How I Travel: A System Built for Long Haul Living, Not Just Trips

People often ask how I travel—especially when they see me roll through an airport with what looks like too much luggage.

The short answer: I’m not traveling like I’m on vacation.

I’m traveling like I’m living somewhere else.

When you’re doing long-haul international travel—weeks or months at a time—while still working, training, and staying active, the typical “one suitcase and a backpack” setup falls apart pretty quickly. I needed a system that gave me redundancy, flexibility, and expansion, without turning travel days into chaos.

This is the system I’ve settled on:

One large checked suitcase.

One carry-on suitcase.

One backpack.

One 100-liter duffel.

It looks excessive until you understand the logic. Then it becomes incredibly efficient.

The Philosophy: Always Protect the Essentials

At the core of this system is a simple rule:

If everything goes wrong, I still function.

That means my absolute essentials—core clothing, toiletries, and work gear—are never all in one place.

The Carry-On: My Core Wardrobe

My carry-on suitcase is non-negotiable. This is where I keep:

• Core clothing

• Underwear

• Toiletry kit

• Minimal but complete daily wardrobe

If a checked bag gets delayed (which happens more than people admit), I can still live, work, and move comfortably for days. This bag is my baseline life kit.

The Backpack: Work + Mobility

My backpack carries:

• Laptop

• Tech gear

• Documents

• Daily essentials

But it’s more than a work bag. I specifically chose a Patagonia Black Hole backpack because it doubles as:

• A daypack for city exploration

• A light hiking pack

• A travel backpack that doesn’t have to be worn all the time

It has two luggage pass-through options (vertical and horizontal), plus an additional rear strap. This means the backpack can ride securely on top of a suitcase instead of living on my shoulders. On long travel days, that matters more than people realize.

The 100-Liter Duffel: Controlled Chaos (and Optional Adventure)

The most misunderstood piece of the system is the 100-liter Black Hole duffel—and it’s arguably the most important.

This bag exists for one reason:

My life isn’t predictable.

Depending on the country, season, or mood, I may need:

• Backpacking gear

• Ski gear

• Scuba equipment

• Surf gear

• Hiking layers

• Or nothing at all

The duffel absorbs that uncertainty.

Why a Duffel (and Not Another Suitcase)?

• It’s rugged and water-resistant

• It can carry awkward, bulky gear

• It compresses down into a surprisingly small package

• It can be worn as a backpack when needed

When I don’t need adventure gear, the duffel folds down and lives inside my large suitcase. That gives me built-in expandable capacity for shopping, gear purchases, or unexpected finds abroad.

When I do need it, it rides on top of a suitcase or on my back.

Two Hands, Eight Wheels, No Stress

Here’s where the system really shines.

At any given moment, I can configure everything so I’m only managing two rolling items, even though I technically have four bags.

And in worst-case scenarios—historic cities, stairs, cobblestones, uneven streets—I can:

• Wear the duffel as a backpack

• Wear the backpack on the front

• Carry both suitcases by hand

Is it elegant? Not particularly.

Is it functional? Absolutely.

That matters in old European cities far more than it does in airports.

Why I Chose Rimowa (and Why It Matters)

I upgraded my suitcases to Rimowa, not because the old ones failed, but because this felt like a line in the sand.

The aluminum cases:

• Are durable

• Age beautifully

• Become a visual travel journal through stickers

• Evoke a more traditional, nostalgic travel aesthetic

They make me want to move through the world.

And honestly, that matters. If something inspires you to live the life you’re building toward, it’s doing its job.

This Isn’t Minimalism—It’s Intentionalism

This setup isn’t about carrying less.

It’s about carrying exactly what I need, exactly where I need it.

It gives me:

• Redundancy without excess

• Adventure without commitment

• Structure without rigidity

And most importantly—it lets me live somewhere else without pausing the rest of my life.

That’s the goal.