For many people, packing for a trip is a challenging and even frustrating endeavor. You just never know what to pack, whether you’ve packed enough or if you haven’t over-packed. Sometimes, it doesn’t even matter that you love to travel; packing almost takes the fun out of everything.
However, packing doesn’t really bother minimalists because they usually don’t have much stuff, although that doesn’t mean they find it easy. If you’re traveling as a minimalist, there are a few things you should know to ensure your comfort on the road. This article gives you a guide on how to travel like a minimalist traveler and save yourself the mental stress associated with packing. If you are wondering what to do during the road read more here.
Start with Your Luggage
The bigger your bag is, the more items you will pack because you will want to fill it up. Therefore, if you want to avoid packing too much stuff, start by choosing the smallest luggage you are comfortable with. You can find a compact carry-on bag that is spacious enough to fit all your essentials and small enough to hold.
Moreover, you can save on expensive luggage fees at the airport and also avoid the inconvenience of delayed or lost luggage. Here are a few tips to help you choose the perfect luggage for your minimalist lifestyle travel.
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Use Luggage with Pockets
When shopping for luggage, go for those with sufficient built-in pockets and compartments; they will save you time and strength. Traveling with bags without compartments can be hellish because you may need to empty them just to get an item. Conversely, when your bag has plenty of built-in compartments, you strategically put your items in each compartment. Then, when you need them, you know where to look, helping you stay sane and organized on the road.
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Choose Luggage You Can Easily Maneuver
Go for a bag you can effortlessly spin through airports and even on the plane. A roller with 360o spinner wheels is a lot better than a heavy backpack strapped to your back.
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Go for Light
Choose a lightweight back because you never know where you may have to wheel the bag. If you run into stairs, for example, you don’t want to struggle to lift the bag in the overhead compartment.
Work with a List
We tend to over-pack for a journey when we don’t know what you will need. Therefore, before you start packing, take time to list everything you need for the trip and keep the list safe. When you’re returning home, bring out the list and note the items you bought with you. You can also use that list the next time you want to travel to help you know what to take and what to leave.
Meanwhile, you don’t have to be a minimalist to know that over-packing can be a bother. Here are tips for packing light when traveling as a minimalist:
- Bring clothes that you can easily mix and match; consider packing neutral clothes you can match to create unique outfits.
- Don’t throw things out simply because they are broken; get creative.
- If possible, avoid traveling during winter; warm clothes can be pretty bulky. If you cannot avoid it, however, go for packable merino wool or low-temperature-tolerant outer shells.
You Probably Don’t Need All Those Gadgets!
The simple trick to avoid packing heavy and moving faster on the road is by putting fewer things in your bag. Therefore, if you don’t need them, avoid traveling with large and heavy gadgets. If you work online, however, that may be hard to do because you need to go with your workstation. In such cases, you could replace a heavy workstation with something smaller, lighter, and a lot more compact.
Fill All Negative Spaces
Avoid leaving negative spaces in your luggage; the luggage will fill up faster, leaving you with more items to find space for. Therefore, fill those small spaces inside your shoes and hats with something that will fit in perfectly. You will save space for more items, and your shoes will protect those items in the box! Also, you can save space by rolling your clothing; you’re also keeping your clothes wrinkle-free this way.
Use Those Compartments!
The compartments in your luggage are usable; start taking advantage of them to organize your stuff. The great thing about bags with compartments is that you know where what is inside them without turning the bag upside down. The dedicated compartments in your luggage can save the day and keep you organized. However, if your luggage doesn’t have compartments, you can always make some for yourself with packing cubes. Packing cubes help to keep your stuff organized and neatly rolled or folded right where you left it.
Conclusion
The secret to traveling as a minimalist is ensuring you only bring what you will use. For many minimalists, items that don’t get used within six months are immediately removed. Use this principle in your travels, too; let go of items you don’t think will be useful in your travel destination.