Travel Tech Hacks Packing Light and Staying Connected on the Go
The Art Of Packing Light: 25 Useful Tips To Travel Light
Packing light is an art, and you can master it too.
Not long ago, my friend picked me up from the airport. As soon as I got into her car, she marveled at the size of my luggage. I had been away for a 3-week trip to Costa Rica and traveled carry-on only.
An avid traveler herself, my friend claims she doesnt know how to pack light and admitted shes had to pay excess baggage fees at times. So, she asked if I could share my tips to travel light.
I did better: I decided to write a post how to travel light, and why traveling light is much better.
With my travel light tips you will learn how to pack light and most importantly smart. All my packing light tips are easy to implement.
Let me start with my essential and really easy advice! Start implementing the changes that seem the easiest, and each time you go on a new trip, add one more.
Travel Light Essentials
Let me start my tips to travel light with some travel light essentials. These are basic things you need to understand if you want to start packing lighter.
Pick the right luggage for your trip
Ideally, the best way to travel light is to start with a very light suitcase or backpack. If you are thinking of buying a new backpack or suitcase, make sure you check how much it weights too the weight of your actual suitcase or backpack will make a difference once its time to pack.
In most cases, you can travel carry-on only (more about this in a bit) but sometimes this is just not possible. Either way, you should try to stick to the smallest bag possible for your trip.
The smaller your bag is, the less you will be packing. The larger the suitcase is, the more stuff you will feel compelled to bring. This may not be an immediately actionable tip not if you are meant to leave tomorrow and you landed on this post looking for some quick fix.But keep it in mind for your next trips.
The right luggage for a trip usually depends on the kind of trip you are taking.
Best backpacks and duffel bags for travel
A backpack is generally better if you are traveling independently and have to catch lots of buses or trains, as it is infinitely easier to carry especially when you are traveling to a country where sidewalks arent a thing.
First of all: how large a backpack do you actually need? I used to think, the larger the better and I have been on trips where I carried around a 75 liters backpack. Dont do that! That is way too much. You need at most a 55 liters backpack and that is for longer trips.
For backpacks, I normally use an Osprey Ariel 55 its the most comfortable to wear and back since they also open at the front and sit nicely on my shoulders and hips. There even is an Osprey Ariel 65 for those of you who are hard-core heavy packers.
I have recently started using duffel bags in place of backpacks. They are much easier to pack and unpack, easy to carry (though not as comfortable as a regular travel backpack) and can be locked.
My favorite is The North Face Base Camp Duffel Bag. It comes in various sizes and I find the medium is just perfect for a longer trip. It comes in a variety of very bright colors (mine is green) so its easy to spot it on the carousel among many other bags.
Best suitcases for travel
If you are traveling with your family or taking a guided trip using private transport (or renting a car) or if you arent moving around as much, a suitcase it probably a better idea.
I have tried many suitcases in my years of travel and have recently settled for a Level8 Voyager that is extremely easy to carry thanks to its 360 spinning wheels. Its also very easy to pack as it has several compartments.
When picking a new suitcase or backpack, check its weight! If you shop online, retailer sites like Amazon or REI will give you the exact dimensions, including weight.
Travel carry-on if you can
I am a massive fan of traveling carry-on only. For one thing, it means no lost luggage ever. And it also means that the process of changing flights or having a layover is much easier.
Most regular airlines (not budget airlines) will allow you to bring on board a personal item that you can fit under the seat in front of you, and a small carry-on bag.
The size of the carry-on bag varies depending on the airline, so you should always check with it upon booking your flights. The general rule is that it must fit in the overhead compartment.
One thing to keep in mind is that there are restrictions on the items you can bring on your carry-on for those of you traveling around the United States, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) states that you can take one small zip-top bag where all liquids (bottles of no more than 4 ounces little over 100 milliliters) must fit.
The rules on carry-on luggage are similar in the European Union.
If you decided to travel carry-on only, you need to get the right carry-on bags.
I normally use a Classic 44 L Cabin Zero that weights just 760 grams (1.7 pounds): Its a backpack, and most staff at the security checks in airports and even when boarding wont ever bother measuring the exact size or weight of it: since they see it on my shoulders, they just assume it is light. It is super light and it fits in the overhead compartment on planes so its the perfect carry-on size.
I also use an Eagle Creek Warrior that weights 1.9 kg (little over 4 pounds) which means that, depending on the airline, I can still pack 8 more kg (17.6 pounds). Most airlines will accept it as carry-on. I am also a fan of the Level8 Pro Carry-On.
Use packing cubes
Packing cubes and packing organizers are one of the smartest inventions ever.
They help even the most disorganized traveler to keep things nice and tidy; they help keep down the number of items you pack; and depending on the kind you get they even compress your stuff a bit, helping you save some space (which you should leave empty, BTW!!).
There even are compression bags that will help your stuff keep dry, adding an extra layer of protection against rain or liquids spilling in your luggate.
Among the best compression packs around there are these ones by Eagle Creek. Rei also sells some of the best packing cubes.
Weight your bag!
Weight your bag rather than guessing how much it weights. You should do it at home, where you can still unpack and leave things behind. Dont show up at the airport thinking your bag is definitely below 10 kg (22 pounds) to find out it actually isnt and then end up having to pay for checked baggage.
Get a digital scale that you can even take with you on your trips. It proved essential when I was in Peru and had to pack for the Inca Trail, for which I had some serious weight restrictions.
Apply the 6-5-4-3-2-1 rule
Whenever I am asked for tips for packing light, I say that you just have to pack a weeks worth of clothing, picking items you need rather than items you like; sticking to neutral colors that are easier to mix and match; and knowing you can always do laundry along the way.
Trust me, nobody will care if you wear the same thing twice in a row. In fact, chances are nobody will notice at all!
If packing a weeks worth of clothing means nothing to you, then apply the 6-5-4-3-2-1 rule, which is meant to force to pack enough clothes to last you for a week, after which you need to do laundry.
Its easy:
- 6 pairs of underwear
- 5 pairs of sicks
- 4 tops (a mix of short and long sleeves and outer layers)
- 3 bottoms (pants, shorts or skirts)
- 2 pairs of shoes
- 1 hat
To this, you will have to add other things that can be specific to your trip such as a swimsuit, rain gear, etc.
Plan on doing laundry on the way
Most hotels and hostels offer laundry services or have washing machines that you can use. You can safely travel light without having the worry of having to reuse dirty underwear.
In any case, you should bring a bar of biodegradable laundry soap so that you can wash the smaller items (socks, underwear) in the sink. Most of these soap bars are actually ok to use as shampoo or on the body too.
Dont pack last minute
One of the biggest mistakes you can make when you are trying to pack light is to leave your packing to the very last minute. You need to pack at least a day before your trip: having to hurry and likely panicking does not help being smart about what you pack.
Which brings me to say
Stick to a packing list
One of the biggest mistakes you may make when packing is to take out your suitcase, pack whatever you need, and then realizing there is still some space left pack more stuff that you probably dont even need.
Write yourself a packing list a few days before your trip. Then only pack half the items on your list. Stick to it.
If you cant figure out what to pack because you are uncertain of what the trip may require, look for a packing list online. Searching for terms such as what to pack for X destination will bring out a wealth of information that will definitely be useful.
I have written specific packing list for a number of destinations and occasions, obviously based on my experience:
Consider renting gear
Sometimes theres just some gear you will need when traveling, and its either impossible to travel light or to take the necessary gear with you. This could be the case if you go on a long-distance hiking trip for which you will need to carry things such as a tent, a sleeping bag, etc.
In some cases, you will want your gear and you wont have a choice but to ship it for example, if yours is a biking trip you will most likely want to ride your bike.
In other cases, you will have the option of simply renting gear once you get to your destination. For example, when I walked the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu I rented a sleeping bag, hiking poles and more.
Ditch the things that arent necessary
There definitely are some things you dont need during a trip I am especially talking to the girls reading this. Here they are:
HAIRDRYER If you are going to a warm country, you wont need to dry your hair. If you are traveling to a cold destination and staying in a hotel, you will find one in your room. If you are staying at a hostel, the reception usually has one.
HAIR STRAIGHTENER OR CURLING IRON Do you really need to straighten your hair while traveling? If you ask me, the answer is no.
JEWELRY AND MAKE UP After a long day of walking around, you will at most want to apply some mascara and a lipstick. Also ditch the jewelry: bring a pair of earrings that match all your outfits, and buy some locally as a souvenir. Pack a small amount of perfume in a travel size spray bottle.
Empty your wallet of all your loyalty cards. Chances are you wont need them where you are going.
Best Tips To Travel Light
Bring items you can easily mix and match
The key to packing light for travel is to create outfits before the trip, rather than during the trip itself.
If you manage to take clothes that you can mix and match in terms of style and colors, you will be able to create more outfits with less items.And that in turn means you wont need nearly as many clothes.
For example, you can pick neutral colors that are easy to combine black, white, blue, dark brown and even khaki are great when traveling. In general, darker colors will stay (or look) cleaner a bit longer too. You can always add a touch of color with an accessory.
The same goes for shoes: pack shoes that you can easily match with most outfits.
This brings me to the next tips for packing light.
Bring items that have two duties
One of my best travel light tips is to pack items that have multiple functions. If you cant decide between two items with similar purposes, pack the lighter one.
For example, you can pack a poncho instead of a rain jacket. Since its nice and large, it can go over your backpack too. And its actually much cheaper than rain gear.
On the other hand, depending on the trip, an actual rain jacket will be absolutely necessary: I found my Black Diamond rain jacket a life saver in Alaska, and it packs super light.
You can pack a sarong that you can use to go to the beach both as a skirt or quick dress and as a towel its lighter than an actual towel, and it also dries much quicker.
However, a good travel towel is super light and perfect in case you are staying in hostels where sometimes towels are not provided.
I also have a fun skirt that is perfect for a city walk, and since it has inner shorts I can use it for hiking too. Or you could opt for (not exactly fashionable) convertible pants that you can turn into shorts if the weather is nice.
Dont pack all your shoes
No matter how much youd like to bring a pair of shoes for every occasion, stick to a maximum of two pair of shoes, plus a pair of flip-flops you can use to get out of the shower (or to get in the shower if you are staying in a hostel dorm with shared bathroom) as well as going to the beach.
Here is what I normally pack.
FLIP-FLOPS After years of using Havaianas, I switched to Crocs and I am never going back. They are much lighter, more comfortable, and come in a number of designs.
SANDALS I recommend a pair or Sketchers sandals that you can also use to get in the water and will dry quickly. I bought them at a small store in Sassari and used them when I visited Nauyaca Waterfalls in Costa Rica and they were perfect. Birkenstocks sandals are an excellent alternative and they come in colors that are super easy to match.
WALKING SHOES In warm weather, I often use a pair of Paez canvas shoes they pack light and they can easily dress up. Converse All Stars canvas shoes are a good alternative. For winter trips, I opt either for a pair of biker boots or a pair of sneakers such as these.
HIKING BOOTS OR SHOES If I go on a hiking trip, I take my Solomon hiking boots. If you are only planning on lighter hiking, you can probably get by with a pair of hiking shoes such as the Merrel Moab or trail shoes that will pack much lighter and look good with jeans too. Just make sure they are waterproof because the last thing you want is to hike with wet feet!
I know what you are thinking: hiking boots are heavy and bulky, so how do you pack those if you are meant to be packing light?
This brings me right to my next tip.
Wear bulky and heavy items
Wear your hiking boots on your flight and for any travel day as that will make you save space in your bag. The same goes for any other bulky item including a jacket. Airports and planes are usually so cold anyways that you wont regret wearing them!
In any case, you should wear your hiking boots on the plane for another reason: These are one of the hardest items to replace in case your luggage gets lost.
Its not always easy to find a good pair of hiking boots when traveling (I had to replace mine in Cusco after the Inca Trail and finding a pair wasnt exactly easy, even in a city that has lots of hiking gear shops!)
Dont pack clothes just in case
The odds of temperatures being freezing in a tropical country are pretty slim, much like the odds of being able to wear a lovely tank-top in Alaska during the winter. Besides, if you really need an extra warm layer, you will most likely find a shop that sells it.
This brings me to mention
Layer up!
This is something I have learned thanks to hiking. The key to packing lighter is to wear (and pack) layers. Layers mean more items you can mix and match to create outfits. They also mean being able to quickly adapt to changing weather conditions.
For example, instead of packing a bulky sweater for colder climates, bring a short or long sleeves shirt, a lighter sweater you can wear on top of it, and a lightweight synthetic insulated jacket that you can pack very small.
I have a Kuhl Spyfire Hoody that keeps me warm on colder days and that I can pack so small that it looks like a tiny pillow.
Use tech gear
Sometimes, layers wont be enough to keep you warm and you need specific gear. Tech gear is a life saver if you are visiting a cold country.
I am a massive fan of Kuhl when it comes to tech gear. Things such as a good pair of base layers (Kuhl has some great merino wool base layers that are lightweight and breathable), a warm fleece, a wind breaker jacket are all must-haves when traveling in the winter.
Ditch the jeans! They are heavy; they arent comfortable to wear on long haul flights, they wont keep you warm when its cold outside (or cool when its hot).
You also need items that are quick-dry and dont wrinkle too much chances are that synthetic fabrics are better for that. This is especially important if you are going on a hiking trip and plan on washing some items in the sink at night they will dry much faster than regular natural fabrics.
Bag up shoes
Shoe carrier bags are expensive and heavy. However, you certainly dont want to put your shoes in your suitcase just as they come, especially when their sole is dirty.
Do you want to know what I use? Large (or, depending on the shoes) very large Ziploc bags. They weight nothing and they are the kind of thing that you will certainly have at home. I use them over and over and occasionally get a new one.
Pack an extra empty bag for your dirty laundry!
Use travel size or solid toiletries
Most hotels nowadays provide some basic toiletries however this is not the case in cheaper places or in hostels. Personally, I am not a fan of these complimentary toiletries and prefer to bring my own.
Solid toiletries are one of the smartest inventions ever. First of all, you wont have to bother with the liquids allowance at the security checks in case you are traveling carry-on only (which is what I recommend). Furthermore, they wont accidentally open and spill all over your stuff.
Consider opting for solid shampoo and conditioner, a bar of soap instead of shower gel, a deodorant stick, and even a bar of body moisturizer.
My favorite brand for solid toiletries is Lush. HiBar is a great alternative.
If you arent a fan of solid toiletries, opt for travel size ones. 100 ml of shampoo will certainly last for a 3 weeks trip! Most pharmacies sell travel size bottles that you can refill with your favorite products. Otherwise, you can also get them on Amazon. There even are travel size toothbrushes and toothpaste that pack very small.
Cant find a travel size sun lotion at your local pharmacy? Look at the airport duty-free!
If you are traveling carry-on only, you dont really need a toiletries bag you need to place your liquids in a transparent bag anyways. Otherwise, I recommend a drawstring toiletry bag that can fold very small even when full.
Here are some more travel light ideas: share your toiletries with your travel partner. Whenever I travel with my sister, we split whatever we need to bring so as to spread the weight evenly for example we only bring one tube of toothpaste. If we run out, we simply buy it at a local shop.
Try a menstrual cup
For the girls reading this who want to learn how to travel lighter: If you know youll get your period during your trip, you will have to pack sanitary pads and tampons which take up space in your suitcase.
A good and environmentally friendly alternative are menstrual cups. Try it a few times before your trip, because not all menstrual cups are the same and it takes a while learning how to place them and take them off.
If you have established thats not your thing, just pack a few tampons and pads to last you for the trip.
Only take prescription medications
You will definitely need to bring with you any prescription ie, I have asthma and need to take medications on a daily basis.
When it comes to non-prescription drugs, you can usually get them off-the-counter pretty much anywhere. If you still want to carry some, just pack one of each (ie one paracetamol, a hydration pack, etc) to use in case of emergency until you can find a pharmacy.
Opt for deflatable / collapsible versions of objects
Travel pillows, water bottles and the like are all very useful but can take lots of space. You can opt for the travel version, which is much better when packing light.
For example, you can get an inflatable travel pillow and a collapsible water bottle.
Electronics
If you are going on holidays, you will hardly need to bring your laptop with you.
If you think you may need to check your email once or twice during the trip, you can definitely use your smartphone. Most smartphones nowadays make it extremely easy to send emails, so you dont really need to worry about bringing your laptop with you.
If you think you need to work while away, you could invest on an iPad or a tablet such as the Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 light which is extremely lightweight, and combine it with a folding bluetooth keyboard that pack super small. Its also perfect to read books.
Likewise, you should only pack a pair of in-ear headphones. There are excellent in-ear headphones that are also noise canceling so you dont have to sacrifice sound quality for something super lightweight.
Bring a Kindle
A Kindle is so much better than paper books if you want to travel light. If you are on a longer trip and as avid a reader as I am, you will be going through a few books and there is no way you can take all the paper versions with you.You can even get a travel guide on a kindle!
Other items to pack
A buff is a good (and light) thing to pack: it can work as a scarf, as a bandana, and even as a headband, sleeping mask or to protect your head from the sun.
Another thing you should definitely bring with you and that doesnt take up much space is a number padlock. In fact, it can be the same one you use to lock your duffel bag or luggage while you are in transit.
Depending on where you are going, you may also need a plug adapter.
Finally, bring a USB charger so that you can plug in all your electronics at once.
Why Packing Light Is So Much Better
Packing light for travel is so much better than carrying an entire closet with you. You have to take my word for it. I wasnt born a smart packer.
For my 6-months backpacking trip across Central and South America, I used a 75 liters backpack that carried 18 kg of weight thats almost 40 pounds. The daypack I wore in the front was no less than 8 kg (almost 18 pounds). Thats a total of 26 kg (58 pounds) as a minimum, which is more than half my actual weight.
Moving around with that amount of weight was a lot of effort. I certainly couldnt run to catch a bus last minute! Yet, I felt like I could not ditch any single item, and I kept accumulating souvenirs and other stuff that I really didnt need.
It took me a few more trips to learn packing lighter. Now, the more I travel, the more I appreciate how much better it is to travel light better for my back; quicker to pack, and all in all simply liberating.
Light luggage is easier to carry
Things can and will go wrong during a trip, and you may need to actually run to make a flight / train / bus / ferry.
Like the time there was a power outage in London and despite having planned to be at Stansted Airport 3 hours in advance I made it there a minute before the check-in desk closed.
A heavy bag will hold you down. Smaller and lighter luggage is easier to carry and easier on your body.
Pack and unpack in no time
If you hate packing as much as I do, why put yourself through the burden of packing half your closet for a trip? Packing light is faster, because you have less stuff to place in your bag. And unpacking is quicker too!
Layovers are so much easier
And so are multi-destination trips, actually.If you have a long layover, you can get out of the airport and wander around town which is much quicker and easier if you travel light.
Similarly, when you have a train connection its much easier to get out of the station and go somewhere for lunch if you have a small carry-on bag rather than a massive suitcase.
Its cheaper
Traveling light means you can be sure you wont have to pay excess baggage fees. But theres more.
If you manage to keep the weight of your luggage below a certain limit you can even avoid the checked luggage fees.
Wait its not over yet!
If you travel light, you can avoid piling your bags on those annoying airport carts which are costly and horrible to push around. Once you get to your hotel, you can carry your bag to your room and avoid tipping the porter too.
Are you finally convinced that you should start packing lighter?
Further Readings
These posts may come in handy when planning your next trips:
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