Tips and guidelines for people wanting to make the move to slimmer luggage
I get it – you want to make sure you pack everything you will need for your travels. But I am sure you will be surprised at how many items you actually need per day. Besides, the flexibility of only having a small piece of luggage you can handle by yourself gives freedom when traveling that beats having unused costume changes left when returning home. That is my opinion, anyway.
Fortunately, packing light is a skill that every traveler can master with a bit of planning and strategy. Whether you’re preparing for a weekend getaway or a longer adventure, this guide breaks down practical tips into three sections: basic packing guidelines, luggage-slimming tricks, and pro-level strategies for seasoned travelers.
Basic Packing Guidelines
Start with these tips to simplify your packing process:
- Choose the Right Bag
It may sound obvious, but the size of your bag will dictate how much you can pack. Opt for a carry-on or a small suitcase to force yourself to bring only the essentials. - Plan Outfits for the Days You’re Away
Think in terms of complete outfits, not individual items. You can, of course, re-use items by combining them to create different outfits. In this way you will limit the amount of pieces brought but never used. Different people have different needs, but a rule of thumb is to pack enough underwear, sock and t-shirts for the number of days you’ll be traveling. The rest can easily be reused so you only need a couple for rotation. But remember this: you never need to pack for more than 14 days, no matter how long the trip is. See the laundry tip further down on how this works. - Leave “What If” Items Behind
Avoid overpacking for every unlikely scenario. If you truly need something, chances are you can buy it at your destination. Focus on what you know you’ll use, not what you might need. The exceptions are things that are hard to get by but will give you peace of mind having at hand. Traveling should be fun and free, so be kind to yourself and bring that silly thing that you probably won’t need but will allow you to explore more carefree. - Pack an empty tote bag
Now one item that will always come in handy is a tote bag. It can give you some peace of mind if you are new to packing small and scared you will not have space for shopping. It can come in handy when packing for the beach or for carrying your heavy jacket when it actually is pretty warm outside. And above all – you can use it as a laundry net so your stinky clothes don’t have to touch your clean ones when you pack your bag between destinations.
Luggage Slimming Tips
Once you’ve nailed the basics, use these tricks to slim down your bag and save space:
- Limit Shoes and Tech
Shoes are bulky, heavy and take up valuable space. Stick to two pairs: one versatile pair for walking or casual activities, and another for any specific needs. Similarly, pare down tech gadgets to essentials like your phone, charger, and maybe a tablet or lightweight laptop. Consider devices that can share a charger or that have multiple functions to save additional space. - Roll or Use Packing Cubes
Rolling your clothes helps maximize space and prevents wrinkles. Packing cubes can compress your items even further and keep your bag organized. - Decant Toiletries
An obvious advice is to skip full-sized bottles and transfer toiletries into travel-sized containers. if you are traveling by plane, this is often a criterion rather than a choice. But one tip is to try and use your containers for one week while at home to get a better estimate of how much product you actually need. This can help you optimize the container size without the fear of running out. You can also consider switching to solid options like shampoo bars or toothpaste tabs for less weight and fewer spills..
Pro Tips for Seasoned Travelers
Take your packing skills to the next level with these expert-level strategies.
While these are points that can work for everybody, I advice people who are new to light travel to use what they already have first to get a reference of what they like and dislike before purchasing dedicated items. Even though something might have a good review online, it doesn’t mean it will fit your specific style and needs.
- Do Laundry During Your Trip
If you’re traveling for more than a week, plan to do laundry. Like literally make it a part of your plans when you set your itinerary and choose your accomondations. Many hotels, hostels, and Airbnbs offer laundry facilities, or you can bring a small packet of detergent for some small emergency handwashing. This lets you reuse clothing and pack lighter. Et voilà – the number of outfits to pack equals the maximum number of days between laundries… plus one (for laundry day). - Prioritize Comfort and Functionality
If you’re traveling for more than a week, plan to do laundry. Like literally make it a part of your plans when you set your itinerary and choose your accomondations. Many hotels, hostels, and Airbnbs offer laundry facilities, or you can bring a small packet of detergent for some small emergency handwashing. This lets you reuse clothing and pack lighter. Et voilà – the number of outfits to pack equals the maximum number of days between laundries… plus one (for laundry day). - Pack Multi-Use Items
Choose items that can serve more than one purpose. A scarf can double as a blanket, a dress can work for both casual and dressy occasions, and hiking shoes might double as every day sneakers. Some people already have such versatile pieces, while others might consider buying some dedicated for traveling. Again these sorts of things require some experience and knowing what you typically use and solutions that might work for you to avoid buying unnecessary things.