“I wish I had more baggage,” said no one ever.
Wes Anderson’s The Darjeeling Limited is a powerful reminder of this fact. In the final scene, three traveling brothers who’ve been carrying heaps of luggage throughout the movie come to a heavy realization: “These bags aren’t going to make it.” In a decisive act of freedom, they heave the suitcases aside, so they can run unencumbered to catch their final train home.
In more than 10 years as a travel journalist, I’ve taken that minimalist, liberating, and sometimes extreme approach to all seven continents. Earlier this year, I hiked 50 miles to Petra, Jordan, with only a fanny pack.
I’m not the only one. Scores of jet-setters and celebrity travel guides are quick to promote the benefits of packing for a summer in Europe (or anywhere) with only a small backpack or carry-on. That’s largely because stores and laundry—the two great enablers of minimalist packing—exist all over the world. That means you don’t have to take much of anything with you.
When it comes to minimalist packing, what are the bare necessities? Hint: It’s a lot less than you think. Here’s what I regularly take with me while gallivanting around the world—nothing more, nothing less.
Bergans
One Small Bag (Less Than 10 Liters)
I’ve completed transcontinental, weeklong city trips with only a small backpack or messenger bag. I’ve hiked on three different continents with my 10-liter Bergans hip (or waist) pack. And I’ve spent three weeks abroad with only a carry-on, leaving plenty of room to spare to bring back gifts and goodies.
You will likely fill whatever your bag allows. So the first trick to minimalist packing is to limit the size of your bag. I recommend 10 liters or less, but I’ve traveled with as little as 3 to 5 liters in rare, warm-weather cases where pant legs and sleeves were never required. To put that into perspective, those numbers are like half the size of an average backpack. You decide.
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Nike
One Pair of Shoes*
Fashionistas are going to hate this advice—I get it. But minimalist packing really only allows for one pair of shoes, which are the most bulky, unpackable things you’ll take with you. In other words, you’re going to have to compromise your footwear options.
If I’m traveling to a city, that usually means wearing all-white Nike Air Force Ones or either black or white Adidas Sambas—whatever is most versatile with my included tops and bottoms. For business casual trips, it’s athletic-soled, brown leather Cole Haans all the way. On hiking or adventure trips, I always wear an athletic, waterproof pair of low tops, either from Adidas, Under Armour, Salomon or similar. To stay fresh, I wipe down my kicks with a wet rag every night at the hotel.
(You can sometimes get away with a small extra pair of loafers or flip flops, but I usually opt for free slippers that many hotels provide.)
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Lululemon
Two Tops, Two Bottoms
That usually means two nice tops, one nice bottom, and one activewear pair of quick-dry shorts that can double as swim trunks (which brands such as Lululemon can pull off in a pinch). If on an adventure trip, it’s all athletic bottoms, usually a pair of stretch polyester joggers and then a pair of shorts, followed by one athletic shirt and one “nicer” cotton top to travel in so I don’t look like a complete savage.
Either way, I don’t divert from taking the “two-and-two rule” when packing light. To be clear, that means I’m wearing one set and packing the other, so two total. To make it work, I stick to classic, matching palettes. Fashionistas won’t love this advice either. But sacrifices must be made. You don’t always have to look your best. Sometimes presentable is good enough.
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Bombas
Space Savers
In addition to two tops, and two bottoms, I also take two pairs of socks (preferably wool) and underwear (preferably quick-dry), plus a packable puffer coat. I don’t want to look like a scrubby hiker when I travel, but thankfully many modern puffers no longer smack of the great outdoors. Better yet, they pack down far smaller than hoodies or traditional outerwear, while still maintaining the same amount of warmth when I’m headed to colder climates.
For toiletries, I bring a small waterproof bag of travel deodorant, cologne, toothpaste, comb, aloe vera (for hair, skin, and shaving), sunscreen, and any medication. I’ll ditch my electric razor in favor of a disposable one. Then I’ll use the hotel’s lotion for extra hydration. If I’m on an adventure, I’ll strap a ball cap to my bag for extra shade, since I’ve usually got no room for sunglasses unless I plan on wearing them all day.
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Photo by Daniel Lugardo on Unsplash
Makeshift Considerations
To make minimalist packing work, you need to stretch the mileage you get out of your clothes. To do that, you’ll need to wear them a day or two longer than you otherwise would, before turning to sink washing (or laundry services) to refresh your stankiness. Remember, this is only temporary, and there’s a difference between fresh and “not stinky.” You’ll need to embrace the latter for this to work. But it can be done. And it’s absolutely liberating for those who take the jump. Good luck!
