I've done this before (not indefinitely, but for many trips around the world.)
I agree with the author on a lot: 1) it's not a good way to live long term, 2) traveling with as little as possible completely transforms the traveling experience, 3) zero-bag travel is great, 4) a good quality small bag with well designed compartments is critical, 5) M-series Macs are the only way to go, 6) two thumb drives is very convenient if you're not worried about searches, 7) darn tough socks, 8) first aid with bandaids/antiseptic/mylar blanket, I also include benadryl, ibuprofen and other common OTC meds.
I disagree on: 1) I prefer a 2M USB-C cord over 1M, 2) I have mostly cotton or merino clothes and try not to use any synthetic fabrics, especially no synthetic underwear, 3) I prefer jeans, especially in colder climates and 4) carrying "stuff" on you long term (like a jacket with things in the pockets) can get sort of annoying after a while.
And finally, extra stuff I carry that the author doesn't: separate camera, snacks (mostly nuts), Garmin inReach, handkerchiefs, wired earbuds, flashlight, knife, an eye mask, sometimes a Travelrest pillow, and two sizes of paper notebooks and pens.
- I can't do zero-bag travel, bags are just too convenient. I have at least a little foldable backpack. For example, if I have a jacket, I like the ability to put the jacket inside the bag if the weather calls for it. Or maybe I want to carry a water bottle. Zero-bag means stuffing your pockets, carrying stuff by hand, etc... not very convenient if you ask me.
- I don't really like bags with compartments, I find they get in the way more than they help. Instead, I use a regular bag and put stuff in ziploc bags if I need some organization. It also protects from rain.
- For the USB-C cord, I use 3m, even as an everyday carry. It may seem over the top but sometimes, the power outlet not where you want to plug your phone. For example you may want your phone charging on your nightstand while the socket is on the other side of the bed. 3m lets you cross the bed, 2m doesn't.
- I love synthetic fabrics, dries faster than natural fibers, it is important to me as dry time can be a problem when doing laundry while travelling. Merino wool is great too, but I keep cotton for home.
- Not a fan of jeans during travel, take forever to dry, and they are not that hot for how heavy they are. They make great work clothes (their original purpose), and are relatively fashionable, but during travel when I am not going for style, I use convertible hiking pants.
- I don't travel with a knife, too much of a problem with security. Though I sometimes carry a "swisstech utili-key". It has a blade but it really looks like a key, so it is stealthy. It is unusable as a weapon, but if some overzealous security guy takes it away from you, it is super cheap so it won't be a big loss.
Why no synthetic underwear? I feel like I would be miserable with only cotton boxer-briefs... I sweat entirely too much even in moderate weather to be comfortable in cotton. I am partial to Pair of Thieves extra long boxer-briefs, they don't ride up at all since I have big thighs. When travelling I can wash them in a sink, and they dry way more quickly than cotton.
The replacement for synthetic underwear is wool, not cotton. For weeklong wilderness backpacking trips, I used to vacillate between a fresh pair of synthetic boxer briefs every every day, which took a lot of space, and one for every other day, which was gross. Now I wear a single pair of wool boxer briefs all week, and it feels and smells better at the end of the week than synthetic underwear does after two days. Same for sleeping: I used to bring a couple of pairs of synthetic boxers, and now I'm down to one pair of wool underwear. Two pairs for the entire week, one for days and one for nights.
Granted, wilderness backpacking has completely different standards for smells and grossness, but the comparison carries over to the higher standards of the "front country." In hot, sweaty weather, synthetic underwear gets noticeably grosser and smellier than wool over the course of a day.
Mine are SmartWool brand. According to their web site, they use an 88% wool, 12% nylon blend, but I haven't experienced any odor issues.
I have an older pair that is 100% wool (I don't recall the brand; they might be a very very old SmartWool product) but the lack of stretch makes them less comfortable.
Editing here since my original comment is too old: in a pinch, I've also had much better results washing wool underwear in a hotel bathroom than synthetic underwear. Contrary to their reputation, neither wool nor synthetic underwear dry quickly, even with a hair dryer, but wool dries faster, feels cleaner after washing, and in the worst case scenario is much more comfortable wet than synthetic underwear.
I also feel the same way. I travel with the absolute minimum of synthetic fabric clothing, I have found that by far the best material is wool, especially merino wool, and if that's not an option something that is natural fiber derived modal like bamboo or wood cellulose modal is good. Polyester and other synthetic fabrics repel moisture better, but don't wash by hand or withstand hard wearing as well as natural fibers, and also don't work as well across climates and ecologies.
A layered clothing approach helps a lot. I wear an undershirt (Icebreaker Merino T) every single day, which helps me to regulate my body temperature between hot and cold climates, without requiring a major increase in the amount of clothing I have to bring. The only outerwear I had to bring on my trips was a single wool peacoat and a packable windbreaker/rainjacket. By using layers, I was able to use the same set of clothing between 45C and -25C, across 4 continents with no real trouble.
I also try and avoid synthetic fabrics especially for everyday use. What's your rationale behind it? Asking because I'm not exactly sure why I hold this view, and need some inspiration.
As far as concrete facts go, 1) we know that plastic fabrics (polyester, nylon, etc) generate airborne plastic particles which we then breathe in, 2) they exacerbate certain skin conditions, 3) they start to stink much faster than natural fibers, 4) they burn incredibly fast and fuse to your skin and 5) they’re funding the oil industry. Those factors alone are enough for me to essentially ban them from my body.
Beyond facts, there is also a certain ugly vibe to plastic clothes. They’re cheap and impersonal and disposable and typically generic. I have never really fallen in love with a polyester product. When it came time to throw away my polyester clothes, I wasn’t surprised to find that everything I really loved was wool/cotton/silk.
I agree with the author on a lot: 1) it's not a good way to live long term, 2) traveling with as little as possible completely transforms the traveling experience, 3) zero-bag travel is great, 4) a good quality small bag with well designed compartments is critical, 5) M-series Macs are the only way to go, 6) two thumb drives is very convenient if you're not worried about searches, 7) darn tough socks, 8) first aid with bandaids/antiseptic/mylar blanket, I also include benadryl, ibuprofen and other common OTC meds.
I disagree on: 1) I prefer a 2M USB-C cord over 1M, 2) I have mostly cotton or merino clothes and try not to use any synthetic fabrics, especially no synthetic underwear, 3) I prefer jeans, especially in colder climates and 4) carrying "stuff" on you long term (like a jacket with things in the pockets) can get sort of annoying after a while.
And finally, extra stuff I carry that the author doesn't: separate camera, snacks (mostly nuts), Garmin inReach, handkerchiefs, wired earbuds, flashlight, knife, an eye mask, sometimes a Travelrest pillow, and two sizes of paper notebooks and pens.