The Art of Vagabonding with VINJABOND

As a senior in high school over a decade ago, I had not even the slightest urge to travel as I loved New York City and had no intention of leaving my beloved hometown. That is until I saw the movie “The Beach” in theaters on opening night. There’s a scene when the lead character finally arrives at the titled beach (of which I also traveled to) and falls to his knees by being awe-struck. That was the moment it hit me that there’s a wonderful world out there beyond Manhattan and I wanted to see it all. For the next 10 years I built a life that could let me travel around the world indefinitely.

Vagabonding is a type of lifestyle. Living a life of constant travel and exploration with no set time limit. It’s not a holiday or an extended vacation but just another way of living a life. It’s about being a world citizen with passports just a formality.

Anyone with a sense of curiosity or adventure looking for more than what ordinary like can offer.

Use all 5 senses to explore the world, live like the locals, evolve as a human and then repeat.

Say “yes” and “hello” more often. That’s all.

Like a career, I spent years preparing and learning this craft to make it a profession and a part of my life.

If anything, the more you carry, the longer you spend planning on unnecessary or unlikely events. You can’t and shouldn’t attempt to pack for every contingency.

Traveling is my life so I suppose there’s no need of translating. But before vagabonding I was already somewhat of a minimalist, traveling full time has led me to perfect it.

It’s all well and good to say let’s travel the world but that costs big bucks no matter how you look at it, so how do you fund your travels?

The VINJABOND.com website as well as my security consulting business, both of which can be done anywhere in the world.

I have many friends I’ve met along the way from all sorts of nationalities also traveling around the world that do need to find work. Some of the more popular ways to make money while traveling is to teach English as a legitimate job for several months at a time or work at a hostel for free accommodation.

I select new destinations usually on a random basis with no specific direction. Other travelers I meet along the way often influence my next location usually traveling with them for a certain period of time.

When I initially started traveling the world, the only adjustment I had trouble with was finding the balance of play and work. Since what I’m doing is a lifestyle and not a holiday, so I have make a living while traveling.

Top 3 travel tips?

1) Embrace culture shock like an adrenaline sport and not like a sickness and wait for it to go away.

2) To me, meeting other people in a new country is the best part of travel – locals and other travelers alike. Make this a priority.

3) The longer the journey you plan to travel, the lighter the packing list should be.

Choosing the perfect clothes for a life of travel was the most difficult part of the packing process. All my tops are made of merino wool from various companies. Bottoms are from premium military or hiking apparel companies that are durable, breathe well and look good. All underwear is ExOfficio as it’s specifically made for long term travel.

The total volume of my gear is no more than 20 liters at its largest. Typical first time backpackers carry 50, 60 or even 80 liters. Despite this, I am still just as well equipped by choosing just the right gear that has specific and practical uses instead of redundant and too many “what if” items. I only get rid of gear when it needs to be replaced. So culling can be avoided with a good packing list.

Do you take any extravagances?

Indeed. But it’s all relative to who I may or may not be currently traveling with. When I do travel with another person or group, they are often backpackers with a tight budget stretching their money far – in these cases, a taxi instead of the bus can be considered extravagant. But once in a while if I need a “vacation” from my “vacation”, I’ll check myself into a luxury hotel to rather get some work done, recover from an injury/sickness or if I’m currently romantically involved.

As a vagabond, I am for all intents and purposes, “living out of a backpack”. Meaning that everything that I own (within reach) is extremely limited with very little room for variations or new gear. So my strategy for EDC must account for this.

 

What’s your go-to daily EDC?

– Modified Mil Tac HydroBak by CamelBak w/ Solar Charger

– Minimal LoPro Wallet by Tareinco

– SERE Bracelet; Escape and Evasion Kit w/ a Gear Sling (Personally hand-made)

– iPhone 5 w/ a Hitcase Pro

– Covert S35VN Knife: Self Defense / Utility (Personally hand-made)

– Carbon Fiber Impact Dagger: Self Defense (Personally hand-made)

– Lowepro Case: Holds a Spare USB Battery, Adapter and Cables

– Life Capsule Omega by Triple Aught Design: Wilderness Survival Kit

– E Case by Cascade Designs: Durable Waterproof Bag for Passport, Spare Credit / Debit Cards and Cash

– Human Gear Gotubb (x2): Holds Medicine and Coins

– Flea 2.0 by Blackburn: Powerful Rechargeable LED Torch

Wow, you’ve got a lot of gear that you’ve listed as ‘personally made’. How long have you been designing your own EDC?

I guess I’ve been modifying existing products to suit my needs for as long as I can remember. But it’s rare I make something from scratch, usually when it’s not something I can buy so I have to resort to making it myself. Survival training has given me ways to make tools on the fly using whatever material is available.

Nice! Have you modified anything else we’d get stoked on?

Yeah, you’d dig my modified TAD Fastpack Litespeed Backpack, no one else has it like mine.

What do you look for in rad EDC?

I believe the most important aspect of EDC design is making it suit the person’s needs and style with as much specificity as possible without too much influence from others’.

When thinking of EDC to design, how do you find your inspiration?

Inspiration should come from within when it comes to EDC, as its a uniquely personal ideology.

Do you make the EDC for self use or can we buy it somewhere?

No, the EDC gear I make or modify is just for me. Although I sometimes recreate a piece or help modify gear for a friend sometimes.

Besides yourself, who makes the raddest EDC at the moment?

If I had to narrow it down to just 1 brand, it would be Triple Aught Design. Their designs, build quality and utility is on my level.

OK, let’s talk bags. What’s your go-to travel bag?

The backpack was the single most difficult item to choose as this is the thing I’ll be “living out of”. After many months of purchases, returns and modifications, I finally settled with the FAST Pack Litespeed from Triple Aught Design. It’s one of the most well designed backpacks ever created and has been my trusty pack for over a year through 18 countries.

But I recently retired it as I significantly reduced my load when I received a 15 liter custom Cordura duffle bag from Black Yak. I also carry a modified sportHolster by URBAN TOOL for my immediate EDC gear.

Go to camera?

I started out with a GoPro but found a more compact, reliable and effective kit with all the benefits of a GoPro; An iPhone with a Hitcase Pro Wide Lens. I’m known for my travel photos and its all thanks to a mere smartphone.

Who inspires you in the world of vagabonding?

Other travelers and vagabonds. Experienced and new. Hearing about where they come from, where they’re going and why they do it.

Whenever I meet other travelers with iPhones, I tell them to get a Hitcase Pro for it. For clothes, I always recommend Icebreaker for their merino wool and fit. URBAN TOOL for their innovative and unique bags. Triple Aught Design gear for the tactical and military minded traveler.

I’ve realized that it’s the people your with while going to places that makes it truly awesome. Learning this the hard way, I’ve returned to many places to get back that “magic,” but it’s just not the same without the people to share it. That said, it was my week on the Koh Phi Phi Islands in Thailand. It was the very first place I wanted to visit after my obsession for travel began. Koh Phi Phi has become fairly touristy since then but it’s still one of the most beautiful and fun places I’ve ever been to.

This is classified.

Be open minded and always remember that I’m the guest, privileged to be in their country.

Street smarts goes a long way but common sense goes even further. The way I look and dress apparently gives off an intimidating aura as many new friends I’ve met along the way have mentioned. Traveling in a group is the most effective way to stay safe but again, it comes down to common sense and a bit of observation.

Vagabonding is my normal life. But I do need to assimilate to the local life of whichever country I’m in as I try to stay in each new location for as long as my visa allows me. One day when I do settle down I imagine I’ll be going through some severe reverse culture shock, however.