WHY I TRAVEL LIKE A MINIMALIST

[@moniquejayrobinson]

I'm about to start traveling and am hoping to travel minimally too. It's great knowing that it's possible and actually often more enjoyable when you do.

[@highonmike]

It’s 100% possible ! I was once scared to travel with less. I had this feeling of “not having enough” or “wanting something just in case” - but I later realized these were just excuses for me to bring more - and that extra stuff I brought didn’t end up serving me. Good luck with your travels ! Enjoy

[@AndreMalan]

I feel exactly the same way. My 33 liter Aer travel pack just feels way too big and I end up just traveling with my 20L Aer flight pack instead. I love not having to stress about whether or not I will get space in the overhead bin!

[@highonmike]

Yes ! More stuff = more problems !

[@digital_nomadess]

Your conversation here sounds like my journey too. I started out with a 35l, now I have a 21l and it's still too much. I have learned not to carry seasonal clothing for long term travel. Better to buy a coat when you need it than carry it around all summer.

[@highonmike]

@@digital_nomadess 🙏🏽🩷

[@lourlopezsk]

I loved this video, such an inspiring perspective. But I do think that in your case the hot weather of your destination helped. Last time I travelled to another province in my country (Argentina) it was summer, but the weather would vary a lot. So one day I'd wear a T-shirt and shorts and the next day pants, a sweater and a down jacket. I took my 35L backpack and it was stuffed, I used everything I had and it was the first time I felt I had underpacked (I couldn't hand wash very often). However I do agree with everything you said!

[@JAFrk]

It's funny how similar my path is to yours. I bought a first generation Allpa35 in black and used that to a trip to Japan(winter), and when I realized I only wore around 60% of what I brought, I immediately downsized to a Synik 22. Now, I've actually moved on to a ULA dragonfly which is a 22L with 8L of pocket space because I wanted something even lighter with a large dump pocket and waterproof. The Synik is still my daily carry but I still use it for any trip that is a week long or less, while the Dragonfly works for weeks to months of travel.

[@highonmike]

Just checked it out, that Ula looks pretty slick, I dig it 🤟🏽. Synik is also nice if you carry a laptop

[@jillsaibel6210]

I have the same bag. Love it!

[@highonmike]

Sweet ! What color do you have?😅 I’m such a bag nerd. And yes I enjoy using it as well, this bag has been the GOAT for me since I got it.

[@Merryyy203]

I have been travelling with a 24 L backpack and altho the trips have not been longer than 10-15 days, it is just such a feeling of freedom... Whenever I see people carrying huge backpacks/suitcases + hand luggage, I just wonder if they are moving to the new destination. I don't understand it anymore, even tho I used to be the same. The problem that I have with it is that it sometimes makes my back and shoulders hurt so this week I got a new backpack (VAUDE Wizard 30+4). I wanted something that is comfortable to wear, that you can still take with you on the plane. It does not have to be full but in case it "has" to, you are still restricted to the most important things. Looking forward to using it next month on my 13-day trip to France. Thanks for the video and these insights.

[@highonmike]

My Pleasure 🙏🏽 Cool to hear that you have found freedom in downsizing your luggage! 🙌🏽💫 and good luck on the trip to France 🇫🇷 Have fun 🥳

[@robertwilliamson922]

I went from a 35 litre Minaal…..down to a 21 litre Minaal. Carry on only. Like you, I go to warm places. I hate the cold. 71 years old now. An old traveler. A couple girls on KZbin travel the world using only 17 litre bags. I don’t know how they do it. I can’t seem to get smaller than 21 litres. (Plus a small sling bag) Thanks for the videos.

[@highonmike]

21 litres is crazy! You’re referring to that minaal bag they call the “daily carry bag” or something? That’s impressive man 🫱🏻‍🫲🏼 well done

[@robertwilliamson922]

@@highonmike Thank you…..yes… the 21 litre Minaal Daily. My larger Minaal is the 35 litre Minaal Carry On, which I don’t use anymore. But those girls with their video on KZbin go even lower than me. They use 17 litre bags. I don’t know how they do it. kzbin.info/www/bejne/n2e2gnWeYsSGh68 kzbin.info/www/bejne/aKG9aYWFnq2koMU

[@Merryyy203]

When I saw this girl travelling with only 19 L I was sooo impressed (kzbin.info/www/bejne/pWjMc4CeqcuEl6s) but yeh, when you travel to warmer places it is a lot easier, I guess. Altho I went to England in March with just 15 L and stayed for 10 days. No need to take shoes for warm weather that will take up space. I always wear oversized shirts so I do not have to wash them after one use (they do not get in contact with the armpit skin so they do not smell). But if I have to, I just wash the armpit area in the sink, put the shirt on the heater and it is dry the next day. What are your favourite places to travel to? :)

[@kurtthecat3995]

Back in the 80s when I was living and backpacking around Europe, the mentality was to have the biggest backpack you can carry. At that time I was carrying a sleeping bag, sleeping mat, multiple pairs of jeans, a heavy jacket, camera equipment was bulky. I saw others with tents and boots, stuff minimalists so longer carry. Lugging around a huge backpack at that time was a badge of honor. It's a different mentality now a days, gear is lighter, faster drying, cheap flights that rewards minimalist traveling.

[@highonmike]

I can kinda understand what you’re saying.. that it was honorable to carry around a heavy load because it showed your dedication to traveling.. something like that? For me that’s just not the case. I carried around a decently heavy backpack on my first backpacking trip in Southeast Asia, and at a certain point it definitely made my experience worse than it could have been if i had a lighter load. My bag was filled with extra clothes and other things that i just wasn’t using.. and so I vowed that on my next journey i would force myself to carry less stuff, and thats why I got a smaller backpack - to force me to carry less stuff. I don’t need a lot of material possessions to travel around. More stuff = more burden. Less = more freedom. I value interactions, conversations, new experiences, time in the forest, beach, jungle, making art, playing sports, etc.. I can live out of a 25L backpack indefinitely. Thanks for sharing your story :)

[@kurtthecat3995]

@@highonmike I also get what you're saying and I'm on the same page with you when it comes to traveling. Next week I leave for Europe for three weeks. I'll be carrying a 25L backpack that weighs in at 13lbs.

[@highonmike]

@@kurtthecat3995 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

[@violaineaudrey8841]

Great video, thanks for sharing ! Even though I'm a French woman, I relate so much to this video because we have exactly the same experience with bags ! I watched hundreds of PackHacker and Chase Reeves videos before I bought what I thought was The Perfect Bag. For me it was the Peak design expendadable 35 -45l which I sold after 2 trips and exhausted with such a burden and I bought the same 25l Synapse right away in 2019. Very happy with it and yes the sense of freedom is great 😊 Thanks 🌷

[@highonmike]

That’s incredible! Such a similar story❤️‍🔥How do you like the synapse??

[@violaineaudrey8841]

Yes !! I have to say that unlike you I haven't gone around the world as I traveled essentially in France for the last 3 years ! I really love the Synapse 😀 as you say I love its versatility, its sustainability and all the pockets and loops and so on... Oh I appreciate your videos about your vegan lifestyle too ! Have a nice day 🌞🌸

[@highonmike]

@@violaineaudrey8841 I’m in Barcelona now ! Not far from France 🇫🇷❤️. And you don’t have to travel around the world to have a good time 😁 We can enjoy life anywhere with the right mindset. And thanks for your compliments, are you vegan ??

[@violaineaudrey8841]

Yes, that's right ! I'm a vegetarian since I was 8 and from this time I'm on my way to veganism ! I can't do as I would like because unfortunately I can't eat as much fruits and vegetables I would like but I do my best and I'm not so far from this ultimate goal 😇 Have a great time in Spain 😀🌿🦋

[@highonmike]

@@violaineaudrey8841 what problems do you have with eating fruit?

[@Cdnl4927]

I get a little better each trip, at taking less stuff. Might be more challenging for ladies, as the average one likes to bring a lot of makeup and accessories... but it can be done. Lol. We can travel minimally, too! 😂 I have a 25L backpack and a waist pack that I wear cross body for quick passport access, etc. No check in of bags, either. Plus, now with all the horror stories of bags getting lost, and checked bags costing too much... more people choose carryon only, which clogs up the overhead bins much more than before. Now, you have to do your best to somehow get into at least zone 2 or higher, to have better chance of space being found in bins near you. Lol.

[@highonmike]

25L is amazing ! That’s the size I’ve been using for a while now and it works pretty great for me. Yeah I never have to check bags either bc I always carry on and I’m very grateful for that 🙏, it just makes life so much easier

[@Merryyy203]

I am sooooo glad I do not care about make-up. If I bother bringing some it is just concealer for the circles under the eyes. My 1 L toiletry bag is more than enough. The only thing that I do not put in there is the solid 2in1 shampoo/soap bar because it does not fit in there. I take clothes for an extra two days and just wash daily in the sink.

[@joselynrijna462]

Love ur video… and was thinking about Tom bihn now i want it even more

[@highonmike]

They're products are definitely made with high quality materials in my opinion, and I like the functionality. I'm not worries about my synapse breaking anytime soon.

[@jaymeez]

I’ve had the Farpoint 40l backpack for over 10 years and it’s the best bag I’ve ever owned. I do plan to trim down to the Osprey Porter 30l soon tho

[@highonmike]

Do it 🙌🏽

[@lovebefree8460]

What size is this backpack and is it expansive?

[@highonmike]

It’s a 25 liter bag, and what do you mean by expansive - like are there add ons to make it bigger? If that’s what you’re asking then I believe the answer is no. But there are different variations of this bag

[@rapmeister5242]

This is inspirational. Thank you for making this video. Just out of curiosity, i hope you don’t mind me asking but what do you do for a living? Like how do you finance this nomad life?

[@highonmike]

I do different things depending on where I am and how I feel. I've never had one career that has funded everything. For example, I used to be an English teacher when I was living in Vietnam. I worked on farms while doing Van Life if the US. I worked at a bar in Osaka Japan. I've been lucky enough to have the opportunity to try different things, but I also saw those opportunities and acted on them. I've also gone back to live with my parents for short periods of time and gotten a job while living with them - I did that last year during Christmas and was a driver for FedEx. Recently I've done a little bit of teaching english online, but I'm working towards generating income through my own projects. This is still a work in progress but I'm not going to give up :)

[@rapmeister5242]

This is a very detailed response, I appreciate it. This is even more inspiring. Not everyone has the courage to do what you do. Thank you!

[@antigroundhogday]

I am trying to travel with a 25 l bag as well, but I am worried about southeast Asia airlines as I hear they are more restrictive on dimensions and ensuring a bag fits under the seat when flying as a personal item only, to avoid carry-on charges. What has your boots on the ground experience been with your backpack?

[@highonmike]

So in Southeast Asia I’ve personally only flown in / around Vietnam, Thailand and Singapore, (japan and korea as well but thats not the south) and I’ve never had any trouble with my bag - Tom Binh Synapse 25L. In my experience, they have never checked the height / weight dimensions, I feel that would just add too much time to the already time consuming check-in process, lol. I know that on a lot of airlines in SE Asia they have a similar “weight requirement” for carry-on bags, which is like 7kg / 15 pounds, and I have rarely seen that enforced. If your backpack isn’t that big and you just wear it while you check-in, then you should be fine. Worst case, they want to weigh it so you just put on all the clothes you have and let them weigh the rest 😄. Hope this helps ✌🏼

[@antigroundhogday]

@@highonmike I'm at about 10lbs worn so it should be okay then. Thanks for your boots on the ground experience!

[@highonmike]

@@antigroundhogday no problem !

[@Nemia1220]

I also watched Chase Reeves, "Bag God", as well before purchasing and finally deciding on my Synapse. Absolutely love Tom Bihn, worth the money / investment. You should go and visit the Philippines as well. 🤷‍♀️ Safe travels!

[@highonmike]

Yo I’m not too far really. In Malaysia currently 🇲🇾. And happy to meet a fellow synapse lover 👊🏽

[@minimalist2406]

I'm going to travel around the world somehow some day as well.

[@highonmike]

The world is ready for you 🌍 🌿✨

[@dragonflyspirit]

Amazing video! I also had one of those huge backpacks and it was awful😂. Would you mind sharing what external mic you are using in this video? I need one ASAP as the audio in my videos suckkk

[@highonmike]

This one is from Boya, not sure if its a good brand or just a cheap one 🤷‍♂️. You can get them pretty cheap online 👍🏼

[@atuljoshi1990]

nicely done man - I'm with you. I am nixing any pack that isn't less than 3lbs.

[@highonmike]

Yes, the extra weight adds up ! You can really feel the difference with lighter gear

[@marvingiehl]

How did you handle the visa Situation in Vietnam?

[@highonmike]

Earlier this year i was doing visa runs every month - which SUCKED ! Now at least they have the 3 month tourist visa which is waaayyy better

[@kevinkaiser2064]

Thank you for this helpful and inspiring video! May I ask you how you can afford to travel for such a long time? I would be really thankful for an answer :) Greetings from Austria

[@thebruceborn]

Praise The Lord!

[@minimalist_monk]

Amen!

[@josefarrington]

Do you bring shower shoes(sandals)? Or you just shower barefoot on public showers?

[@highonmike]

I never wear shoes in a shower

[@taitruong7153]

More video bro 😅😅

[@highonmike]

Hopefully soon 🙌🏽

[@nazapadu02]

maybe you should also use this minimalist approach to your videos. like your first bag it s about 10 kilograms...minutes too long

[@highonmike]

🤣🤣🤣 Still somewhat new to making videos so I tend to ramble on a bit more than I’d like. Hopefully I can find my rhythm and start cutting those times down 🔜. Thanks for the feedback 🙏

[@nazapadu02]

@@highonmike I still watched it until the end😉

[@sdnalyam]

Anyone can travel with almost nothing if your only bumming aroung Asia. Travel for at least a year through multiple climates without buying gear and clothing as your travelling and dress well. You will not be able to fit all your gear in that small bag.

[@highonmike]

What do you mean by “dress well” and actually I’ve traveled in the US, Spain, Morocco as well as Asia - which in case you don’t know.. Asia is a massive area 😂 and there are many places in Asia that get cold.. I think you meant to say south east Asia. I realize that it’s easier for me to carry less because I stay in warm climates, and honestly I love warm climates so I have no shame lol. But I’m confident I can travel anywhere in the world and fit everything in this bag if I really wanted