What’s in the bag?

What do I travel with as a full-time digital nomad?

Do I have a storage unit somewhere to keep my other worldly possessions?

Nope.

Whilst it’s common, I’ve actually got rid of everything. I’m down to two suitcases, a cabin bag, a small rucksack, and a dog. In total, I travel with about 70 kilos of luggage spread across the four bags.

Is it a pain in the ass when I move from one place to the next? You betcha.

Why I don’t pack light (and why you don’t have to either)

There’s this weird pride in packing ultra-light in the nomad community. Like, if you’re not living out of a carry-on, you’re doing it wrong. How dare you make your working life more productive.

But most of your time as a nomad is spent living, not battling with public transport. So I’d rather carry a few extra kilos on travel days than feel like I’m camping in my own home for two months.

Granted, when I used to move every week or two—yeah, I had a large backpack and that was it, job done. But now? I want to live a comfortable life on the road.

How I started out as a digital nomad

When I first started nomadding, I only had a few hours of work a week and my dog stayed at home with a friend. Life on the road was very simple, although not sustainable long term. The purpose of the trip was to get used to living and working on the road, find nice cities to live-in for long-term living and iron out any kinks—without having to worry about loads of luggage or a dog in tow.

I had a large 60-litre traveller’s backpack, which could carry up to about 20kg, and a small backpack with my valuables, coming in under 10 kilos.

It made moving between cities quick and easy. I could walk longer distances to the station or to remote BnBs without stressing about local taxis and buses.

But over time, the cracks started to show. I only had room for basic clothes: a couple of jumpers and a collection of T-shirts and shorts. No shirts, no nice shoes, no hairdryer. In short, I was a scruffbag for the better part of a year.

My reset: returning home to scale up

After about nine months on the road, I’d done what I set out to do:

• Identified at least one city in two different countries suitable for long-term living (if you’re curious, they’re Cuenca in Ecuador and Bucaramanga in Colombia)
• Built a sustainable, recurring income
• Figured out the logistics of travelling between countries with a dog

So with that in mind, I hopped on a flight back home and started part two of the plan:

• Incorporate a company (which you can read about here)
• Get my other belongings
• Get the dog

Once my company was incorporated, it gave me a more appealing structure for businesses to work with and should also make visa processes a bit easier (I’m hoping).

Back in the UK, I grabbed my second suitcase, rearranged everything into the two of them, and retired my trusty big backpack. I also did another clear-out and ditched a full black sack of clothes, again.

Then I returned to my home island to be reunited with my dog, said my final goodbyes to close friends, and got back on the road.

Travelling with this much stuff is harder (but worth it)

It’s incredibly difficult moving around with this much luggage, no doubt. Getting on and off trains or buses is a nightmare, so I now budget a bit more for private transfers or taxis where possible.

Airports are fine—there are trolleys and smooth floors—but uneven roads and steps are a nightmare.

I’ve found Spain relatively easy, as they’re super dog-friendly. Any taxi will take you, and the same goes for trains and buses. The UK? Different story. Taxis weren’t interested, Ubers were insanely expensive. I paid £30 (plus a £6 dog fee!?) for a six-minute taxi to Heathrow. Yes, six.

Tips for travelling with a tonne of luggage

• Think about every transition
  You’ll be fine in the airport—but how are you getting from the airport to your Airbnb? The airport bus might be six euros, but good luck getting two massive suitcases on board with a dog in tow. Pay for the Uber.

• Are you staying on the 4th floor?
  Is there an elevator? Can you get dropped off at the front door, or are you halfway up a dirt road? Message the host and ask about access. Tell them about your luggage. Airbnb auto-translates for you, so just yap away in English.

• Check the Uber policy
  Some airports have segregated Uber pick-ups or don’t allow them at all. You might be better off with an official airport taxi or booking a transfer online in advance. Honestly, if it’s your first time, book an airport pick-up online – Ubers at airports can be a right PITA.

• Use AirTags
  Stick one in every bag. You’ll be thankful if something goes missing.

• Carry-on essentials only
  Make sure your cabin bag has your laptop, one day of clothing, power bank, and anything else you can’t afford to lose. If your suitcase gets delayed, you’ll be fine (these are my top carry-ons for nomads)

Everything I own fits in two suitcases

I don’t have a storage unit. I don’t have a box under someone’s stairs. Everything I own is with me.

Once you’ve lived like that, it’s hard to go back. You realise just how much of the stuff we keep “just in case” is actually just clutter. I filled more than 10 black sacks when I sold my home. Never—never—have I missed a single thing.

Even now, I still think I have too much.

What’s in my bags?

Clothing
A blazer, 10 shirts, 5 T-shirts, 5 shorts, 2 trousers, 4 jumpers, 2 pairs of shoes, 3 pairs of trainers, running clothes, and some other bits. Clothes make up the bulk of what I carry, and yeah I still have too much. But I want to be the belle of the ball, darlings.

Equipment
I’m packed for an outbreak of war, tbh.
Laptop, laptop stand, second screen, screen stand, professional camera and lenses, GoPro, vlog cam, keyboard and mouse, external power supply, earphones, headphones, Kindle, Nintendo Switch, Amazon Fire Stick, Blink security cam, Starlink. The list goes on and on 😂 you can take a closer look at my kit on the road, here.

And then just your typical toiletries and other holiday staples

Unusual gear I never travel without

• Knife sharpener – every Airbnb has blunt knives
• Starlink Mini – I always have internet without fussing
• Blink security cam – plugs in wherever I go, lets me check in on the dog, automatically backs up to the cloud
• Lunch boxes – keeps me from snacking and lets me meal prep properly
• Portable bathroom scales – tiny, half the size of normal ones, helps me to stay on track with my weight
• Amazon Echo Dot – great to setup in the kitchen when I’m cooking for music, reminders and timers
• Luggage scales – overweight baggage charges are a fortune, this has saved my bacon so many times
• Kitchen scales – I love to cook, and these ones have a detachable screen so big bowls don’t cover the display

Final thoughts on living out of a suitcase

There’s a difference between living out of a suitcase because you have to, and doing it because you choose to. I’m not a minimalist in the Pinterest sense—but everything I own has a purpose. That alone has been life-changing.

When space is at a premium, you question everything. Do I really need it? Will it replace something I already have? Where the hell would it go? It makes you reuse things more. It makes you buy second hand. It stops you from buying designer stuff—not just because it’s expensive, but because it’s completely impractical.

I don’t use Amazon anymore unless it’s something essential I genuinely can’t get elsewhere. And I’ve never spent so little money in my life.

That awful grip consumerism has on you—it just melts away. It’s gone. I don’t need stuff to feel good. I get all the dopamine I need from the beauty of everything around me. That for me is enough.