The Art of Traveling with a Backpack

In this article, I share my experience regarding the art of traveling with a minimalist backpack. 😉

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How did you come up with the idea of traveling with a small backpack?

Actually, this idea came to me after realizing that many minimalists travel only with a small backpack. 🎒.

A few years ago, like many people, I thought that I would run out of things if I traveled only with a small backpack.

👉 But I understood that it is the opposite! No matter where I go, I have the essentials with me 😉

Do you only use your backpack for traveling?

No, I use my backpack for almost every outing.

👉 Actually, I use the same backpack for different outings. For example:

A trip to the beach
A ski or mountain outing
Travel for a few weeks in a hot or cold country
Hike

🔺Traveling light has become an art of life! And I wouldn’t change that for the world 😎

Why only have a minimalist backpack for traveling?

For several reasons ! For example:

👉 Less weight to carry

The first reason is weight! Less weight means more lightness during transport.

In reality, traveling with a suitcase is painful if the weight is excessive.

👉 Better freedom of movement

Traveling with a backpack allows you to not be limited with movement. Whether it is a concrete road, parallel or a forest path.

therefore, a small backpack allows you to adapt to any route or destination. Indeed, my backpack does not limit my travel destination!

👉 Less space needed in the hotel room

Whether the accommodation I sleep in is a house, a hotel room, my mini-van or a camping tent. My backpack is small and easy to store compared to a large suitcase that takes up a lot of space in small rooms.

👉 The time it takes to prepare my bag is two minutes flat

My backpack packing time is less than 2 minutes!

In fact, I own so few objects that it only takes a glance to understand what I'm missing. In fact, it saves me a lot of time before and after the trip.

👉 Less time wasted during airport checks

Since I travel with a small backpack, I don't need my bag to go in the hold on the plane. That is to say, I don't have to wait for girls at airports to check in my suitcase.

👉 No need to pay for a suitcase when traveling by plane

When we take a suitcase on a plane, most companies charge extra. Whereas with a backpack, I don't have to pay extra for my backpack on the plane.

🔺Here is a summary between traveling with a backpack and a suitcase

	Backpack 🎒	Suitcase 🧳
Space available	Scaled down	Big
Weight to carry	Lightweight (if the bag only has the essentials)	Quite heavy
Freedom of movement	Optimal	Not optimal
Place in accommodation	Scaled down	Bulky if the accommodation is small
Preparation time	Very fast	Consequential
Tidy up time after the trip	Very fast	Consequential
Wasted time at the airport	None	Consequential (if the suitcase is in the hold)
Prices when traveling by plane	Free	Paid with certain airlines¹

What do you have in your minimalist backpack?

I can say it without looking at my bag 😉

1 T-shirt
1 tank top
1 thermal sweater
1 convertible pant
2 pairs of socks
1 boxer (underwear)
1 boxer (swimsuit)
1 winter hat
1 neck warmer
1 bob
Sunglasses
1 phone charger
1 waterproof rain cape
1 small toiletry bag with the basics (for example, mini toothbrush, mini toothpaste, a small bottle of shower gel, laundry detergent bottle).

Note ❗ And let's not forget that I also carry clothes on me! That is to say, everything I wear on the day of the trip completes my list of essential clothes.

On the other hand, is there no disadvantage to backpacking?

👉 In my opinion, there is only one drawback, which lasts less than 5 minutes per day. It’s doing laundry every day!

In reality, as I own few clothes, I cannot leave my clothes dirty for long.

As a result, I have to do laundry regularly.

👉 Most of the time, I do laundry by hand because I don't have a machine. Since I only have today's clothes to clean, the laundry only takes 5 minutes.

Note that in hot countries, this is not a disadvantage because the clothes dry very quickly. On the other hand, in cold countries, if I cannot have wall heating nearby, it requires more anticipation.

But I always managed. Improvisation is part of the holidays 😉.

It should be remembered that this aspect is part of the art of traveling with a minimalist backpack. 🫡

How to choose a good minimalist backpack?

In my opinion, I think a minimalist backpack should have 4 criteria to respect:

As small as possible

The first important aspect is that it should be as small as possible for your use. The reason is very simple: we seek lightness in a backpack. The larger it is, the heavier and more cumbersome it will be.

Therefore, we want the backpack to be as small as possible.

As light as possible

Once you have chosen a small backpack, you must also pay attention to the kilos that we will add with the material inside.

Indeed, with a backpack, you have to accept that you can't take everything. Therefore, you have to choose how many things to take. Otherwise, the backpack will be cluttered and very heavy.

In my opinion, to be able to carry a backpack comfortably, in this case, the backpack + the equipment inside, should not weigh more than 7 kilos in total!

Adapted closures and pockets

We don't all use a backpack in the same way.

In fact, some people prefer large pockets and others mini bags with mini zippers.

Therefore, it is necessary to choose a backpack that is adjustable and adapted to the user.

Choosing a unisex and discreet backpack

Most minimalists don't use material possessions to be fashionable.

In my opinion, a minimalist does not choose a fashionable women's backpack, colorful and with a big known brand, like Louis Vuitton for example.

The reality is, a minimalist backpack is meant to go anywhere in the world. And the more flashy and expensive it is, the more likely it is to be stolen!

In my opinion, it's best to choose a simple, discreet, dark, and inexpensive (all-purpose) backpack. Like a colleague's bag, for example.

Conclusion

➡️ I would like to point out that contrary to what many people may believe, I have never lacked for anything while traveling with a backpack!

I'm not saying it will never happen. But I've been traveling this way for a few years now! And I don't have the slightest memory of having had a significant lack 😊

➡️ Backpacking has many advantages over traveling with a suitcase. The main reasons are:

More freedom of movement
Preparing a backpack in 2 minutes
Cheaper to fly
Less weight to carry
Less space required in accommodation

👉 To conclude, it is an experience that I recommend to everyone! Tell yourself that the worst that can happen is that you forget something like... you've probably already forgotten with a suitcase.

Note that we cannot anticipate everything and that is also the charm of vacations or an outing 😎

And you? What do you think about the art of traveling with a minimalist backpack?

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Overall, this blog lives on sharing a frugal and minimalist lifestyle.

For a question of transparency towards the readers. All recommended products are in order to make life cheaper, simpler and to promote the essentials.

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About me

I decided to create this blog to develop and help readers who are looking for a simpler and more economical life.

Compared to before, I was a person who consumed a lot until the day I realized that my consumption made me sadder and poorer 😑

Now I prefer the minimum of my needs to be happy and achieve my financial freedom.

Without realizingI started to focus on saving and investing to depend on a boss for as little time as possible and to speed up my personal projects.

As a result, I am getting richer in a way that I never imagined since I have an average salary in Switzerland.

It is for this purpose that I decided to create this blog. In order to share and learn with other people who seek freedom and simplicity 😉

Are you rather minimalist or frugal Jonny?

I am as minimalist as I am frugalist. However, there are situations where I lean more towards an art of life.

To conclude, I think the most important thing is to feel comfortable in your lifestyle 😊