My wife and I began packing like this for 20+ years ago after watching a Rick Steves dvd - works well for us during month-long trips. As an “aside” we down-sized from a 40’ motor coach to a Suburban three years ago and are constantly amazed how we continue to simplify and minimize. We enjoyed your video and expect more people will embrace your suggestions. Thanks!
omg i've been to 50+ countries traveling in similar single computer backpack style, and of all the travel videos youtube sent to me this is the only one i've watched from the beginning to an end and learned a few things. thank you for not using insane every 2 second camera cut edits or any stupid background music.
A couple questions: 1. Do you have 3 copies of the same credit card for each of your 3 wallets? Or a different credit card in each wallet (if a different one - how do you make sure you have the right one for the situation? Been looking into the Chase Trifecta - seems like you'd need to have a couple on you depending on what you're buying to maximize points). 2. Do you carry a reusable water bottle? (Especially one with a filter like you had in the van - seems like a filter would be useful in a lot of countries). The water bottle pocket on your bag looked pretty small. 3. Given your expensive camera gear and laptop, do you carry a portable surge protector? If not, have you ever had a problem? 4. Any reason for packing the shorts inside-out? 5. Have you considered a smaller/more lightweight rain coat instead? I think the rain coats made for ultralight thru-hiking backpacking can compress down smaller than yours appeared to, but still have more features than a poncho would. Popular ones seem to be: Enlightened Equipment Visp, Z-Packs Vertice, Montbell Versalite, and Outdoor Research Helium II.
Different cards. I usually carry two chase cards in my main wallet. So I have a total of 4 cards. The water pocket holds a normal size water bottle. I dont normally carry one though. I dont have a surge protector but have apple care if something happens. Ive never had an issue. ive always turned my clothes inside out when packing..i guess to keep them clean if something spills. I dont wear the raincoat enough to justify the cost. I might ditch it at some point. I rarely use it.
I take pictures, front and back, with my smartphone of all credit/debit cards and all I.D. If you lose your wallet, the international number of the bank is almost always located on the back of the credit card.
Here's the thing...I hear people say they are "minimalists" all the time and the truth is...they are NOT. YOU on the other hand are truly a minimalist...great tips on what to pack! Thank you for sharing Kev!!
The three ID / money method seems really smart. I like that bag can be accessed as a backpack or like a suitcase. If going somewhere cooler you could easily swap some things out for warmer layers. And women could swap out and add in a skirt or dress, bras, and jewelry to spice it up! I like to pack a light scarf, again for pizzazz, but also for warmth on the plane. And a sun hat!
Should have mentioned, we use the “2-2-2” method: whatever we wear, plus 2 socks, 2 running shorts(lined-doubles for swim trunks), 2 short and long-sleeve shirts, 2 pants…. All items can be washed in the sink, tub or shower and dry overnight.
Ebag motherload bag is my go to and was my choice because it has a shoulder strap. Wallet of choice is a motorcycle one because it has a chain fastened to my belt loop and am in Kiki now also.
just took a trip to boston and portland maine with some family and friends, half the group checked bags and I just had my travel pack, it is truly the way to go. cobble stone streets, subways and uphills climbs aren't friends with rolling luggage! great tips
My brother (Stefan Loble) owns bluff works. It was a shock to hear you talk about them. 😊 They have a women’s line now that I wear all the time. Great tips. Thanks.
Great tips! I just got back from a Reno to Florida trip. My trip was cancelled on the outgoing flight. Checked bag was sent to Florida. On the return flight was rescheduled and bag did make connections. I had to go next day to pick up suitcase. I told myself time for carry one only. Woke up and your video pops up...COSMIC! Safe travels!
Kevin, for the last day and a half I've been watching your vids. I have a 7 day solo cruise coming up. Your tips helped me trim down some items and I was able to use a much smaller bag. Thanks.
great video. I would add a small fold-up GI can opener and plastic-eating utensils or lift them from the airline club so that I can pick up eats at grocery stores in various countries for in-room snaking or picnicking. Picnics are what the day pack is for!
Doing 30+ day rides on my Harley has made me the queen of packing light! I accept your challenge! I only ever travel with a carry-on. The only way to go.
I'm like you, I hate hauling around luggage and the headaches of when they lose it at the airports. One or two carry on bags work for me as well............I love that minimalist life!
I used the Nomatic Bag before. The weight of the Bag is 2.7 kg ! This is very limiting, because the max weight for Handluggage is sometimes very low (7 kg Condor, 8 kg Lufthansa, 12 kg KLM). I developed my travel set up to the Victorinox (yes, the Brand of the Swiss army knifes) Altmont Active Lightweight Expandable Backpack 25 to 32 liter (0,6 kg) with some packing cubes.
Good video and packing job. We’ve been carry on only for years and won’t ever go back. We aren’t quite down to your size as we do travel with a smaller personal item, and we do have liquids. I think the biggest hurdle for people is to realize what you really need to take and to not pack for every single scenario. Also the big hack is plan to wash clothes. I think regular thinking is “I’m gone for 14 days, I need 14 shirts, underwear, etc.” instead of saying “in 14 days I’ll wash my clothes twice.” What I appreciate most about your video is you aren’t a small guy. Too often these sorts of videos are from guys who wear medium. I’m more in the xl category and one of their shirts is 3/4 of mine. You can fit a lot more in when you’re small! Bags with one large area are best as you can utilise all the space. Look at gym bags as travel bags. I have a UA bag that has backpack straps. It has a large main compartment, a couple of small mesh pockets inside, a couple of outside pockets and a shoe pocket. I use the shoe pocket to hold my liquids as they are easy to access for security and it keeps them away from clothes in case something leaks. This bag rarely gets a look by the gate agents. I also have an older gym bag which looks small but has a ton of space. That’s the key, having something which doesn’t look oversize and overweight.
Love this video! One thing that I learned and wanted to share with you is to look for a duffle bag that best fits your luggage and has all the wonderful features a bag can have especially in plane travel use. I'm using Nomad Lane's Bento Bag and it's a good choice.
A poncho is better in Asia than a rain coat because you can use it to cover your backpack and your legs (without having to get rain pants). Also, breathes a lot better. As added bonus some types allow you to make a little shelter, great for making shade between palm trees at the beach 🏖
Always travel with one bag. I'm always amazed at all of the people that are rolling around with suitcases big enough to hold every piece of clothing I own (and then some).
I'll have to check that out. I used to travel with a puffy jacket as well that I would wear to the gate. That's a smart move...you can fill those pockets up with stuff as well to get the bag weight down.
I told you the other day that I was going to learn more about travel than just Moreno wool. Here we are talking about single bag packing. Can't wait to keep digging around.
Merino Wool is the best. I use it for skiing and off road motorcycle riding. Like you I bring a few sets of the various layers. The problem I have with it is when the clean freshly laundered items get mixed up with the items that have been worn for several days (or weeks sometimes !!), often resulting in great difficulty in telling the "clean" stuff from the worn stuff.
i travel with airplanes same way-one bag and it comes with me to the cabin-it makes life so much easier. Its also really easy to wash underware and socks what I had on me douring the day in end of day at bathroom-it take like no time at all.
Great video Kevin! When I travel back to the mainland (usually 1-6 months) I've only used a roller carryon and backpack. Now looking at one bag travel and interested in the Peak Design Travel Backpack 45L. All your fault! Picked up some mew ideas here, mahalo!
This is a really great bag! I love how you pack with only what you really need and that's it. The black tennis shoes is such great idea. And, so smart having double of your id and credit cards. Great video! Really show us that we don't need as much as we think we do. Thanks for sharing!
Hi, Thank you for this. I thought it was too few things but I tested it out in my hotel room in Port Harcourt Nigeria and i was suprised how many clothes i could take. I am going to be leaving 2 big suitcases behind and just taking my essentials+ a laptop. I want to get as much out of my up coming trip to Thailand and as I intend to travel from north to south i want to be able to move about really easily.
Yeah Kevin I like your minimalist approach.its great for the tropics o temperate climates but if you ever go to Iceland or Patagonia things change obviously .in essence I think it’s take little but make sure it’s good stuff .cheers ,see you on the trail…..
We've been travelling carry on only full time since November 2019 and if anything we want to reduce the amount of stuff we have further. We move around a lot, so not having to carry too much stuff is a big plus for us.
some great tips ! that are valid only if you go to one hot climate location with no traveling to colder climate! I usually travel to hot tropical climates with long sleeve shirts or long tshirts to protect my skin from eight hours of hot sun, same things for long trousers, also to avoid, well better saying trying to avoid, mosquitos bites. oh and i have the very same day backpack ! and me too I carry an oversized rain jacket! that goes into my daypack
This is GREAT!!!!!! - Thank you so much for this. These types of TH-cam videos are the gifts that keep on giving as they are useful year after year!!!! I'm getting that Nomatic bag and using your links.
I tried taking a 40L travel backpack last year but the airline had a 7kg (15 lb) maximum for a carryon and when packing for two weeks of clothes, shoes and toiletries it was way more than 15lbs. So I had to check it in as a stow away baggage.
As an acid traveler and biker on some trips...I use and mimick the way U pack w those individual packs, I buy the 99 cent rain panc ho better than packing one...true ism on the tennis shoes...I also pack less and wash every day so I don't take as much...and alternate..and or buy a cheap top and ditch em to a needy person when I'm on my way out
Very inspirational. I think you need pants. The ticks are bad and if you hike it is better to to wear long pants. I tell my kids to always have a hoodie. What are you using that is like a hoodie. Love the shirts, I will get one for my son.
I have this bag, haven't really used it for travel - but pre-covid it was my everyday work backpack. Bought it just because it could be used as a travel pack :) Very nice!
Kevin, great job in packing everything in one backpack. I like your traveling style. I am not as good as you as I traveled overseas for 2 weeks with one small carry-on. Will use your hints and try the Nomatic backpack with lots of pockets. I noticed you turned your shorts inside out to give you more space in your backpack. Thanks for sharing.
Did not realize airlines didn't care if you pulled your laptop out while weighing luggage. I always travel w/ a MSFT Surface Go for weight reasons, but I understand that device would not edit videos super well. As for merino wool, I do not find it durable enough and price is a factor, so I stick to synthetic fabrics infused with silver for odor control. I find them much more durable for doing laundry in the sink. :) Thanks for the content, GL with your travels!
I've found it very durable when made by certain folks. Unbound Merino and Outlier are good. Wooley is terrible. That shirt I had on in this vid is over 2 years old and looks as good as the day I bought it. I need to try those silver infused synthetics though. Thanks for the tip.
Love the multiple wallet method and well executed. I usually just have two and only separate it when I get to the room. While on the ground though I always keep my cash out of my wallet in a separate pocket. That way if someone's eyeballing me and wants the cash they won't get the wallet as well during the pick. At least that's my thought process. haha.
I like the multiple wallet idea. When I did travel my ID, passport & CC's and any extra big bills are in a separate thin RFID waist pouch hidden under my shirt. Ever since I saw this video I will start to implement the extra precautions for ID, and CC's most of mine is stored in the cloud for back up with pictures taken front to back. Thanks for the tips and I enjoy your adventures. Hey who knows I might run into you someday in S.E.A happy travels.
You might consider a much smaller rain jacket. The outdoor research helium rain jacket only weights 6.4oz and packs probably twice as small as what you have now.
If there's ever a mega-sale on merino wool, let me know. I'll try one piece at first, to see if my allergy to wool is an issue with the current products. If it's not, it would be great to have several pieces for all the features you point out! Next emoji, a black shirt.
Thanks for this really great and informative video! I've often wondered how light travel vloggers pack. How often do you wash clothes when on the road? Do you wash clothes in the sink? And what kind of soap do you use to wash clothes? Thanks again!
I have about 7 days worth but most is merino wool which you can wear for a long time without washing and it's easy to wash in the sink. But normally I do laundry every week or two if im staying in airbnbs
I was wondering that too! Thanks for the tip, Kevin. I think I found it here: www.walmart.com/ip/Bower-Versatile-Vlogger-Gear-Bag-and-Organizer-Black/429000748
Very interesting. Glad I found you and your channel. So nice to see your tips and tricks for traveling. And yes, I really like this Nomadic travel pack. Just got mine 2 months ago.
@@30AndAWakeUp Yeah - I love his videos! Would not have expected anyone to bring so much passion, humor, and occasional philosophy to bag reviews haha. But ironically for a channel about minimalism and travel, I think his videos can sometimes get people bogged down in travel accoutrement and unnecessary spending rather than travel itself. Or, that happens to me, anyways lol.
That was excellent... I learned a lot even though I've done lots of travel. I need to get a good bag and put more thought into my packing.. Thanks from Chiang Mai...
4 years one personal item here also. Some other good travel hacks: Carry excess weight onto planes with a shopping bag. They can't charge you for it because you can just say you bought it at an airport. Carry a pillow with a zipper with you for the plane. You can throw extra stuff in there if worse comes to worst. Use a waist pack, no one ever tells me it counts as an item, it's basically apparel. Usually I don't use any of these strategies regularly as I have rare need for them but they've always worked when I did need them (usually when I am touching base and am bringing home some gifts for relatives).
I think the blue wallet is also Nomatic? What is the make of your black one you have there? I really like the loop for adding keys. Really like your work. Keep it coming.
Most Asian airlines will weigh your carry-on as alot require you to get a airline issue boarding pass.Australian and Asian budget airlines count maxium 7 kilo/15lbs to include personal item bag.(Scoot u get 10ki/22lbs. The hack of pillow(full of clothes), jacket/vest( pocket full of heavy electronics). Bum bag(under longer shirt & not looked upon as a personal item hemps spread weight to cone under 7kg/15lbs. European budget airlines allow small personal item as heavy under the seat but charge for carryon bag at 7-10kg/15-22lbs. The charges can be double your ticket.
Those are great tips. But I will say, I have been traveling full time since 2019, with about 2 and a half years in Asia and I’ve only been asked to weigh my backpack once. It’s so low profile, no one ever asks.
Great video! As a hiking backpacker I want to travel backpack in the future and I can attest to Merino Wool being a magical material. My feet are the coolest and least sweaty part of me while hiking in the summer, even though they're encased in two layers of Merino wool.
Thanks for this video and all of your videos. QUESTION? - you did another packing video and you highly recommended the Osprey Backpack. Now you are recommending Nomatic. Why the switch?
I love both of them. The Osprey is a 30 liter and i wanted to try to travel with a smaller backpack. I couldn't find one that worked with Osprey. So I got a 20L nomatic that's expandable to 30 liter if needed. I still own my Osprey 30 and love it. I just wanted to use something smalller.
I can never pack light enough. I need a medium sized luggage (to be checked in) plus a carryon. If you’re staying for 30 days, it’s not like you’re staying overnight or doing a lot of layovers where a backpack or carryon works better. Since you don’t pack much clothes, you need to do laundry frequently or send it out.
This is my first viewing of your channel. I have now subscribed. I am headed to the Philippines from Australia in June, for a few weeks of travel. I just purchased an American Tourister - Aston (Samsonite's other brand!), as my carry on/check in bag. It has many of the features of your featured bag and some more, currently costing Australian $99 on sale. I will follow many of your useful tips. I find Merino expensive so I am sticking with my Lowes brand cotton\polyester v-neck t-shirts at $12.95 each. I am a bit heavier in weight than you and these t-shirts are offered in larger sizes up to 7XL. I always use the light plastic poncho against rain and layer clothing to create warmth if needed. I do like to carry more toiletries such as a Nutrimetics brand charcoal soap bar. It is good for all over bathing, compact and lasts a month. I agree a long charging cable for electronics with multi plug head options is a must for airport charges and cheap hotels where power sockets are few. I have travelled in south-east Asia over the last 14 years and have found prickly heat powder is a must after showering to stop sweat and rashes from tropical humidity. I will enjoy your channel I am sure. Darren.
Very cool! Sounds like a fun trip and that's a good bag as well. A buddy of mine has that one. I know the merino sounds expensive but the shirts you see in that video are over 3 years old and still look new -- so the outlast cotton if you take care of them. I switched to the light plastic poncho as well.
👍🎯⭐️Terrific video, tips & hacks. I’m gonna get that bag (or one like it). I really like the idea of having a couple sets of 3 items (debit card, credit card & ID) in different places. Thanks for sharing. Wishing you safe travels. 🙏💝🤗🌈☀️🦋
Great tips heading to Germany in July, aiming for one bag. And, again, that Merino wool rocks, I think I've got three shirts on your discount code. Had not thought to wear long over short for warmth on the flight: aces!
I’m the same way I heard so many things about nomadic and finally decided that looked pretty good I went with the messenger bag but I do like that backpack and who knows down the road I might get it thanks for the video
I'm surprised you don't do the army roll on your clothes. Do you find that rolling doesn't really get you that much more space or is there some other reason (like wrinkling)? This was a really great video with tons of useful nuggets for traveling - thanks!
Great video, thank for that! I love traveling and I'm learning English. I subscribe because of your content and because of education reasons too. Win-Win (:
Waiola shave ice? Also, Zippy's has good Korean Fried Chicken (the Alley cafe in Aiea bowling alley has a great combo plate with KFC and Kalbi, but it's harder to get to without a car).
I use a similar wallet system. Are all 3 debit cards separate accounts and what company/s do you use for international travel debit accounts? Would love to see a more in depth video on what is in your electronics bag and what you bring for camera gear these days.
Have you tried pulling out your laptop and tech bag when getting weighed for Jetstar? They're the only ones I've seen who explicitly set the limit at 7kg total (no "personal item"). Great to hear it's worked up till now though!
@@30AndAWakeUp thank you for the tips of traveling light though! I like that you're adding color to your wardrobe! I'm a huge fan of colors. Plus, the red shirt looks good on you!🤷♀️
Great video! The multiple cards/IDs is genius, definitely stealing this idea! 2 years out of a backpack (especially for a woman) seems crazy lol, could you not have the backpack AND a roll on? or would that not be allowed in internal Asian flights?
Hi Kevin, I've been enjoying your videos the last several months. I appreciate all the valuable information. I retire at 62 this month and plan to land in Portugal on the D7 resident Visa within the year. Once on my way to citizenship there, I plan to slow-travel the world starting with Europe. It's quite encouraging to know that I can add to my savings/investments every month while traveling in many parts of Asia and South America. It's amazing how much you manage to get in that bag. It seems perfect for what I'll need. Are the 3 sets of debit/credit cards linked to separarate accounts? Keep up the good work, Sir. Best to you, Glenn.
Great video. Lots of good tips. Unbelievable how much you can pack. I would buy the bags if they were not so expensive, just to test if I could do it with my favorite clothes.
My wife and I began packing like this for 20+ years ago after watching a Rick Steves dvd - works well for us during month-long trips.
As an “aside” we down-sized from a 40’ motor coach to a Suburban three years ago and are constantly amazed how we continue to simplify and minimize.
We enjoyed your video and expect more people will embrace your suggestions. Thanks!
Thanks guys! Yeah, I love packing light and simplifying my life.
omg i've been to 50+ countries traveling in similar single computer backpack style, and of all the travel videos youtube sent to me this is the only one i've watched from the beginning to an end and learned a few things. thank you for not using insane every 2 second camera cut edits or any stupid background music.
thanks! :) all those edits are too much work :)
WOW! I did a month in Italy with a backpack and thought that was impressive. Two years living out of one bag is life goals. Great video!
I always tell people if you can live out of a bag for a month...you can live out of it for a lifetime! :)
A couple questions:
1. Do you have 3 copies of the same credit card for each of your 3 wallets? Or a different credit card in each wallet (if a different one - how do you make sure you have the right one for the situation? Been looking into the Chase Trifecta - seems like you'd need to have a couple on you depending on what you're buying to maximize points).
2. Do you carry a reusable water bottle? (Especially one with a filter like you had in the van - seems like a filter would be useful in a lot of countries). The water bottle pocket on your bag looked pretty small.
3. Given your expensive camera gear and laptop, do you carry a portable surge protector? If not, have you ever had a problem?
4. Any reason for packing the shorts inside-out?
5. Have you considered a smaller/more lightweight rain coat instead? I think the rain coats made for ultralight thru-hiking backpacking can compress down smaller than yours appeared to, but still have more features than a poncho would. Popular ones seem to be: Enlightened Equipment Visp, Z-Packs Vertice, Montbell Versalite, and Outdoor Research Helium II.
Different cards. I usually carry two chase cards in my main wallet. So I have a total of 4 cards. The water pocket holds a normal size water bottle. I dont normally carry one though. I dont have a surge protector but have apple care if something happens. Ive never had an issue. ive always turned my clothes inside out when packing..i guess to keep them clean if something spills. I dont wear the raincoat enough to justify the cost. I might ditch it at some point. I rarely use it.
Great questions 👍 I’m trying to learn all I can so that I can spend my life traveling too.
I take pictures, front and back, with my smartphone of all credit/debit cards and all I.D. If you lose your wallet, the international number of the bank is almost always located on the back of the credit card.
Here's the thing...I hear people say they are "minimalists" all the time and the truth is...they are NOT. YOU on the other hand are truly a minimalist...great tips on what to pack! Thank you for sharing Kev!!
Haha....I think Im not minimalist enough! I have a ton of stuff in this bag!! haha
The three ID / money method seems really smart. I like that bag can be accessed as a backpack or like a suitcase. If going somewhere cooler you could easily swap some things out for warmer layers. And women could swap out and add in a skirt or dress, bras, and jewelry to spice it up! I like to pack a light scarf, again for pizzazz, but also for warmth on the plane. And a sun hat!
yeah, for sure. I travel with a scarf when im traveling to cooler climates.
Should have mentioned, we use the “2-2-2” method: whatever we wear, plus 2 socks, 2 running shorts(lined-doubles for swim trunks), 2 short and long-sleeve shirts, 2 pants…. All items can be washed in the sink, tub or shower and dry overnight.
Love it!
When stay in hostels stuff doesnt dry overnight...unfortunately
Ebag motherload bag is my go to and was my choice because it has a shoulder strap. Wallet of choice is a motorcycle one because it has a chain fastened to my belt loop and am in Kiki now also.
I'll check it out. Thanks for the rec.
just took a trip to boston and portland maine with some family and friends, half the group checked bags and I just had my travel pack, it is truly the way to go. cobble stone streets, subways and uphills climbs aren't friends with rolling luggage! great tips
Yeah, only way I travel now!!!! Thanks for watching and commenting. 🤙
My brother (Stefan Loble) owns bluff works. It was a shock to hear you talk about them. 😊 They have a women’s line now that I wear all the time. Great tips. Thanks.
I love their stuff! :)
@@lisaf-d1616 they have v neck tshirts that don’t wrinkle too. I love them. I have 2 in every color. 😊
Great tips! I just got back from a Reno to Florida trip. My trip was cancelled on the outgoing flight. Checked bag was sent to Florida. On the return flight was rescheduled and bag did make connections. I had to go next day to pick up suitcase. I told myself time for carry one only. Woke up and your video pops up...COSMIC! Safe travels!
haha...yeah...only way to go!! :)
When I have to travel with a checked bag, I always pack a days worth of clothes in my carry-on. The airlines has lost my bag often enough.
Kevin, for the last day and a half I've been watching your vids. I have a 7 day solo cruise coming up. Your tips helped me trim down some items and I was able to use a much smaller bag. Thanks.
Very cool! What cruise ship?
@@30AndAWakeUp Ruby Princess.
@@forcedair92gt94 Nice! I was just on her in December. Love that ship.
great video. I would add a small fold-up GI can opener and plastic-eating utensils or lift them from the airline club so that I can pick up eats at grocery stores in various countries for in-room snaking or picnicking. Picnics are what the day pack is for!
Good idea. Thanks for watching and commenting. 🤙
Hey, this has to be one of the best packing videos I have seen, thanks for sharing !
Glad you enjoyed it!
Doing 30+ day rides on my Harley has made me the queen of packing light! I accept your challenge! I only ever travel with a carry-on. The only way to go.
It truly is the ONLY way to go! :)
I enjoyed the video so thanks for sharing and the stuffed of your taken I love it I like the backpack and his son traveling and stay and happy travels
You are so welcome! Thanks for watching and commenting, Hilde.
I'm like you, I hate hauling around luggage and the headaches of when they lose it at the airports. One or two carry on bags work for me as well............I love that minimalist life!
Yes sir!
I used the Nomatic Bag before. The weight of the Bag is 2.7 kg ! This is very limiting, because the max weight for Handluggage is sometimes very low (7 kg Condor, 8 kg Lufthansa, 12 kg KLM). I developed my travel set up to the Victorinox (yes, the Brand of the Swiss army knifes) Altmont Active Lightweight Expandable Backpack 25 to 32 liter (0,6 kg) with some packing cubes.
I'll check that out.
I’ve been looking at the CabinZero for the same reason. Or an ultralight backpacking -style backpack like ULGear or zpacks.
Order placed with Unbound Merino. Looking forward to trying wool clothing.
nice! love the stuff
Good video and packing job. We’ve been carry on only for years and won’t ever go back. We aren’t quite down to your size as we do travel with a smaller personal item, and we do have liquids. I think the biggest hurdle for people is to realize what you really need to take and to not pack for every single scenario. Also the big hack is plan to wash clothes. I think regular thinking is “I’m gone for 14 days, I need 14 shirts, underwear, etc.” instead of saying “in 14 days I’ll wash my clothes twice.” What I appreciate most about your video is you aren’t a small guy. Too often these sorts of videos are from guys who wear medium. I’m more in the xl category and one of their shirts is 3/4 of mine. You can fit a lot more in when you’re small!
Bags with one large area are best as you can utilise all the space. Look at gym bags as travel bags. I have a UA bag that has backpack straps. It has a large main compartment, a couple of small mesh pockets inside, a couple of outside pockets and a shoe pocket. I use the shoe pocket to hold my liquids as they are easy to access for security and it keeps them away from clothes in case something leaks. This bag rarely gets a look by the gate agents. I also have an older gym bag which looks small but has a ton of space. That’s the key, having something which doesn’t look oversize and overweight.
yeah, that is a great recommendation for sure.
Excellent info and tips Kevin. Heading to Greece in July may have to ditch the suitcase. Great content
Appreciate that. I think if you can fit a weeks worth of clothes in a backpack you can travel forever with just that!
Get a pair of linen trousers when you get to the islands.. they will serve you fine for the clubs
I wear merino all the time in Thailand Kevin. Hope you’re having a great time on the ships.
it's the best!!!! Hope you are doing well too, my friend!
Love this video! One thing that I learned and wanted to share with you is to look for a duffle bag that best fits your luggage and has all the wonderful features a bag can have especially in plane travel use. I'm using Nomad Lane's Bento Bag and it's a good choice.
I'll check it out.
A poncho is better in Asia than a rain coat because you can use it to cover your backpack and your legs (without having to get rain pants). Also, breathes a lot better. As added bonus some types allow you to make a little shelter, great for making shade between palm trees at the beach 🏖
Good points for sure. Im probably going to replace that jacket. Thanks for watching and commenting. 🤙
@@30AndAWakeUp Great channel man and great travel tips. Fair winds and following seas.
Always travel with one bag. I'm always amazed at all of the people that are rolling around with suitcases big enough to hold every piece of clothing I own (and then some).
haha..same!
I travel with a super Eddie Bauer rain jacket - 100% waterproof. I wear it to the gate and just take it off on the plane. Saves space in the luggage.
I'll have to check that out. I used to travel with a puffy jacket as well that I would wear to the gate. That's a smart move...you can fill those pockets up with stuff as well to get the bag weight down.
Congrats on the successful outing. Glad you were able to land some!
Thanks, Adam. 👍
I told you the other day that I was going to learn more about travel than just Moreno wool. Here we are talking about single bag packing. Can't wait to keep digging around.
haha....i love that morino wool!
Merino Wool is the best. I use it for skiing and off road motorcycle riding. Like you I bring a few sets of the various layers. The problem I have with it is when the clean freshly laundered items get mixed up with the items that have been worn for several days (or weeks sometimes !!), often resulting in great difficulty in telling the "clean" stuff from the worn stuff.
yeah, you got to rotate them so you know what's clean and what's not...funny problem to have
i travel with airplanes same way-one bag and it comes with me to the cabin-it makes life so much easier. Its also really easy to wash underware and socks what I had on me douring the day in end of day at bathroom-it take like no time at all.
Yeah, I agree with you 100%.
Great video Kevin! When I travel back to the mainland (usually 1-6 months) I've only used a roller carryon and backpack. Now looking at one bag travel and interested in the Peak Design Travel Backpack 45L. All your fault! Picked up some mew ideas here, mahalo!
I like those Peak Design bags. I might try one in the future.
This is a really great bag! I love how you pack with only what you really need and that's it. The black tennis shoes is such great idea. And, so smart having double of your id and credit cards. Great video! Really show us that we don't need as much as we think we do. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you Angela! :)
Travel is definitely your nitch. Great minimal travel ideas for guys. I’m eager to see Thailand!
Thanks, Ramona.
Hi, Thank you for this. I thought it was too few things but I tested it out in my hotel room in Port Harcourt Nigeria and i was suprised how many clothes i could take. I am going to be leaving 2 big suitcases behind and just taking my essentials+ a laptop. I want to get as much out of my up coming trip to Thailand and as I intend to travel from north to south i want to be able to move about really easily.
Glad it helped
Perfect timing. I just bought a 2020.5 Travato GL!!!! Deal is signed and tomorrow I get my financing arranged. Delivery the 19th of June.
Yay!!! Soooooo awesome! Congrats!!!!!!!!
@@30AndAWakeUp Thanks. The travel tips were great and good to know. You are back to the traveler for now. Looking forward to your travelogue. 😊❤️
Yeah Kevin I like your minimalist approach.its great for the tropics o temperate climates but if you ever go to Iceland or Patagonia things change obviously .in essence I think it’s take little but make sure it’s good stuff .cheers ,see you on the trail…..
Ive traveled to cold climates this way. I just swap out the shorts for a couple pairs of pant. Merino wool is great for layering in cool places.
@@30AndAWakeUp yes, I will check out the merino wool.thanks
HAPPY TRAILS! Stay safe.
Thank you! :)
We've been travelling carry on only full time since November 2019 and if anything we want to reduce the amount of stuff we have further. We move around a lot, so not having to carry too much stuff is a big plus for us.
Yeah, it lets you be more mobile for sure.
some great tips ! that are valid only if you go to one hot climate location with no traveling to colder climate!
I usually travel to hot tropical climates with long sleeve shirts or long tshirts to protect my skin from eight hours of hot sun, same things for long trousers, also to avoid, well better saying trying to avoid, mosquitos bites. oh and i have the very same day backpack ! and me too I carry an oversized rain jacket! that goes into my daypack
Yeah, in my older packing vids...youll see me pack for cooler whether in a similar size bag. This was just an Asia trip...so I knew I wouldnt need it.
This is GREAT!!!!!! - Thank you so much for this. These types of TH-cam videos are the gifts that keep on giving as they are useful year after year!!!! I'm getting that Nomatic bag and using your links.
Glad it was helpful!
I tried taking a 40L travel backpack last year but the airline had a 7kg (15 lb) maximum for a carryon and when packing for two weeks of clothes, shoes and toiletries it was way more than 15lbs. So I had to check it in as a stow away baggage.
that sucks. I’ve rarely been asked to weigh…only once actually…in Vietnam.
As an acid traveler and biker on some trips...I use and mimick the way U pack w those individual packs, I buy the 99 cent rain panc ho better than packing one...true ism on the tennis shoes...I also pack less and wash every day so I don't take as much...and alternate..and or buy a cheap top and ditch em to a needy person when I'm on my way out
Avid..typo..oops
Avid..typo..oops
Yeah, I think Im going to switch to a poncho as well.
Very inspirational. I think you need pants. The ticks are bad and if you hike it is better to to wear long pants. I tell my kids to always have a hoodie. What are you using that is like a hoodie. Love the shirts, I will get one for my son.
I do have a merino wool hoodie but didnt pack it this time.
Really love your channel, bro! You're always so helpful. Loads of useful info for my travels.
Thank you for your kind words.
I have this bag, haven't really used it for travel - but pre-covid it was my everyday work backpack. Bought it just because it could be used as a travel pack :) Very nice!
Im really digging it so far. Thanks for watching and commenting.
Kevin, great job in packing everything in one backpack. I like your traveling style. I am not as good as you as I traveled overseas for 2 weeks with one small carry-on. Will use your hints and try the Nomatic backpack with lots of pockets. I noticed you turned your shorts inside out to give you more space in your backpack. Thanks for sharing.
No problem. Yeah, I always turn the clothes inside out!
@@30AndAWakeUp I’m not sure I understand, why do you turn your shorts inside out? By the way, great video.
Did not realize airlines didn't care if you pulled your laptop out while weighing luggage. I always travel w/ a MSFT Surface Go for weight reasons, but I understand that device would not edit videos super well. As for merino wool, I do not find it durable enough and price is a factor, so I stick to synthetic fabrics infused with silver for odor control. I find them much more durable for doing laundry in the sink. :) Thanks for the content, GL with your travels!
I've found it very durable when made by certain folks. Unbound Merino and Outlier are good. Wooley is terrible. That shirt I had on in this vid is over 2 years old and looks as good as the day I bought it. I need to try those silver infused synthetics though. Thanks for the tip.
That bag looks perfect. I may have to look into that when I get my passport renewed! Thank you for sharing!
No problem! :)
Great Video Kevin, can’t wait to follow your adventures in Thailand. Safe travels.
Thank you! Im excited to share the adventures.
Love the multiple wallet method and well executed. I usually just have two and only separate it when I get to the room. While on the ground though I always keep my cash out of my wallet in a separate pocket. That way if someone's eyeballing me and wants the cash they won't get the wallet as well during the pick. At least that's my thought process. haha.
That's a good idea. Much rather lose the cash than the IDs and credit cards.
I like the multiple wallet idea. When I did travel my ID, passport & CC's and any extra big bills are in a separate thin RFID waist pouch hidden under my shirt. Ever since I saw this video I will start to implement the extra precautions for ID, and CC's most of mine is stored in the cloud for back up with pictures taken front to back. Thanks for the tips and I enjoy your adventures. Hey who knows I might run into you someday in S.E.A happy travels.
You might consider a much smaller rain jacket. The outdoor research helium rain jacket only weights 6.4oz and packs probably twice as small as what you have now.
I'll check it out...thanks for the tip.
I actually finished your video! Awesome info and thank you for sharing!
Glad it was helpful!
I’ve seen all of your packing videos, don’t know how this one got away from me. That compression sack from your last video was great man.
yeah, i love that thing...but didn't really need it with this bag.
Excellent. Thank you for sharing these tips and tricks for packing light.
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching and commenting.
Hoping you are ok. It’s been a long time since we have seen an update. Rewatched this today for the great travel tips.
Excellent video. The photos of you with longer hair you looked great!
haha..thanks!
If there's ever a mega-sale on merino wool, let me know. I'll try one piece at first, to see if my allergy to wool is an issue with the current products. If it's not, it would be great to have several pieces for all the features you point out! Next emoji, a black shirt.
or a backpack. Yes, a backpack!
Next time the give me free codes...I'll give you one.
@@30AndAWakeUp For real? OMG thank you!
@@kele1264 Absolutely!
I'm sensitive to wool also. But I have one wool tshirt and it's not a problem. I'm looking forward to the women's line.
Thanks for this really great and informative video! I've often wondered how light travel vloggers pack. How often do you wash clothes when on the road? Do you wash clothes in the sink? And what kind of soap do you use to wash clothes? Thanks again!
I have about 7 days worth but most is merino wool which you can wear for a long time without washing and it's easy to wash in the sink. But normally I do laundry every week or two if im staying in airbnbs
I did not see in the comments, but what blue black bag is that for your camera and electronics? Thanks
I got that at walmart for like 10 bucks! :)
I was wondering that too! Thanks for the tip, Kevin. I think I found it here: www.walmart.com/ip/Bower-Versatile-Vlogger-Gear-Bag-and-Organizer-Black/429000748
Very interesting. Glad I found you and your channel. So nice to see your tips and tricks for traveling. And yes, I really like this Nomadic travel pack. Just got mine 2 months ago.
Yeah, it really lived up to the hype. Love that bag.
Some x-light backpackers that hike the AT suggest a froggtoggs lightweight poncho or jacket.
I'll check it out!
The new version of the Osprey Porter 30 is smaller and may work better on airplane, would love to see you make a video with that one
I'll have to check it out for sure
So cool… always wanted to travel to Hawaii…
Hawaii is great
Yay - been looking forward to this video! I've been watching too much Chase Reeves...
haha...he's great!
@@30AndAWakeUp Yeah - I love his videos! Would not have expected anyone to bring so much passion, humor, and occasional philosophy to bag reviews haha. But ironically for a channel about minimalism and travel, I think his videos can sometimes get people bogged down in travel accoutrement and unnecessary spending rather than travel itself. Or, that happens to me, anyways lol.
@@nomadicana Yeah, preparing for travel is usually the most expensive part and where the most mistakes are made! Was true for me for sure.
Very smart system you’ve got there. Some of this I already do when traveling, but I did learn quite a lot. Thanks.
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching and commenting. 🤙
That was excellent... I learned a lot even though I've done lots of travel. I need to get a good bag and put more thought into my packing.. Thanks from Chiang Mai...
Glad you enjoyed it!
4 years one personal item here also. Some other good travel hacks: Carry excess weight onto planes with a shopping bag. They can't charge you for it because you can just say you bought it at an airport. Carry a pillow with a zipper with you for the plane. You can throw extra stuff in there if worse comes to worst. Use a waist pack, no one ever tells me it counts as an item, it's basically apparel. Usually I don't use any of these strategies regularly as I have rare need for them but they've always worked when I did need them (usually when I am touching base and am bringing home some gifts for relatives).
awesome! only way to go
Nomatic travel pack....i have that and an osprey porter 46...carry on life baby
Yeah, I love those Osprey bags. Still have my 30L
Could you share what specific tennis shoes you have? Been preparing for a long term trip to Asia and your tips are great. Thanks!
I think those ones are sketcher all trails.
O M G SUPER GOOD VID 🤩 you’re my hero... I wish I could pack that little. I’m working on it lol
You can do it! :)
Thanks for this packing update! This was “packed” 🤓🤦♀️with great info!
haha...glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching and commenting. 🤙
I think the blue wallet is also Nomatic? What is the make of your black one you have there? I really like the loop for adding keys. Really like your work. Keep it coming.
The black one I got at walmart I think. Just really simple with a belt clip. I added a small carabiner (that's the loop)
Most Asian airlines will weigh your carry-on as alot require you to get a airline issue boarding pass.Australian and Asian budget airlines count maxium 7 kilo/15lbs to include personal item bag.(Scoot u get 10ki/22lbs.
The hack of pillow(full of clothes), jacket/vest( pocket full of heavy electronics). Bum bag(under longer shirt & not looked upon as a personal item hemps spread weight to cone under 7kg/15lbs.
European budget airlines allow small personal item as heavy under the seat but charge for carryon bag at 7-10kg/15-22lbs. The charges can be double your ticket.
Those are great tips. But I will say, I have been traveling full time since 2019, with about 2 and a half years in Asia and I’ve only been asked to weigh my backpack once. It’s so low profile, no one ever asks.
Great video! As a hiking backpacker I want to travel backpack in the future and I can attest to Merino Wool being a magical material. My feet are the coolest and least sweaty part of me while hiking in the summer, even though they're encased in two layers of Merino wool.
Yep, people always think Im crazy until they try it. It's such a great material.
Hey Kevin, are those shorts the chubbies casual or swim shorts? They look pretty comfy.
chubbies casual i think..they are like sweat pants material so definitely not swim shorts
@@30AndAWakeUp thanks kevin
Thanks for this video and all of your videos. QUESTION? - you did another packing video and you highly recommended the Osprey Backpack. Now you are recommending Nomatic. Why the switch?
I love both of them. The Osprey is a 30 liter and i wanted to try to travel with a smaller backpack. I couldn't find one that worked with Osprey. So I got a 20L nomatic that's expandable to 30 liter if needed. I still own my Osprey 30 and love it. I just wanted to use something smalller.
I love the nomatic style and I have one like you, but the zipper not good, it broken
I haven't had an issue but I'll look out for that.
I can never pack light enough. I need a medium sized luggage (to be checked in) plus a carryon. If you’re staying for 30 days, it’s not like you’re staying overnight or doing a lot of layovers where a backpack or carryon works better. Since you don’t pack much clothes, you need to do laundry frequently or send it out.
I have a weeks worth of clothes plus it's all merino wool. So I do laundry maybe once every 10 days so but could do it less if I wanted.
Check into ultralight backpacking. You’ll be surprised how light and compact you can go and still be fully functional.
I'll check them out...only issue is they usually dont protect my electronics well.
This is my first viewing of your channel. I have now subscribed. I am headed to the Philippines from Australia in June, for a few weeks of travel. I just purchased an American Tourister - Aston (Samsonite's other brand!), as my carry on/check in bag. It has many of the features of your featured bag and some more, currently costing Australian $99 on sale.
I will follow many of your useful tips. I find Merino expensive so I am sticking with my Lowes brand cotton\polyester v-neck t-shirts at $12.95 each. I am a bit heavier in weight than you and these t-shirts are offered in larger sizes up to 7XL.
I always use the light plastic poncho against rain and layer clothing to create warmth if needed. I do like to carry more toiletries such as a Nutrimetics brand charcoal soap bar. It is good for all over bathing, compact and lasts a month. I agree a long charging cable for electronics with multi plug head options is a must for airport charges and cheap hotels where power sockets are few. I have travelled in south-east Asia over the last 14 years and have found prickly heat powder is a must after showering to stop sweat and rashes from tropical humidity. I will enjoy your channel I am sure. Darren.
Very cool! Sounds like a fun trip and that's a good bag as well. A buddy of mine has that one. I know the merino sounds expensive but the shirts you see in that video are over 3 years old and still look new -- so the outlast cotton if you take care of them. I switched to the light plastic poncho as well.
Great video. I like the colorful clothing- nice change from your go-to black 🖤.
haha....im trying to get used to it! :)
👍🎯⭐️Terrific video, tips & hacks. I’m gonna get that bag (or one like it). I really like the idea of having a couple sets of 3 items (debit card, credit card & ID) in different places. Thanks for sharing. Wishing you safe travels. 🙏💝🤗🌈☀️🦋
Yeah, I get tons of peace of mind having those 3 sets. Thanks for watching and commenting. 🤙
Great tips heading to Germany in July, aiming for one bag. And, again, that Merino wool rocks, I think I've got three shirts on your discount code. Had not thought to wear long over short for warmth on the flight: aces!
Very cool..yeah I love the stuff! Thanks for watching and commenting. 🤙
I’m the same way I heard so many things about nomadic and finally decided that looked pretty good I went with the messenger bag but I do like that backpack and who knows down the road I might get it thanks for the video
Yeah, it's a solid bag.
Are you leaving soon? I have missed some of your shows. Have a very safe trip to Asia!! I can't wait to see your place in Thailand. God Bless.
I'll head to Thailand in another month.
I'm surprised you don't do the army roll on your clothes. Do you find that rolling doesn't really get you that much more space or is there some other reason (like wrinkling)? This was a really great video with tons of useful nuggets for traveling - thanks!
I have a video on how to do the Ranger Roll! I do often but found it unnecessary in this bag.
Great video, thank for that! I love traveling and I'm learning English. I subscribe because of your content and because of education reasons too. Win-Win (:
Thanks for stopping by! :)
Waiola shave ice? Also, Zippy's has good Korean Fried Chicken (the Alley cafe in Aiea bowling alley has a great combo plate with KFC and Kalbi, but it's harder to get to without a car).
Thanks for the tip!
I use a similar wallet system. Are all 3 debit cards separate accounts and what company/s do you use for international travel debit accounts? Would love to see a more in depth video on what is in your electronics bag and what you bring for camera gear these days.
I use Charles Schwab for my main debit. Then USAA and Navy Federal for my back ups. I'll do an update vid on the camera equipment I use.
Always amazed by how little you travel with. What a dream to live a life without pants and socks. 😊❤️😎
Funny enough. I think I’m traveling with way too much! Ha!
Have you tried pulling out your laptop and tech bag when getting weighed for Jetstar? They're the only ones I've seen who explicitly set the limit at 7kg total (no "personal item"). Great to hear it's worked up till now though!
I haven't but now Im going to avoid them!
It might be overkill but would work for me too! Those 3 things are so important! Looks like a great bag!
Yeah, I have way to much right now but still get it all in one backpack! :)
@@30AndAWakeUp thank you for the tips of traveling light though! I like that you're adding color to your wardrobe! I'm a huge fan of colors. Plus, the red shirt looks good on you!🤷♀️
@@SabrinaDawn444 haha..thank you!!!
@@30AndAWakeUp you're welcome..lol
Great video! The multiple cards/IDs is genius, definitely stealing this idea! 2 years out of a backpack (especially for a woman) seems crazy lol, could you not have the backpack AND a roll on? or would that not be allowed in internal Asian flights?
You could but there is a good chance they'll make you check.
Hi, thanks for packing tips. I really like the triple ID/credit card backup plan and the Electronic pouch. Don’t you need to bring sunscreen?
I always buy in the airport when I land.
Thanks Kevin! Great video! Lots of good ideas.
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching and commenting. 🤙
Pet peeve, to travel with people that check luggage and overpack! One backpack and Travel purse is all I need. And sometimes that’s too much
Agree!!!
Lots of tips here I'll be implementing.
Great video!
Glad it was helpful. Thanks for watching and commenting, Lisa.
Great video and extremely helpful. Stay safe out there and thanks for the info!
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching and commenting. 🤙
Loved the video. Can I ask where you got the electronics pouch/bag. Looks perfect for me.
believe it or not...i got it in walmart for like 10 bucks!
Hi Kevin, I've been enjoying your videos the last several months. I appreciate all the valuable information. I retire at 62 this month and plan to land in Portugal on the D7 resident Visa within the year. Once on my way to citizenship there, I plan to slow-travel the world starting with Europe. It's quite encouraging to know that I can add to my savings/investments every month while traveling in many parts of Asia and South America. It's amazing how much you manage to get in that bag. It seems perfect for what I'll need. Are the 3 sets of debit/credit cards linked to separarate accounts? Keep up the good work, Sir. Best to you, Glenn.
Yeah, they are all separate accounts. Good luck to you Glenn.
Great video. Lots of good tips.
Unbelievable how much you can pack.
I would buy the bags if they were not so expensive, just to test if I could do it with my favorite clothes.
Yeah, there are definitely cheaper options out there.