I am a chronic overpacker. There’s no getting around it. I always find myself leaving home with a bag bursting at the seams, hoping desperately I don’t have to open it and somehow manage to achieve the miracle of zipping it shut a second time.
Unfortunately, this is a very inconvenient way to travel. Worrying about going over the weight limit, needing to carry two bags instead of one, or carrying a backpack weighed down by seven books miles to and from the airport is enough to put a damper on a trip.
While studying abroad in the UK this summer, I went on trips nearly every weekend. I knew it was in my best interest to pack as little as possible, both to save money (because on budget airlines, the cost of an oversized carry-on or extra bag can be more than the ticket itself) and for my own convenience. I didn’t want to be weighed down by stuff when I could be focused on enjoying the experience.
It may feel like an impossible task to fit all of your things for a four day trip into one small backpack, but with planning, it’s possible. Here’s some tips that helped me:
- You don’t need to be prepared for everything
I’m starting with this because it’s my biggest problem. I like to be prepared for any situation. What if we end up going somewhere where we’re required to dress nice? What if I spill tomato sauce all over by white hoodie and need something else to wear? What if we get stuck with a twelve hour layover and need two decks of cards to keep ourselves entertained?
Packing just enough to get by can feel scary because it doesn’t leave much room for error. But keep in mind that you’re most likely traveling somewhere that has stores—worst comes to worst, you buy the cheapest sweatshirt in the city to wear for the day and keep it as a souvenir, or you can spend that extra $3 on a deck of cards if the need arises. You can’t plan for every situation, and trying to will cost more time and energy than will the off chance you end up needing to buy something new.
- Plan ahead
The key to packing light is to know exactly what you will need each day. Don’t pack two options because you aren’t sure if you’ll want to wear a dress or shorts. Don’t bring three different hair products because you aren’t sure how you’ll want to do your hair over the weekend. Make your decision before you leave—you’ll thank yourself more for having less to cary than you will for having multiple shirts to choose from. Plus, it’ll save time in the mornings if you don’t have to make a decision of what to wear every day.
- Pack multi-purpose items and rewear them
Packing clothes you can rewear is the easiest way to save space. I usually try to do this with travel days—when I’m just sitting around in an air conditioned plane all day, my hoodie is perfectly fine to be reworn on the way home. Most shorts, pants, and jackets can be worn a few days in a row—take advantage of that!
Even if you don’t want to wear the same piece of clothing more than once, knowing you can rewear items can ensure you’re prepared for the unexpected need to change without taking up extra space in your suitcase. Instead of packing a pair of pajama shorts that you would be embarrassed to wear in public, pack a comfortable pair of running shorts that can be worn out if something happens that makes the shorts you intended to go out in unwearable. Make sure the jackets and pants you bring can be worn with a variety of outfits—even if you don’t plan on rewearing clothing, if rainy weather hits or you have a particularly messy meal, you might need to swap out your clothes mid-day. Making sure everything you bring matches everything else can make it easier to switch without having to pack a unique backup for each day’s outfit.
- Wear your heavy stuff
If you’re going somewhere cold (or coming from somewhere cold), don’t try putting your warmest clothing in your backpack. Things like rain jackets, coats, and sweatshirts take up a lot of space, so wearing the bulkiest items while traveling will you save tons of suitcase space. Even if you end up tying it around your waist or carrying it around, it won’t count towards your carry-on or checked bag limit.
- Pack lighter items
There’s only so much you can do here, but whenever possible, pack things that are smaller and lighter. Light dresses tend to take up less space than shorts and shirts, dry fit tank tops take up less space than thicker t-shirts, and some sweaters are less bulky than others while still providing just as much warmth. The same applies to non-clothing items. Even if your means of transport doesn’t restrict liquids, pack travel sized toiletries. If you really want a physical book instead of an ebook, consider taking a shorter novel instead of an eight-hundred page volume (I’ve been there, but you can keep reading it when you get back).
- Coordinate with travel partners
When traveling with friends, you don’t all need to pack everything. If you’re struggling to stay under the maximum amount of liquids for your carry-on, consider having one person pack toothpaste, another shampoo, and another soap for everyone to share during the trip. Or plan on buying something there—spending $2 on a bottle of shampoo once you arrive that you and your travel partner can share throughout the trip might end up saving a lot of stress and frantic rearranging when going through security.
Learning to travel light is well within reach. It’s freeing—knowing that I have everything I need in a light backpack I can carry anywhere makes me feel so much more prepared than dragging around a cumbersome suitcase that weighs more than I do. I’m still an overpacker at heart—I still haven’t managed to go anywhere without a deck of cards in my bag—but learning to pack smart has made travel so much easier, and has taught me that there’s no reason to carry your own world with you when you’re trying to explore everywhere else.
