10 Great Tips on How to Travel Lighter
Traveling and packing light for your next trip is not as hard as it sounds. If you are somebody who always overpacks and wishes you had packed lighter, read on for our 10 great tips for traveling light!
If you hate to be that person with the huge suitcase that you have to drag around with you, and you usually pack so much stuff that you don’t need then this article is for you!
I used to be the worst over-packer there ever was! I always packed clothing that I might need “just in case.” I packed far too many pairs of shoes, packed clothing that wasn’t even suitable for where and when I was going somewhere, and many times my suitcase was over-weight.
Of course it is hard to pack light – there is no doubt. It is hard to cut down on things you might need on your trip, and you certainly don’t want to have to buy stuff at your destination, which can take time to find, and be expensive too.
Have you ever met a fellow traveler who said to you “I wish I had packed more stuff”? Chances are never! Yes you may wish you had a certain item with you on a trip – such as a warmer jacket, or a different pair of shoes perhaps. But in general you are going to be far happier that you packed light.
Follow my tips below and you will find that you can in fact pack light for your next trip, and make traveling easier, less expensive, and less cumbersome!
Carry On Instead of Check In
If you carry on your luggage instead of checking it in not only will you not have the wait at the luggage carousel at your destination, but it also ensures that you naturally pack lighter.
If you know you are going to carry on your bag, not only will you be restricted to a smaller bag, but you will also know that you just can’t take a lot of stuff, making it far easier to pack.
Weigh Your Luggage
This leads me to the next point – weigh your luggage before you check it in or carry it on.
All airlines have weight and size requirements and that applies to luggage you are checking in or carrying on the plane with you.
Weighing your luggage and making sure you stay within the approved limit not only will save you possible fees for overweight luggage, it also encourages you to pack more lightly and not take as much stuff with you.
Invest in a good travel scale that you can use time and time again for this. Research the airline’s weight policies for carry on luggage, and never pay a bag fee again!
Practice Carrying Your Luggage
Yes you are likely to be carrying your luggage around with you more than you anticipate or actually want to.
Pack up your bag ahead of time, and then practice walking around your home with it. See how well you can walk around with it. You can even go further afield – walk around the block, or go shopping with it!
If your luggage is really cumbersome and weighs you down, even for a short trip, go through it and eliminate things that you really don’t need.
Plan Out Your Outfits in Advance
Make a list of all the things that you will be doing on your trip, and the days and times you will be doing these.
For instance, if you will be sightseeing around Rome during the day, then going out for a fancy dinner at night you will probably need two separate outfits – a more casual outfit for all the sightseeing and running around you will be doing, and a more dressy outfit for the evening dinner.
Using that list of what you will be doing and when, plan out your outfits ahead of time. By planning ahead and knowing what you will need certain clothing for you won’t end up packing your suitcase with lots of unnecessary clothing.
Remember to try to mix and match your clothing – jeans and pants that can be worn with many different tops for instance. Pack with layers in mind.
Always remember too, that unless you are going somewhere completely off the beaten track, you should be able to somehow wash clothing. Even a small hotel sink can be used to wash underwear for instance.
Consider Capsule Clothing
A capsule wardrobe and capsule clothing can greatly save on the amount of clothing you will need to take.
You could pack for instance a pair of black pants, that can be worn both for sightseeing during the day, and also for dinner at night.
A summer dress could be worn during the day for sightseeing, and then at night you could place a denim or leather jacket over it for a more dressy evening look.
If you pack items that you can wear more than once for separate occasions you will save a lot of space in your luggage.
Make A Packing List
Making a packing list means you will only pack what you need. Start out by making a list of the things you will be doing at your destination. For instance, if you will be sightseeing most days, going to special places etc.
Assemble all the clothing and items that you want to take on your trip, and spread them out so they can all be easily seen, such as on your bed or on the floor.
Look at every single item. As you look at that item ask yourself if you will really need it. For instance that long pair of boots you really like. Do you need those? You are already taking ankle boots, and that long pair of boots is not so comfortable to sightsee and walk in, and you may possibly only wear them once. Therefore – do not take those boots.
You might be worried about the weather turning cold while you are there, so you want to pack a warm jacket just in case. But is turning cold a real reality? You are going in September which the guidebooks all state is very mild weather at your destination. Do you really need that jacket for a just in case scenario?
Don’t pack things just in case, and don’t pack things for a worst case scenario.
Eliminate Toiletries
Toiletries can take up a lot of room in your luggage, and can get pretty heavy. Consider buying the toiletries you need at your destination.
Unless there is something you use and absolutely cannot get at your destination, don’t pack it, buy it at your destination.
Use Packing Cubes & Compressor Bags
Packing cubes will keep your clothes well organized, and you can also pack your things tighter inside your luggage.
You can use a packing cube for each outfit. Or you can separate things such as your underwear, tops, etc into separate packing cubes. Packing cubes also make it easier for you to pack and unpack your things.
Compression bags let you fit far more into your luggage, as they compress your clothing down and eliminate all the air. If you need to fit more into your luggage than you have space for, compression bags could really help you.
Cut Down on Shoes & Footwear
One of the biggest weights in our luggage is all the shoes and boots that we tend to pack to take on trips.
Of course you may need certain shoes for day and night, and certain shoes for different weathers and places. But try to strategically cut down on the footwear you pack. Try to pick shoes that can go from day to night, or boots that can be worn with pants as well as dresses.
Related: The Most Comfortable & Stylish Walking Shoes for Women
Wear Your Most Bulky & Heavy Items
If you really need to take heavy items with you, such as a bulky jacket or coat, consider wearing it to travel in, so you don’t need to pack it.
The same with heavy footwear. Your heaviest pair of footwear, such as boots, can be worn to travel in, cutting down on the need to pack such a heavy item.
Be that person who says I am so glad I packed light for this trip, rather than the person who regrets packing too much!
Traveling and packing light for your next trip is not as hard as it sounds. If you are somebody who always overpacks and wishes you had packed lighter, read on for our. great tips for traveling light!
