For most, travelling for four months means bags of heavy luggage loaded with clothing, necessities and accessories appropriate for an array of occasions and temperatures.
But Australian author Sarah Wilson, 42, who has lived out of two suitcases for eight years, managed to travel for four months with just eight kilos of luggage strapped to her back.
In a blog post on her website, the ‘I Quit Sugar’ author said she was able to survive and have clothing appropriate for all occasions as she travelled and hiked between LA, New York, London, Scotland, Cornwall, Crete, Paris, Slovenia and Slovakia.
‘For the bulk of this I’ve carried a small backpack that weighed in on various flights at eight kilos,’ she wrote.
Best-selling author Sarah Wilson (pictured) has shared how she managed to pack so lightly for four months of travel
In a blog post she explained that she only took eight kilos of luggage away with her on her recent overseas trip (pictured)
‘Most of you know I have lived nomadically for eight years, out of two suitcases. So it’s not much of a stretch to reduce down from such a small base,’ she explained (pictured is the bag)
As a result, she was able to travel the world with only one carry-on bag.
Although many would find this near impossible, Sarah said that she did this ‘easily and happily’.
‘Most of you know I have lived nomadically for eight years, out of two suitcases. So it’s not much of a stretch to reduce down from such a small base,’ she explained.
‘However eight kilos does entail a more extreme flavour of efficiency, especially when you’re combining work commitments.
‘I did TV, magazine interviews, presentations across Europe, UK and the US while on the road, a 50th fancy dress party and hiking (including high altitude, requiring thermals and sleep sheet.’
To help others master their packing, Sarah shared exactly how she was able to travel with only eight kilos of possessions.
Her low luggage weight meant that she could have this as carry-on and it allowed her to travel between places easier
To help others to be able to do the same Sarah has shared how exactly she travelled with only eight kilos of possessions
She wore the same items pretty much every day of her trip, which she says she also does when she’s home.
‘I honestly don’t think people notice or care. I have a signature look, is how I see it,’ she said.
Sarah said that she only wears things she loves that also make her feel comfortable which limits her buying unnecessary items.
‘I wear things out. My good white shirt became my hiking shirt by month three,’ she said.
‘I thought I’d replace things as they did wear out. But, actually, I didn’t.
‘I couldn’t be bothered and instead just worked on making down with a substitute.’
Sarah said that she only wears things she loves that also make her feel comfortable which limits her buying unnecessary items
‘I wear things out. My good white shirt became my hiking shirt by month three,’ she said
This all meant that when she finally did come home she came back with less than when she started her travels.
‘I hand washed smalls in the shower at night. So only carried two pairs of undies for the trip,’ she said.
‘I took a bunch of white things. Mad? No. It meant I could justify a ‘white wash’ regularly.
‘I live in silk and light woollen and synthetic things; they scrunch up tight and weigh little.
‘I wear sneakers with dresses very happily. I also took a very flimsy (thus, light) pair of heels for fancy stuff.’
A notebook, pencil, passport, credit card and a satchel also made it onto her list of items and they all managed to fit into a simple multi-day pack
On top of these items she carried a laptop with her to most places as she needed it for work commitments which added an extra one to two kilos.
Sarah would also always have a book with her but would give it away once she finished it and before she bought a new one.
A notebook, pencil, passport, credit card and a satchel also made it onto her list of items and they all managed to fit into a simple multi-day pack.
‘I researched the lightest and simplest multi-day pack (light enough to be a day-pack, too) on the market,’ she wrote in her post
Sarah said she would also wear items until they were worn out: ‘I thought I’d replace things as they did wear out. But, actually, I didn’t. I couldn’t be bothered and instead just worked on making down with a substitute’
‘I researched the lightest and simplest multi-day pack (light enough to be a day-pack, too) on the market,’ she wrote in her post.
‘The reviews revealed the Southwest Ultralight backpack was the one to go for. And so I went for it. It’s also the most waterproof and has the least number of added bits.’
Sarah explained in the post that this has all been a positive experience and since arriving home she has still been living in the same items.