Essential Travel Packing Tips

My packing philosophy informed by a life of adventure.

0:00 Always pack a bathing suit
0:35 The greatest adventurer I know
1:28 Leave room for presents
2:14 Begin packing when you know your departure date
3:07 A packing experiment from THE PAST
4:00 Pack a multi-outlet extension cord & rubber bands
4:33 One luxury item
4:47 A rule when traveling by plane
5:12 The complexities of adventure packing
6:09 Support for The Spirited Man
6:30 The heaviest I've ever packed
7:41 What I packed on the biggest adventure of my life
9:37 How packing impacts travel

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ABOUT THE SPIRITED MAN:
The Spirited Man is an unlimited series about the spirited man or woman who lives inside all of us (and fixing things).

ABOUT VAN NEISTAT:
A pioneer in digital filmmaking, Van Neistat made his first internet video, The Holland Tunnel, in 2000. He went on to collaborate with New York City artist Tom Sachs, directing a series of short films shown at the Guggenheim Museum in Berlin. Van has since directed dozens more films for the Tom Sachs Studio. In 2010 HBO aired The Neistat Brothers, an 8-episode series of short videos made entirely by Van and his brother Casey Neistat. Van Neistat’s directorial debut feature, A SPACE PROGRAM, co-written by Tom Sachs, premiered at the 2015 South by Southwest Film Festival and opened in theaters nation-wide in spring, 2016. In 2018 Neistat Directed the short film Paradox Bullets, co-written with Tom Sachs, narrated by Werner Herzog, and starring Ed Rushca. Neistat has written and directed commercial projects for Nike, Hurley, Kate Spade, Tory Burch, J. Crew, Twitter, Sleepy Jones and Frances Valentine. His work has been exhibited in museums throughout the world. He lives in Topanga, California.

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[hippygram]

For my grandson’s recent 21st birthday I gave him a “ready to go” bag. A quality leather duffel bag filled with basic travel items, from a bathing suit😂👍 tee shirts, sweats, phone charger to deodorant. Enough for an impromptu 4 day trip stateside. I also included a few AMEX prepaid cards. I told him to keep it packed so he would always be ready for unplanned opportunities for adventure. Thanks for another great vid😁

[Fads]

I love how you can take a seemingly trivial topic (like packing) and turn it into an entire story with important lessons throughout - cheers for this one Van

[jonathandspike]

When I saw the explanation of Qui transtulit sustinet, I knew more than ever that I was watching a master storyteller. Introducing it earlier in the video when talking about Chloe but not explaining it at that time, and then returning to it naturally through another story was incredible. Thank you for this, Van.

[ScottyCo]

I like how your B-roll is evolving more over time. Every piece of archival footage is backing up or providing a visual to help us see it better. Awesome stuff 👍

[MarkReviews]

"Undaunted Courage" is a biography about Lewis and Clark, and I swear most of that book was about what they packed and the logistics of getting around with all their stuff. It was incredible.

[rustbeltpipes]

I have two quotes about adventure forever tattooed in my memory:

"It's not an adventure until everything goes wrong"-Yvon Chouinard

"When nothing is planned, anything can happen"- Casey Neistat

[FreeTimeFeats]

Cutting off the exasperated explainiation of not having sails was such a genius clip cutting decision. The emotional response my brain encountered when finishing the sentence with your hand throwing and panic was truth

[JimsEquipmentShed]

I used to have what I called a "jump kit", it was a setup preloaded with toilitries for two people for two weeks.
I never had to pack it, as it never got unpacked. 
It was a kit from LLBean that has a hanger on it so that you could put it on a hotel bathroom door hook, and when you unzipped it, all of the internal pockets were exposed, and you could use it from the kit with out ever putting things onto the hotel sink.
My wife worked at the same company, and on occasion, we would travel together, the only addition was a second tooth brush.

[NikonFMn]

For me the best way to pack is to FIRST MAKE A LIST so that you can check off the items as you collect them. Keep the list so you can recheck everything back and not leave anything behind at your destination/s.

[Mark__]

Love it, I think my biggest takeaway from traveling the world is that one's adventure is someone else's daily life almost always.

[jeannine]

I traveled through 7 countries in Europe for a month. I only had an international carryon and small backpack, which included a a DSLR camera. Best decision I could have made.

[chrisd]

The point about leaving room for presents...the presents he showed from Chloe were small gifts that can be tucked away easily in light baggage. Many times that's all it takes, small, handmade gifts from local artisans at the destinations you visit. Small art pieces, crafts etc. Many times these are the most memorable gifts you display or cherish forever. I remember when I was young, on overseas family trips, my mother lugging back all these giant, heavy things, some whoihc of course broke in transit. Much of that stuff is gone. But I have so many little handmade pieces from my various travels.

[Nbarbacc]

It's so inspiring seeing people like Van and his community--all motivated and extremely driven people. To work towards traveling and living globally, I have so much respect for.

I see equally the banality and complacency in getting a job at home and sticking to it. It's comfortable, predicable, etc.

I wish I could bridge that gap in my mind to really learn and grow.. I drove across the US last year, but I felt like I didn't really permeate anywhere I was going.. didn't know enough people along the way, didn't put myself out there enough (despite not paying for accommodations, finding cool things, etc.) I've realized it's all empty if you can't connect with strange lands.

I guess I'm rambling because I know I could be doing equally cool things, even having the means to, but I heir on the side of observing for some reason.

[gavin]

This has got to be one of the most polished videos that you've made, editing = mastered, but something about how simple/straightforward your message is that keeps me watching

[nisanavraham]

The absolute level of storytelling in each of Van’s videos is mind blowing.

[matthaze]

I live in the Caribbean. A bathing suit is my normal to-go wear every single day. Even if I'm not jumping in the water. I 100% agree with your statement.

[liamstrain]

Packing for Spain now - and very happy to have come across this episode. Lots to think about - I especially appreciate the point about intentional packing, directing the way an adventure may unfold.

[mythcrab]

Awesome rules. I always pack for a buffer to be able to comfortably exist for at least 25% longer than the trip. I also bump your 1/4 mile porter rule up to 5 miles as I greatly enjoy walking and biking while traveling whenever possible.

[brian-esss]

A photography teacher gave me the extension cord advice years ago and now I just keep them in almost every piece of luggage at all times.

[PersecutedTruth]

I just want to say, if no one ever says it. You are by far the most interesting youtuber i have ever watched. Thank you for existing and keep going.