You do have to live with an intentionally light footprint. One thing a backpacker learns quickly is we don't really need that much stuff :)

Subletting is a good option. Most leases in major cities are year-long so you could time it around that as well.

Bottomline: most potential roadblocks are solvable.

I would put my things in storage when I went travelling, and leave the lease. Usually quite affordable, even with the big brand name storage firms.

Finding a new rental every time sounds like too much of hassle for me to have it on a schedule like that.