Updated: June 10th, 2020 | Posted by:Â Grace Kim
Minimalist traveling is a true art form as it teaches you how to stray away from what I’d like to call, shiny objects. Surely, this shift in lifestyle takes time to practice, but what better way is there to prevent losing your luggage at the airport? Or perhaps paying unexpected overhead fees? Traveling with the bare minimum surely allows you to focus more not only on the destination, but also brings an ease of mind of where to store luggage.
Minimalism is about getting rid of the unneeded in order for you to focus on things that truly matter. Packing less not only to save money on baggage fees, but also allowing you to be physically and mentally sane.
Trust me. At first, packing lightly was extremely difficult. But the more I challenged myself to down size my luggage, the road suddenly became smoother.
Interestingly enough, the more I started backpacking, the more I realize that I’ve packed too much. And every trip after that, I’ve learned to adjust and be more accustomed to the concept of minimalist travel. Often, it can be tempting to overpack. But if you find yourself needing to purchase something while traveling, visited cities will have what you need. Think of it this way. Traveled destinations are home to thousands. So if locals have adapted and lived comfortably for as long as they have been, you can too.
What you will Learn From Minimalistic Travel
Decluttering opens up doors for you to embrace minimalist travel and how to pack less. For myself, not only have I purely fallen in love with traveling with just a backpack, but it’s also opened up doors on how to leverage belongings in compact spaces.
Respecting all forms of minimalism, ultralight packing embraces true clarity while traveling. And as there isn’t a perfect minimalist packing list, you’ll start getting creative with the ways you pack for one week or one month long travels.
How to Pack Like a Minimalist
Let’s get it straight.
Not everyone likes to travel like a minimalist.
But if you’re up for the challenge, ask yourself. What are the steps you need to take to get yourself to travel like a minimalist? Why did you consider minimal travel packing in the first place? How do you pack like a minimalist for a week? What does a minimalist carry?
Traveling with this type of mindset, let’s go through a list of things to help you pursue travel like a minimalist.
- Pack the must-brings, not the want-to-brings. Before packing gear into your duffel bag or minimalist travel backpack, lay out all the things that you know you’ll need to bring.
- Don’t pack more than a week’s worth of clothing. Already thinking about situations where you might run out of clothes? Probably. But trust me on this one. If you need to wash your clothes, hand dry them or find laundromat near you. Traveling becomes a lot simpler this way. Or, purchase the Allurette Washer, a carry on washer that only weighs 4 oz. and will fit right in your bag. The best part of it is that it doesn’t take up much space and it can hold up to a volume of 9 L.
- Make disposable travel sized items your best friend. Keep in mind that most places will have your necessities, such as shampoo and conditioner. And the more plan to use just a fixated amount, you’ll know exactly what you need to bring without taking up too much space.
- Bring a spare, light bag along with you. You know the reusable bags that supermarkets provide to reduce plastic? Yes, the ones that fit in your pocket once you fold them. These reusable bags always come in handy. If you’re planning on walking downtown at the end of the day, wouldn’t you rather explore with just what you need for the night? Keep your luggage at where you’re staying and let your shoulders breathe a bit!
Perhaps you forgot something crucial last minute. All good because there are stores everywhere you go. Most likely, you’ll be able to purchase things that won’t cost you much. I mean, hey, even if you forgot your camera, there are places where you can even rent cameras and lenses worldwide.
Here’s How to Pack Like a Minimalist
Now the fun part. With every single trip I’ve traveled to like a minimalist, listed are my must-haves. Again, not everyone travels the same way but as long as you can get rid of the “without this, I cannot live” mindset, this ultralight packing list brings perspective.
Incorporating ultralight packing into my travel habits, listed are a handful of items that’s allowed me to curate the best minimalist travel wardrobe.
1. Minimalist Travel Backpack
This is a great first travel starter backpack. With a laptop compartment, the Matein Backpack is the perfect size for a week long trip. The best part is that there’s even a USB port designed to charge your devices while on the road. No more needing to hide portable chargers with wires sticking out of your bag.
Doing a ton of research before buying, this is one of the most universal bags to have. Not only does it have 2 huge storage units, but it has enough room to store clothes, shoes, laundry, accessories, and chargers.
2. International Travel Adapter
Hands down the #1 item needed for minimalistic travels. If you’re planning on traveling to different countries, don’t you want to eliminate carrying around a handful of power adapters? Instead, worry less and carry a universal travel adapter that works in over 150+ countries. It’s convenient to travel with just one universal adapter that you know will charge your devices wherever you go.
Plus, this adapter also comes with a case. Not all options on Amazon give that option, but the case solidified my purchase as I add additional wires into the case as well.
3. Black Fanny Pack (Unisex)
Moving from place to place, it gets tiring constantly taking your bag off your shoulders just to take one thing out. For example, when you’re at the airport, it becomes a hassle digging into your filled bag for one thing. Instead, the fanny pack can be worn around your chest or along your hips that keeps items such as your phone and passport close to you.
Plus, if you don’t like carrying around purses and bags like me, this fanny pack does more than enough. The black universal look fits almost every outfit, so if you’re not a fashionista, no need to worry!
4. Quick Dry, Microfiber Towel
At most places, there will usually be towels provided, such as at Airbnb’s and hotels. However, if you’re just starting off minimalistic travels, you might not enjoy sharing towels with others. This microfiber is perfect not only because of its light weight, but also because it drys within minutes. It’s the perfect add-on item that comes with a case so the rest of your luggage doesn’t touch your clean towel!
This microfiber towel has saved me from many instances where I got wet from the rain, or from taking showers in public camps. It’s also 10x lighter than a regular towel, and it’s extremely travel-size friendly.
Minimalist Travel
Aside from carrying your belongings, what’s also important to remember to keep a positive, minimalist attitude. Don’t forget to continue to capture moments in destinations and to be fully present on your trips.
The more you travel, if you feel that your parents don’t need another bobble head or magnet in visited countries, don’t waste your money. Rather, purchase a $5 meal or snack on the streets, and become aware of your spending habits.
Yes, I do admit that my clothes smell after 3 days of wearing them, but at a certain point, you come to realize that it doesn’t matter. Just enjoy your time away, and live in the moment.
Practice a new motto of living, learn how to pack lightly, and maybe one day you’ll become an extreme minimalist traveler. And the moment you start to become humble about your bank account, you’ll come to realize how privileged you are for all the luxuries that you do own. Start decluttering and start creating your own ultralight packing tips and tricks.
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