Packing light for a trip is something everyone wishes they did. It gives you more freedom. Suitcases are lighter, making it easier to navigate through the airport. You don’t have to dig through a mountain of stuff looking for one thing and you get to avoid heavy lifting, saving your from back pains.
Chances are you can purchase whatever you need there, if you’re going to a metropolitan area or well-developed country. You’ll have less stress and anxiety repacking everything when it’s time to go back.
But more often than not, people end up overpacking. To be fair, it’s not as easy as it should be. That’s why we’ve come up with a list of tips, tricks, and hacks to help you pack light for your next trip.
- MAKE A PACKING LIST
Before even opening up your suitcase, make a packing list. Take a few minutes to think about what you’ll need and write them down. Don’t look around the room and decide what to put in your bag.
Doing this not only helps you efficiently pack light, but you’ll also have a checklist of all the things you’ve brought on the trip, allowing you not to forget anything.
- THINK “MUST-HAVE,” NOT “JUST IN CASE.”
It’s good to be prepared, but packing “just in case stuff” will take up a lot of space. Just pack what you absolutely need, then buy the other stuff when you need it. If you’re unsure if an item is a need or not, don’t bring it.
- MAKE A TRAVEL FIRST AID KIT
Whether going on a long or light trip, a travel first aid kit is a “must-have just in case” kind of time. When making your travel first aid kit, look for items in smaller travel sizes. You don’t need to bring bulky, full-sized ones. You’ll only be gone a short while, so mini ones will be just fine.
You can also buy a pre-made first aid kit online and just add to it.
- PLAN ON DOING LAUNDRY
Doing laundry on vacation seems like a tedious chore, but it will save a significant amount of stress when packing.
Instead of packing a ton of clothes, reuse the ones you brought. If you’re staying in a hotel or can’t find a laundromat, just wash your clothes in the sink. You can even save time when you wash your clothes while in the shower.
You may be able to fins small sachets or bars of laundry detergent. You can pack them or just buy at your destination.
- Roll clothes in towels to dry them out.
Here’s cool travel hack: when you are washing your own clothes, roll them up in bath towels. They suck out moisture, and you can just hang them to dry. You can ask the hotel to send up extra towels so you can dry your clothes more quickly.
- CHOOSE LIGHT AND QUICK-DRYING FABRICS
Since you’ll be doing your laundry, packing light and quick-drying clothes will greatly help. Polyester, linen, rayon, microfiber, and nylon are the ones to pack. If you’re not going to a cold place, avoid thick cotton, wool, silks, and dry-clean-only clothing.
However, if you’re the type to get chilly, you can bring a puffy packable down jacket. It’s lightweight but warm, and you can just roll it and store it in a bag.
- BRING CLOTHES YOU CAN USE OVER AND OVER AGAIN
To save time on laundry, use clothes you can use multiple times without having to wash them. Bring comfy pants to move in, your favorite pair of jeans, your best soft pajamas, and a puffy packable down jacket.
- PACK CLOTHES THAT SERVE MORE THAN ONE PURPOSE
While choosing what looks good is the first thing you might think of when packing clothes, you also need to consider practicality. Choosing versatile items that do double duty or serve more than one purpose makes your luggage weigh less and take up less space.
For example, a poncho can be a rain jacket; some shorts can be used for swimming, hiking, and other sweaty activities; convertible pants can turn into shorts when it gets too hot and is quick-drying.
- PACK OLD CLOTHES YOU DON’T MIND LEAVING BEHIND OR DONATING
Packing clothes you don’t mind getting rid of ensures you’ll travel light on your way back home. You’ll have more space in your luggage for souvenirs and gifts. Plus, it gives you the opportunity to clean out your closet.
More than that, you’ll be able to help some people in need. Do a bit of research. You can look up where to donate your old clothes or ask the hotel concierge or even some of the locals.
- USE SHOWER CAPS TO STORE SHOES, NOT BULKY COVERS
You’ll want to protect your other stuff from the dirt on your shoes, but you only need to cover the soles. Here’s another neat traveling hack: use shower caps instead. They’re not as bulky as actual shoe covers, and some are disposable. You can just throw them in the trash after your trip.
- BRING A MAXIMUM OF 3 PAIRS OF SHOES
Shoes are relatively bulky, so try to limit the number you bring. We recommend bringing one pair of walking shoes, one pair of slippers, and one pair of dress shoes. Make sure you’re comfortable with these. Breaking them in before your trip helps reduce the blisters.
Personally, we like to pack comfortable and supportive walking shoes, sturdy sandals for nature hikes, and cozy slippers for lounging.
Alternatively, you can bring multipurpose footwear. For example, your hiking shoes can double as walking shoes.
- BUY TOILETRIES AT YOUR DESTINATION
Toiletries may be considered essential, but you don’t have to bring them. Don’t worry about shampoos, soaps, and facewash. You can buy miniature versions at your destination that will just last during your trip.
More than that, it’s highly likely that the hotel you’re staying at will have some available. If you’re not staying in a hotel or are unsure if they provide these, call ahead to ask. List the items you’ll need, and if they don’t have those, then you can bring your own.
You should only bring what you absolutely cannot live without, like skincare products, especially if you have sensitive skin or a specific routine.
Packing for travel is actually one of the most difficult parts of any trip. You have to think about what to bring and how to fit them into your luggage. Packing light is even more difficult because you’ll have to try to dwindle your stuff down to the necessities. Well, if you follow the tips above, you’ll have a smooth-sailing trip with some light luggage.
How to pack light is just one of the many things you can learn to make traveling better. If you want to read more articles like this, visit our website. There’s also other content there you might enjoy.