How To Travel With Just A Backpack
Travelling can be one of the most rewarding experiences a human being can go through. Exploring the vast and changing world and seeing a life lived by many, but foreign to you, is enlightening. However, in order to properly travel, you need to get through the physical travelling part of it. Whether it be by car, plane, train, or bus, getting to your destination can be half the battle, especially if you’re like most individuals and struggle with packing.
Packing for any sort of trip can be difficult, but it’s especially hard when you’re going to a place you’ve never been to before. You have to account for weather, what activities you’re planning on doing, places you’ll go, environmental conditions, etc. there’s just a lot to plan for. Even if you pack light and think you can fit everything into your personal bag and carry-on, the airport can still hit you with that pink tag indicating you need to check your bag due to overcrowding. Packing light is often the best way to travel, and really engulf yourself in your surroundings, so try to only pack a personal bag. You read that right, just pack the one single bag that can fit under your chair. It may seem impossible, but with some helpful tips, tools, sacrifices and space manipulation, anything is possible.
The first thing you’ll need to do is make sure you have the right type of bag. According to Outside Online Magazine the best option for single-bag travelling is a backpack. A backpack will ensure that you have the most space, and is easier to hold than something like a purse or messenger bag. Backpacks often have many inner pockets that are perfect for making sure your smaller personal items are safe and secure and not loosely being knocked around. Look for something on the larger side and in a hiking category. While you may not be planning on taking any hikes during your travels, although if you are having a backpack is another perk, backpacks that are equipped for hiking normally have the most space and compartments to hold everything you need. Amazon and Target definitely have cheap options, especially if your shopping after all those “Back to school” promotions, however, don’t be afraid to spend more money for better quality. If this bag is going to follow you all throughout your future travels and potentially be your only travel bag, you want it to be good quality.
Just because you have one big bag to accompany you on your travels, that doesn’t mean smaller bags are out of the question. Laptop holders and tech pouches are great safe options to guarantee your devices won’t be scuffed or damaged while inside of your bag. These bags can also hold any important travel documents, or any other important papers, which would also ensure that all your valuables are in the same place within your bag, and you won’t need to dig to find them. Additionally, a small make up bag for toiletries will help keep each compartment in your bag organized. Go on Amazon, or out to a local drug store, and pick up travel size containers for your shampoo, soap, moisturizing needs. You can purchase multi-packs of mini squeeze bottles online that are perfect for saving space and travelling with all your bathroom needs. Remember, you want to pack light, so if you’re going to stay somewhere that you know will have things like soap, towels, toothpaste, etc. then leave it at home, less is more!
Now for the fun part, clothing. While it may seem impossible to fit an entire trips worth of clothing into a backpack, it is, if you’re willing to make it work. First of all, make sure the outfit you’re wearing on the day of your travels have pieces that you can get a lot of use out of. Wear a nice and standard jacket that you can use and rework to fit any occasion. A bomber or flannel could work, even a jean jacket could do the job. Make sure your pants are also just as versatile, and are also comfortable enough to leisure in for hours at a time. Versatility is key here, keep it generic with shirts and bring a spare or two only. Underwear is small enough that it can fit in those small compartments throughout your backpack, the same goes for socks. If you have access to a laundry machine, you really only need two outfits, the one you wear the day of, and an extra. This was you’ll always have one full outfit while the others being cleaned.
For optimal storage, roll your clothing instead of folding, the minimal surface area and cylinder shape will allow the clothes to fit together within the bag much easier. Place the clothing at the bottom of the bag first so you get the most important pieces packed. From this point on you can work with everything else you have to pack like pieces of a puzzle to make it all fit. While traveling with one single bag may not seem ideal, it will ensure that your trip is about one thing and one thing only, the experience. Chances are you’ll be able to buy more clothing and a duffel bag wherever you’re going to anyway, so don’t sweat it and focus on the journey.
Eric Mastrota is a Contributing Editor at The National Digest based in New York. A graduate of SUNY New Paltz, he reports on world news, culture, and lifestyle. You can reach him at eric.mastrota@thenationaldigest.com.