Minimalist Packing Tips For Simple Travel
After embracing the minimalist lifestyle we started realizing that packing less meant less stress and more time for adventure. Using minimalist packing tips was a big win since we are constantly on the road.
Having less is always a good idea but with a nomad life, it's even more important. Now, its a priority to make sure and only pack what we need.
No matter where we are headed we try to pack with a little as possible. We try to be minimalist travelers and avoid overpacking.
After years of practice, we have perfected our minimalist packing method. Now we can pack up for a weekend trip in under ten minutes and when we fly all we need are carry-ons.
So how do we do it? We follow these minimalist packing tips because when it comes to packing, less really is more.
Disclosure: Links throughout the Mindful Nomadics site may make us a small commission at no additional cost to you. See our Affiliate Disclosure for more information.
Contents
Use Packing Cubes
If you did ONE thing to know for how to pack like a minimalist it would be to start using packing squares or cubes. Packing squares allow you to organize and have more space while still stopping you from overpacking.
Packing cubes not only organized our entire closet but allows us to pack like champs. We can pack up faster and fit everything into a smaller space.
If we cant fit it into the packing cube, it doesn't come with. It's that simple.
The packing cubes we use, which we swear by, are made by Eagle Creek and they are amazing! This was Phil's idea and we will both admit it was by far THE BEST choice we have ever made.
We recently upgraded to some packing cubes that double as compression sacks and they are even more life-changing! We can pack up all of our clothes and use the compression zipper to save even more space.
We each organize our packing cubes in different ways and use three different sizes. At this point, almost all of our clothes go into cubes even when we're home. Plus we have cubes for electronics and other miscellaneous items.
Find Multi-Use Items
When we say multi-use it simply means that item has more than one purpose. It doesn't have to be some grand multi-use tool or anything that intense.
It's simply being creative and being able to have the item serve you more than one purpose. This also means less overpacking since one item can be used for several purposes.
We use this strategy the most when it comes to our clothes. Almost every clothing item we pack (and own) can serve two purposes.
It can be a shirt that you can work out in but also wear for a night out on the town. One of Kelsey's favorite tricks is to wear a scarf that can also be used as a blanket when cold.
As we look around our items we find that most have variability that allows us to pack less. There will be some things that can only be used for one purpose but trying to minimize those items can significantly decrease how much you need to pack.
Toiletry Kit
There are so many benefits to having a toiletry kit like keeping possible spill-able items separate but it turns out it helps with minimalist packing too. It allows for more organized packing for travel.
Having one pack for toiletries helps to limit how much you can bring since if it doesn't fit in the kit it's not coming with. It also means needing smaller containers which are now a requirement for a carry-on flight item anyway.
Wear and Layer Heavy Items
When it comes to minimalist traveling you may want to try and cut our bulky clothing items but this is not always possible. Jackets, sweaters and bulky shoes can take up a lot of room but depending on your destination they may be necessary.
Instead of needing several bags, try planning your outfit ahead of time to include some of the bigger items. You don't have to wear EVERYTHING especially if it doesn't make sense for the current weather. But even wearing one bulky item can save you some space.
This is most helpful when you have a flight but it works for road trips too. Kelsey always wears her hiking boots when traveling as they are needed for harder hikes but take up a lot of space in our luggage.
Compact-able Items
Any item that can shrink in size is a minimalist gem and perfect for ultra-light travel. We are always on the lookout for items that when not in use are a smaller size.
This also helps with our storage since we live in a small travel trailer home. We have a few compact-able items that have saved us TONS of space when it comes to traveling.
Phil's favorite items are his Vivobarefoot shoes. Not only are they minimalist but they are so lightweight they can even be rolled up to no bigger than a fist!
Use Easy-to-Carry Bags
The main benefit of minimalist packing is being able to move about with more ease. It takes away from packing less if the bag is still hard to carry and requires a lot of effort.
Backpacks are always a good way to go but there are also some great duffle or rolling bags. We have also found that easy to carry bags typically do better with how well items seem to fit inside.
An overall tip for minimalist packing is "less is more". Every minimalist traveler knows that when you pack less you have more time for adventures.
Hopefully, our minimalist packing tips and hacks will help go that extra step to finally packing less. Now go out and explore!
Buy our Favorite Products
