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How to Pack like a Digital Nomad

  • by Dave Brett
How to Pack like a Digital Nomad

For me, it’s extremely important to remain completely mobile and able to move remotely anywhere.

How you Pack like a digital nomad is one step towards achieving this.

Below is the bare minimum that I pack in order to travel around the world.

Many Digital nomads swear by minimalism, and I use a minimal approach to reach this goal.

You can choose to follow my packing list and become more mobile yourself if you wish.

People have often wondered how I get away with just hand luggage for long per term travel so I thought to show you what’s inside my backpack.

This is a layout of what’s in my bag at the moment and this is all I own to do what I need to do.

First tip: Travel with only hand luggage.

Yes! Only hand luggage I really mean it, here is why:

Advantages of travelling with just hand luggage:

• Save on check-in baggage fees
• Avoid checks-in desks and check-in online
• Save money on taxis that charge for baggage
• Save money on locker fees
• Be less of a target and look more like a local
• Take up less space when staying with a couch surfer
• Less back pain
•  Be able to pack and go within no time
•  Extremely mobile

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The above is my bag of choice:

The North Face Router Backpack.

I have been using this bag for the past 2 years, Touch wood its never let me down.

Perfect size for hand luggage, great strap support and very durable.

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(Click on the picture to go my Flickr Account for a closer look)

As you can see from the Picture above, this is everything you need to travel the world.

Yep, doesn’t look like much, but that’s all you need.

Simple, but minimal.

I’ll now go into more detail on individual items:

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Technology

– Apple Macbook Air with Charger
– Amazon Paperwhite Kindle
– Apple iPhone Xs
– One multi-use cable.
– Joby GripTight GorillaPod Stand PRO for Smartphone
– Apple headphone’s with built-in microphone
– TwelveSouth PlugBug Duo, Dual USB charger with international plugs (Connects to MacBook Air USB C charger)
– USB Stick 12gGB

IMG_5755

Bits & Bobs

Polarized Sunglasses and case
Reading glasses and case
Passport
Wallet with bank cards. Discount. student, membership cards, health insurance Doc, Photocopy of passport, Passport photos.
Business cards
Webbed belt with built-in bottle opener
foldable water bottle
Sharpie Black pen
Yellow highlighter
Pilot G2 pen
Sharpie Liquid Pencil
Small ruler

IMG_5756

Hygiene

Water Proof String bag
Tooth Brush
Toothpaste
Rollerball deodorant
re-usable soap bottle
Comb
Compact Mirror
Compact sewing kit
Sunscreen
Nail clippers
Tweezers
lip balm
ear plugs
Swimming goggles
exercise band
Electric beard trimmer

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Clothes

7 x Plain black T-shirts
7 x Boxer brief underwear
7 x outdoor sports socks
1 x Smart shirt
1 x Outdoor Trousers
1 x Jeans
1 x Microfleece
1x Waterproof jacket
1 x Swimshorts
1 x causal shorts

Extra optional travel:

1 x The North Face E-tip Gloves
1 x beanie Merino wool hat
1 x Havana Flip Flops
2 x Compression waterproof dry bag for bag storage

IMG_5758

Not a huge amount of clothes but its totally possible to travel like this.

Wearing the jumper and jeans will take away most of the bulk from your bag.

Then the rest of the clothes can go into the compact compression bag and take away most of the space.

This will push out all of the unneeded air and organise your clothes in the process.

It might seem radical but I wanted to show you what’s in my Backpack and what I use to live on a daily basis.

You will need to adopt some more items to your personal life (Sure the female readers won’t need a Beard trimmer) But you get the general idea of what’s possible.

Packing your life down to only these few items will free your mind to focus towards the more important things, such as travelling the world.

Free your life, cut down to the minimum and explore the world!

Hope you enjoyed looking inside my backpack and let me know if you have any questions via social media

— Dave Brett

Travelling the world, one adventure at a time. Follow the UK's leading solo adventure travel blogger, Dave Brett on his travels around the world. An Adventure travel blog that features travel tips and advice, inspirational stories, travel videos and travel photography that will help you inspire and plan your next trip abroad.

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  • Welcome to Travel Dave – UK Solo Adventure Blog

    TRAVELDAVEUK Travelling the world, one adventure at a time. Follow Dave Brett, a solo adventure travel blogger on his travels around the world. A globe-trotting adventure travel blog featuring travel tips and advice, travel stories, travel videos and travel photography that will inspire your next trip abroad, and help you plan it too. To read more, please visit: About Travel Dave Page.
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