags also protect your valuables on rainy days or when you’re doing water activities.
You Can Buy Some Things at Your Destination
You don’t always need to prepare everything in advance. Consider buying your toiletries at your destination if possible.
I usually pack these things beforehand when I know I’ll be going somewhere remote. If I have leftovers, I keep them for my next trip. And if I know I’ll be staying in a guest house where toiletries will be provided, I usually don’t buy my toiletries at all. I use whatever I feel like using that the guest house provides.
Take Advantage of What’s Provided to You
Budget travellers often don’t waste what they pay for. Some guest houses or budget hotels provide toilet paper, cotton buds, toothpaste, and many other essentials.
Travellers who know what they’ll be getting from their hotel of choice sometimes choose not to pack things like soap or shampoo. They’ll use whatever is provided to them. Even if they didn’t use all the toiletries, they would take them for future use.
But not everyone does this. For example, some people refuse to use hotel toothbrushes, cotton buds, soap, and shampoo because they don’t find doing so eco-friendly.
Fortunately, many hotels today refill their soap and shampoo dispensers instead of giving out single-use toiletries. I prefer soap bars to bottled shower gels as they last longer and are more travel-friendly. Many travellers use Dr. Bronner’s soap, like Dr. Bronner’s Pure-Castille Bar Soap. It’s a multi-purpose soap for washing the body, face, and hair.
Ultimately, use what you feel you must, and leave what you don’t need. You don’t need to use all the hotel amenities if you don’t have to.
Conclusion
Anyone can travel like a minimalist. To do so, determine which travel items will serve their purpose on a particular trip. With practice, you’ll become better at packing.
