How Much Stuff Do You Need to Travel Around the World?

Anyone who has traveled has likely heard it a million times: it pays to pack light. By traveling with just a carryon, you'll avoid extra luggage fees, eliminate the risk or having your luggage lost by the airline, and your travels will be easier as you won't have to lug around large bags or arrive at the airport early (and be the last person waiting) to check your bag.

On a two week trip, traveling with just a carryon isn't that daunting of a prospect. But stretch that trip out to a few months or a year and suddenly it seems an impossible task to live with nothing but what you can carry on your back.

When planning your RTW trip and deciding what to pack and what to leave, the important thing to remember is that a year long trip is really nothing more than a series of one or two week trips, all strung together.

Therein lies the beauty of a RTW trip. Yes, a year is a long time, but you don't need to pack for an entire year. You only need to pack for a few days, one you realize that you can do laundry every few days and you can buy most of what you'll need on the road. Packing lightly seems a lot easier when you plan to wash your clothes every few days. Even accounting for changes in climate and the gear you'll need for various activities, you can still pack for a few day trip in a single bag.

You just need to get out of the "vacation" mentality. On an RTW trip, you have the time to wash your clothes every few days, as you won't be rushing from place to place each day. Since you have more time in each place, taking an hour or two to do laundry doesn't feel like as much of a time sacrifice as it does on a more rushed trip. You'll also get many of the aforementioned benefits out of going with just a carryon. Some quotes on RTW tickets include luggage fees, while others don't. So you know you won't get hit with surprise fees like you might with checked bags. And after a few months on the road, you'll appreciate the fact that you aren't lugging around a giant bulky bag, especially when running to make trains, climbing up a dozen flights of stairs to your hostel, or worrying about your belongings on an overnight bus.

Traveling light on an extended trip may seem difficult, but it's much easier, and much more beneficial than you might expect.

Photo by fortherock

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