I took a missions trip to Mexico when I was 15. We were allowed our normal highschool backpack and a large cardboard box full of work clothes ( we were building houses). After 2 weeks I came home with my backback, everything else left, donated. At 17, another trip, this time only my school backpack and a small crossbody purse. This is still how I travel, 30 years later. Im deeply impressed with your style, choices for travel. For me however, I prefer to have a few changes of clothes, etc. Having a 25 liter backpack, and a small crossbody isnt restrictive at all. I do agree with all your points, those fitting for people who haul a 50-70 liter backpacks, multiple bags, or huge 28 inch rolling luggages around. However, I respect everyone's choices of how to travel and what they feel like is necessary for them, even if I think they're dragging themselves down with and ruining their travel experiences with massive, extremely heavy luggage.
Hi, Sierra, this episode shares such similarity with your first story all those years ago, here I am, unpacking a cardboard box, on a video that was partly filmed in Mexico! It’s fantastic to hear the unique details of others ultralight travels. Thanks for watching and sharing your experiences. It’s so freeing when you realise, not everything you need has to be brought, and not everything you use needs to be kept. These decisions always come down to compromise and balance, not anyone else’s criteria, just figuring out what will serve you and enhance your travels best. If someone wants a different outfit for each day of the week, or if someone wishes to refine relying on as little as they can, as long as they’ve given it thought and know exactly why they have what they do, then who’s to say otherwise. At one point, I unfortunately became a little critical of those travelling with suitcases, high-capacity backpacks and the overhead backpack-chest pack-combo. I learned how wrong I was, that everyone has their own needs. I agree, hopefully no-one ruins their trips, even when packing excessively, but taking less certainly will help. Thank you for the compliments, Sierra!
I am sooooo Interested in this bum bag series. Please make more!! Im lost at the moment..and doing something like this I feel is the perfect way to truly find yourself ❤
Breanda Crump, Thank you so much for your comments! I’m very pleased you like the series, your enthusiasm means a lot so thanks for sharing it! I am working on more episodes, in which I wish to cover as many details as possible whilst telling my story. You are right, the more we adventure in personal challenges, the more I feel we learn about ourselves.
Nice video, nice idea. I'd love to try this, but all the meds I need take up a bag larger than the 'bum bag'! And I'm a plus-size female, so my swimsuit takes a lot of space too.
nuvoclassic, thank you! It’s great to discover people’s different needs. I’m always learning how much conditions can differ for everybody. It’s likely others will see your comment and perhaps might discuss these topics more often. My main message is that we can achieve more by relying on less. By being less dependant on material goods, we can have a clearer mind, and by travelling lighter, we can physical experience and enjoy more. We all can travel with less in our own way. The things we need are unique to us, and therefor, we should value having them with us. If the items you need enable you to travel, then they should be celebrated! Our packing differences are exciting because they are a direct reflection of us. These items that you personally need still won’t occupy too much space and therefore it can be possible to travel with a minimal amount. Whatever works best for you! This doesn’t mean you need to travel with almost nothing or a tiny bag, but simply taking only the things you actually need. Thanks for sharing your personal circumstance and offering a new perspective!
Mobile Minimalist, it was great to see you document your trip! Cooler climates evidently require an extra layer or two, but the easy solution is that you will be wearing them. Thanks for the comment!
i travel lightly but this is extreme thinking....personally too much. i take a mosquito net for the obvious....i take a summer sleeping bag.... for the obvious.... and not so obvious..keeing off the chill of the air con on an indonesian night bus/boat... i hike in running shoes but travel in flip flops... a 30l bag does not slow me down... i walk from out of town bus stations... yes i dont disturb other travellers in a dorm. i pack up the night before or do it in the corridor..... i often wake up and am out the door in minutes.... having a backpack or not having a backpack u , me, everyone will still look like a tourist.. everyone knows what a local looks like and if u r not a local , u are a tourist..... and if u, not taking a big bag in a shared taxi, thinking it will give u extra room, the taxi driver will wanna fill up that extra room with more cargo or people...... and u can only go to hot countries.... or only old countries, cos u wear all the clothes all time... un less u dispose of all the heavy clothes when u depart.......cool video editing...
Trevor Warman, thanks for your comment! It’s great to hear from other travellers, especially those who already travel ultralight. I’m always interested to discuss these things and was intrigued to read what works for you. I fully understand travelling without a backpack isn’t for everyone, as we all have our individual needs and desires. My message is about adopting a minimalist mentality, more than the specifics of each item carried or not, and it sounds like you already have that! I completely agree that a 30 litre bag is small, whilst enabling you to carry the important things you want. So long as it’s never intrusive on your experience. When I talk in this video about the advantages, I’m contrasting my ease to the typical inconveniences of having a very large, heavy backpack. Not at all am I stating that it’s wrong to travel this way, but simply showing others how little we truly can live with ..if we want. In case you were curious and for the sake of discussion, here are my personal experiences related to your particular points. This is merely from a minimalist perspective, in which I scrutinise everything I carry. The things I don’t have are a result of realising I do not need them. Again, every trip, place and person is different and I respect that. Bedding: I’ve found that mosquito nets are often provided in places with excessive bugs. When they are not, I just keep under the sheets and set the fan to full. I also rely on the bedding supplied by the hostel/guesthouse. Clothing: When it’s cold or there’s air-con, I put on my shirt. It’s totally achievable to travel this way in cold climates too, you just need a good insulating layer, perhaps you will buy or borrow one there, if travelling from a hot climate first. If not, you can simply take one with you and wear it. One pair of footwear is sufficient for me, whether I travel in flip-flops or trainers, I just go with the one option and adapt. Packing: By not having a backpack, you go from being able to pack quickly to not having to pack at all. A small bag can still be packed with enough to become heavy or cumbersome. I get satisfaction from reducing valuables that you can loose or have stolen. Feeling detached from material possessions is a powerful sensation. Walking: Exploring with a backpack in hot climates can quickly give you a sweaty back and shoulders, as there’s something constantly pressed onto you. I know you can still do a lot of walking with a small backpack, but not having one at all makes those experiences even more enjoyable. It is utterly liberating. Attracting attention: To look like a tourist, really depends where you are in the world. In many countries, you could easily just as much be a local, or if not, an expat, but with a very large backpack, you will likely attract attention as a tourist. Transport: I really value having space between my legs when on any transport, especially a hot and humid bus without air-con. From my experience, this small space is mostly respected, even when on local transport delivering produce, to use your example. Whilst there are these exceptions, where you may have to put your legs on top of something, there’s always the potential to benefit from space that would not be there if you were to have a backpack, and for me, this is the case the vast majority of the time. Everything comes down to adaptability and my desire to go without, opposed to having things for occasional use. Thank you for starting the discussion. Thanks very much for watching and complimenting the editing! Take care, Benjamin
Sherri Robinson are you a minimalist traveler or interested in it? I wish there was a blog post, facebook group or something that listed all the extreme minimalist travellers in one place both male and female.
I'm am a minimalist but not a traveler yet. I do live in a travel trailer but am stationary due to caring for a sick family member. I want to downsize to a van or tiny trailer as soon as I can. I feel I need some sort of dwelling so my grandbaby has a place to stay with me when he comes to visit. I love this little guy so much. He is my heart and breath. I keep working to minimize my belongings further though everyone tells me I don't have anything else to get rid of. Thinking of minimizing to the point you have excites my soul. I want to own as little as possible and just live life. Thank you for taking time to reply.
I do love it especially after my sister fixed it up for me. It's 27 feet but I could go a whole lot smaller. I'm excited to see your next video. Your videos are just so creative and beautiful. Where are you traveling these days?
I'm only travelling interstate at the moment (Australia). Currently, a full time local housesitter but maybe in the future I could do it overseas. I love the idea of tiny dwellings
Gazza, Thanks for your question. I currently use savings and travel frugally. Travel doesn’t need to be expensive (of course this is relative to one’s economic background around the world). Over the years, I’ve had many low cost living options, for example; in Europe I have lived for long periods in a tent and also stayed with locals. In Australia, I have Couchsurfed and lived in a van. South/South East Asia can be amazingly cheap but when arriving in a new place, I still search for the cheapest accommodation. Not having a heavy bag gives you the freedom to do that. I have lived on a hostel roof and stayed with my girlfriends family in Brazil. For transport, I hike and have hitchhiked across countries in Europe and parts of Australia. I’ve also used rideshares and relocations in Australia to travel the remainder of the country. I limit flights, when I do fly I make connections by researching unconventional flight paths. I take the lowest cost flights to the countries with the cheapest onward flights, in order to eventually fly somewhere else. I base my trips around spending time in these countries first. I also don’t excessively consume or spend on unnecessary things. I’m happy to write more information if you’d like to know details about a specific place or anything I’ve said. Thank you for watching! Benjamin
![[LIVE] : ONE ลุมพินี 85 | คู่เอก "ยอดเหล็กเพชร vs ผึ้งหลวง"](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Qq_19bnnxEo/mqdefault.jpg)
I took a missions trip to Mexico when I was 15. We were allowed our normal highschool backpack and a large cardboard box full of work clothes ( we were building houses). After 2 weeks I came home with my backback, everything else left, donated. At 17, another trip, this time only my school backpack and a small crossbody purse. This is still how I travel, 30 years later. Im deeply impressed with your style, choices for travel. For me however, I prefer to have a few changes of clothes, etc. Having a 25 liter backpack, and a small crossbody isnt restrictive at all. I do agree with all your points, those fitting for people who haul a 50-70 liter backpacks, multiple bags, or huge 28 inch rolling luggages around. However, I respect everyone's choices of how to travel and what they feel like is necessary for them, even if I think they're dragging themselves down with and ruining their travel experiences with massive, extremely heavy luggage.
Hi, Sierra, this episode shares such similarity with your first story all those years ago, here I am, unpacking a cardboard box, on a video that was partly filmed in Mexico! It’s fantastic to hear the unique details of others ultralight travels. Thanks for watching and sharing your experiences.
It’s so freeing when you realise, not everything you need has to be brought, and not everything you use needs to be kept.
These decisions always come down to compromise and balance, not anyone else’s criteria, just figuring out what will serve you and enhance your travels best. If someone wants a different outfit for each day of the week, or if someone wishes to refine relying on as little as they can, as long as they’ve given it thought and know exactly why they have what they do, then who’s to say otherwise. At one point, I unfortunately became a little critical of those travelling with suitcases, high-capacity backpacks and the overhead backpack-chest pack-combo. I learned how wrong I was, that everyone has their own needs. I agree, hopefully no-one ruins their trips, even when packing excessively, but taking less certainly will help.
Thank you for the compliments, Sierra!
I am sooooo Interested in this bum bag series. Please make more!! Im lost at the moment..and doing something like this I feel is the perfect way to truly find yourself ❤
Breanda Crump, Thank you so much for your comments! I’m very pleased you like the series, your enthusiasm means a lot so thanks for sharing it! I am working on more episodes, in which I wish to cover as many details as possible whilst telling my story.
You are right, the more we adventure in personal challenges, the more I feel we learn about ourselves.
Nice video, nice idea. I'd love to try this, but all the meds I need take up a bag larger than the 'bum bag'! And I'm a plus-size female, so my swimsuit takes a lot of space too.
nuvoclassic, thank you!
It’s great to discover people’s different needs. I’m always learning how much conditions can differ for everybody.
It’s likely others will see your comment and perhaps might discuss these topics more often.
My main message is that we can achieve more by relying on less.
By being less dependant on material goods, we can have a clearer mind, and by travelling lighter, we can physical experience and enjoy more.
We all can travel with less in our own way. The things we need are unique to us, and therefor, we should value having them with us.
If the items you need enable you to travel, then they should be celebrated!
Our packing differences are exciting because they are a direct reflection of us.
These items that you personally need still won’t occupy too much space and therefore it can be possible to travel with a minimal amount. Whatever works best for you!
This doesn’t mean you need to travel with almost nothing or a tiny bag, but simply taking only the things you actually need.
Thanks for sharing your personal circumstance and offering a new perspective!
Thanks, I'm currently planning a no luggage trip to a cooler climate so will need a little more than you but hopefully no baggage.
Mobile Minimalist, it was great to see you document your trip! Cooler climates evidently require an extra layer or two, but the easy solution is that you will be wearing them. Thanks for the comment!
i travel lightly but this is extreme thinking....personally too much. i take a mosquito net for the obvious....i take a summer sleeping bag.... for the obvious.... and not so obvious..keeing off the chill of the air con on an indonesian night bus/boat... i hike in running shoes but travel in flip flops... a 30l bag does not slow me down... i walk from out of town bus stations... yes i dont disturb other travellers in a dorm. i pack up the night before or do it in the corridor..... i often wake up and am out the door in minutes.... having a backpack or not having a backpack u , me, everyone will still look like a tourist.. everyone knows what a local looks like and if u r not a local , u are a tourist..... and if u, not taking a big bag in a shared taxi, thinking it will give u extra room, the taxi driver will wanna fill up that extra room with more cargo or people...... and u can only go to hot countries.... or only old countries, cos u wear all the clothes all time... un less u dispose of all the heavy clothes when u depart.......cool video editing...
Trevor Warman, thanks for your comment! It’s great to hear from other travellers, especially those who already travel ultralight.
I’m always interested to discuss these things and was intrigued to read what works for you.
I fully understand travelling without a backpack isn’t for everyone, as we all have our individual needs and desires.
My message is about adopting a minimalist mentality, more than the specifics of each item carried or not, and it sounds like you already have that!
I completely agree that a 30 litre bag is small, whilst enabling you to carry the important things you want. So long as it’s never intrusive on your experience.
When I talk in this video about the advantages, I’m contrasting my ease to the typical inconveniences of having a very large, heavy backpack. Not at all am I stating that it’s wrong to travel this way, but simply showing others how little we truly can live with ..if we want.
In case you were curious and for the sake of discussion, here are my personal experiences related to your particular points.
This is merely from a minimalist perspective, in which I scrutinise everything I carry. The things I don’t have are a result of realising I do not need them. Again, every trip, place and person is different and I respect that.
Bedding: I’ve found that mosquito nets are often provided in places with excessive bugs. When they are not, I just keep under the sheets and set the fan to full.
I also rely on the bedding supplied by the hostel/guesthouse.
Clothing: When it’s cold or there’s air-con, I put on my shirt.
It’s totally achievable to travel this way in cold climates too, you just need a good insulating layer, perhaps you will buy or borrow one there, if travelling from a hot climate first. If not, you can simply take one with you and wear it.
One pair of footwear is sufficient for me, whether I travel in flip-flops or trainers, I just go with the one option and adapt.
Packing: By not having a backpack, you go from being able to pack quickly to not having to pack at all.
A small bag can still be packed with enough to become heavy or cumbersome.
I get satisfaction from reducing valuables that you can loose or have stolen. Feeling detached from material possessions is a powerful sensation.
Walking: Exploring with a backpack in hot climates can quickly give you a sweaty back and shoulders, as there’s something constantly pressed onto you.
I know you can still do a lot of walking with a small backpack, but not having one at all makes those experiences even more enjoyable. It is utterly liberating.
Attracting attention: To look like a tourist, really depends where you are in the world. In many countries, you could easily just as much be a local, or if not, an expat, but with a very large backpack, you will likely attract attention as a tourist.
Transport: I really value having space between my legs when on any transport, especially a hot and humid bus without air-con. From my experience, this small space is mostly respected, even when on local transport delivering produce, to use your example. Whilst there are these exceptions, where you may have to put your legs on top of something, there’s always the potential to benefit from space that would not be there if you were to have a backpack, and for me, this is the case the vast majority of the time.
Everything comes down to adaptability and my desire to go without, opposed to having things for occasional use.
Thank you for starting the discussion. Thanks very much for watching and complimenting the editing!
Take care, Benjamin
Love your videos! So inspiring! ❤ More please. Also could you do one on women traveling like you do? Thank you.
Sherri Robinson are you a minimalist traveler or interested in it? I wish there was a blog post, facebook group or something that listed all the extreme minimalist travellers in one place both male and female.
I'm am a minimalist but not a traveler yet. I do live in a travel trailer but am stationary due to caring for a sick family member. I want to downsize to a van or tiny trailer as soon as I can. I feel I need some sort of dwelling so my grandbaby has a place to stay with me when he comes to visit. I love this little guy so much. He is my heart and breath. I keep working to minimize my belongings further though everyone tells me I don't have anything else to get rid of. Thinking of minimizing to the point you have excites my soul. I want to own as little as possible and just live life. Thank you for taking time to reply.
Living in a travel trailer sounds exciting:)
I do love it especially after my sister fixed it up for me. It's 27 feet but I could go a whole lot smaller. I'm excited to see your next video. Your videos are just so creative and beautiful. Where are you traveling these days?
I'm only travelling interstate at the moment (Australia). Currently, a full time local housesitter but maybe in the future I could do it overseas. I love the idea of tiny dwellings
You deserve more views.
Another one!
A dogg yo, Thanks for watching!
Another great video, quality > quantity
Banded Sea Krait, Thanks very much! I’m delighted you like the episodes. Thank you for the brilliant compliment.
How do you fund all this travel?
Gazza, Thanks for your question.
I currently use savings and travel frugally.
Travel doesn’t need to be expensive (of course this is relative to one’s economic background around the world).
Over the years, I’ve had many low cost living options, for example; in Europe I have lived for long periods in a tent and also stayed with locals.
In Australia, I have Couchsurfed and lived in a van.
South/South East Asia can be amazingly cheap but when arriving in a new place, I still search for the cheapest accommodation. Not having a heavy bag gives you the freedom to do that.
I have lived on a hostel roof and stayed with my girlfriends family in Brazil.
For transport, I hike and have hitchhiked across countries in Europe and parts of Australia. I’ve also used rideshares and relocations in Australia to travel the remainder of the country.
I limit flights, when I do fly I make connections by researching unconventional flight paths.
I take the lowest cost flights to the countries with the cheapest onward flights, in order to eventually fly somewhere else. I base my trips around spending time in these countries first.
I also don’t excessively consume or spend on unnecessary things.
I’m happy to write more information if you’d like to know details about a specific place or anything I’ve said.
Thank you for watching! Benjamin
Sound English, look French 😆
Haha, I get that a lot!
lol wtf is this? an anti backpack brainwashing video from a zoolander movie?