The emergence of the digital nomad has sparked a new reflection of minimalist travel. It is not frugal or monk-like minimalism, but a selection of items that are the most functional.
These are the 35 things I take with me when I travel. This collection has been through a number of iterations now and includes stops in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Bangkok, Phi Phi island, Los Angeles, Austin, San Francisco, Whistler and Vancouver. These aren’t extreme climates and I prefer hot to cold, so the gear list is made to match that preference.
THE BAG
It all begins with the olive Mahoubar messenger backpack from Crumpler – a Melbourne based company. The bag is strong and comfortable with two strong adjustable shoulder straps and an optional waist strap, and surprisingly it somehow doesn’t flop over even when it is filled. It’s not waterproof but the design of the main top flap means you will need quite a bit of rain before your stuff starts to get wet.
The bottomless main cargo compartment holds most things (clothes, laptop, etc), then there are two overlapping zipped front panels for accessories and toiletries, a waterproof zipped inner pocket as well as a velcro inner pocket and two waterbottle pockets on the side. It is hugely expandable to suit the amount of gear you have.
Filled to less than 7kg to match the carry-on limit for flying (plus laptop), the only area this bag lacks in is security. You can’t lock it up – not that most travel locks are actually that secure anyway. I only leave the bag in places I consider safe, and it is small enough that if I don’t have somewhere to leave it I can take it with me anywhere without being awkward. When I’m on the bus or train I keep it at my feet. Simple.
WORKING GEAR
The 13″ Macbook Pro with Haul sleeve and power cable is essential for blogging, staying connected to the world, storing photos, watching movies and tv. I want to be able to travel sustainably and that means being able to work from anywhere. I upgraded the storage to 500gb, and on battery it lasts around 6hrs, though the newer models do 10hrs. I still lug around the display output converter sometimes for giving presentations on VGA projectors. Now I also have an iPad, though I’m hoping to transition to away from the laptop soon – there are only a few things I still need the macbook for at the moment, but I should have solutions to them soon.
The iPhone and charger form the mobile command centre. The iPhone does a whole bunch of things – I use it as my main camera (though I am tempted by the micro four thirds models that are the same quality as your full SLR but at a fraction of the size..), calculator, maps, alarm clock, iPod for music, calendar, skype to call anywhere, twitter, foursquare, facebook, and notes for action lists.
I pair these two with an old school notepad and pens, because paper still rocks.
ACCESSORIES
Kyono make the incredibly minimal Slimmy wallet that holds cash, two credit cards and a photo ID. I have a special edition one that has a slick red inner lining and came with a extensible pen. This goes with the Passport for travel and for photo ID abroad.
Shure SE210 sound isolating earphones. There are lots of fancy noise cancelling headphones out there but these are the most practical while sounding awesome – and they also double as standard ear plugs to reduce noise while you’re not playing any music.
Fenix LD10 R4 flashlight with a white diffuser tip. The little LED keyring lights you can get are probably good enough if you just want it for security or when the power goes out, but I like having this much more serious torch because it is super bright and with the diffuser doubles as a lamp if you want to read or do things at night. It uses a single AA battery that will last 34 hours at 9 lumens or 1.5 hours at 132 lumens (it’s bloody bright, okay?)
The black Kiva keychain expandable duffel bag packs up to be super tiny, and is good for use on day trips to carry a laptop, jacket, books, towel, water bottle etc.
I always carry a double power adapter in case I need to share a laptop power point with somebody, and internationally it pairs nicely with a power type converter.
CLOTHING
I picked up a black “Original” Marmot DriClime Windshirt jacket before heading to Whistler – I knew I’d be pushing it for the conditions, but it performed amazingly. It is incredibly warm, blocks the wind really well and is water repellent. At Whistler while we were skiing towards the bottom of the mountain it started raining for a while and it did well but I wasn’t going to want to be out there for too much longer – but rain anywhere is usually intermittent. Yes you will have a few days where it might pour rain all day, but usually if you wait an hour or two it will pass. Take the time to chill out a bit inside before you keep moving :) There are bigger and bulkier jackets out there if you need more, but for the minimalist nomad this is perfect.
I take 5 tshirts, a balance between cotton and wool. Wool is moisture wicking which is nicer in hot climates, it dries really quickly, is breathable, and can hold 1/3 of its weight in water before it feels wet. Most wool products also have an anti-microbial lining that makes them odour resistant. I have a black Icebreaker Superfine Ultralite 150 tee, and a jet Icebreaker Beast Apollo top – also good to layer up if it gets chilly. Then I have a couple of cotton tees because they are more comfortable especially in mild climates, even if they don’t have the other benefits that wool provides.
The ExOfficio Men’s Boxers are winners – more expensive than most but super comfortable and again with all the benefits of wool. Their tagline is “17 countries. 6 weeks. And one pair of underwear” but that’s kinda creepy, so I bring 3.
The same goes for socks – they will cost more but it’s worth it for the functional fibres. I have a few pairs of black Icebreaker Hike Lite Mini Socks and one set of gray Smartwool Men’s Adrenaline Light Micro Sports Socks.
Many travel sites are going to suggest not bringing jeans because they are relatively heavy, bulky and are slow to dry – but they are comfortable and look good so they are actually quite functional. Nobody wants to wear synthetics all day so I have some JAG jeans. As an alternative I have some REI pants, and of course some blue RipCurl boardies for swimming.
The ‘barefoot’ trend of natural footwear is growing, and Terra Plana are an innovative and forward thinking company who have been producing their barefoot line in an eco-friendly fashion since 2004. I have the black Vivo Barefoot ‘Dharma’ set. Similar in philosophy to the more popular Vibram Five Fingers shoes – the Vivo’s don’t smell (ask anyone with Vibrams..) and they actually look like normal shoes so you won’t get odd looks as you walk down the street! Essentially they are a 3mm thick puncture-resistant sole that leads you to walk as nature intended. Barefoot shoes and running barefoot take a bit of getting used to, and it’s one thing to think about your form as you exercise each day but if you wear these all day you will have to re-learn how to walk everywhere. Most shoes have super padded heels so you tend to sub-consiously mash your heel into the ground with each step – however with barefoot shoes you won’t be doing that for long because it will hurt! Once you adjust your walking style they are the most comfortable things in the world :)
CLEANLINESS
There no surprises in the usual toiletries collection, other than the super concentrated lavender Dr Bronner Organic Castile Soap that can be used as soap, shampoo and to wash clothes (with the travel clothes line). Some say it can also replace toothpaste but I’m not tempted to try it! All of these are stored in a sealed plastic bag with bottles less than 100ml – you need to do this for airport security but also it will save you from any unfortunate leaks.
I carry a micro-fibre travel towel. These things hold many times their weight in water, are fast-drying, and roll up to be very small. They aren’t going to match the comfort level of your typical large cotton towel, that’s for sure, but they are very practical when you are moving around a lot. If you find yourself missing the big cotton towel the solution is simple – check into a nice hotel for a night.
SLEEPING
Oh, and did I mention that I carry a bed with me? The LuxuryLite Ultralite Cot is a full sized camping stretcher, for couchsurfing without the couch. Many friends doubted the comfort and general awesomeness, until they slept on it. You could say this isn’t an essential item but a good nights sleep while traveling is priceless. Paired with a luxurious Kangaroo coloured Sea To Summit 100% Premium Silk Sleeping Bag Liner that gives a little bit of warmth and has a pillow section that can be filled for padding. You don’t need a sleeping bag, those things are huge. You will be sleeping somewhere warm and if it gets cool then borrow a blanket or wear a few layers. It weighs less than a kilogram (so it easily meets the carry-on limits) and you don’t need all the poles so you can leave some of them at home.
Have a look at the video below to see how the stretcher works:
World Nomads travel insurance is awesome and easy. I don’t pay the extra for laptop and iPhone because I don’t feel the risk justifies it. With that in mind the most important stuff is not the hardware but the files on them, so I use Dropbox to sync everything and pair that with a full hard drive backup to a WD 500gb My Passport drive using Superduper every few weeks.
For water I buy a plastic water bottle at a shop occasionally and then refill it often.
Where does all this stuff come from? Aside from the internet of stuff, where you can find anything if you are willing to pay for shipping, your best option is to go for a hiking store. The typical big box outdoor adventure outlets may have cheaper gear but most of the time it is going to be large and unwieldy. Backpacking Light in Somerset Pl in Melbourne is awesome. Remember that you don’t have to bring everything with you – if there are humans wherever you are going then you will be able to buy anything you need.
Waiting at a baggage carousel to pick up bags that need to be schlepped straight to the hotel is a figment of the past. There is nothing like the feeling of landing somewhere with just a carry-on backpack, striding towards the fresh air of the exit and ready to seize the day.
Are you traveling nomadically?
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