Traveling with no baggage
 

This isn't directly bicycle touring related, but it does have lost of useful ideas about how to travel with minimal gear.

http://www.rtwblog.com/about-the-challenge/

I swear by that Scott E Vest for travel. I used to use a conventional Photo Vest, with all the pockets on the outside. It works fine but you always look like a trout fisherman. This one has the pockets on the inside, so the vest just looks like a sleeveless jacket. Or they make a jacket version also. There's a "wiring bus," for lack of a better term, where you can route your headphone wires, etc. and secure all that mess out of the way.

Gee, I sound like a salesman for them, but no affilliation.

Anyway, I LOVED that link. Very interesting. I love the idea of travelling light -- wife and I once spent 3 weeks in France with one carry-on duffel bag each -- but this is REALLY taking it to its beautiful, elegant extreme.

Guess if the Cameraman carries all the gear, you can look like you are not carrying it, while the camera is on.


next year sign up for Cycle Oregon, there, all is catered for you.
they cook and haul your tent and such for you,
and have a big trailer built to provide lots of hot showers.

This is the same guy that wrote Vagabonding, which I highly recommend. It mostly deals with the idea of traveling cheaply but also being able to enjoy yourself. I have read it three times!

Uh, yeah, sounds like it is way too minimal to me.

First, it does seem a tiny bit of a cheat to use a jacket with 18 pockets (and an unlisted capacity) instead of a pack.

Second, is it really that hard to carry a second pair of underwear? Seriously?

Third, it does seem like a tiny bit of a cheat to he can basically procure gear at will.

Otherwise, I'm not sure why you need much advice on how to go minimal.....

Edit: I do hope the guy has fun. ;) I just don't think it will be a practical guide for touring.

It is easy to replace everything every couple of weeks and buy what you need as you go along. Basically carry 2 changes of clothes, a small tarp, a little food, and a camera. Same idea as credit card camping and there are infinite variations on the theme. The world is a much friendlier/easier place than many think!

Pretty much, and if that's how you like to travel that's fine. IMO it's a bit of an overreaction to the baggage charges and slightly absurd security procedures (as well as a promotion event for his sponsors). For my part, I don't see a meaningful distinction between, let's say 500-1000 cu in of storage in jacket pockets vs a small knapsack.

Also if I'm reading it properly the guy is only bringing one set of clothes (and one pair of underwear), not two. So, it's a bit extreme IMO.

Interesting concept. I have travelled for a week with a small 20l backpack.
He seems to be specializing in warm, dry places.

Should we tell this guy that the smelly T shirt problem was solved by sheep long ago. I hand wash my merino T shirts in shampoo and they dry very quickly.

It's an interesting idea. I'd rather have a small bag than stuff crammed into every pocket. He doesn't show any battery chargers does he? With an around the world trip I would think he would need a bunch of different power adapters, but I guess he just buys them as he goes. I think people crossing borders via airplane have easier access to that sort of thing than a bike tourist crossing countries.

He should have some merino and I don't see the need for separate detergent. I use shampoo for washing everything, hair, body, clothes etc. I like some of his clothes choices and will look at Scottevest

A small bottle of liquid Ivory soap is also a universal detergent/soap/cleanser. For brushing teeth, either a tiny travel size paste+travel brush or a small amount of baking soda in a ziplock bag+a small piece of paper towel wrapped around your finger. As a matter of fact, a few sheets of paper towel in a zip lock can do everything - teeth, wash, toilet duty, etc.

Keep in mind that he is using very small containers -- e.g. 3 oz of detergent and 3 oz of soap -- and essentially washing all of his clothes every night. If he used soap for everything, he'd go through his supply twice as fast. The detergent may also be much more concentrated than the soap, if so then 3 oz of detergent will last much longer than an equivalent amount of liquid soap.

What sort of underwear? Cotton Boxers? Nylon Boxers? Briefs? Thong? They would have to dry quickly.

http://www.rtwblog.com/2010/08/no-ba...avel-clothing/

Actually, it looks like I was slightly incorrect. He's carrying an extra pair.... as a spare. Also a few extra pairs of socks. But apparently it is his plan to wash and re-wear on a daily basis.

Oh, and it looks like he left condoms out of his packing list. I guess it's gonna be a boring trip. ;)

I don't see the point in wearing everything in a jacket instead of carrying a small backpack. It would seem weird to me to go out to dinner with my extra socks and underwear stowed in my jacket...

I took plenty of condoms and a solar battery charger on my last trip, both more in hope than expectation. Neither of them proved very useful.

That guy did use a USB charger which is fast becoming a universal standard (phew). You can plug into USB sockets at most hotels, hostels, campsites.

Condoms falls in the category of "buy as needed" (grin)

I am surprised no one mentioned the UPS/FEDEX/DHL/USPS style of touring where you mail-ahead clothes and supplies to strategic places along your route, place what you don't need back in the box and send them home. You can go on like this for a very long time and it is a convenient way to get hard-to-source supplies in each country and your souvenirs back home. Not the cheapest way to go, but darn convenient. Done this before when traveling for business and it sure is sweet to not carry as much luggage.