Minimalist Travel
I started travelling light in 2018 and haven't looked back!
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Having everything I need in one backpack has made travelling, easy, stress free, more affordable and makes me realise how little I need day to day to live life.
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Why would you want to travel light?
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Save dollars! With cheaper airfares for carry on only tickets you could save hundred of dollars each trip
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Never lose your luggage. Many holidays begin with the trauma of airlines misplacing luggage and taking days to locate and repatriate it. This is a disaster if you have a tight timeline!
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Save time! Never having to wait to collect luggage is a big draw card if you're impatient like me.
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Reduces clutter: It is physically impossible to buy loads of souvenirs and trinkets. lets face it, no one really needs that snow globe or 'Same Same But Different t-shirt!
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How to pack light?
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Here's my checklist with links for the relevant products that I find useful.
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luggage: googling 'best carry on luggage' yields numerous websites with great advice and reviews. I use the Osprey Farpoint 40 (https://www.ospreyeurope.com/shop/gb_en/farpoint-40-14).
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​It is a terrific backpack that is comfortable (well designed waist straps making it a decent hiking pack as well), and is the correct size for virtually all airlines. There are many reviews of this bag and it is tried and tested for minimalist travel!
An important point is that as a backpack I am rarely ever weighed by the airline staff whereas having wheeled luggage seems to encourage weight checks!
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Lightweight pocket sized day pack
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The Ultralight stuff pack day pack by Osprey is a great balance of light, packs into a small ball with own pocket, and has 2 compartments.
https://www.bergfreunde.eu/osprey-ultralight-stuff-pack-daypack/?
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Essentials
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Passport
Wallet
Phone
Keys
Credit cards x 2 and travel card (28 degrees Mastercard has no FX fees, good rates, and free membership to Boingo hotspots around the world)
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Electrical
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Phone charger
Plug/USB ports
plug adaptor
Laptop and charger
Powerpack
Cables (phone/USB 3 for GoPro/miniUSB)
GoPro
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Toiletries
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I use sealable 'glad bags' and small travel containers for all liquids - you can buy cheaper ones for a few dollars for the local 2 dollar store.
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Toiletries bag
Toothbrush
Toothpaste (<150ml)
Floss
Sunscreen
Beard trimmer/razor
Hair gel
Perfume/deodorant (non aerosol)
Soap
Shampoo
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Clothes
1 weeks underwear
1 weeks socks
5 tshirts
1 shirt (non iron)
1 pair active shirt and shorts
1 board shorts
1 quick dry shorts (double as board shorts) https://www.billabong.com/mens-shorts-hybrid/
1 jeans
1 hat
1 beanie
(1 thermal top and bottom for cold weather)
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1 light weight puffer jacket
This is really warm, lightweight, very compact and folds into hand pocket, and synthetic means it won't get damaged in water.
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1 lightweight Gortex jacket.
This is great for wet weather and layering for warmth. I found a great north face jacket on sale but there are many options to suit any budget.
https://www.thenorthface.com/shop/mens-jackets-vests-rainwear
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1 quickdry towel. I may omit this is the destination accommodation has towel I can rent.
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Medications
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prescription meds
paracetamol (acetaminophen)
ibuprofen
anti nausea tabs (hyoscine is over the counter. ondansetron, maxalon, promethazine require a prescription).
water purification tablets if going off the beaten trail.
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Optionals
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Small bluetooth speaker (UE Wonderboom is very compact, affordable price and great sound)
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How to make sure you don't get onto the plane without needing to check in your luggage
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So my luggage weight ends up being 7-10kg depending on my destination. Most airlines only allow 7kg of carry on luggage. To decrease the chances that my bag is weighed I do the following:
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Online check in: Download your airline's app in advance. and always check in online.
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Wear your jacket so you can put some heavy items in your pockets
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Take a small shopping bag. I use a plastic duty free bag and put the heaviest items in this which decreases my weight by about 3kg.
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Worst case is you check in your luggage and use the ultralight day pack for essentials
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If you have any questions please don't hesitate to send me an email
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Good Luck!!!
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