Whenever you pack for a trip, the temptation to take too much can be overwhelming. Here’s 7 concrete reasons to leave most of your stuff at home.
Feature: keithusc
When planning for our 2 month trip to Southeast Asia in winter 2005, my girlfriend and I decided we would only take a single bag.
And no, this wouldn’t be a large, cumbersome backpack like the ones perpetually seen by eager backpackers around the world. We each pledged to stick with a regular size backpack, like one you would fill with schoolbooks and a lunchbox.
Others thought we were crazy. “How can you travel for two months with that little thing?” Truthfully, we didn’t really know how we’d manage it. But we arrived at the airport, boarded the plane, and journeyed into strange new lands with literally little more than the clothes on our back.
And it was the best decision we could have ever made.
But don’t let me tell you why. Here’s a variety of authors around the web offering sage wisdom on why you should travel with one bag.
1. You Can Usually Buy Clothing On The Road
Sharpen your packing skills and save yourself loads of travel stress. Choose light, wrinkle-free fabric clothing. Make sure that some of your clothing does double-duty: a sarong can be used as a skirt and beach cover-up.
Place clothes in a plastic bag and squeeze out excess air. Always pack a swimsuit, and wear layers on the airplane (which saves room in your suitcase). And remember: You can usually buy needed clothing on the road. — from National Geographic Traveler
2. You Will Conquer Your Fear Of The Unknown
People overpack because of timidity and fear of the unknown, both largely results of inexperience. Pack your chosen bag with the items you plan to take. Put on the shoes you plan to wear.
Then take a one-hour walk around town, ideally including an ample assortment of stairs, poor walking surfaces, and the like. Stop for brief rests as necessary, but don’t spend the hour in a café! If you’re still happy at the end of your excursion, make your travel reservations. — from OneBag.com
3. All Your Luggage Is Carry-on
When your luggage is carry-on you won’t lose your luggage, you bag doesn’t get thrown, dropped or otherwise abused, and if you have a tight connection you know your bag will be with you, wherever you end up. If you really need to change your clothing (or get something out of your bag) you can. You will spend less time fighting with your bags, have less to keep track of, and less to worry about losing. — from Verber.com
4. You Can Discover What Is Truly Essential
Packing light offers less tangible but very real benefits. It’s a chance to pare down and simplify our lives, to discover what is truly essential and what is not. It’s a reminder that we’re more than the sum of our possessions. There’s really no difference between packing for a week and packing for a month or longer. — from San Francisco Chronicle
5. You Don’t Have To Worry About Lost Luggage
In this age of airline fare wars, globalization, and the euro, traveling across multiple borders is increasingly common. Combined with the horror stories of lost luggage that never made it to the baggage claim, the option of traveling with just one bag is becoming more and more attractive.
Unless your trip is highly specialized or requires carrying certain items, it is possible to travel and even live indefinitely out of one bag. — from WikiHow
6. Your Transportation Options Are Flexible
Transportation becomes simpler because you don’t have to find someone who can transport a number of large bags. For example, some remote towns use motorcycles as taxis. Imagine trying to hold onto a number of huge bags on the back of a motorcycle.
Remember the traveler’s motto: It’s better to bring half of what you think you need, and twice as much money. — from Verber.com
7. Because Rick Steves Says So
You’ll never meet a traveler who, after five trips, brags, “Every year I pack heavier.” The measure of a good traveler is how light she travels. You can’t travel heavy, happy, and cheap. Pick two. — from Transitions Abroad
Any other reasons you can think of to travel with one bag?
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17 Comments... join the discussion!
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Nice addition Doug. I totally agree. In Asia, I had actually brought along my hiking boots tied to the side of my bag. I carried them most of the trip and really only used them once for hilltrekking in Chiang Mai. Would have been easier to bring my older pair and ditch them after the trek.
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I recently met a man who had been traveling for years with a simple backpack. I was convinced: I would never wear such a horrible backpack again! And with this I confirm my personal pledge.
The only thing I still have to figure out is how I’ll be bringing my camera. I have three lenses, but I think I probably should chose one and get a simple shoulder-bag.
In any case, this is some excellent advice. Thanks.
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This is such a great topic. I think it really helps one to focus on what is truley an essential item. I can’t say I have ever mastered carrying a small backpack for long trips, but that is mainly because I leave room in a bigger bag for things I want to bring back. But next time I will consider what dougdo said, and just bring stuff I can get rid of, and replace it with things I buy!
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Great article. I’ve travelled with only one bag for years and the amount of freedom it allows you is amazing. Beating the lines at the luggage carousel is nice too. As light is my backpack is I still like to take an additional small bag to carry small items so that I can leave my backpack in whatever room I am staying.
I recently wrote down my travel packing list which might be of interest to some. It can be found here: http://www.popwuping.com/stuff/travel/travel-todo-and-packing-list.php
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I’ll take happy and cheap? Is that allowed?
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A long time ago my Dad told me, “Bring half as much stuff and twice as much money.” might change the proportion for a bit more cash for a really long trek, but still very sage advice.
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I always travelled with one bag in the past.
However, after that X-mas bomber you’re going to have to check carry-on on all flights, so you might as well bring everything now.
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I was told this, I read this on every website when planning for my trip and STILL didn’t listen.
As we speak I’m on the road and dragging around my bag is a pain. I haven’t worn have the things I “thought” I needed and what makes me mad is that I’ve found everything I thought I couldn’t get outside the States EVERYWHERE.
It’s much easier to buy what you need on the road then to buy what you think you’ll need and end up not using. It’ll only piss you off to look at money down the drain that could have been spent ON your trip and not FOR your trip.
Good advice wish I’d taken it… I’m either giving things away or shipping it back home…
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I LOVE my Patagonia One Bag – it’s really small, but rugged and well-designed. I’ve gone around the world with it as my only luggage.
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The downside of being an expat is that the one bag is just not enough for the big move. Not when you need to pack textbooks, musical instruments, business wear etc. that you can’t buy (or will be much more expensive) in your host country. Of course, when going on vacation, it’s a HUGE relief to travel with one bag. It is so freeing not to be lugging the maximum amount of weight plus an electric bass guitar. When I travel with just a carry on, I feel like I’m on vacation before I even leave the airport.
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I always travel with one bag and as light as possible, my personal best is 8 kilos of luggage for 40-days holidays across east Africa.
There is a big problem having a carry-on luggage only though – you’ll be left without your medicines, toiletries, tools etc. after you pass all those pesky airport security checks.↵ -
I love this post! I always travel with one medium-sized backpack and buy cheap/affordable clothes from wherever I am. I believe in the concept of leaving everything you own/are familiar with behind when going to explore a new place.
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So true!
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I agree with you sair 100%…am used to spend my hollydays in fareast of asia .. my backpag neve wights more than 7 kgs..i neve use more than 65% of the clothes i take with me ..one reasone is i easiely wash my T shairts & short while taking a shower,, i always say to myself : get lighter smaller laggage get more freedom.
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