In this article:
What is ultralight travel?
What's the point/goal of ultralight travel?
What's the difference?
- Ultralight Travel vs Ultralight Backpacking
- Ultralight Travel vs Digital Nomad
- Ultralight Travel vs Minimalist Travel
Summary
What is ultralight travel?
Ultralight travel is a simplified (and some might say "extreme") form of travel, in which travelers seek to carry the absolute minimum necessary for long-term travel; often just two or three sets of clothes, a laptop or laptop alternatives and a few bare essentials.
Sometimes referred to as minimalist travel (and not to be confused with ultralight backpacking - see What's the Difference), ultralight travel has been around for years, but is just now gaining popularity as new products, tools, methods and materials are making it both practical and convenient for almost anyone to embrace.
Ultralight travelers typically aim to keep their packs at 10 pounds (4.5 kilograms) or less for extended trips; often utilizing lightweight and compact travel tech, multi-functional quick-dry clothing and miniaturized, ultraportable accessories to reduce weight; and they avoid packing unnecessary items like books, dress clothes, or anything that can easily be rented or purchased from a local store.
What's the point?
Ultralight travel is the ultimate expression of freedom.
Imagine if you had the ability to fit everything you needed to live, work and play in a small, hiking-sized backpack, imagine being able to go anywhere in the world with just a few basic necessities, without having to sacrifice modern comforts or ability to work effectively.
We're not there yet, but we're not far off either; modern, comfortable, quick-dry fabrics are making it easier than ever to stay comfortable and flexible with just a few pieces of clothing; HUD display glasses, augmented reality, and ultraportable travel accessories are shrinking the modern-day office, and innovative travel products are hitting the market every day that reduce the size and weight of a traveler's pack.
Our goal at ULT Gear is to stay on top of those trends, keeping you up to date on the latest and greatest travel tech and helping you prepare for your next great adventure.
Check out Ultralight Travel | Predictions for 2030 for more thoughts around what ultralight travel may look like in the future.
What's the difference? // Ultralight Travel vs Ultralight Backpacking vs Digital Nomad vs Minimalist Travel
There is overlap between all these concepts, but I'll try to draw some distinctions here.
Ultralight backpackers are often focused on outdoor activities like hiking, camping, trekking, etc., so they prioritize outdoor gear; ultralight tents, lightweight sleeping bags, portable cookware, etc., and they may not be worried about packing any travel accessories related to office or remote work. Ultralight backpackers prioritize survival and self-sufficiency over flexibility and productivity; often needing to pack for worst-case scenarios such as inclement weather, getting lost without cell service/power, or life-threatening injuries while being far away from civilization.
Digital nomads, on the other hand, are often the opposite; where an ultralight backpacker might be packing to get away from the normal 9-5, the digital nomad is looking to optimize their remote work environment. Digital nomads often pack for long-term city-living, with the goal of staying both comfortable and productive, occasionally at the expense of simplicity and mobility.
So, what's the difference between a digital nomad and an ultralight traveler?
There is a lot of overlap between digital nomads and ultralight travel, so much so in fact, that I see the two as merging over time, but I draw a distinction, because I think the differences are still wide enough to warrant discussion.
If a digital nomad prioritizes comfort and productivity, then an ultralight traveler prioritizes mobility and simplicity, often at the expense of style and perfect working conditions. Where a digital nomad might pack a laptop, a portable monitor and a host of laptop accessories, an ultralight traveler might opt to use their phone as a laptop, HUD display glasses and ultraportable minimalist accessories to minimize their technical debt. Where a digital nomad might opt for a weeks' worth of clothes and do laundry once a week, an ultralight traveler might opt for just two days' worth of clothes and hand-wash their clothes daily. Where a digital nomad might pack work-casual and dress clothes for in-person or video-based meetings, an ultralight traveler might opt for a pair of convertible hiking pants and a single shirt that works for hiking and video calls.
In short, ultralight travelers prioritize travel, with the option and ability to do work, if necessary, but their main goal is to move, explore and, ideally, stay as flexible as possible while packing as little as possible.
Lastly, let's touch on minimalist travel versus ultralight travel.
Minimalist travel has been around for years, it is travel for the sake of travel, no work, no plans, no worries. If an ultralight backpacker prioritizes surviving outdoors, and a digital nomad prioritizes long-term remote work, and an ultralight traveler prioritizes flexible travel plans, then a minimalist traveler prioritizes freedom from attachment to things.
In the same way that camping can reconnect you with nature, minimalist travel is a way for people to reconnect with the simple truth that you don't need a lot to live (or travel, or see the world). Once you realize that everything you need to live is available at a convenience store down the street, your life gets instantly simplified.
It's easy to forget, but important to remember: if you're going where people live, you can find whatever you need to live; this is good to remember when you're freaking out over whether you should grab that extra power cord, that second pair of pants, or that stylish winter hat; if you need it, you can buy it.
Minimalist travel can be an incredible escape from the normal 9-5 life, it can be an escape from consumer culture and the marketing machines that permeates our lives, but it's not always realistic, or even possible, for many people; most of us need to work, or want to work, and true minimalist travel is, like camping, meant to be short-term; you must come back to reality sometime.
Ultralight travel falls somewhere in the middle of ultralight backpacking, minimalist travel and the digital nomadic lifestyle.
If the above wasn't enough, I go into (even more) excruciating detail on the differences between ultralight backpacking, minimalist travel and digital nomadism (I hope that's a word) in my post - What's the Difference: Ultralight Travel vs Ultralight Backpacking vs Digital Nomad vs Minimalist Travel, enter at your own risk.
Is ultralight travel right for me?
That depends on how far you want to take it.
At ULT Gear, we're obsessed with minimizing our packs, making them as light as possible, so we're not hindered by heavy bags, baggage fees, small airport lockers or having anything on our backs that would prevent us from exploring. Our goal is to be able to go anywhere and do anything, with everything we own on our backs. This allows us to make full use of travel days, go for hikes with all our stuff, hop on a motorcycle with everything we have or change plans on a whim because we don't have to worry about checking or storing our stuff. This style of travel isn't for everyone, but for those who embrace it, it can be incredibly freeing.
Many people don't need or want that level of flexibility, but they can still benefit from the tools and products we create; you may not want to fit everything into a 25L backpack, but everyone could benefit from a lighter and smaller backpack, regardless of where you're going, what you're doing or how long you'll be gone.
For a full list of the benefits of ultralight travel, check out The Benefits of Ultralight Travel.
In Summary
Ultralight travel isn't for everyone, it requires careful planning and preparation, but it can be extremely rewarding, as it allows you to move more freely, explore more areas and change your plans on a whim, and perhaps most importantly, it can give you a sense of freedom, knowing that everything you need to live can fit in a small, ultraportable backpack.
If you're interested in learning more, check out Getting Started with Ultralight Travel for more thoughts and resources on where and how to get started.
If you're looking for a short list of ultralight travel essentials, check out Ultralight Travel | The Bare Essentials Packing List.
And if you're looking for a more comprehensive list of ultralight travel essentials, check out Ultralight Travel | Comprehensive Packing List/Guide.