How To Pack a Suitcase as a Digital Nomad
While the office is a great place to get your fill of suburban gossip, the burnt 3:00pm coffee and water cooler talk can get mundane.
Now more than ever, people are working remotely. With the flexibility of remote work, the digital nomad has emerged. It’s time to pack up and take life on the road!
HEADED OUT?
The era of Digital Nomad’s is here and here to stay. Whether you’re self-employed or have found a career that allows for this flexibility, becoming a digital nomad can be a life changing decision.
You might be in the very beginning stages, planning out your first destination or maybe your one-way is booked and you’re handing in the keys to your apartment. No matter what phase you’re in, one of the most important tasks to complete before you hit the road is to pack.
How do you even begin to pack for a trip with no end-date?
We’re here to help.
3 Tips for Packing Light
Being a digital nomad, you’re on the move. Less is more in your situation! Trying to lug a 50lb suitcase around may only inhibit your ability to be flexible.
If the nomadic lifestyle has given you the ability to travel for an extended period of time, it can be nerve wracking to look at a small selection of items that will be joining you. Push through and remind yourself that laundry exists and P.S. nobody cares if you rewear those shorts!
1. Bring Versatile Items
A scarf is one of the most versatile items you can pack! Besides the fashion element, a scarf can be used as a shawl for a chilly beach sunset, head cover when visiting sacred sites, and can even be tied into a sling for a farmer’s market bag in a pinch
2. Light Layers for the Win
Digital nomads aren’t just swarming the beach towns, you can be a digital nomad just about anywhere. That’s the beauty of it! This means if you’re headed somewhere in a colder climate, you’re going to need some layers.
Instead of pulling in bulky sweaters, think of light items that can be added and worn on their own or layered up. Merino Wool is always recommended for these instances! If you’re needing warmer coats, opt for packable down that can be folded down and packed small.
3. Buy Your Toiletries There
Not only can this eliminate the risk of a toiletry explosion, it also can save quite a bit of room in your suitcase! Unless you have must-have items that you’re worried you might not be able to find while living life away, you can find local options (and sometimes your favorite brands too) once you get to your destination.
THE TRIPPED PACKING SYSTEM PYRAMID
As you’re packing you can follow along with this pyramid to help stay on track. More helpful downloads at the end of the blog!
1. PULL YOUR CLOTHES
There is a reason for you becoming a digital nomad. This reason doesn’t have to fit in a box, people choose to travel for a number of reasons! Think back. When you decided to spend your days on the road, what was the vision that came to mind?
The first step for packing your suitcase as a digital nomad, is to lay out what you would wear on the biggest days in your destination(s). This would include you pulling from your closet and drawers everything you’ll need for your favorite day of the trip, your most important day of the trip, and your travel day.
a. Favorite Day as a Digital Nomad
What are you doing on your dream day as a digital nomad? Start from the very beginning of what you’ll be waking up in and begin to lay out your day from that point on.
If one of your destinations is somewhere tropical, this day may look something like:
Waking up and enjoying a morning coffee.
Catching the surf followed by grabbing an Instagram-able smoothie bowl
Working at a local cafe
Grabbing dinner and drinks with fellow digital nomads
And let’s be honest…. It will probably end in karaoke.
Start to pull the items that you’d like to wear each and every part of your day starting with what you will wake up in and ending with what you will wear to bed.
TIP: Don’t forget to add accessories or gear that you would need with each step, too.
Let’s break down your favorite day:
Morning Coffee - Pajama top and bottoms and maybe a pair of flip-flops. Hostel floors are questionable.
Surf and Breakfast - A bathing suit, cover up, and sunglasses to toss on for your walk are a must. Do you need a beach bag? Are you renting a wetsuit or did you bring your own? Go-Pro? Speaker? Think about it all.
Working at a Cafe - A casual outfit of shorts, T-shirt, and the flip-flips from earlier. Do you need a laptop bag? A notebook and pen?
Dinner and Drinks - A quick change into longer pants and sneakers but the same T-shirt can be reworn.
Off to Bed! - Same pajamas as last night? Do you want to change?
Many things can be purchased at your destination instead of packed, especially if you’re wanting to keep it light.
There are certain items that you can’t imagine leaving behind, though!
Have a favorite yoga mat? Going swimming and need a suit? Add these here.
b. M.I.D Most Important Day
Where you’re planning on going and what you’re planning on doing plays a huge role in what you’re packing.
Planning to spend the morning surfing then working from a cabana for the day? Spending the morning on the slopes and hunkering down in a lodge to get your work done? This is going to be your why. Why you decided to become a digital nomad.
At this point, you have already laid out a full day's worth of items to pack. Ask yourself here if there is anything you need to add for your most important day.
Lay out your wetsuit if you’re hanging in Sayulita to surf for the next month
Don’t forget your ski boots and gloves if headed to ski bum in Colorado
The outfit you bought specifically for wine and cheese in Montmarte
Your most important day as a digital nomad might be exactly what we described in step one! A day of working from wherever you want with a nice night out with friends. If that’s the case, no need to add anything at this step.
Ask yourself these questions:
Do I need to add anything for my most important day?
Are there new shoes or accessories that need to be added for this day?
Do I need to add any toiletries such as special makeup or perfume that is needed for this day?
ADD YOUR EXTRAS
At this point, you have your basic wardrobe for a perfect, full day as a digi nomad. It’s time to add more essentials.
Shoes for each outfit
This can be the same pair of shoes if you’re packing light. Do you really want bulky tennis shoes on for your breakfast though? Toss in your flipflips or a pair of slippers here.
Underwear for each outfit
There is such thing as an underwear overpacker (we’ll touch on this later). But underwear is not universal! If you want a certain pair for yoga and a different pair for your evening, don’t forget to pack this accordingly.
Accessories for each outfit and activity
This is where you’ll add your sunhat and belt or beanie and mittens. Earrings you want to wear with that certain outfit will join here too.
Many things can be purchased at your destination instead of packed, especially if you’re wanting to keep it light.
There are certain items that you can’t imagine leaving behind, though! Have a favorite yoga mat? Going swimming and need a suit? Add these here.
Toiletries for your day
Begin with the products you use the moment you wake up to the last product you use before going to bed. While many everyday items are available to purchase at most destinations, it always feels good to be prepared and have familiar items. All body, face, and hair care products would be added here. Don’t forget sunscreen!
c. Travel Day
Whether it’s a plane, train, or tuktuk, physical travel is a huge part of the digital nomad lifestyle. Make sure you have packed what you need for your travel days.
TIP: choose your bags carefully! Is there a handbag that can double as a personal item on the plane, a laptop bag, and your beach bag? Try to think about what bag will be best for all of your travel days.
Travel Documents
Visas, passports, medications, and laptops and chargers should be added at this point too. Anything you want to have with you on those long travel days! To keep these travel day essentials organized and safe, try packing them in a Tripped Travel Gear Travel Pouch. Your cords will stay untangled and your loose chapstick and hair ties will have a place
What to Wear
Wearing your heaviest items on your travel days will save you space and weight in your bag. While they may be a bit more of a pain to take on and off at security (hello TSA PreCheck), wearing your bulky hiking boots will save you way more space in your bag.
Try to pull your travel outfits from clothes you are already planning to pack!
2. PUSH THROUGH THE PANIC
This is where the habitual underwear over-packer mentioned earlier comes out. The “What If’s” of travel can cause anyone to begin to toss in items that may never come to use. Being a digital nomad, you’re working while traveling. This can cause even more “what if’s” to be added.
a. The What If’s
There’s something to be said about living outside of your comfort zone. As a digital nomad, this is nothing new to you! Ease the discomfort a bit by bringing “what if” items that you may want. Limit your “what if’s” to help keep your bag light!
Some common “what if” items for digital nomads are:
Portable charger - “What if my computer dies while in the mountains?”
Umbrella - “What if it’s misting at Machu Picchu?”
Towel - “What if my hostel doesn’t provide beach towels?”
Your “what if’s” can be whatever you think you may need.
Our best tip? Try to keep calm and know that whatever your “what if’s” are can probably be solved once you get to your destination
3. TIME TO ACTUALLY PACK
The process of packing has way more to do with the planning of what is going into your bag than the actually packing of the bag itself. You’ve done the hard part already!
Informal to Formal - Starting left to right, lay out your clothes from informal to formal in a row.
Top to Bottom - Lay your tops in a row from informal to formal at the top of your space. Your bottoms will go underneath your tops also laid now left to right, informal to formal
Shoes - Lay out the coordinating shoes also from least formal to formal at the very bottom of your space.
TIP: Laying your items this way will help you see exactly what you are planning to pack.
What Type of Nomad Are You?
No, this isn’t where we make you take an Internet quiz. But it is time for you to take a look at your compression cubes, toiletries, gear, and extras and decide what the smallest bag possible you can use to bring your items with you.
a. 3 Types of Digital Nomad
The Backpacking Nomad
Living out of a backpack is doable! If your digital nomad lifestyle is planning on taking you to multiple places, packing in a backpack may be the way to go. It makes your items more portable and allows you to move more freely. Pick a backpack that suits your needs and with breathable straps… trust us.
The Carry-On Nomad
If a backpack is too daunting, but don’t want to risk losing your luggage during your flight from Thailand to Indonesia, then you may want to become a carry-on nomad. The best way to consolidate your items to be able to fit into a carry-on only, is to pack your item in space-saving compression cubes
The Checked Bag Nomad
Planning on hanging out in the same place for 3 months? No extra fee for a checked bag? Worried about not feeling prepared while being a digital nomad? Maybe the checked bag nomad option is best for you.
TIP: Really think through the pros and cons of packing in a checked bag. The extra time at baggage claim and trying to find space for your larger bag on shuttle vans between island towns may not be worth the extra pair of shoes.
b. Bring the Best Gear
Whether you’ll be backpacking your way through South East Asia, or checking a bag for a romp around Europe, using compression cubes for your packing will help save space and keep you organized.
Not only do your clothes need to be organized, but as a digital nomad, your gear is just as (if no more) important!
Keep your gear safe and your cords untangled in the Tripped Travel Gear Travel Pouch!
Not only do your clothes need to be organized, but as a digital nomad, your gear is just as (if no more) important!
Keep your gear safe and your cords untangled in the Tripped Travel Gear Travel Pouch!
4. CHECK IN WITH YOURSELF
Before checking into your flight, do a check in with yourself. Is there anything you can edit out that you have too many of packed? Does your luggage feel manageable for what you have planned?
Being a digital nomad, working from wherever you’d, like doing whatever you’d like can be unbelievably rewarding. You would hate to have a travel day strained by being underprepared or missing a train because your overstuffed suitcase got stuck on the cobblestone.
Take Yourself Where YOU Want To Go
You decided the office desk wasn’t for you. The digital nomad lifestyle allows your office to be wherever YOU want it to be. Take your weekly meeting from a picnic table in a Banff campground. Send your email from a chairlift in the Alps. Lunch break at a ceviche stand in Lima.
The possibilities are endless.
Now that you are packed, it’s time to go.
PACKED.
Pack along with Digital Nomad, Steve Yalo as he tests out the Tripped Packing System!
For a guide to the right way to pack:
