Do you find it difficult to pack every time you go on a trip? Do you often experience back pain after your vacation because of carrying heavy luggage?
We understand the difficulty you’re facing! We are usually the type of travelers who prefer to pack light and believe that less is more. However, we have been on vacation with family members who tend to pack a lot more than we do.
It’s difficult. A genuine struggle. This applies to everyone, not just them. During those trips, there were always additional fees that needed to be paid, luggage that either didn’t fit or was too heavy, and so on.
Why Should You Travel Light?
Our top priority is ensuring that you can travel without any stress! You can keep your cabin-sized bag with you during your trip, so you don’t have to wait for your luggage or worry about losing it when you arrive at your destination.
Also, it is less expensive and there are no additional charges for checked luggage! Simply book your trip and you’re ready for an adventure. When you arrive, it will be easier to unpack and just as easy to pack back again! That is really cool, isn’t it?
Top Tips on How to Pack Light
One Size Doesn’t Fit All
Packing light can have different meanings depending on the person, the time, and the destination. What works for one traveler may not work for another. Some people who pack very lightly can travel for weeks or months with a small 20-liter backpack. However, most people who pack lightly try to stay within the size limits set by airlines for carry-on luggage. Some people have to bring checked luggage for different reasons and situations, but they still want to pack less.
Only include suggestions from other travelers if they are suitable. These tips will help you pack and travel with less stuff. Decide for yourself whether to pack jeans or convertible trousers, and whether rolling is better than folding. Some experienced travelers may recommend bringing a universal sink plug, travel towel, headlamp, or duct tape as essential items. However, you don’t have to include them on your packing list if you don’t want to.
Benefits Keep Us on Track
What are the main reasons that motivate you to pack light? What benefits are most likely to help you stay on track? Will I save money by choosing a budget airline that charges high fees for baggage and has a limit of 8 kg (18 lb) for carry-on luggage? Maybe it’s the convenience of being able to walk or use public transportation to reach your destination. Perhaps it means always keeping your bag in sight and ensuring it arrives with you at your destination. Or, is it possible that the liberating feeling comes from being able to change plans easily without being burdened by possessions?
Minimalist Mindset and Strategy
Another way to approach the problem is to start from the end and work your way backwards. This means organizing everything and assessing each item. Everything needs to prove its worth in order to be included. There is no space for items that are only kept for emergencies, except for first-aid supplies. Also, avoid bringing anything that will only be used or worn once.
Open each kit and take out the jewelry, makeup, first-aid supplies, toiletries, clothing, and other items. Get rid of any piece of clothing that doesn’t match well with multiple other items. When I was flying on a budget airline that only allowed a 7-kg (15-lb) carry-on, I used this method to get rid of an extra .9 kg (2 lb) of things that I didn’t actually need and didn’t miss. The collection mainly included small items, but they were surprisingly heavy when combined.
Imagine yourself with a large amount of luggage and think about how you will handle it. During my trip to Australia, I was surprised to see many travelers having difficulty with their luggage. The passenger tried to lift a heavy backpack from the bus’s luggage compartment, but ended up stumbling and falling backwards because the backpack was too heavy. At hostels, I had to walk around duffel bags and backpacks that were too big to fit in the lockers. I saw people pushing large rolling suitcases on bumpy sidewalks while also carrying other bags.
Choose Luggage Carefully
It is important to make sure you do this correctly. Trying out different types of luggage can be costly. I have already experienced that. If you’re not someone who travels with very few and lightweight items, it might be better for you to use two or even three bags for your travels. This could include a main bag, a day bag, and a packable purse.
One important thing to think about is how you will manage your luggage and stay mobile. Imagine being able to easily handle everything at the same time. If you are traveling alone, there won’t be anyone to keep an eye on your bags while you use the restroom. Therefore, you will need to bring your luggage with you into the cubicle.
Leave Space in Your Bag (20%)
It can be tempting to fill a bag of any size. When we intentionally leave space, it means:
- A soft bag that is larger than the ’45-inch rule’ can be compressed to meet the carry-on requirements. It can also be placed in luggage sizers or smaller overhead bins.
- If you’re short on time, you’ll have enough space to quickly pack a bag.
- When it’s better to carry only one bag, there is enough space to fit a packable personal item or day bag inside.
- You should only put one bag on the conveyor belt during security screening. By keeping your secondary bags packed inside your main bag, you reduce the risk of theft in case there are delays at the walk-through scanner or if you need to go through additional security checks.
- There is room for items that are bought during the journey.
Lists Help a Lot
I really like making lists, and actually, I have three of them. There are three types of checklists: a packing list, a shopping list, and a pre-travel checklist. The pre-travel checklist includes tasks that need to be done before leaving home.
Packing List
Group your list into different categories. Discover options that are suitable for your needs. My current category titles include ‘Essentials’ (which mainly includes identity documents and finances), ‘Toiletries,’ ‘Comfort Pack,’ ‘Footwear, Clothing, and Accessories’ (which is further divided into sub-categories), ‘Laundry,’ and ‘Luggage, Packing Aids, and Accessories.’ ‘Gadgets,’ ‘Health/First-Aid,’ and ‘Miscellaneous.’ ‘Skiing,’ ‘Cycling,’ and ‘Camping’ are different categories that contain additional items related to those types of trips or activities.
Shopping List
A notes app on a phone is useful for creating a list of ‘Travel Purchases’ so you can remember to buy things when you’re out and about, and also research products at your own pace.
When you’re planning to visit another city or country, it’s a good idea to search online for the names and locations of travel and outdoor stores. Next, try to smoothly incorporate a shopping trip into your other activities. This will give you ideas and information about new products, including ones that you can’t find where you live. I discovered some great finds at Bever in Amsterdam, REI in New York, MEC in Toronto, and Kathmandu in Australia.
Size Matters (Think Compact)
Search for smaller and lighter versions of all the items on your packing list. If you have two products that are similar in quality, choose the one that is lighter and easier to pack. When you buy something online, make sure to look at the specifications to see how big and heavy it is.
Here are a few more things you should think about.
- When choosing a bag, try to make sure it weighs less than 20% of your carry-on allowance. For instance, if you usually fly on an airline that allows 10 kg (22 lb) of luggage, your bag should not weigh more than 2 kg (4.4 lb). If possible, choose a lighter option, but make sure it doesn’t compromise on quality and durability.
- A digital hand-held luggage scale helps you easily determine the weight of your packed bags without any guesswork. A kitchen scale that can also be used for mailing packages can be very useful for comparing the weights of different items and deciding what to pack.
- Do not use kits that are already put together. Create your own kits for first-aid, toiletries, and ‘MacGyver’.
- Get different sizes and types of sturdy containers to store your toiletries and use them to keep your things organized when packing.
Minimize Toiletries
When you are deciding which toiletries and cosmetics to bring, try to pick a bag that is small and light. A significant turning point for me was when I decided to replace my Baggallini Hanging Travel Organizer, which weighed 11.6 oz / 329 g, with a reusable 3-1-1 bag for my toiletries. A ‘3-1-1 bag’ is a term used in some countries to refer to the amount of liquids, aerosols, gels, creams, and pastes that are allowed in a carry-on bag taken onto an airplane.
There are many clear toiletry bags available for purchase that are approved by the TSA and can be used multiple times. I have a Tom Bihn 3D Clear Organizer Cube with a hook attached to it. The bag is lightweight and durable. I used it for many years to carry liquids, and then I bought a second one to hold solid toiletries. Each bag weighs 2.4 ounces or 67 grams.
Plan to Do Laundry
The clothes that you are not wearing are the clothes that you have to carry around with you from one place to another. If something is dirty, it is not useful. It means something or someone that is not useful or productive. One important tip for packing light is to bring less clothing and have a strategy for keeping them clean. What is a self-serve laundromat? Do you offer laundry service at the hotel? Do you provide a service where I can drop off my laundry and then pick it up later? Should I wash my hands in a sink or shower? Decide what is suitable for you and pack your things accordingly.
If it’s helpful, here’s what works for me:
- Except for outerwear, if something can’t be washed or needs to be ironed, it is not taken outside the home.
- If you spend a bit more money on clothing made from a mix of merino wool and synthetic materials, you won’t have to wash it after wearing it just once.
- You can wear travel pants and leggings in darker, neutral colors for multiple days without washing them.
- Hand washing only takes a few minutes each evening. If you have lightweight and quick-dry fabrics, they will be ready to use the next day.
Limit Shoes
Shoes take up a lot of weight and space. Only use two or three pairs at most. When deciding between different options, choose the ones that can easily transition from being worn during the day to being suitable for a smart-casual evening event, and from being worn outside to being worn inside. Avoid wearing brightly colored athletic shoes, if you can. Find something that is suitable for the gym, the trail, or a fancy restaurant.
Find Your Packing Style
Roll, Fold, Bundle, or Stuff
Determine what works best for you and what items you are packing. ‘Bundling’ means packing everything tightly together so that it is easy to unpack when you reach your destination. Stuffing can be used to pack a down jacket or to pack socks and underwear.
I really enjoy rolling. There are not as many wrinkles, and when stored in a packing cube, it’s easy to see how many clean pieces are left.
Use Packing Organizers to Compress
Packing organizers help keep your belongings clean, protected, and organized. They organize a bag in a similar way to a filing system. It is simple to locate things and simple to return them after using. You don’t have to search through a large space anymore to find what you’re looking for. Compression bags are used to make clothing take up less space in a bag. This is useful when you are traveling on a low-cost airline that only allows a maximum of 7 kg (15 lbs) for carry-on luggage. Having a smaller bag will make it less likely to catch the attention of airline staff.
Wear Your Stuff
If you wear your heaviest and bulkiest gear on travel days (if you can), it might help you avoid having to check a bag and instead be able to carry it on. If you have a travel vest or jacket with lots of pockets, you can carry a lot of things with you. Wearing clothes does not count towards the amount of baggage you are allowed to bring.
Sometimes, I wear a SCOTTeVEST travel vest when I travel. The weight is approximately 400 grams or 14 ounces. The bag contains an iPad mini, iPhone, wallet, passport sleeve, Panasonic Lumix DC-ZS200 pocket camera, Bose QC 20 noise-cancelling in-ear headphones, eye glasses, energy bar, and pen. The total weight of all these items is 3.3 kg / 7 lb 4 oz.
