How to Live Out of a Backpack: “Drawers” Storage

This is a series of posts about ‘how to live out of a backpack’ as a nomad, minimalist, operative, expat, traveler or for everyday life as a lifestyle.

One does not need a home full of things to live. Just like ancient times, all we need is what we can carry on our backs.

“Drawers” Storage //

What’s the purpose of closets, chests and cabinets? To compartmentalize and organize our clothes and accessories. That not only creates cleanliness but also gives you an idea of where everything is and how much of it you have. A bit of lifestyle efficiency.

Imagine piling all your clothes in the corner of your room for everyday use, it would be a mess of inefficiency not much different than just shoving your entire packing list into your backpack as a whole.

Now imagine if you can have the grouped system convenience and item management capabilities of a chest of drawers, but within your backpack.

It’s totally possible by using packing cubes.

As you should with using an actual chest, each drawer is reserved for a specific clothing type, one for underwear, another for tops, a couple for bottoms and so on. Everything has its own place.

Each of these packing cubes can be used as a drawer. When I settle into a hotel, Airbnb or other accommodation, I simply unpack each “drawer” and lay them out in a singular location as if it was a chest.

It’s important to have each cube close to each other when taken out. Again this goes towards organization. When packing up again, it’s more efficient and reduces the chance of leaving something behind.

Like using a real chest or closet, I only remove what I’m going to wear and always return an item I’m done with.

Instead of sliding out a drawer, the cover of a packing cube is opened. When it’s time to move, the cubes are zipped and packed back up ready to go in seconds.

Even if the place I’m staying at has a chest or cabinet, I always keep my clothes in my own “drawers” because it works that well. It’s easier and faster.

An exception are closets, I often use the hangers for my jacket, to dry clothes or for security purposes.