87 Things, 28.1 lbs: How My Wife & I Pack 1 Carry-On for a Year Around the World

“In character, in manner, in style, in all things; the supreme excellence is simplicity.” – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Favorite Poems

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World Tour Update: As Chelsea and I aspire to live this Longfellow quote, today is Day 3 of our yearlong trip around the world, a 10-year dream in the making that we’re calling The Global Dinner Party Project. Last night we had our first LYL meetup in Buenos Aires – a few days ago we had 6 RSVP’s and when we showed up there were well over 30. This city inspires me…

And we’re hosting our first dinner party for a some locals and friends at our little one-bedroom place on tonight.

If you want to follow the adventure (and hopefully join us along the way), you are going to want to check out this video we filmed before we left. It’s definitely a first for both of us to be in front of the camera together, but I am SO glad Chelsea joined me! You’ll see why when you watch. Make sure you see the picture of us wearing capes (don’t judge).

Also, late next week we plan to launch a totally new tool/service/product that thousands of you have been asking about for way too long. It’s going to give you a very inside look into how we do things at LYL – and all the details of trip as it unfolds.

We’re calling it Live Your Legend RAW and I think you’re really going to like it. But more on that later. 🙂

Now for the big question…

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How Do You Fit Your Home (& Life) into One Carry-On?

That question has been lingering in the shadows of our San Francisco apartment for the past few months as Chelsea and I prepared to pack one carry-on each for a yearlong trip around the world.

Well… it looks like we did it. I think the picture of me sitting on the balcony of our Airbnb apartment next to a modest 45L backpack is pretty good proof.

And here’s the best part – it was actually a lot easier than we thought and SO damn liberating.

Minimalist’s Disclaimer: Right about now is when I should drop a disclaimer to my minimalist friends. Yes, I know we have a lot more stuff than we need. I know you could have done it in a bag one-third the size. But for us, this worked out perfectly. 🙂

How I Found the ‘Perfect’ Pieces…

My strategy for packing for this trip was simple: I wanted to apply the 80/20 rule to everything I could. I wanted to find the best items out there that also hopefully checked multiple boxes (see the shorts I found that work as board shots, dress shorts and workouts shorts – amazing).

And, this one’s important: I did not want to look like your standard backpacking tourist wearing hiking boots, zip off pants and a pack with a million straps. I wanted to have light, high quality, functional stuff that also allowed me to look somewhat normal (not easy, I know – I stand out like crazy as it is) and be dressed properly enough to go out to nice dinners with Chelsea (and maybe even attend the impromptu foreign wedding, if such an invite crosses our path).

So I ended up totally geeking out on this stuff and probably ordered 60 shirts over the past few months to find the five that I wanted in my pack. Same goes for just about every item.

And that’s a big reason why Chelsea and I have spent so much time compiling this list and video for you all – I’m incredibly proud of how our packing turned out. And we each ended up having a lot of extra room when all was said and done.

So, I hope this is helpful – whether it’s for a year around the world or just a well-prepared weekend getaway, I think a lot of this information will make your trip more enjoyable.

And keep in mind, one of our goals is to avoid winter (except when we head to Antarctica or the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro, where we’ll rent gear), so that also allows us to stay a lot lighter.

I’d start by watching the video below, which I filmed from our current home – a wonderfully spacious 1br/1.5 bath flat in the heart of the Palermo district in Buenos Aires. We got it on Airbnb for $59/night.

Then be sure to read the full list since there are a few things I forgot to mention in the video.

All links go to the places where we actually purchased these items. Most the links are for Amazon, and if you decide to purchase one of the items, we get a small commission, but you pay the same price. Our commission which will go towards supporting the dinner parties we’ll be hosting around the world starting this Friday. Thanks for being in our corner!

Fitting My Life into 87 Things, 28.1 Pounds & 1 Carry-On

Press play to see my full packing breakdown…

Scott’s Packing List for a Year Around the World (Everything fits easily into one 45 litre carry-on backpack)

My Two Favorite (& Crucial) Items:

1. Pacsafe 45L backpack in storm gray

This was my most exciting find. This company makes bags that are lined with metal mesh and all compartments lock in one central place, so it literally becomes a safe when you lock it up. Very high quality and lightweight, too. And backpack straps can be hidden in the back so it looks like a regular bag. Pacsafe has been around for decades and makes well over 100 bags. I love this company!

2. Airbnb global house rental service

This is probably my favorite business and website in the world. You can rent other peoples’ homes in 190 countries, and rent out your own while you’re gone (often for a good profit!). You get a much more local experience with a lot more amenities and often save a fortune over hotels. We’re in an incredible 1 bedroom/1.5 bath in the heart of the Palermo district in Buenos Aires and we’re paying $59/night. Hard to beat. Oh, and you can rent boats, tree houses, igloos, castles and lighthouses – all of which I plan to do this year!

We’ve partnered with Airbnb, so here’s a link to try them out and get your first $25 of travel for free. I have a feeling it might be love at first sight.

Clothes:

Quick clothing note: I generally love light-colored stuff, especially when traveling in the summer. But I also know it’s incredibly tough to keep clean. So in the spirit of simplicity, and not looking like a scrub all year, I went with mainly darker colors, and no whites (even though I LOVE white linen pants…)

Electronics & Mobile Office:

Travel Documents & Software:

Pacsafe passport wallet with RFID protection This zips shut, making it a great place for all my travel docs, credit cards, cash and random papers – just don’t lose it!

Credit cards for travel: Schwab and Wells Fargo checking, Chase Ink Bold Visa Signature, Amex Platinum, Amex Starwood, healthcare ID card, driver’s license (which I actually lost at a bike rental shop in Uruguay yesterday, but am confident of a full recovery!)

Small Moleskine red ruled notebook which is my travel journal and task book.

Find My iPhone device on iCloud – A great tool for finding lost devices, but I also gave my login to my parents so they can see where we are. It might feel little on the Big Brother creepy side, but it’s a fun way to have added safety.

1Password I’m in love with this software, and at this point I’m realizing a password protection and simplification tool is a must. Works awesome with iPhone 6 TouchID, too.

Dropbox for data backup and sharing pictures and files.

World Nomads provides comprehensive travel insurance.

TouchNote is an iPhone app for snapping a picture and sending a physical post card to anywhere in the world. It will be awesome for keeping up with birthdays and important moments this year!

Other Gear & Fun Stuff:

Toiletries:

And, then there’s Chelsea’s list, which of course is much simpler and concise than mine…

She took a different approach and decided to bring mostly things she already owned that she can get rid of/replace as needed throughout the trip but she did focus on bringing small and quick dry items.

And a travel scale to get our official weights (we left that in California)…

Scott: 28.1 pounds

Chelsea 28.6 pounds (I’ll carry some of her stuff sometimes…)

And that is how you fit two adult lives into two 45-Litre backpacks!

I can’t tell you how good it felt to get all that packed up.

And in case you’re wondering where we started, here’s a couple pictures for contrast…

And finally, the obligatory cheesy shot that my parents insisted we take before walking into SFO Airport…

And that’s how we kick off an adventure!

So, what’d we miss?

Let us know in the comments.

Now I’m off to help Chelsea navigate our local market and prepare for this dinner party!

Onward,

Scott

P.S. Then click here to come join in on the adventure on our official World Tour & Global Dinner Party Page!