Go to any minimalist travel blog, and you’ll find the “rules.” You know the ones: pack only black, never pack jeans, everything must be merino wool, and it must all fit in a 40L bag. This advice is a fantastic starting point. It helps beginners break the habit of overpacking.
But after a while, this rigid dogma can become a trap. It can suck the joy out of traveling, forcing you into a uniform that doesn’t feel like you. True minimalism isn’t about following a checklist of “approved” items. It’s a tool for freedom. It’s about carefully choosing the things that support your trip, make you feel comfortable, and get out of your way so you can enjoy the experience. Sometimes, that means breaking the rules.
Before we dive in, I think it’s important to know where I’m coming from. My name is Raji Deneshan Kumar, and I run this site, Travel with dp. I’m not a full-time digital nomad who lives out of a 15L bag. I’m just someone who has spent the last five years or so obsessively refining how to travel with less, simply because I find it more practical and freeing. My goal isn’t to create the “perfect” packing list for everyone. It’s to share what I’ve learned through trial and error—like discovering that my favorite jeans were worth the space on a city trip, or that packing one nice shirt made me feel human again. The advice here comes from that hands-on experience, not from a rigid rulebook.
So, let’s talk about the rules that are probably holding you back.
Rule #1: “Only Pack Black (Or Grey, Or Navy)”
This is the most common rule you’ll see. The logic is solid: dark, neutral colors match everything, hide stains, and don’t draw attention. If you’re trying to build a tiny 10-piece capsule wardrobe, this is the easiest way to do it.
Why It’s a Problem
Forcing yourself to wear only drab colors can be, well, drab. It can make you feel invisible. I once packed all-black and grey for a two-week trip to Lisbon in the spring. I looked at my photos afterward, and I just looked… sad. I blended in, but I also felt like I’d lost my personality. Travel should be inspiring, and what you wear is part of that experience.
How to Break It Smartly
This isn’t about packing a rainbow. It’s about being intentional. I use what I call the 90/10 approach.
- 90% of my clothes are the “boring” neutrals: Black pants, grey shirts, a navy jacket. These are the workhorses of my bag. They all match.
- 10% is for personality: This is where I break the rule. I’ll pack one bright red dress, a floral-print shirt, or a colorful scarf.
I once packed a single, bright blue linen shirt for a trip to Greece. I wore it for one evening, to a nice dinner overlooking the water. It was bulky and served no other purpose. But I felt fantastic in it, and it’s what I remember when I see those photos. That one “inefficient” item was worth its weight.
Rule #2: “Never, Ever Pack Jeans”
This is minimalist packing gospel. The argument is that jeans are heavy, bulky, and take forever to dry if they get wet. Compared to a pair of technical travel pants, they fail on almost every metric.
Why It’s a Problem
This rule ignores one crucial fact: jeans are the most versatile pants in the world.
They are also what most of us wear in our normal, non-travel lives. Forcing yourself into a pair of zip-off khaki travel pants can make you feel (and look) like a tourist.
I’m going to be honest: I pack jeans on most of my city-based trips. I’ve spent weeks exploring Paris and Tokyo, and I practically lived in a single pair of dark-wash jeans. They look good in a coffee shop, a museum, or a casual restaurant. The people who say “never jeans” are often packing for a humid jungle trek or a multi-day hike. Are you?
How to Break It Smartly
Context is everything. Don’t pack jeans for a trip to Costa Rica in the rainy season. But for a city-break in Europe? Absolutely.
Here’s how I do it without sacrificing space or comfort:
- Choose Wisely: I pack one pair. They are dark-wash (to look cleaner, longer), lightweight (not heavy, raw denim), and have a little stretch for comfort.
- Wear, Don’t Pack: This is the most important part. I wear my jeans on the plane. This saves all that bulk and weight in my 40L carry-on.
- Spot-Clean: Jeans don’t need to be washed often. A small spill can be spot-cleaned in a sink.
If you love your jeans and they make you feel comfortable and confident, packing them isn’t a failure. It’s just a practical choice.
Rule #3: “Every Item Must Be Worn Three Ways”
You’ve seen the charts: “This one shirt can be a dress, a skirt, and a head-wrap!” The idea is that every single item must be a multi-tool. If it only has one purpose, it gets cut.
Why It’s a Problem
This leads to a “franken-wardrobe” of boring, shapeless items that are “okay” at everything but not good at anything. It also completely fails when you need specialty items.
What about a swimsuit? You can’t wear that three ways. What about a rain jacket? Or a pair of shoes for a wedding? Or running shorts for your morning jog?
I once obsessed over this rule and ended up with a bag full of grey items that I could layer in 20 different, uninspiring combinations. I had nothing to wear for the specific activities I had planned.
How to Break It Smartly
I replaced the “Three-Way” rule with the “Base and Bonus” rule.
- The Base (80%): This is my core capsule wardrobe. These are the items that do work together. My neutral shirts, my one pair of pants, my one pair of shorts.
- The Bonus (20%): These are my “single-purpose” items. They are packed for a specific reason.
My “Bonus” list might include:
- A pair of running shoes (because I run every morning).
- A swimsuit (because the hotel has a pool).
- A single-use “summit” jacket for a cold hike.
It’s okay to pack an item for a single, important purpose. The goal of minimalism is to support your experiences, not prevent them.
| The Rigid Rule | The Smart, Personal Alternative |
| “Every item must have 3+ uses.” | “My ‘Base’ wardrobe has multiple uses, but I pack specific ‘Bonus’ items for key experiences.” |
| “A ‘perfect’ capsule has 10 items.” | “A ‘perfect’ list is one that you don’t have to think about during your trip.” |
| “No ‘single-use’ items allowed.” | “It’s worth packing a ‘single-use’ item if it brings you joy or enables an activity you love.” |
Rule #4: “Merino Wool is the Only Answer”
As I’ve mentioned on this site, Merino wool is an incredible fabric for travel. It regulates temperature, wicks moisture, and—its superstar quality—resists odor. You can wear a Merino shirt for days without it smelling.
Why It’s a Problem
This advice, when treated as an iron-clad rule, has three major flaws:
- Cost: Merino wool is expensive. Building a full travel wardrobe of it can cost a small fortune.
- Durability: While high-quality Merino is strong, some lightweight blends can be delicate. I’ve snagged and put holes in expensive shirts.
- Feel: Some people (myself included, at times) find it itchy, especially in cheaper blends.
How to Break It Smartly
Don’t worship the fabric; build a fabric system. Merino is a key player, but it’s not the only one on the team. I think of it in terms of “jobs.”
- For Odor-Resistance (The “Base Layer”): This is Merino’s best job. My socks and my base-layer t-shirts are almost always high-quality Merino wool. This is where I spend my money.
- For Durability & Workouts (The “Active Layer”): Modern technical synthetics (polyester blends) are fantastic. They are light, cheap, and nearly indestructible. They dry in an instant, making them perfect for a workout or a hike where you’ll sweat a lot. They just need to be washed more often.
- For Comfort (The “Rest Layer”): I will always pack one simple cotton t-shirt. Is it “bad” for travel? Yes, it’s heavy and dries slowly. But I use it for sleeping or for a lazy morning in the hotel. It’s comfortable, and that’s its only job.
Here’s a quick rundown of how I see the main travel fabrics:
| Fabric | The Good | The Bad |
| Merino Wool | Amazing odor control, great temperature regulation. | Expensive, can be delicate, sometimes itchy. |
| Synthetics | Very durable, dries in minutes, cheap. | Holds odors (gets stinky fast), can feel “plastic-y.” |
| Cotton | Very comfortable, cheap, familiar feel. | Heavy, holds moisture, dries very slowly (bad for hiking). |
A smart traveler uses all three, picking the right tool for the right job. For more on this, the REI guide on travel clothing is a great, in-depth resource on different materials.
Rule #5: “You Must Use a 40L Backpack”
The 40L backpack is the standard for “one-bag” travel. It’s the maximum size you can reliably carry on most international airlines. It’s become a symbol of a “true” minimalist traveler.
Why It’s a Problem
It’s a guideline, not a rule. Worse, it’s treated as a one-size-fits-all solution, and it’s not.
- For a weekend trip, 40L is massive overkill.
- For someone with a smaller frame, a packed 40L bag can be painfully heavy.
- On a business trip, rolling a backpack into a boardroom looks unprofessional.
How to Break It Smartly
The real rule isn’t “use a 40L bag.” The real rule is “don’t check luggage.”
The 40L bag is just one tool to help you achieve that. The bag you choose should match the mission of your trip.
- The Urban Weekender: For a 3-day trip to another city, a 25L-30L “weekender” bag is all you need. It’s lighter, easier to manage, and fits under the seat.
- The Cobblestone Hopper: This is what the 40L backpack is perfect for. Hopping on and off trains in Europe, navigating cobblestone streets, and walking to your hostel.
- The Business Traveler: A smooth, four-wheeled rolling carry-on is the superior choice. It saves your back, looks professional, and glides through airports. Don’t let a backpack purist tell you otherwise.
I own all three. I choose the right one for the trip. The principle of minimalism (avoiding checked bags) is intact, even if the tool changes.
How to Create Your Own Rules
Breaking these rules isn’t an excuse to just overpack. It’s about replacing dogma with intent. You’re curating a personal travel kit, not just copying someone else’s.
Here’s the simple, 3-step process I use.
Step 1: Define Your Trip’s “Mission”
Be brutally honest. Write down the one primary activity of your trip.
- “Sitting on a beach in Mexico.”
- “Attending a business conference in London.”
- “Backpacking through Southeast Asia.”
- “Exploring museums and cafes in Rome.”
This “mission” dictates everything. You don’t pack for the Rome trip the same way you pack for the beach trip.
Step 2: Identify Your “Non-Negotiables”
What items make you feel like you? What activities are critical to your happiness?
- For me, it’s my dark-wash jeans.
- For my friend, it’s her running shoes.
- For you, it might be a specific skincare routine or a an e-reader.
These “non-negotiable” items go in the bag first. They are the “Bonus” items we talked about. They are worth the space because they are tied to your identity and well-being.
Step 3: Test Pack (and Be Ruthless)
Once you have your “Base” (neutrals) and your “Bonus” (non-negotiables), pack it all into your chosen bag. Then, take everything out and look at the “maybe” pile.
The “maybe” pile is the “no” pile.
If you have to ask, “Will I need this?” the answer is no. This is where you stay strong. This ruthless edit is what keeps you minimalist, even when you pack your jeans.
FAQs
1. What’s the one “rule” I should never break?
“Never check a bag.” This is the core philosophy. Checked bags get lost, cost money, and chain you to the airport carousel. Everything we’re discussing is a strategy to help you follow this one, most important rule.
2. Is it really okay to pack cotton?
Yes, but with intent. I always pack a cotton sleep shirt and cotton underwear. They’re comfortable. I would just never, ever wear a cotton shirt on a long hike or on a travel day where I might get sweaty or caught in the rain. Know its weakness (dries slowly) and pack it for its strength (comfort).
3. How do I stop overpacking “just in case” items?
Re-frame the question. Instead of “What if I need this?” ask, “What is the worst-case scenario if I don’t have this, and can I solve it there?” You can buy an umbrella, a cheap t-shirt, or toothpaste almost anywhere in the world.
4. My “minimalist” bag is still heavy. What did I do wrong?
You probably packed too many “dense” items. The biggest culprits are:
- Toiletries: Decant everything into 1-2 oz (30-60ml) bottles.
- Electronics: Do you really need a laptop, a tablet, and a phone?
- Shoes: This is the #1 killer. Stick to two pairs. One on your feet, one in the bag.
Final Thoughts: Your Bag, Your Rules
The minimalist travel community has created a great set of guidelines. But they are just that: guidelines. They are a starting point, not a prison.
Your travel bag should be a reflection of you and the trip you’re about to take. Don’t let a stranger on the internet make you feel guilty for packing a pair of jeans that make you feel confident, or a colorful shirt that brings you joy.
The real goal of minimalist travel is freedom. Freedom from checked-bag fees, freedom from lost luggage, and the freedom to walk off a plane and straight into your adventure. As long as you’re achieving that, you’re doing it right.
