Is packing light right for you?

In my book "A Guy's Guide to 1-Bag Packing: Minimalist Travel Secrets That Save You Time and Money" I share my enthusiasm for traveling with only a carry-on.  That's it, nothing else.  Not even an additional computer bag.  I've traveled back and forth across for Australia over the course of a month with just my carryon.  

But this way of traveling is not for everyone.  Here are some considerations to determine whether  1-bag travel might be right for you!

Fitness

The one-bag explorer needs to be reasonably fit. Carrying 30 to 40 pounds around a busy airport isn’t the stuff of elite athletes, but anyone with serious health problems might not be a candidate for minimalist travel.

Style

A clothes hound – someone who wants to arrive at his destination with multiple good-looking outfits – might find the sartorial demands of one-bag packing too limiting. The one-bag traveler needs to be as comfortable with his 3 or 4 clothing options as he is with his travel companions; you’re going to be spending a lot of time with these guys, you need to get along pretty well. 

All options open

Likewise, the guy who likes to keep all of his options open – packing downhill snow gear as well as casual beach wear - will find it difficult to follow the restrictions in this book.

Rich guys

The business traveler who tends to expense everything might not be as concerned about baggage check fees as the next guy.

Work+pleasure

The reader whose habits are most similar to mine will likely have the best experience with these recommendations. I tend to combine business travel with a bit of vacation time, so I pack snappy casual along with outdoor, hiking type clothing which doubles as hotel gym workout attire. I tend not to pack anything in between, like nice cotton shorts or casual unstructured blazers. I usually stay in 3 star hotels – nothing shabby, but not the types of places with lots of amenities. If you plan to camp out, or if you stay in 4 and 5 star hotels, your travel needs and expectations may be different from mine.

If you think you might be a 1-bag kind of traveler, check out my book at Amazon Kindle. And share your minimalist travel tips here at the blog!