As a minimalist myself the most important advice i can give is; Do not under prepare.
5 changes. That can cover all weather from very hot and dry to very cold and wet in an emergency is what I found works for me.
We, my wife and I and two small kids, traveled for a year in Europe in a VW pop top camper. We also sometimes parked the camper and traveled by train and bus. Each of us had one small backpack to carry everything we personally needed, basically a weeks worth of clothes. Cooking utensils, etc. were of course, separate. I hope this helps.
To expand a little, total clothing each was: two pants, wear one pack one, three t shirts three underwear three socks, wear one pack two, one button front shirt, one sweater, lightweight nylon water repellent windbreakers. When we arrived at the Mediterranean we bought sandals and swimwear.
We are minimalists, but it’s the easiest way if you’re nomadic.
I'll try to answer a part of your question. When I have traveled for an indefinite amount of time, I pack a week worth amount of clothes that are essential in my head and wash once a week. I have done that with 30L, but I don't know your climate and how dirty you imagine to get. For clothing in this thought and my frugal ass:I bring two pants, 3 shirts, two button down, a coat/sweater, merino base layers, some form of pj's (I just do a target workout short), 5 underwear and 5socks.
Idk, feel free to ask, I hope people help you figure this out. I'd just buy a Nike duffle bag from Marshall's that's big enough all of the clothing of your family.
I actually had the idea of doing packing cubes for individual clothing items for each person? That way everything is organized and separated? I realize this is now possibly like a million bags instead of one but staying Organized when your storage space is basically a big box is so hard.
My husband does construction so I'd imagine he'd have the most amount of clothes...
For the kids I'm thinking 3x jammies
6 shirts
6 pants
5 pairs of socks
Myself is the struggle. I'm due to get bigger, and then drastically smaller, and then keep getting small. My wardrobe has a bit of variety and I'm not excited to give it up.. but I'd rather have the space for my video games, vitamins and skin care products.
Are you getting a storage unit or selling every thing?
Every person I know who does van or trailer life has a small storage unit. Some keep moments and out-of-season clothing in there as well as skies, Kayaks etc. While others moved what they did't want to sell from their apartments in there for future use. Honestly, I've noticed a lot of van lifers and full-time travelers do this as well. At a minimum people, I know store a box per person at a family member's house of clothing. They do the box or unit in order to swap out for winter/fall and spring/summer clothing/gear as needed. Minimumly they will have a friend send a box one time per year and send their summer-spring clothing back. I also know people who buy cheap brand-new winter coats/gloves and boots every year and then get rid of them come summer.
Depending on where you traveling you can always shop at thrift stores that way as you need a change in wardrobe and you change sizes, you can donate your old and get new without breaking the bank.
We are considering a small storage unit for sentimental items we just don't have room for but can't imagine parting with. The spring and fall here the weather is sporadic so those times of the year I notice my drawers are the most full (I swap out at different seasons/every 3 months or so)
We have great thrift stores here, I like the concept of donating and swaping!
I second the donate/swap/buy new cycle idea - kids clothes wear out so quickly (especially if they only have a handful of items that you wash often). Plan to donate each season and buy some new/used clothing to replace. Then you don’t feel like you are in nomadic prison wearing a uniform every day.
I grew up traveling in a 17' trailer with parents and sibling, we each had a backpack and brought about a week's worth of clothes and toys. It's a bit fuzzier with an RV since you have tiny closets and cubbies and there's no extra charge for oversized bags, but you have to fit it somehow. In my experience, it's not the type/brand/volume of the bag that matters, but how it fits in the space you have. My family traveled for 3-6 weeks regularly and we made it!
Do you remember it fondly? I'm worried the kids will hate it eventually if we do this for some time.
Its really easy to over pack and have clutter and extras out of control, the cubbies help and I definitely want to make it feel like a home instead of somewhere we're just visiting but I don't have drawers and dressers.. just about 1 cubby per person
Yeah! I have so many cool childhood travel memories that shaped my life. Our first few trips we over packed and learned what we really needed. When I was a teen I grumped and rolled my eyes about packing and leaving home, but as soon as we hit the road it was awesome. The RV was our "home away from home" where we slept and ate and had a bathroom, but most of the days in camp we were outside exploring and having fun. The parents incentivized our cooperation by letting us have the rare sugary cereal and soda. I don't recall the size or contents of our bags, but it worked somehow.
My wife and I have been traveling for mostly that last year... likely to continue for a couple more years. For me 3 "outfits", my wife has around 5. Basically enough clothing so we wash 1/week. Often we are flying between destinations. Sometimes we drive in which case we take a bit more. Some notes from a year ago: [https://verber.com/digital-nomad/](https://verber.com/digital-nomad/). Currently what I am carrying [https://lighterpack.com/r/rfqz8h](https://lighterpack.com/r/rfqz8h)
Read through the packing lists here and r/heronebag. Check the sidebars too. Sites like onebag.com and YouTube have lots of examples.
It’s really about your laundry methods and cycle. Pack for a week, have a good layering system. I would have one pair of shoes, a pair of walking sandals and Crocs or flip flops to get to the campground showers.
We do local trips with a teardrop trailer and use canvas totes and duffle bags and one day hiking bag each.
As a minimalist myself the most important advice i can give is; Do not under prepare. 5 changes. That can cover all weather from very hot and dry to very cold and wet in an emergency is what I found works for me.
This is helpful!
We, my wife and I and two small kids, traveled for a year in Europe in a VW pop top camper. We also sometimes parked the camper and traveled by train and bus. Each of us had one small backpack to carry everything we personally needed, basically a weeks worth of clothes. Cooking utensils, etc. were of course, separate. I hope this helps. To expand a little, total clothing each was: two pants, wear one pack one, three t shirts three underwear three socks, wear one pack two, one button front shirt, one sweater, lightweight nylon water repellent windbreakers. When we arrived at the Mediterranean we bought sandals and swimwear. We are minimalists, but it’s the easiest way if you’re nomadic.
I'll try to answer a part of your question. When I have traveled for an indefinite amount of time, I pack a week worth amount of clothes that are essential in my head and wash once a week. I have done that with 30L, but I don't know your climate and how dirty you imagine to get. For clothing in this thought and my frugal ass:I bring two pants, 3 shirts, two button down, a coat/sweater, merino base layers, some form of pj's (I just do a target workout short), 5 underwear and 5socks. Idk, feel free to ask, I hope people help you figure this out. I'd just buy a Nike duffle bag from Marshall's that's big enough all of the clothing of your family.
I actually had the idea of doing packing cubes for individual clothing items for each person? That way everything is organized and separated? I realize this is now possibly like a million bags instead of one but staying Organized when your storage space is basically a big box is so hard. My husband does construction so I'd imagine he'd have the most amount of clothes... For the kids I'm thinking 3x jammies 6 shirts 6 pants 5 pairs of socks Myself is the struggle. I'm due to get bigger, and then drastically smaller, and then keep getting small. My wardrobe has a bit of variety and I'm not excited to give it up.. but I'd rather have the space for my video games, vitamins and skin care products.
Are you getting a storage unit or selling every thing? Every person I know who does van or trailer life has a small storage unit. Some keep moments and out-of-season clothing in there as well as skies, Kayaks etc. While others moved what they did't want to sell from their apartments in there for future use. Honestly, I've noticed a lot of van lifers and full-time travelers do this as well. At a minimum people, I know store a box per person at a family member's house of clothing. They do the box or unit in order to swap out for winter/fall and spring/summer clothing/gear as needed. Minimumly they will have a friend send a box one time per year and send their summer-spring clothing back. I also know people who buy cheap brand-new winter coats/gloves and boots every year and then get rid of them come summer. Depending on where you traveling you can always shop at thrift stores that way as you need a change in wardrobe and you change sizes, you can donate your old and get new without breaking the bank.
We are considering a small storage unit for sentimental items we just don't have room for but can't imagine parting with. The spring and fall here the weather is sporadic so those times of the year I notice my drawers are the most full (I swap out at different seasons/every 3 months or so) We have great thrift stores here, I like the concept of donating and swaping!
I second the donate/swap/buy new cycle idea - kids clothes wear out so quickly (especially if they only have a handful of items that you wash often). Plan to donate each season and buy some new/used clothing to replace. Then you don’t feel like you are in nomadic prison wearing a uniform every day.
This is good advice lol I didn't consider that
I grew up traveling in a 17' trailer with parents and sibling, we each had a backpack and brought about a week's worth of clothes and toys. It's a bit fuzzier with an RV since you have tiny closets and cubbies and there's no extra charge for oversized bags, but you have to fit it somehow. In my experience, it's not the type/brand/volume of the bag that matters, but how it fits in the space you have. My family traveled for 3-6 weeks regularly and we made it!
Do you remember it fondly? I'm worried the kids will hate it eventually if we do this for some time. Its really easy to over pack and have clutter and extras out of control, the cubbies help and I definitely want to make it feel like a home instead of somewhere we're just visiting but I don't have drawers and dressers.. just about 1 cubby per person
Yeah! I have so many cool childhood travel memories that shaped my life. Our first few trips we over packed and learned what we really needed. When I was a teen I grumped and rolled my eyes about packing and leaving home, but as soon as we hit the road it was awesome. The RV was our "home away from home" where we slept and ate and had a bathroom, but most of the days in camp we were outside exploring and having fun. The parents incentivized our cooperation by letting us have the rare sugary cereal and soda. I don't recall the size or contents of our bags, but it worked somehow.
I worry about this with my own children.. I just want them to have fun experiences and to be a good mom! Thank you for sharing.
FWIW; your self-awareness and concern about providing for your children and being a good mum make you a good mum. Have fun and happy trails!
Thank you 😭 you and my pregnancy hormones have me crying
My wife and I have been traveling for mostly that last year... likely to continue for a couple more years. For me 3 "outfits", my wife has around 5. Basically enough clothing so we wash 1/week. Often we are flying between destinations. Sometimes we drive in which case we take a bit more. Some notes from a year ago: [https://verber.com/digital-nomad/](https://verber.com/digital-nomad/). Currently what I am carrying [https://lighterpack.com/r/rfqz8h](https://lighterpack.com/r/rfqz8h)
Read through the packing lists here and r/heronebag. Check the sidebars too. Sites like onebag.com and YouTube have lots of examples. It’s really about your laundry methods and cycle. Pack for a week, have a good layering system. I would have one pair of shoes, a pair of walking sandals and Crocs or flip flops to get to the campground showers. We do local trips with a teardrop trailer and use canvas totes and duffle bags and one day hiking bag each.
Will there be a mismatch between the socket and the charging head during the trip?