I was once afraid to own material things. I feared that accumulating possessions would clutter and distract me from what’s truly important in my life. So I got rid of nearly everything I owned until it fit inside a backpack. This worked great for a nomadic lifestyle, but as I find myself transitioning into a more sedentary life, I’m seeking to balance my rigid fears with a new approach, one that’s accepting and open-minded while still embracing the minimalist perspective to owning possessions.

As I begin to reaccumulate and reintegrate, I find that material things are not something to be feared, but a necessity for my modern-day survival. The key to owning things is to purchase items that exhibit the qualities I love most: a combination of multi-functionality, cleanliness, beauty, and simplicity.

Even though I own very little, I really love the things I do own. Such are the items on this list, carefully selected and hand-chosen according to my interests, inspired by my time spent hiking the Pacific Crest Trail and more recently, living simply in large cities.

So, here are my favorite minimalist possessions… the essentials, room by room! If you’re anything like me, these items will stay with you no matter where life takes you, for householders and nomads alike, looking to scale down, simplify and beautify their lives.

Disclosure: I am not sponsored by any company. My choice to use affiliate links below simply reflects my personal use and liking of these items. Cheers!

BEDROOM

Where the magic happens…

Sleeping Bag— REI Magma. I find the comfort of sleeping bags to be unparalleled. Even though I had access to a bed for more than two years after finishing my six-month-long hike, I nonetheless chose to sleep inside my sleeping bag atop my mattress. Especially if you plan on hiking or camping in the future, I recommend investing in a high-quality sleeping bag with a 20-degree fill rating and positive reviews.

Japanese Futon— D&D Futon. A highly-affordable floor mattress that can be rolled up and closeted to clear space in your room. Instead of spending thousands of dollars on a mattress, I find it empowering to purchase a quality alternative for $100. I noticed there was a three-day adjustment period to sleeping on the futon, during which time I experienced soreness (possibly longer if you don’t sleep outside often), but since then, I’ve gotten some of the best sleep in my life. To learn more, my friend Cal made a great video about Japanese futons which pushed me to make the purchase.

Meditation Cushion— Mobile Meditator Inflatable Cushion. A no-frills portable and inflatable meditation cushion that lives atop your yoga mat. Offers more lift and firmness than pillows and couch cushions. Leave inflated at home or deflate and take it with you on your travels.

Headlamp— Black Diamond Storm. This item lives under the ‘bedroom’ category because I find that reading beneath the dim light of a headlamp sends me right to sleep. Headlamps are useful, portable and fun. The red light mode is an added bonus that doesn’t disturb others while they sleep. It works great for getting up in the middle of the night and wandering to the bathroom. The one I own has a solid battery life and strong beam. Winner of Outdoor Gear Lab’s ‘Editor’s Choice’.

WARDROBE

Let’s start our journey from the ground up…

Socks— Darn Tough, Hiker Micro Crew Socks. The importance of owning high-quality socks is something hikers discover very early on in their hike. I find wool socks to be superior to other materials in durability and comfort (I’ve owned the same two pairs of Darn Tough socks for the last two years. If you get holes in them, you can send them in for a new pair. You’ll never have to buy socks again. Plus, they don’t hold smells.

Shoes— Altra, Men’s Superior 4; Xero, Cloud Barefoot Sandal. This one’s up to you. I typically own a pair of hiking shoes called trail runners and another pair of gym/basketball shoes. I’ve also been enjoying wearing minimalist shoes like Xero’s barefoot sandals which weigh much less than tennis shoes.

Rain Jacket— Hightail Designs, Rain Jacket. Made from a fabric called Dyneema, these jackets are 100% waterproof. No more ponchos or trash bags, thank God.

Puffy Jacket— Montbell, Frost Smoke Parka. One of the most expensive pieces of gear I own, and oh boy, is it wonderful. A huge upgrade over my previous synthetic-down jacket, warm and fashionable, too.

TRAVEL/LIVING/TRANSPORT

Get outside…

Hiking Backpack— Hyperlite Mountain Gear (HMG), 3400 Windrider. Backpacker’s backpacks offer the reliability, durability and multi-functionality that other backpacks simply cannot. If I need to, I can live out of my backpack (something I’ve done for most of my adult life).

Day Pack— Gossamer Gear, RikSack 17. I first discovered the idea of day packs while scrounging the insides of a hiker box on the PCT. Day packs are less bulky than full-on hiker’s backpacks, especially useful for venturing into town, going to the gym, taking food to work, etc. The RikSack’s straps make it a comfortable wear and the whole system packs down easy when not in use.

Fanny Pack— Gossamer Gear, The Bumster. For those brave souls who value functionality and practicality over aesthetics. My favorite fanny ever.

Shelter— Gossamer Gear, The One. An ultra-light shelter, easy to set up, and weighs less than two pounds.

Bike— Cheap & Reliable Hybrid. There’s no single bike brand I can recommend. Instead, I recommend searching Craigslist for an affordable hybrid (a mix between a road bike and a mountain bike), keeping an eye on fixed gear and single-speed bikes, which are simple to use, easy to fix, and affordable. I bought mine basically new for $80.

KITCHEN

You Are What You Eat…

Blender— Ninja 72oz Blender. There’s nothing better than a nice, cold smoothie in the morning. Having a fast option for consuming nutritious foods without the time involved with cooking has helped. My go-to smoothie is water, nut butter, fruit, and protein powder.

Titanium Spoon— Sea to Summit Titanium Spoon. Investing in a high-quality spoon is life-changing, especially if you’re a householder. I literally use my spoon for every meal. You can find them online or at REI. It will be the only spoon you’ll ever need.

Pocket Knife— Gerber Paraframe Knife. A tiny, lightweight knife that can be bought online or at your local REI.

P38 Can Opener— Generic. A lightweight military-grade can opener that costs less than a dollar at your local hardware store.

OFFICE

On the Grind…

Earbuds— Apple iPhone Earbuds (x3). One has the “lightning” plug and the other two are traditional plugs to fit a splitter-device for any potential podcasts.

External Battery Charger— Mophie, Power Boost XL. One full charge on this device can recharge my phone up to five times, and it does so at a much faster rate than any wall outlets. It’s the most useful thing I’ve ever I acquired from participating in a Secret Santa.

BlueBlocker Glasses— Exerscribe, Glasses. Useful for combating blue light emanating from computers and phones that otherwise disrupt our circadian rhythm.

Decorative Art— Ask Your Friends. If you have friends who are artists, start supporting their work! Purchase their art and frame those beauties on the walls of your home.

BATHROOM

Do Your Duty…

Floss— Generic. I once heard that flossing increases longevity. Whether it’s true or not, if you’re the type of person who flosses consistently, that tells me your the type of person that values health and hygiene. I always feel better about myself after flossing. Join the movement today.

Camp Towel— Sea to Summit Pocket Towel. A simple travel towel that dries quickly.

Obviously, some items are missing from this list! I’ll continue to update it as I run across new favorites. Until then, I hope you enjoyed the list. If you did, consider sharing consider following the journey:

Wishing you well.

Love,
David

PS — You can purchase my hiking memoir, The Trail Provides, on Amazon and Audible today.

PSS — If you haven’t read it yet, here’s my Introduction to Minimalism post to set the stage and inspire.