The incredible Sony VAIO VGN-TXN27N laptop. This beauty is less than 2″ thick and weighs 2.8 lbs. If I add a few ounces of weight with the extended battery (on the right) and trick it out, I can get 15 hours of battery life. [Update: I now use a MacBook Air]
The name of the game in world travel is being “fashionably light.”
Practice in 30-plus countries has taught me that packing minimalism can be an art.
I returned from Costa Rica last Wednesday, and have since landed in Maui, where I’ll stay for one week. What did I pack and why? Check out the video…
I practice what I’ll label the BIT method of travel: Buy It There.
If you pack for every contingency — better bring the hiking books in case we go hiking, better bring an umbrella in case it rains, better bring dress shoes and slacks in case we go to a nice restaurant, etc. — carrying a mule-worthy load is inevitable. I’ve learned to instead allocate $50-200 per trip to a “settling fund,” which I use to buy needed items once they’re 100% needed. This includes cumbersome and hassle items like umbrellas and bottles of sunscreen that love to explode. Also, never buy if you can borrow. If you’re going on a bird watching trip in Costa Rica, you don’t need to bring binoculars — someone else will have them.
Here’s the Maui list, listed from top-to-bottom, left-to-right:
-1 featherweight Marmot Ion jacket (3 oz.!)
-1 breathable Coolibar long-sleeve shirt. This saved me in Panama.
-1 pair of polyester pants. Polyester is light, wrinkle-resistant, and dries quickly. Disco dancers and flashpackers dig it.
-1 Kensington laptop lock, also used to secure all bags to stationary objects.
-1 single Under Armour sock, used to store sunglasses
-2 nylon tanktops
-1 large MSR quick-dry microfiber towel, absorbs up to 7 times its weight in water
-1 Ziploc bag containing toothbrush, travel toothpaste, and disposable razor
-1 Fly Clear biometric travel card, which cuts down my airport wait time about 95%
-2 pairs of Exofficio lightweight underwear. Their tagline is “17 countries. 6 weeks. And one pair of underwear.” I think I’ll opt for two, considering they weigh about as much as a handful of Kleenex. One other nice side-effect of their weight: they’re much more comfortable than normal cotton underwear.
-2 pairs of shorts/swimsuits
-2 books: Lonely Planet Hawaii and The Entrepreneurial Imperative (the latter comes highly recommended. Check it out)
-1 sleeping mask and earplugs
-1 pair of Reef sandals. Best to get a pair with removable straps that go around the heel.
-1 Canon PowerShot SD300 digital camera with extra 2GB SD memory card. God, I love this camera more than words can describe. It is the best designed piece of electronics I have ever owned. I now use it not only for all of my photos and videos, but also as a replacement for my scanner. I’m considering testing the newer and cheaper SD1000.
-1 coffee harvesting hat to prevent my pale skin from burning off.
-1 Kiva keychain expandable duffel bag
-1 Chapstick, 1 Mag-Lite Solitaire flashlight, and 1 roll of athletic tape. The last is a lifesaver. It’s as useful as duct tape for repairing objects but gentle enough to use on injuries, which I am fond of inflicting on myself.
-1 Lewis and Clark flex lock (for luggage, lockers, zippers, or whatever I need to lock down/shut/together). Standard mini-padlocks are often too cumbersome to thread through holes on lockers, etc.
-1 Radio Shack kitchen timer, which I’ve been using to wake up for about five years. The problem with using a cell phone alarm to wake up is simple: the phone needs to be on, and even if you use vibrate, people can call and wake you up before you want to wake up. The second benefit to using a kitchen timer if that you know exactly how much sleep you are — or aren’t — getting, and you can experiment with things like caffeine power naps of different durations… but that’s another post 😉
What are your favorite must-pack items, multi-purpose tools, and lightweight winners?
###
How to Negotiate Convertibles and Luxury Treehouses… and Videos from Costa Rica:
The secret to getting what you want is first asking for what you want, then negotiating if you don’t get it. The first part is the most neglected.
Most people never learn to ask for something properly, so they always get push-back and end up negotiating. I cover dealmaking and negotiating exhaustively in The 4-Hour Workweek, as well as in the bonus chapter,“How to Get $700,000 in Advertising for $10,000.” Let’s look at how to win the fight before it starts.
I wanted this trip to Maui, my first to Hawai’i, to be an experience of personal firsts.
Here are a few: driving a convertible sports car on the Hana Highway, flying in a helicopter, sleeping in a full-size treehouse, and scuba diving the back wall of Molokini crater. I fulfilled all of them in the first 72 hours.
How I got a Mustang turbo convertible for $278 (gas included) instead of $542 (gas not included):
I bought my plane ticket to Maui about 24 hours before I left, so I landed in luau land with no reservations of any kind. There was only one rental company, so I had to get my convertible from them. Here are the pointers that got me from $542 to $278:
1. The first representative at the desk wouldn’t play ball with discounts, so I told her that I need to take a phone call outside, took a 5-minute walk, and came back to test another rep. Choosing the person on the other side of the table — just like choosing a slot machine vs. playing slots well — is more important than negotiating technique.
2. People who get what they want, just like good negotiators or PR folk, are good conversationalists. Here’s what I said:
“Hey, man. How goes it? I’m so excited to be here. [After giving him my license and info] If you have any discounts I can use — AAA, student, magic elf, or anything at all — I’d really, really appreciate it. I’m on a budget, so whatever you can do would be awesome.”
Notice that I’m asking for what I want without asking at all. The result: $278 with gas included instead of $542 without gas.
How I got a sold-out luxury treehouse for free:
This one is even better. It’s the high tourist season in Maui. It’s so popular to drive from Kahalui to Hana for coastline and waterfalls that my local helicopter pilot said: “Thinking of staying over in Hana? Forget about it. You’ll never get a room.”
Well, I had thought about it, and I wanted nothing more than to stay in one of the famous full-size treehouses in the rain forest. Doing this in the high season is something like showing up for the last game of the World Series and asking for box seats at the door. So I called the treehouse gods and here’s how it went down:
Me: “Hi. I’m really, really hoping that you have vacancies for tonight. Please say yes.”
Goddess of the Treehouses: “Nope. Totally booked.”
Me: “Oh, no. My dream is crushed. Are you sure? Do you have anything at all? Even a dilapidated and unsafe one? [I pause while she first takes me seriously, then laughs] Hmmm… Is there anything at all I can do?”
Goddess: [long pause] “Well… how about a work trade?”
Me: “Sounds like fun. What do you mean?”
Goddess: “Moving some dirt.”
Me: “For sure! I love it. How long would it take?” [Note: I actually do love hard manual labor. It demands full attention, and the repetitive motion is like repeating a mantra. Call me crazy.]
Goddess: “About an hour.”
We talk for another 20 minutes, and she decides that she would feel guilty if she forced me to shovel while on vacation. I was secretly disappointed, but no matter: she and I met up at the treehouse, and after a trip to a small alcove beach together and much conversation, my stay ended up being free. Not only that, but I was adopted by a wild dog — the cutest puppy you’ve ever seen — who then played companion for the entire time. Dig it.
Be a joker when you can, be pitiful when needed, and learn to get a laugh as you field test the most valuable skill in the world: asking for what you want. If all else fails in Hawai’i, just tell them “Kama aina,” which means you’re a local. It should get you an automatic 15-20% off in most places. Don’t tell them I told you 😉
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Relax Like A Pro: 5 Steps to Hacking Your Sleep
The Art of Letting Bad Things Happen (and Weapons of Mass Distraction)
How to Outsource the Inbox and Never Check Email Again
How to Learn (But Not Master) Any Language in 1 Hour
Here are some clips from my recent trip to Costa Rica:
Comment Rules: Remember what Fonzie was like? Cool. That's how we're gonna be — cool. Critical is fine, but if you're rude, we'll delete your stuff. Please do not put your URL in the comment text and please use your PERSONAL name or initials and not your business name, as the latter comes off like spam. Have fun and thanks for adding to the conversation! (Thanks to Brian Oberkirch for the inspiration.)
Excellent! Appreciate the details and visuals! Love the personal videos as well. Thanx!
Just got my two pair of Exofficio lightweight underwear. The most comfortable underwear I've ever put on!! Thanks Tim!!
Tim, I'm in the midst of reading your book and will be passing it on to my 16 y.o. son soon. I just wanted to say you are a delight in that you are so open and approachable in your style of communicating with people who are interested in what you have to share. Your ability to laugh at yourself in certain situations, and make us ALL feel better about ourselves, is also much appreciated and rarely found in best-selling authors of any genre. I wish you continued blessings and success as you allow others to benefit from the lessons, experiences and trials you have encountered in your relatively few years in the world.
Jordan-128 My minimalist packing started 20 years ago when I spent 30 days in Italy working as a sous chef at an art school for professional artists in Umbria, with another week in Rome, and packed everything into a single carry on. Select two complimentary colors (I used b/w) and one accent color (red for me), then take no more than 3 tops and 3 bottoms, 3 pairs of microfiber undies (breathable/quick drying)…then follow the rest of Tim's list for "essentials" to take. You can buy anything else you really need after you arrive. After work I touring and socializing like mad w/the 24 Australian artists in residence (youngest was 27, oldest was 82…talk about a fun group of folks!), travelled throughout Umbria and points beyond geting in touch w/the locals where they live/work/play/eat/etc. (I even had Italian tourists asking me questions…in Italian, no less…about where to go/what to do, etc. Final note: I could have taken just 2 of the above clothing and still felt comfortable/well dressed/appropriately dressed, regarless of where I was and what I was doing. And you will definitely need the expanding duffle to lug home the gifts you'll bring back ^_^)
Dude, How can you pack such good choices in clothes etc yet pack one of the worst flashlights on earth. Ill donate this research for free since I did enjoy your book. Maglite Solitaire (Junk) – http://www.flashlightreviews.com/reviews/mag_sol.htm Arc AAA-P (Awesome) – http://www.flashlightreviews.com/reviews/arc_aaa-p.htm Go buy yourself an Arc and trust me, I fully anticipate you will blog about it, since it is so small, durable & good battery life yet bright. — John
Possible alternative to the Sony Vaio – Samsung Q1 Ultra Mobile PC – 7-inch screen, 1.7 lbs or any of the other Ultra Mobile PCs.
We use packing cubes to control the clutter when we travel. They are a great way to pack quickly and cleanly, especially with tech junk. Michael
Tim, It always looks like you are traveling alone….. I do understand how hard it is to find other people that have the means and time to travel. You should start a small travel club that consists of like 5-10 people that randomly travel. Someone can post a trip they want to take and the other people can come if they wish. It would be a blast! Luke Hoppel
Hubby David intro'd me to your site and has mentioned your site on ours as well. I loved your packing light ideas…gives me some ideas for holiday stocking stuffers for hubby. Me? Still struggling to get down to the needs vs. the might-needs…but now I'm down to 1 bag for a long weekend vice 2. LOL
Regarding cell phone alarms, they do work even when the phone is off. Nokia's do this, so try it!
Right on. Keep packing light. I was in La Fortuna in '98, same catarata. I met a lazy tourguide who, after a few cervezas, let me lead some turistas up to the waterfall via horseback without charging me his fee; a Delta stewardess, and a retired Isreali soldier. I'm sure that I did a better job than he could have done, we all had a blast! Have you met my friend Casey Fenton on your travels? It was amazing what he started while he was managing political campaigns up here in Alaska. Visiting the Montreal collective is on my todo list. My husband and I are leaving for BsAs on Saturday. We already have the apartment, Spanish lessons, and dinner at SaltShaker's home lined up. I know it's not the best time of year, but we're looking forward to the extreme change in climate. Would you recommend any local AR bloggers (AKA: locals in the know)? We are still waffling on whether to tour vineyards in Mendoza or Salta. I've enjoyed reading 4HWW. You outline the foundational motivations of our generation succinctly. Application of the Elimination and Automation steps is challenging and seems to be a life long challenge. toodle pip, RVW
Aloha! I live in Maui and work at the Hyatt front desk. I just finished reading your book and am a little disappointed that it is over because I was learning so much. Just wanted to say concerning negotiating at our hotel all one must do is ask nicely. Don't be pushy, but ask nicely. I am much more helpful to those who make me laugh or are genuinely nice. For those that come in and demand things and yell at me they will get the worst room on the first floor. Make my day pleasant and I'll make yours pleasant. Seems pretty fair to me. haha
Tim, love the BIT method and use it myself when I travel (which is rarely). If you're serious about the "Buy it there" method, why the heck would you travel with toothbrush, toothpaste, and disposable razor? Are you seriously traveling somewhere that you can't buy those things for five bucks at any corner store? ### Hi V! LOL… good point. I could, but I already have about a dozen sets, so I take the smallest toiletries with me. For me, the real trick is avoiding cumbersome/heavy/unwieldy "I might need this" items like excessive clothing and choosing BIT when needed. Tim
I've been following ultralight theory as applied to wilderness backpacking… check out these companies for really lightweight stuff. Packs: gossamergear.com ula-equipment.com Tents/Tarps: tarptent.com golite.com Clothing: golite.com Enjoy! Blake
Man, what kind of cellphone do you have? Even old model cellphones don't have stay turned on to get that alarm to work for you. You can check, ok. Set the alarm to a minute after the local time you have there, turn the phone off and wait for it to come to life with alarm bells ringing/beeping. This way you won't have to lug around that kitchen timer!
Well hello there. It was a joy to watch your video. You are devilishly handsome, which I'm sure helps in your quest for all things cheap and free. 🙂 Happy Travels!
Tim said that you can't leave your phone off and use it as an alarm. I've owned both Nokia and Sony Ericson handsets which have this functionality. At the given time the alarm goes off, even if the phone has been switched off all night. Guess you just need to check your model. On the ball with the borrowing stuff idea – my brother walked the Camino de Compostella, just using his phone when needed, and charging it using other people's chargers in the Refugios. Saved a lot of winding on his emergency hand cranked charger! Just recently there's been some research that relates evening phone use to poor sleep patterns – but that's a different matter… http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7199659.stm
Throw out the kitchen timer Tim, doesn't your mobile phone have "Offline" mode? Or "Flight Mode" maybe? It turns off the antenna so you won't get ANY calls or messages, leaving your phone alarm clock to do its job by itself 🙂
I am another person that likes to travel light — I always try to get away with nothing more than my travel backpack and my purse. My personal best (for which I STILL overpacked) was a two week trip to Canada for World Youth Day. I needed stuff to span hiking in a national forest, mowing yards and pruning trees for work-service, a banquet, camping outdoors, and being a roving reporter for 15 days without access to laundry. I still managed to do it with my travel backpack and a fannypack. In addition to clothes, I managed to take along a light sleepsack, a bivvy sack for rain, a hiking pole , first aid kit, towel, toiletries for showers and personal hygiene, some food items, a totally annoying device that was a precursor to a mini-computer, my digital camera, an inflatable pillow, a jacket, a rain poncho and a book. The pack was a little heavier than I'd like but I really squeezed in in there. It rained a lot and I wasn't quite prepared for that or the sheer nuisance of toting around my hiking boots when I wasn't wearing them, but I managed to survive just fine. OH — but one problem was I didn't pack sunscreen and never managed to be in a spot to buy it, so I do disagree about not packing some basic toiletries. This is the only way to travel.
Re: Notebook computers. Picked up an Asus Eee Pc in Bangkok this past November for 11,000 baht, under 400 bucks. Does everything a road warrior needs without the bullshit. Lot's of info on the net these days about it so I won't go into detail. Suffice to say that if any computer toting ne'er do well listed what they 'actually' do with their notebook, I doubt anyone needs more than this 2 pounder I'm tapping on right now. And at about 10/15 % the price of a Sony Tz/Tx or a Panasonic Toughbook, I'd wince if it was stolen or slipped off the deck of a sailboat into the drink, but I wouldn't cry.
I really like the BIT system. I find myself looking through things I've packed saying I would never bring this backpacking, because I would have to carry the extra weight. I see little difference between the Airport and the Yosemite Valley, 10lbs on your back is 10 lbs on your back. Lee Rodrigues, M.A.Ed. Teacher, Coach, Comic
JUST STUMBLED UPON YOU ON STUMBLE UPON. THIS IS INTERESTING TO SAY THE LEAST. WILL CONTINUE TO VIEW AND HOPE THE TRAVELS ARE FUN AND REFRESHING FOR YOU
HOW FUN. JUST ENCOUNTERED YOU IN STUMBLE UPON. KEEP UP THE GOOD TRAVELS AND I WILL CONTINUE TO CHECK IN
Tim, excellent book! Thank you! From reading your blog, I recall you mentioned a sleep aid that you prefer for use on long flights. What is that product? Thanks again.
Hi Tim, Love it all. I needed your packing tips for our first cruise last week. I am trying to find some time now to put into play some of your lifestyle tips…I read your book in August and love it. I have recommended it often and love the thinking mode it puts me in. Anything is possible! Your code is kinda goofy on this particular post – I am just using a regular PC and it is not showing links, just a lot of coding and symbols. Anyway, hugs to you – Tina
ps… Yhe eee PC from Asus is an awesome little notebook – love it. Tina
Hi Tim, I posted an entry here last night, but not sure where it went! Anyway, thanks for the packing tips- love them. Wish I would have had them last week when hubby and I went on first cruise. Crazy-ass packing. I couldn't have gotten it down to as light as above, but it sure would have helped. Oh well, next time! Love your thinking and living. I read your book in August and am looking forward to implementing several items you suggest (been in slight delay mode, have had some issues to address over the last several months, you can check out blog if you'd like to know more!). I have put my head in tune with many of your lifestyle suggestions – VA, travel, shortened workweek, etc. I have recommended your book to many and love your spin on the world. Keep going~ Also, the Eee PC (someone mentioned above) is super awesome for traveling. Light, small, email, office stuff, camera, inexpensive. Love it. Lastly, your code does show in your above entry rather than (video?) links. I am only using a regular PC. Thought you'd like to know. Take care! Hugs, Tina
Tim, what kind of pack do you use when you are traveling? I'm going to be in Cairo for a while, and will probably be doing quite a bit of traveling while I am there, any recommendations?
Actually I would add one to that … don't bring a laptop. Granted you won't have your nice configuration where you go but it sure saves a lot of hassle, worrying, and space. My question for you is:I just spent a month living in the UK for a class, which means we were confined to a hotel for the stay and had a greatly unfavorable conversion rate. I ended up packing 1 big duffel bag [with an extra collapsible bag inside], and my carry on bookbag [books etc]. Would you change your advice for those circumstances? The advice on getting places to stay for cheap was brilliant.
Tim, if you enjoy the SD300, you should check out the Canon TX1. I carried it in my pocket for 10 weeks and 3 continents this summer and was very pleased. It's just a little larger than the SD300, but still fits in your pocket and can shoot 720P HD video, great for posting on HD youtube sites like Vimeo.com.
Hi Tim, I generally negotiate most things like hotel upgrades, cell phone contracts etc(I am after all an Indian) but car rentals was something that I just didn't do. Thanks to your article I recently upgraded to a Mustang GT from a normal intermediate for no extra cost ! I more or less repeated your lines and it worked like a charm. Thanks & cheers !!
I've been to Japan this month and what really helped me was wearing that cafepress T-shirt with "I WANT TO TRAVEL THE WORLD" written on it.
The information you provide in your blog is really amazing; I am fascinated! I found it by mistake and I got stuck reading several sections. I first read the language decodification stuff which I plan to practice to speed up my learning of Norwegian 🙂 But I got also curious with the losing weight plan. I have myself that sort of routine during the weekdays, high protein and low-carb diet. Being a scientist a bit obsessed about evolution and adaptations I got to the conclusion that the healthiest diet for a human has to be something similar to what our ancestors ate some thousands of years ago. We are not adapted to deal with the amounts of carbohydrates and sugars the nowadays diet offer. Even the so-called “natural” items such as fruits have been domesticated and are much bigger and richer in sugars than their wild (ancestral) counterpart. I would like more info about the training plan, but luckily I am naturally equipped with an athletic build and I easily get in shape. However, I lack stamina. Tim, do you have any trick to improve this? I am more the fast and strong type and my endurance is really shameful, though I’ve always practiced sports (mainly soccer). Iron oral supplementation helps a bit… What do you know about it? Please help! 🙂 I also looked at the light-traveling packing. I am always seeking to optimize my load when traveling and I’ve learnt a lot (the hard way!). As a biologist in Colombia we often had excursions in the field and had to walk for many hours to the camp site. I learnt that, in the end of the day, you always wear the same clothes. You only need three different changes: the ones for traveling (clean) while on civilization, the dirty ones for fieldwork, and the clean and dry for sleeping. I also take a very compact towel (Speedo) which is a tip I learnt from people that practice dives. I doesn’t have to (and shouldn’t!) dry. You just wring it and keep it wet. It was funny the sock-glasses-case; I’ve done myself! It is comforting to me to see that I am not the only “eccentric” person 😀 I also like the approach of buying at the last minute only if absolutely needed 🙂 I decided that I prefer to miss something I didn’t bring that bringing something I didn’t need 😛 I struggle with my boyfriend when we travel. I always tell him that he seems the woman in the couple 😛 I don’t know how to get him to be more practical when packing! We are going to Kenya and Tanzania in the summer and he mentioned his intention of bringing a hard suitcase instead of a rucksack! I already told him that I will supervise while he packs and that he can forget about bringing three pair of shoes and other useless things! Tim, as you have traveled a lot, maybe you have been in Africa before and can give me some advice of what to bring and, most important, what to leave back home? The “dealing strategy” is also very interesting. I should try that! Very, very nice blog… thanks for it! I really enjoyed very much and I may be visiting you again 😉 Cheers!
those are good tips for traveling. if you don't travel light you will definitely regret it. i also saw a lot of good traveling tips on a web site called www.travelingbug.org
I am able to pack for a 2-week vacation using one carryon plus my purse (okay, it's not my purse but what does the airline know?). Even so I still pack way too much stuff and have to ask my husband to lift the bag into the overhead bin on an airplane. My goal is to reduce it again by half. One of the tricks I've started to use is to pack one reversible skirt. I have a couple that are wrinkle-free and terrific for travel. Thanks for the awesome tips! I swear I'll stop packing so many panties!
While I am able to pack in one carry-on and a "purse" for a 2-week vacation, I am inspired to do better! My carry-on is too heavy for me to lift in the overhead so I have to rely on my husband. Next time, I'm cutting it in half. I discovered several lightweight non-wrinkling reversible skirts by CAbi – Carol Anderson by Invitation on eBay and plan to take one along. I also use his BIT (Buy It There) method, especially since the airlines want "liquid" products in a ziploc bag.
An alternative to the Coolibar shirts are the Rail Riders. I have the Eco Mesh and used it last on a Pyrenees summer hike. It worked really well in those high altitude but bright and hot sunny days. Instead of the Maglite, I have a Petzl e+Lite which, at 45g, can be strapped around your head or clipped to an object, has 2 different white leds, a strobe mode, and a red led. For those that'll complain about the lack of availability of the batteries, it's led so lasts a hell of a long time and carrying around spares weighs nothing. Besides being so light and small, the design of this thing is magnificent. On the alarm, besides the cell phone option, I use a Casio wristwatch which has an alarm.
Thanks for this post, I'm just getting ready to take off on my own trip… the 4HWW way!! Yeah! Definitely taking notes on what to pack, etc. Another good travel site is http://onebag.com. Very cool, thanks! Lauren
Your Youtube video appears to be gone, I'd appreciate it if you could update it! Thanks, -Union
I don't know what phone you have, Tim, but I have a crappy old Motorola that rings the alarm even when it's off… Great tips! I won't drag the timer along, though. 😉
Have you heard of soultravelers3.com, a family of 3 (with a cute daughter who plays the violin) who sold all their stuff and have been traveling the world for 2 years, on $25,000 a year? Here's their video (featured on YouTube): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wn9rDTZj-m4 ~ Elizabeth
Hi Tim! 🙂 I have 2 VERY pressing issues with light packing that I hope you or anyone else who has ideas could address: 1. What do you use to pack all of this in? A packpack that you carry-on? Messenger bag? What if you have an extended trip, do you bring more clothes? Keep washin the same clothes? It sounds like you use swimming shorts for regular shorts then? 2. How can the business traveler who is accustomed to wearing suits/ties/several pairs of shoes use these principals? Thanks in advance! 🙂 Luke Krogh
I am new to the backpacker experience but my wife and I are leaving on a year long backpacking excursion in at the end of September. Many of the site I have been reading appear to be uncomfortable recommending (and linking) to specific products. Are afraid that I will be offended if they make some money on the click through? Needless to say, thank you for the great packing advice. My wife (Natalie) is a pro at asking for what she wants and negotiating with people until she gets it. I am a bit more reserved but I am certainly improving. Thanks for the great negotiating tips. I will put them into practice.
Introducing Justin's wife – Natalie: "Getting what I want? Well…Alright! That works." Tim, I am continually impressed with you and how you choose to live life. Thanks for inspiring us with your spirit of adventure. Feel free to check out our planning process and offer comments or suggestions. We would love to hear from anyone. Except for those computer robots. Not those guys so much.
Oh, I am not tech savy. Sorry, I forgot to share our website with everyone. [URL removed per comment rules and in URL field] Thanks for giving me some grace. (cute smile accompanied with comment).
how do you charge your camera while abroad? Do you use disposable batteries?
Thanks for the travel tips and more importantly, the book! Awesome…and i'm a business/life book/program affectionado…for what ever that is worth If I may add one of my personal favorites… Kooga rugby shorts are made from synthetic material making them breathe and stretch(a bit) and are practically indestructable. They dry very quickly and can roll into the smallest of corners of you purse..if you're into that 😉 http://www.teamkooga.com/rugbyshorts.html Keep up the good work and come down for a jaunt when you are ready. I think that you call LA home some of the time. I'm on Venice Beach and it's easy like sunday morning. Cheers, AD
Thanks Tim! I just bought four hour work week, it's an awesome book! I'm going to be buying 8 copies for my brothers and sisters at Christmas! I love the fact that you see your goal and you "allow" yourself to achieve it. Most people don't get there because they believe the "haters" who say "there's no way you can do that", when they really mean "I don't think there's any way I could do that"! I made a Mind Movie where I said "I swim every day", watched it before going to sleep and when I woke up (instead of TV!) and three days later I got a call from my secret shopper company to check out a top NY gym chain and get a 90 day free membership. Not only do I "get to" swim every day (for free), I GET PAID TO GO TO THE GYM!!!! In January I made a company that does automatic rent collection for landlords and property managers (DIRECT DEBIT with Automatic Lease), any suggestions on getting them to try it? I know I'm asking for free advice from someone who gets paid thousands of dollars as a consultant, but the worst thing you could say is nothing. Again, thanks for The Four Hour Work Week, it has changed my life! Tim Seitz
For those looking for the coffee-harvester-type hat, I didn't find one at cafebritt.com, but if you're looking for them online, try searching on "bucket hat" or "fishing hat". Seems Gilligan was hip: http://www.villagehatshop.com/media/denver-bucket-hat.jpg He also definitely "escape[d] 9-5", and "live[d] anywhere" 😉 Bob
Just got back from Costa Rica. Packed light, almost exactly what you recommended. Couldn't have been happier with the decision to leave the extra junk at home. Thanks! Scarab
My wife & I are going to Rome this weekend. I'm going to be wearing a decent smart pair of jeans, British Army assault boots, a random T-shirt I got from startupshwag.com & my Berghaus waterproof breathable jacket. I'll have my camera, iPod & a paperback in my pockets along with my credit cards (in the inside pocket, zipped up), and the only luggage I'll take is 2 pair of briefs & socks in a drawstring gym bag of the sort Bruce Lee had in "Enter the Dragon" 😉 – *seriously* minimalist. But then, I'm only going for 2.5 days & I want to avoid hassle at check-in & customs.
Tim, I'm going on a mini-retirement to the Middle East soon and was wondering – what is the best free travel blog and picture hosting site to post on for people who are going to be out of the states? Any Ideas?
So, you're living my dream! You just got back from Costa Rica and now you're headed to Maui!? How do I get on that bus???!!! I really appreciated reading your packing list…lots of new ideas to check out. I'm an aspiring world traveler myself…but getting off to a slow start 🙂 If you want to check out my travel blog I'd love to hear what you think of it! Thanks again!
Forgot to give you the website address! www.thegettheregirls.com (you can take the link out for the comment 🙂
What did you pack all of this in? You did not list the bag/backpack/suitcase everything was put into.
Big fan of all the lifestyle tips and travel ideas. Not sure if you have thought much about this but a major pain for travelers who take cell phones, cameras, gps systems, ipods, and such with them is bringing along all of the chargers for these devices to make sure they have power. It adds a lot of weight and volume. There are some cool solar powered batteries that solve this problem by serving as a single charging platform for all these kinds of devices. They can also recharge from the Sun so you can have power anywhere on the planet. Pretty cool. One that I know of that's pretty good is called Solio and also another called SunCell is from www.ecopowerlife.com Enjoy reading all of your posts…….
I wish i read this article before I traveled the world 🙂
Hi Tim, I was wondering how you used a laptop lock to lock your luggage, but I think I just figured it out – you were combining it with the padlock. Would like to see your thoughts on good backpacks as well. Thanks! Brian
I would suggest ripping out pages of the lonely planet or travel book and throwing them out as you go. As a lightweight backpacker- watch the ounces and the pounds will take care of themselves. As for the convertible and treehouse- this is just general shmooozing and personal skills- this might work 1% of the time. Identifying who these will work best on is the key- just like trying to pick the right girl to talk to at a bar. As always it is a numbers game- if many rental car places are side by side- try them all- theres got to be that employee that loves you and hates their employer- this is when you get the hook-up! Cheers!
Tim, I haven't seen packing skills like that since being on tour with a drum and bugle corps. Well….it is hard to reduce the size of a musical instrument, but minimal is the word of the day when transporting 150+ musicians across the country for three months.
Being something of a big traveler myself, both for professional reasons and personal choices, it was a matter of survival to learn how to get rid of excess weight when packing ^_^ But it is not a reason for me to drop all my feminine side for the sake of saving weight, therefore I have a few tricks to go around this issue! When buying a new face cream or just visiting a beauty shop, I usually ask for a couple of samples from the same cream "because, you know, I travel a lot" Same for perfume, and sometimes even make-up (lipsticks, mascara, eye shadows samples are very useful) Concerning shampoos & conditioners which usually come in huge bottles, if I travel for work I usually stay in hotel where they are provided. I don't care about using hotel shampoo, but conditioner quality can be a problem because I have really long hair and don't want to damage them (yes I'm a girl…) Therefore I usually pack a small quantity of hair mask (way better than conditioner anyway and you can use it after each shampoo) in small plastic containers – easier to store than a big one – and I also pack a hair serum to protect from split ends, and they usually come in small bottles too. This mix helped me saved my hair even when traveling in secluded areas where it was exposed to sun, heat, sea water etc… (hey, I still want to look good on my travel pictures!!) If I travel for holidays, I apply the BIT theory: I buy shampoo and soap upon arrival, and leave the bottles behind me each time I change accommodations, since they are only a couple of dollars anyway. Keeping things in order in a backpack can really be a pain especially when you tend to change location very often. Each time you try to grab something inside and pull it out, the rest of your stuff comes out as well and all the packing needs to be done again, and if not done properly you can loose a lot of space too (for me, as a petite figure, my bag's weight AND volume are important) Therefore I'm applying a simple & cheap solution to avoid this, by using ziplock bags. I pack a maximum of 2 Tshirts in one ziplock bag, close them while pushing a maximum of air out so I save the maximum space. I do the same with all my clothes, electronic equipments & cables, papers, toiletries etc… Then I just have to put everything in my back pack. Therefore, when I pull something out, the ziplocks glide/slide on each other smoothly and everything stays in place. It also keeps my stuff same from humidity or water (I had my bag once dropped from a boat and everything was saved thanks to that!!) When I arrive in a place where I stay longer then I open all the Ziplocks to let my stuff breathe if packed it in a humid area. Ziplocks come in all sort of size and colors, are very resistant, sometimes they even have this little plastic handle to close the bag easily, and they really saved me from the nervous breakdown of packing and unpacking all the time 🙂
Hey I travel all the time too, and being from Northern Europe I tend to sweat too much in the tropics. So backpacks used to be a big nono for me.. until I discovered German made Deuter backpacks. I have a Deuter Futura 55 and its amazing. Not only it will fit a whole universe inside even though its not that big, it will keep your back from sweating. Its also water-, fire- and whatever proof. In addition its great cause it rests on your hips – so you wont get that tired even when you have to walk a long way. Enjoy Maui. Im heading to Central America myself soon.
Hey All, On traveling light, I'm a woman with the same philosophy. I just came back from 2 weeks in Thailand. Though 2 weeks is a short time, I visited Chiang Mai, Phuket and Bangkok, roughly 3 diff types of places that might have required 3 diff wardrobes/sets of "stuff". I love taking a small carry-on, not into backpacks myself (though I did backpack (only back, not back/hip pack) last year on Palawan in the Philippines), and buying what I need along the way. Why haul around shampoo and conditioner and every possible thing you might need? And funny thing is, people are so surprised when they learn that I can travel like that because they perceive me to be some kinda glamour-puss. It's possibly ladies to maintain some of your glam and still travel light! Fun blog!
Anyone know where to get the reef flip-flops with removable heel straps? I'd love them for backpacking campsite shoes. Mahalo.
hi tim! great article, and great arms!
First of all I thank you for such a very well done, wonderful book–I listened to the CD version and laughed my head off at several parts. I'm sure I looked like a wacko on my Metro commutes. 🙂 Take your time on the wife thing, if ever. You're too young! My hubby and I were married for 13 years before having kids and had the time of our lives with our version of the dream life. We both learned 4 languages each, we've crossed the Grand Canyon twice, hiked the Milford Track in New Zealand and kayaked some, hiked 4 days to Macchu Picchu, gone on ultralight planes, swam with whale sharks in Mexico, seen pyramids and ruins, gone on Galapagos, Egyptian and European cruises, snorkeled all over the Pacific including with jellyfish in Palau, seen a lot of Europe, some of Australia, Asia, Latin & South America and went to Easter Island with baby in utero. So now that we're hunkering down a little bit due to baby, we have no regrets since we've done so much. To add to your excellent list (we've traveled just like that for several years–2 flash dry underwear, lightweight towel, quick dry shirts and shorts and just 1 carry on per person–we were always the first ones out of the airport–SWEET!), I'd like to add my modifications as a female traveler and a new mom (16 month old baby). Personal favorites: 1) Athleta carries excellent, light, quick dry clothing that hold up well to sports but still look very fashionable. Skorts are a must for looking feminine but be fully covered for hiking and steep pyramid steps–you know what I mean, ladies! 😛 Just a note, a slightly longer length will serve you well in a lot of countries, as well as tankini tops and swim skirts for swimming:-) 2) Fresh & Go toothbrush is simple to use 3) Marsona sound machine for drowning out unfamiliar noises is a must (regularly use with baby at home too so when they hear the sound they know it's sleep time!)–this has been a life saver for us on many trips, and we now use regularly at home for better sleep. No more changing hotels mid-trip to avoid noise. AND, I know, travel light, but with baby a lot of things are non-negotiable, these help the way for smoother sailing: 1) Peanut shell sling in black fleece–it's more comfy than the cotton and you can pop baby in and out wherever you are, from birth to 35 lbs. I never take mine off, it's part of my outfit. 2) Peapod plus portable tent–this is baby's main bed at home and travel so baby has the same sleep place everywhere we go, and the flaps give all travel parties privacy–great from small babies to 5 years old. I can still jam this onto a little wheeled carry on and pack mine and baby's minimal clothing around it 3) Go Go Kidz TravelMate (great for wheeling car seat up to the gate for gate check or use on plane) 4) Britax Diplomat car seat is small but kids can use it from birth to approx. 4 years old. Make sure the wheeled carry on bag you get is one size smaller than the allowed carry on size so you don't get bumped to check the bag in if the plane is full. You can always nicely argue/reason/bat your eyelashes that you will put the bag in your foot space. Also, very helpful to give baby something to sip or munch on during take off and landing so yours isn't the baby screaming from ear pain. Happy Travels!
A great travel post about packing light for your travels. See Tim's book The 4-Hour Workweek for instruction on how to design your life so that you can travel like this.
Ahhh light – is for sure the way to go… My lightest trip was a decade ago 2 months in India: (1) One change of clothes (wash and hang what I wore the night before and hence always clean) (2) bar of soap (for clothing and body) (3) one pair of sandals (4) one set of watercolors (5) one notebook (6) one pen (7) one sleepsheet (8) deoderant, tootbrush toopaste …and no camera – at the time wanted to experience, feel and flow through the world without always looking through a glass lens – I've evolved since then…but no regrets as I have memories firmly embedded in my psyche…. 3 pounds, nothing to worry about, hop on any bus spontaneously any time any place. HMK
Hi all, I'm a 19 year old from Australia just about to join the workforce. Since reading your book I have rethought taking up a graduate position and decided to travel instead. What's the point of rushing into the rat race eh? Tim, your book was recommended to me by a friend who took a great interest in the outsourcing aspect of your book. After I had finished the book, I was more excited about the travelling and vagabonding stories and recommendations. To think that you have outsourced all menial tasks in your life is amazing. Your e-mail automation was definitely an eye opener to somebody like me who naturally checks e-mail on a daily (and sometimes hourly) basis. I would like to ask one specific question however; you mention that travel is often much cheaper than originally anticipated. Is anybody aware of any Australian websites that offer the disgustingly good deals that were mentioned in Tim's book? Once again, great work with the book and good luck with the Tango dancing 😉
Well I'll keep an eye too, I'm heading for Australia on May 12th for an extended trip, all with a very light backpack 🙂 And if needed, I'd be happy to give a hand to a newborn start-up, while I'm around!!
Minimalist packing is the only way to go! I'm a recovering over-packer (after being raised to be 100% prepared for everything imaginable), and had no idea of how much I was missing by bogging myself down with luggage, and how many more opportunities a 1-backpack journey could hold. My husband converted me to the school of packing lightly, and we took a 3 week trip to Costa Rica last spring during which I carried my lightest travel load to date–not quite down to 10 lbs yet, though 🙂 One thing I was really glad we packed was our First Need water filter and Nalgene water bottles. For one, it really cut down on costs of purchasing bottled water everywhere, and it enabled us to travel to wherever, regardless of water potability, and not have to worry about a grocery store being within walking distance in case we ran out of H2O. It's worth the extra weight, as little as that is. 🙂 Oh yeah, and a lightweight first aid kit is always a must. Thanks for the great blog! It inspires some good comments and extra tips from readers, too… getting some good ideas for my next trip!
Check out the new dell mini 12. Big glossy Screen, web cam, about 1 inch thick., well under 3 lbs great battery life less than $500 decked out with extended battery.
Oz-based start-up eh Tim? Tell me more 😉 I'm thinking of heading down to South Africa next year for the 2010 soccer world cup. All the best. George
This post was particularly energizing. When you mentioned traveling Europe it immediately made me think… I'd love to hear from anyone about their experiences applying these principles on a trip to Europe.
Hey Tim, What king of bag/suitcase are you using to pack all this? Thanks, Kasey
Hey Tim, This post makes me want to travel a lot more. 🙂 If you evercome back to Panama again, just drop me off a quick email, Ill be glad to show you around. lianga9@hotmail.com You also gained a group of followers down here in Latin America so youre more than welcome.. Te esperamos por aca, Lian
Dude, it is kind of embarrassing to admit this but just reading your blog and watching your videos is giving me a freaking peak experience, and I'm talking huge neurotransmitter release! Omg man, you are amazing, you are opening my eyes to how I should approach the life better than any self-help book I have read so far. I'm going to read your book ASAP. What you are doing is revolutionary. I loved the packing video, I've dreamed for years of one day traveling with virtually no luggage and turning the world into my playground 😛
Petzl E+Lite is the only flashlight/headlamp you'll ever need. I bought one last year for a week long backpacking trip, I haven't used any other of my headlamps since. Weighs 30 grams and you can beat the hell out of it. It's just like the Mag Lite, except better. You don't have to hold it in your mouth when your car breaks down, or your reading a book in the tent. It's the iPod of headlamps.
Fantastic list! Getting me motivated to start to travel just for the sake of it, as I've been living the city life in one place for too long, playing it too safe and now ready to embrace the fear of the unknown road in front of me…..bonus is still being able to work anywhere from a laptop. Hell, just getting one pair of orderless boxers to wear for a week would be a godsend!
Hey Tim, Been using a lightweight wallet called the SlimSlimmy. It's ultra-thin, holds plenty of cards & cash, and offers some nice pocket weight reduction. Your articles are awesome! Matthew
How much does the stuff in the 'maui list' cost? [img]http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/07/prewear-small.jpg[/img]
Tim, Great post, very informative and intriguing. Two questions: (1) Do you not worry about power adaptors for foreign power outlets? (2) With all this minimizing of packing for a trip, what does your wallet consist of? Thanks, Chris
"The problem with using a cell phone alarm to wake up is simple: the phone needs to be on" I don't know what kind of phone you are using, but the phones I have had over the last couple of years allow you to set the alarm, switch the phone off and it will turn itself on at the set time.
Hi Tim, I noticed you were carrying a maglight. The solitaire is outdated by LED technology and there are MUCH lighter and brighter flashlights available: 1. The photon freedom micro light: http://www.photonlight.com/Photon-Freedom-Micro-Keychain-LED-Flashlights-p/fm-led-keychain-flashlight.htm 2. Arc AAA: http://www.arcflashlight.com/arc-aaa.shtml 3. multiple versions from Fenix: https://www.fenix-store.com/index.php?cPath=22_69_49
My two must-brings are my Petzl Zipka Plus and my mini figure 9 carabiner.
OMG That is all.
Hi Tim, You only tell us how you store your sunglasses, not which ones you actually use. If you want to use your laptop in those places where you travel you should check out Glarewear sunglasses. They really make the difference if you are working outdoors a sunny day, either by making it possible for you to save some battery or see the screen at all. Andreas
from their website: Clear Lanes Are No Longer Available. At 11:00 p.m. PST on June 22, 2009, Clear ceased operations.
Tim, can you tell us what you recommend in the way of earplugs? The first few nights away from home I always have a hard time sleeping due to unfamiliar noises.
Hi Tim, I think this list is in need of updating. The jacket is no longer available, the Fly Clear biometric travel card is no longer is business and the Lewis and Clark flex lock link gives a 404 error. Regardless this is awesome information and I hope to use it as a blueprint for an upcoming trip. Thanks!
Tim, Must you encourage men to dress so un-stylishly when traveling? 🙂 Polyester pants are practical and fast-drying but also so ugly! Kudos on the guide to packing minimally though. I was inspired because I often over-pack. I can see this working out for jaunts to tropical islands… but how about when traveling to a city with a continental climate and needing to maintain a modicum of stylishness and comfort? My favourite items for traveling: For hiding money: I am a fashionable woman that frequently travels alone. Most money belts don't accommodate my fitted jeans. I get a lot of mileage out of an ankle money belt like the link below, and I'm much less afraid of falling asleep on trains/planes/etc. if I know someone would have to go up the leg of my pants to steal my money/passport. It's great for sleeping with in hostels when you're sharing a room with strangers. http://www.amazon.com/Austin-House-Leg-Money-Belt/dp/B0002ZODJM For sun protection: My skin is pale and sensitive. Shiseiso Anessa is the best sunscreen ever. The coverage is phenomenal even though it's ridiculously thin and viscous. I've never gotten burned–even in the desert and tropics. It doesn't sweat off and lasts for hours. It mixes well into your foundation or moisturizer too. It even comes in travel size. The bottle lasts for months. It's magic. The only problem is you can only buy it in Japan or on the internet. The US formulation is different. Shiseido Anessa Sunscreen http://www.shiseido.co.jp/anessa/ This is how and what I pack when I'm going to a continental city in spring/fall for weeks to months and why the items are great. – Lululemon's sports bras They're really comfortable, moisture-wicking, and fast-drying. They're great if you're traveling somewhere hot and muggy, and/or stuck on a train/bus/plane for 12 hours cos they wick sweat away from your skin. http://shop.lululemon.com/women_bras/pl/c/520.html – Uniqlo's Heattech shirts + tank tops You can layer them and stay really warm, or they look GREAT alone. They pack up small and dry quickly. http://www.uniqlo.co.uk/heattech – H&M's thin t-shirts + tank tops They're cheap, come in lots of colors, and are very thin–great for spring weather, packing and quick overnight drying. – cotton-lycra jersey dresses So versatile! great for layering. I usually pack 1 or 2 of the following types of dresses: t-shirt style dress, bandeau tube dress, and/or infinity style dress. – silk and cotton scarves – they can be used as scarves, headbands, belts, sarongs… For spring/fall travel, I usually pack: 2 long sleeved shirts, 2 t-shirts, 2 tank tops, 1 black leggings, 2-3 tights, 2 dresses, 3 scarves, 1 pair jeans and/or shorts, 1 miniskirt, sneakers, flip flops, bikini, underwear, socks, 2 belts (one for pants, one hip belt), 2-3 necklaces, high heels, small leather evening bag, med canvas shopping bag, toiletries + makeup. This seems like a lot, but every item except sneakers packs up really small, so I can often fit this into one carry-on. It's light enough to carry up and down stairs. I carry a med size backpack or messenger bag for personal effects (wallet, camera, sunglasses, hip flask, water bottle, tissues, nail file, etc). I wear a hoodie, leather jacket + low-heeled black leather knee-high boots when in transit zipped up over my jeans or leggings. And voila, I'm set to explore cosmopolitan cities in style.
Hey Tim, Only live with the essentials, and you can freely move throughout this wonderful world. Thank you for sharing this useful list. You inspired me to be able to take my life in a backpack. I've not only boiled down my possessions to the essentials, but made sure that each item has maximum functionality. My stuffs: 2 pairs of Adidas socks (no cotton) 2 pairs of ExOfficio Give-N-Go boxers Duofold midweight base layer top and bottom ExOfficio Give-N-Go shirt Arc'teryx Delta LT Zip Pullover long sleeve Marmot Ion Windshirt Gander Mountain fleece jacket 2 pairs of TekGear black shorts (polyester) 2 pairs of TekGear black pants (polyester) Adidas slippers Columbia waterproof shoe/sandal hybrids ("shoendals") Waterproof hiking shoes Insulated gloves UPF 30 bucket hat Fleece beenie MSR Packtowel I can throw all that (maybe one or two more articles of clothing) + cleaning/bath stuff + laptop & accessories into a single carry-on backpack. I've lived comfortably in Boston, US Virgin Islands, and other places for weeks. Can't wait to go international for months with this stuff. It feels so liberating and free to not have to worry about "packing." I can throw ALL my stuff into a single backpack and move anywhere in the world. Thank you for inspiring me to be location-independent live freely, Oleg
Hello, i was wondering, why are you posing in the photo with a Hurley, in an Asian building? The two don't usually go together……
Tim: Just to let you know: Only in your blog posts, only in Firefox, only after you changed the color scheme to red — it became unreadable: http://screencast.com/t/M2M1ODFhY2Et Maybe it's some CSS configuration?
Tim, We are preparing a big trip to Brazil. We are traveling LIGHT! Do you have any backpack recs? We are looking at 30L daypacks. (Which is amazing because the Kiva expandable duffel holds about 30L of stuff… amazing that it's so small!). Thanks! elle
What is this challenge in this? I'm a backpacker and touring cyclist and can hold a self supported tour with a sub 10 lb loadout excluding my LBE. LOL.
Hi Tim Thanks for that dude!! I'm sure they'll come in use when im on my adventures 🙂 All the best Mohammed
Tim – I have an office in India and I travel there a few times a year for at least 2 weeks at a time. Packing with 10lbs or less is fabulous advice for men, but I’d like to know what suggestions you have for women. Response – highly appreciated. Thanks.
Hi Tim. This is an awesome read! Me and my mates are planning some adventure after finishing uni and these tips are definitely helpful. Thanks!
AWESOME! Derek Sivers from CDBaby.com recommended your blog! LOVE it! I look forward to finding your book! and LOVE lite packing tho i'm rarely known for since i'm an artist/musician… tricky stuff in that bizniss especially when i've wearing all the hats! i think i've gotta find a bunch of others to wear all the hats so i can travel lighter, ay?! LUMINOUS CHEERS TO YOU!! sarah.:.
Hi George, I can't talk about them yet, but there should be a great Oz-based start-up launching soon. Keep an eye out here. Kia kaha 🙂 Tim
Thanks, Andre! I'll have my designer take a look… Happy holidays 🙂 Tim