Indefinite Backpack Travel

Appeal of One-Bag / Zero-Bag Travel

• Many agree that carrying only a backpack (or no bag) transforms air travel: no check-in, no waiting, easier movement through cities, especially when solo or staying in hostels and moving frequently.
• Travelers report strong feelings of liberation, faster decision-making, and easier spontaneity when everything they need is always with them.
• Some use one-bag thinking mainly as a mental tool: it shapes what they buy and keep even when they do maintain a home base.

Limits, Tradeoffs, and Edge Cases

• Knife and tool bans (especially in the US) are a recurring annoyance; workarounds include “disposable” cheap knives bought locally and left behind.
• Remote trekking, diving, cold climates, or kids quickly break strict one-bag constraints due to required gear, safety items, and extra clothing.
• Several former long-term nomads say it’s great for a phase of life but not sustainable for deep friendships, DIY hobbies, or family; many eventually chose a home base plus light travel.
• Some note persistent anxiety around always needing the next place, shower, and kitchen, and constant “making and throwing away” of relationships.

Packing Tactics and Gear Debates

• Common patterns: ~5–6 days of clothes, 2 bottoms, layers, laundry en route, and minimal shoes (often one versatile pair plus sandals). Others insist multiple shoes or more formal options are necessary.
• Rolling vs packing cubes, paracord to compress clothing, and tiny travel towels come up repeatedly.
• Strong interest in merino wool and other technical fabrics for odor resistance and fast drying, but complaints about fragility and price; some prefer durable synthetics or traditional cotton/denim.
• Darn Tough socks get near-universal praise for longevity and warranty.

Electronics and “Minimalist” Consumerism

• Many are surprised that alleged minimalists often carry laptop + tablet + phone + e-reader, mostly Apple gear. Some see this as peak consumerism; others argue these devices are central tools for work and leisure.
• There’s debate over touchscreens, iPad vs MacBook, Surface-style hybrids, and battery life tradeoffs.

Philosophy, Materialism, and Society

• Several distinguish minimalism from anti-consumerism: it’s about reduced attachment and mental load, not necessarily owning the fewest or cheapest things.
• Critics note that this lifestyle relies heavily on others’ capital (housing, kitchens, services) and is enabled by wealth, remote tech work, and air travel with large carbon footprints.
• Commenters discuss the “hedonic treadmill”: living simply can reset what feels luxurious, but it’s easy to reacquire stuff once you settle again.