Hey,
A lot of people always ask how I travel so lightweight. Thought I'd share here and get tips & comments. Taking extra baggage slows you down so less is more, mobility rules.
I spend very little going between major cities but rarely sleep outdoors- maybe the odd bench when I get stuck in a place. Mostly I sleep on coaches or people's houses.
You can use CouchSurfing to find hosts nearly everywhere. http://www.couchsurfing.org/people/genjix < that's me. Before I leave to a new city I post in the city forum and spam loads of people asking for hosting. After I get a few positives I stay at each persons house for maybe 3 nights. 3 people x 3 nights = 10 days. If you get along well with your host you can even stay longer.
You never really have to sleep outdoors. If I have to then I get an overnight coach to a random city and wake up somewhere new. Travel is cheap outside of Western Europe.
Clothing worn:
1 pair of Jeans from Tesco costing £3. Cheap, durable. Better to have these than those pyjamas I see hippies always wearing that get torn/dirty easily. Mud is just a surface stain on Jeans, but thin trousers get dirty and need to be washed. You can wear jeans for many months and have no issues.
1 pair of Iranian standard issue army boots for £4. Boots are sturdy and you can run through dirt and walk long distances. Also your feet won't get wet.
1 hoody- If I'm going to be in a cold region then I take a jumper type hoody, otherwise I take a thin long sleeve one. The hood is essential cos if you sleep in places it will cover your eyes so you can sleep. Also doubles as a hat to keep you warm! Can also cover your face in danger areas if you don't want people to know your ethnicity.
1 long coat, kinda like this:
Will keep you warm. I sewed a button to the top of my lapels so it comes up to my neck. They're expensive but well worth it. You don't know how warm it keeps you when sleeping outside since it covers your legs and entire body in 1 piece.
When it's too hot to wear I either carry it in my arms or squeeze it into my backpack.
1 school backpack. It has to be small since I'm carrying it everywhere (unless I leave it at my host). Only the essentials are taken like toothbrush, nail cutters, boxers+socks and 1 pair of nice clothes for special occasions (like a house party). Travelling around you will accumulate baggage and so want to have the ABSOLUTE minimum when starting out. My hosts usually have shampoo and toothpaste- it's bad to carry it anyway since if it bursts = disaster!
I wash my clothes in sinks or nice kind hosts occasionally offer you their washing machine.
Small light backpack is essential. Maintaining free space is *very* important. I might go to a new city, find a shop selling tinned ready made meals and be off on a long bus journey of a few days. In which case I buy several tins of the food, put it in my bag and set off
A lot of people always ask how I travel so lightweight. Thought I'd share here and get tips & comments. Taking extra baggage slows you down so less is more, mobility rules.
I spend very little going between major cities but rarely sleep outdoors- maybe the odd bench when I get stuck in a place. Mostly I sleep on coaches or people's houses.
You can use CouchSurfing to find hosts nearly everywhere. http://www.couchsurfing.org/people/genjix < that's me. Before I leave to a new city I post in the city forum and spam loads of people asking for hosting. After I get a few positives I stay at each persons house for maybe 3 nights. 3 people x 3 nights = 10 days. If you get along well with your host you can even stay longer.
You never really have to sleep outdoors. If I have to then I get an overnight coach to a random city and wake up somewhere new. Travel is cheap outside of Western Europe.
Clothing worn:
1 pair of Jeans from Tesco costing £3. Cheap, durable. Better to have these than those pyjamas I see hippies always wearing that get torn/dirty easily. Mud is just a surface stain on Jeans, but thin trousers get dirty and need to be washed. You can wear jeans for many months and have no issues.
1 pair of Iranian standard issue army boots for £4. Boots are sturdy and you can run through dirt and walk long distances. Also your feet won't get wet.
1 hoody- If I'm going to be in a cold region then I take a jumper type hoody, otherwise I take a thin long sleeve one. The hood is essential cos if you sleep in places it will cover your eyes so you can sleep. Also doubles as a hat to keep you warm! Can also cover your face in danger areas if you don't want people to know your ethnicity.
1 long coat, kinda like this:
Will keep you warm. I sewed a button to the top of my lapels so it comes up to my neck. They're expensive but well worth it. You don't know how warm it keeps you when sleeping outside since it covers your legs and entire body in 1 piece.
When it's too hot to wear I either carry it in my arms or squeeze it into my backpack.
1 school backpack. It has to be small since I'm carrying it everywhere (unless I leave it at my host). Only the essentials are taken like toothbrush, nail cutters, boxers+socks and 1 pair of nice clothes for special occasions (like a house party). Travelling around you will accumulate baggage and so want to have the ABSOLUTE minimum when starting out. My hosts usually have shampoo and toothpaste- it's bad to carry it anyway since if it bursts = disaster!
I wash my clothes in sinks or nice kind hosts occasionally offer you their washing machine.
Small light backpack is essential. Maintaining free space is *very* important. I might go to a new city, find a shop selling tinned ready made meals and be off on a long bus journey of a few days. In which case I buy several tins of the food, put it in my bag and set off
