Before I embraced the concept of minimalist traveling, I scorned all the advice about packing lighter and traveling with less luggage as some unnecessary hippie nonsense. But, as I came to discover for myself, it’s actually fantastic advice that has made my travels so much easier and more fun. 

Here’s what I’ve discovered about becoming a minimalist traveler and actually enjoying it.  

It Makes Traveling a Lot Less Tedious 

You don't realize just how tedious bulky luggage is until you start packing lighter and smaller when traveling. 

Lagging around a large and heavy suitcase, and probably a carryon as well, makes moving around tiresome and time consuming. This includes getting on flights, boarding a train, using public transport and so on. 

You find yourself dreading every moment when you have to collect your luggage. That’s not to mention other disadvantages of traveling with heavy luggage like baggage fees, increased security risk and lack of proper storage.  

Minimalist traveling is, in one word, freeing. You can pay more attention to your surroundings, you can explore a place more freely, you are not constantly worried about losing your luggage and many other benefits. 

You Need Less Stuff Than You Think 

Many of us are overpackers without realizing it. You are probably used to stuffing your suitcases full of stuff without actually asking yourself whether you need all of it. 

Other people are well aware they pack a lot of stuff, but they justify it with endless ‘what if?’ scenarios. 

While it is true that you need to plan for any emergencies, it’s easy to spiral down the ‘what if’ rabbit hole and carry lots of stuff you end up not using. Only pack things that are absolutely essential. 

Extra medication in case your trip lasts longer? Smart idea. An extra set of clothes just in case you need more? Probably not necessary. 

If you’ve never used a packing list, it’s time you did. It allows you to plan and strategize your packing. We have more tips on smart packing below. 

You Have To Be More Strategic About Packing

The most important part about becoming a minimalist traveler is packing. If you are the kind of person who stuffs everything they think they need in a suitcase, you need to become more strategic about your packing process. 

Start out with a list of what you want to pack, ideally organized in categories (clothes, toiletries, gadgets etc.). What you include on the list depends on where you are going, for how long, the weather, what activities you’ll be doing and other factors. 

Once you are done, go through the list multiple times, identifying what you can remove from it. Consider cutting down on the amount of clothes you’ve packed (more on that next), check what you don't really need (e.g. do you really need that camera when you have your phone?), and see what you can get at your destination instead of carrying it from home. 

By the end, you should end up with a pared down list. The more you travel light, the better you’ll get at preparing a minimalist packing list. 

It’s Mostly About Your Clothes

You can become a minimalist traveler overnight simply by reducing how many clothes you travel with. They take up the most space in luggage, so focusing on them can drastically improve your packing strategy. 

Here are my best clothes packing tips for minimalist travel. 

• Forget your ‘what ifs?’. Pack only what you need. If there’s a clothing emergency, there are plenty of solutions that don't involve packing a suitcase full of clothes.
• Pack clothes that easily match. This lets you wear different outfits with just a few clothes. My favorite hack is packing a bunch of t-shirts and just two pairs of jeans or khakis. 
• Get comfortable with re-wearing clothes without washing them. Items like jeans, coats and sweaters can be easily worn again. If you have one of Hercleon’s self-cleaning t-shirts, socks or underwear, you can wear them several times over and they stay fresh. 
• You can also plan to do laundry on your trip. Look for a laundry service near you or hand wash clothes in the sink or tub. 

Be Patient as You Adapt to Your New Lifestyle

Finally, be patient with yourself. You’ll likely make a few mistakes before you find your own style of minimalist travel that works for you. 

Maybe it involves packing a little more for the sake of convenience and comfort, or maybe you’ll discover you can easily travel with a single backpack. The most important thing is to learn from your travels and adjust your strategy.