Minimalism really makes sense once you’re on the road. In this article, you will learn how to become a travel minimalist.
With the increase in baggage fees and the desire to travel more easily and efficiently, many travelers want to reduce the weight of their backpacks and suitcases.
Minimalist travel is about living simply and it is something that can take time to get used to. It requires a shift in mindset to a new way of living.
It requires a change of habits and a few concessions here and there to get there, but it’s definitely possible.
These tips should help you say goodbye to those extra pounds on your next trip!
What is “Travel Minimalist”?
Travelers know better than anyone that what is important is not to have material but rather experiences, moments, smiles exchanged, sensations, discoveries, etc.
When you return from your travels, you will find that you think a little differently, your mind is a little more open and you have gained new experiences.
The less cluttered and prepared you are to travel, the more knowledge and experience you will have to absorb.
The same goes for your suitcase.
Some travelers will put everything they need in a backpack and live out of it for an entire year.
Minimalist travel is about leaving your “home” at home in order to create space to open up to others.
5 tips to travel minimalist
Check the weather
We all look at the weather forecast before leaving on a trip.
However, it doesn’t stop us from leaving with extra clothes, because of this little voice telling us “just in case”!
But even if the weather forecast is not always 100% reliable, the 7 or 14 days forecast can give us a good idea of the weather of where we are going.
- In winter, you’ll need a coat, warm clothes, and boots, and if the temperatures get milder at times, you’ll just have to wear fewer layers on those days.
- In mid-season, or even in summer, the weather is more variable and we often feel like we need to plan clothes/shoes for sunny days, rainy days, and cool evenings.
Nevertheless, the weather forecast will give us a pretty good idea of the amount of warm/light clothing to bring.
It will avoid us bringing too many extra pieces.
If the weather forecast only predicts a rainy day, ask yourself:
Is it really useful to bring boots and a raincoat when we can simply spend that day visiting a museum and reading in a café?
In the same way, if only the evenings are going to be a bit cool, there is no need to bring 3 different sweaters/jackets – only one, all-purpose, should be enough since you will certainly not wear it all day long.
Relying a little on the weather forecast allows you to take mainly clothes adapted to the weather of your destination.
Focus on the essentials
Separating what we want to bring from what we really need can be a real challenge.
Minimalism frees you from so many burdens when it comes to travel!
Packing smarter will make you more comfortable on the road.
It can be hard not to overload your backpack or suitcase and include things you might need, but in the end, traveling light will make your travels much easier.
Examples of questions to ask yourself before your trip about what to pack:
- Do I need it?
- Will I use it?
- What products can be versatile?
Let your need for certain items outweigh the number of things you just want to pack.
For example, you need walking shoes, but you want to bring three pairs so you can change them every day.
Just consider bringing one pair of each type of shoe you will need, rather than bringing several pairs that all serve the same purpose. The same rule applies to clothing and accessories.
Choose what is practical.
If you absolutely need something, you can always go to a store in the place you’ll be during your trip.
Being in a new place, with a different culture, may make you want to try something new.
Consider bringing a few books to read or ten spare batteries for your camera, just in case?
Minimalist travel removes all the “what ifs” and “just in case” from your vocabulary.
These phrases may sound thoughtful and prudent, but in reality, they generate more clutter in your mind.
Find the perfect bag
As you may have noticed, the larger the bag you take, the more likely you are to fill it.
The 60-liter bag will probably be filled too. The same goes for the 80-liter bag.
By voluntarily limiting yourself, you will only take the bare necessities, because you will have no choice.
This is probably the most efficient way to travel light. You can go gradually. Try to leave with a 60-liter, then next time, switch to a 40-liter.
A filled 80-liter bag can weigh between 18 and 23 kilos.
Traveling with 10 kilos on your back would be the first goal if you are just starting out.
Then, during the next trip, aim for a more ambitious goal: 8kg, 6kg.
Traveling light means first of all thinking about a backpack or a suitcase that doesn’t weigh too much at first.
Indeed, you can quickly reach three kilos when empty with certain types of luggage.
To avoid overloading yourself, avoid taking a bag that is too big.
The temptation to fill it up will be all the greater.
The best way to travel light is to prepare your luggage for a 5-day trip, even if it is longer.
Over three days, this allows you to plan for a change, but not too much.
Choose the right clothes
When choosing your clothes here the 4 things to keep in mind:
1) Only bring clothing that is appropriate for the planned activities
Even if it’s not always the case, we usually have a good idea of the type of activity we’re going to do once we arrive at our destination.
Pack just the right things for the kind of activity and you’ll never feel like I was missing out on anything because I was missing this or that item of clothing.
2) Focus on multi-functional/multi-seasonal clothing/accessories
If you think about it, many of the clothes we own can be worn for different occasions and in any weather.
All it takes is a little creativity to adapt them to our needs.
For example, a short-sleeved dress can be worn as is in the summer and by adding leggings/tights and a sweater/vest, it will be perfect on cooler days.
Similarly, a large scarf can be used as a shoulder wrap, sarong or even a tablecloth for our picnics.
So take clothes and accessories that can be uses in different ways and/or at different times.
3) Take clothes that go well with each other
Pretty much all of tops go together with all of my bottoms, allow yourself to create a multitude of different outfits from just a few pieces.
Opt for plain blue, black or white bottoms and colorful, sometimes printed tops.
When you pack, you can select only tops and bottoms that all match each other.
This really maximizes the use of the pieces you pack and allows you to pack much less.
4) Pack easy-care clothes
Regardless of the length of the trip, pack enough clothes for 5 days and arrange to wash them beyond that if needed.
If you don’t have access to a washing machine, simply wash them by hand and if not.
Traveling light is to have polyester clothes. Why? It’s a very fast drying material.
However, this advice is more suitable for warm countries and requires a little more work on your part.
For cold countries, you can buy them once you get there.
Buy only useful things
It is a good way to go light!
If you’re going to a country where everything is cheaper. You can find clothes on the spot. This way, the clothes will take up very little space in your bag.
For the few clothes, you take with you, choose quality.
One fact, it is that with a backpack, traveling light is a challenge and that there is no point in cluttering it up with a lot of things that are easily found on the spot.
We quickly realize that we don’t need much and that we could have done without the extra kilos.
Everything can be bought locally, even in the most remote areas.
Take your tech equipment, 2-3 travel accessories, your favorite lucky charm, and for the rest, do a little shopping on the spot! Your back will thank you for it.
And if you don’t need it anymore think about giving it to the locals.
The advantage of buying and giving back locally is to contribute to the local economy and to make many people happy.
But don’t forget to only buy necessary things!
Taking pictures leaves me more tangible traces of some specific moments and which revives some emotions when I go back to them.
Why travel ultralight?
Here are the reasons why you should be traveling ultralight.
- With a small backpack, you will gain freedom of movement.
- You won’t have to carry them every time between the airport, the bus and the hotel.
- You will gain in mobility.
- You will also save time.
- No need to make trips to put your bag down.
- You will spend less time unpacking and packing your bag each time.
- It’s also more economical: less shopping, no luggage lockers or cabs to take.
- You will be less stressed about leaving your bag somewhere.
- You will travel in a more comfortable way with less fatigue.
- No more back problems and the fatigue of carrying 18 kg.
- More discretion. With a 30-liter bag, you’ll look less like a tourist.
- You will gain peace of mind by having less things to protect.
- It is also safer to travel.
- Indeed, you are less vulnerable, you can move, even run easily in case of danger.
