How Low Can You Go: How to Pack Light

At times, the minimalist approach to packing can seem like you must sacrifice style and comfort and cut back on absolutely everything to achieve a previously perceived, unachievable task. But, the reality is that travelling light is the utter opposite.

It’s simply about being mindful of the small increments that can add up fast. Just like making a burrito… You want to chuck in as many mouth-watering Mexican delicacies as humanly possible without the burrito exploding. 

This has been one of the biggest struggles I’ve had every single god damn time I prepare for a trip. I was that one chick that rocked up to the airport with over 35kg of luggage for a one-week vacation. Yowza. 

These are some of my best-kept organisation secrets and the small changes I’ve learned to implement over these years of travelling.

You don’t have to take on all of these changes in one go, just add in a few more each time you travel, and eventually, you’ll get there. Once you learn to pack smarter and lighter, you’ll reap the benefits as your life on the road becomes much more mobile, easier, and effortless.

Think of it as you’re transitioning from a mule to a bird. Lightweight, feathers and all…  

Say adiós to those hefty extra luggage fees incurred at the airport; it’s time to learn how to become a pro packer. A pr-acker, to be exact…

Here’s what we cover in this packing guide:

• Benefits of Packing Light

• The Basic Breakdown

• Tips for Minimalist Travel

• FAQs

This is the Ultimate Guide on How to Pack Light.

What are the Key Benefits of Packing Light?

• Say ciao to excess baggage fees

• Hasta luego to checked baggage fees if you opt for ‘carry-on only’

• Arrivederci to those nasty-ass airport trolley fees

• Hello to more time as you cut your packing/preparation time in half  

How to Make Your Suitcase Lighter 101: The Basic Breakdown

This is the trick: think basic instead of specific.

When compiling your packing list, start off by simply separating your items into the following key categories.

•         Clothes

•         Outerwear

•         Shoes

•         Toiletries

•         Electronics

•         Luggage

Clothes

When selecting clothes that you want to flaunt in that new, dreamy destination, consider lighter fabrics over heavier ones, such as wool and fleece.

Don’t get me wrong, they’ll do one hell of a job keeping you feeling warm ‘n’ fuzzy, but their bulkiness is a significant setback if you’re trying to travel modestly.

Lightweight fabrics, such as silk, nylon, polyester, cotton, and linen, are on the lighter end of the spectrum and should be prioritised.

My best advice is to pack outfits that you can mix and match. Tune in to your inner OCD and colour-coordinate the life out of your garments.

Leave it at home if a specific piece doesn’t work with multiple outfits. That bad boy can be saved for another day. As a general rule, limit yourself to two pairs of pants that will match well with everything you’ve packed.

The most common clothing packing approach is folding, rolling, and compressing. The folding method is optimal for sturdier fabrics like denim jeans, while rolling is ideal for softer materials like cotton and wool.

Compressing, on the other hand, should be approached with caution. Whilst it’ll save you space, compressing your clothing does not ensure a lighter bag and can lure you into over-packing.

When packing your suitcase, don’t forget to put the heavier items at the bottom (where the wheels are). This will make it much easier when rolling a bag through those dreadfully lengthy airport hallways.

Outerwear

If you travel to a cooler destination, a jacket will be your best friend.

A quality jacket will provide you with those cosy, comfortable feel, but, unfortunately, it will also add some serious bulk to your luggage weight. Nowadays, there is a multitude of lightweight options for outerwear available. But, if you don’t want to opt for a lighter jacket, the good news is that you don’t have to sacrifice your steeze. Yeehaw.

My top trick: don’t pack your most oversized, wearable item. Wear it! By wearing your jacket, you’ll not only stay warmer in the airport and on the plane but also not have to worry about the extra room (and weight) it would otherwise occupy in your luggage.

Shoes

When it comes down to your twinkle toes, shoes can bestow you with a grave challenge.

Shoes epitomise the struggle that is the balancing act between style, comfort, and bloody bulk. What’s important here is to be as realistic as possible. Unless you’ve enjoyed attending a special occasion, it’s best to only chuck in multi-use shoes.

If we break it down to a number, aim for three pairs at most.

First things first, check out your lightest available shoes. The only downside to more lightweight shoes, such as thongs (flip flops) or sandals, is that they do not offer sufficient support for your days of wandering and frolicking around those newfound alleyways and streets.

Always put a pair of sneakers in your luggage, so when you can take the streets by storm, your feet won’t be paying the toll later on.  

Wear your heaviest pair of shoes when you’re in transit and on the plane, and reserve the room in your suitcase for only the lightest of what’s on offer.

My top tip: Maximize your lugMaximisece by filling your shoes with smaller items such as socks, underwear, and even T-shirts. Then, cover your shoes with a shower cap or plastic bag so they don’t rub up against your other clothing.

Toiletries

The soundest decision you can make regarding packing toiletries is to ditch them altogether. Straight out. What the truck? This lady has got to be joking… Hear me out.

If you’re staying in a hotel, rely on the hotel’s free basics to get you through, or just buy them when you arrive. Almost every destination worldwide is guaranteed to have everything from sun lotion and deodorant to mosquito repellent and whatnot.

If you simply can’t say no, share your toiletries with your travel buddy instead. Ask yourself, do you and your companion both need an entire bottle of shampoo? Four words: hell to the no. Split the sharable items to cut your luggage weight in half.

Regarding medication, set aside only your essentials and ditch the ‘just in case’ ítems. If you haven’t used something in the last few weeks, you’re highly unlikely to need it while you’re away. There is almost always a pharmacy around, wherever you are in the world, so if it comes down to it, you can purchase your medication from a local vendor.

Electronics

In this day and age, we constantly rely on technology in our day-to-day lives. Making the right choices and prioritising your electronics will save you both weight and space in your suitcase. A phone can double as a camera and a reading device too.

You’ll need a USB charger, a good pair of earphones, and a Universal adaptor. Instead of packing books, you could consider opting for an e-reader or tablet.

This would essentially allow you to store a month’s worth (or more) of books all in one device. Plus, you could add a few games, download movies, and listen to podcasts.

Luggage

Regarding the nitty-gritty, you can’t pack light if you don’t have the right bag or suitcase.

Undoubtedly, the best way to sidestep stuffing your suitcase to the brim is to invest in a smaller, sturdier size. Slap temptation directly in the face!

A smaller bag and suitcase stop you from slipping in unnecessary items and force you to prioritise. When looking for a suitcase, consider that the larger the suitcase, the heavier it gets. A lightweight, medium-sized suitcase generally weighs between 3.5kg and 4.6kg.

Alternatively, you could invest in a backpack over wheeled luggage. From my own experience, a backpack is a lot more versatile, and it’s perfect for specific destinations such as South East Asia when you somehow find yourself swinging your ass (and backpack) onto the back of a tuk-tuk. Backpacks can also be tucked under your seat when on public transport and fit inside a locker without too much of a hassle.

Key Tips for Minimalist Travel

Over the valuable years of improvised trial, enthused experimentation, and copious errors, a few tricks have served me well and allowed me to travel light.

Packing Cubes

If you’re an organisation enthusiast like myself, packing cubes will be your number one. These lightweight, versatile cubes help you to maximise the space in your bag by categorising and storing items separately.

Not only will it save you from rummaging through your belongings, but packing cubes also limits how many clothes you can bring. My best advice is to travel with the cubes not compressed to avoid creasing your clothing.

Budget tip: Source out freezer bags or plastic bags; they do the same thing and you don’t have to spend as much money. The only downside is that they are not as sturdy.

Don’t Play the Guessing Game. Invest in a Set of Travel Scales.

If you plan on free-balling it and weighing your luggage at the airport, think again. By the time you’re there, it’ll already be too late. Save yourself the hassle of leaving a handful of your beloved ítems behind, and purchase hand-held travel scales.

Pimp Yourself Out With a Packing List

How does one pimp out a packing list, you ask?

Set yourself up with a packing list that includes everything and anything that is essential. No matter how hard that voice in the back of your head tries to tell you that you need that extra sweater or pair of sunglasses, stick to your guns (the packing list) and don’t back down. Show no mercy! If it’s not on the list, it’s not going in. Simple.

Settle for a Sarong & Ditch the Towel

A towel is generally a given if you’re staying in a hotel. In some hostels, you even can hire a towel for a small fee. As a general rule, a sarong will work just as well. Not only does it take up less space in your suitcase, but it also dries quickly and can be used in multiple ways.

You can manoeuvre a sarong into a scarf, beach towel, or dress or tie it up into a bag. Get your sarong on! One thing to note is that the sarong is not sheer unless you want your buns to be admired by others. That’s cool, too; no judgement here.

Clear Out Your Purse

¡Dios mio! I can’t count how often I’ve mistakenly set off on an adventure without emptying my purse first.

Do yourself a favour and set aside 10 minutes before departure to clear the absolute life out of your purse/handbag.

All you’ll need are the essential credit/debit cards, cash, and your ID.

This trick will save you weight and a lot of stress in case your purse gets snatched when you’re off venturing to your new destination.  

FAQS

What is the 1-2-3-4-5-6 packing rule?

For short trips, this rule allows you to pack 1 hat, 2 pairs of shoes, 3 pants, skirts or shorts, 4 shirts and 5 pairs of socks and underwear.

How do you pack light for 7 days?

Pack at least 3 days’ worth of clothes and 1 to 2 pairs of shoes. Stick to travel-sized items only and opt for packing cubes to keep things organised.

What not to pack for a holiday?

Hair straighteners or hair dryers, towels and heavy guidebooks.

This Ultimate Guide on How to Pack Light has literally saved my ass myriad times. From preparing ahead of time with a list of necessities, all the way to the very last minute when you’re emptying your purse, these are the best tips and tricks to help you prioritise.

So, now you know how to pack light. What items are your travel essentials?