Traveling Light: How to Pack Just Right

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Make a List




Begin your packing mission by making a list of everything you’ll need. Even if you think something is irrelevant or small, add it. Your list is your plan and your blueprint that sets the scene for how well (or not) you prep and pack for your journey.




Evaluate your list before throwing things into a bag haphazardly. Eliminate the nice-to-haves and other unnecessary items. In other words, streamline what you think you need because nine out of ten times, you’ll never use or wear it.




Plan Your Outfits

Planning your outfits is a key component of traveling light. There are two factors that should determine which clothes you pack: the weather and the activities you plan to do.




Dig up some information about your destination’s weather forecasts and seasonal trends, especially if you’re traveling abroad. You don’t want to end up being too hot or too cold.




Consider what you’ll be doing. For example, hopping from market to market and café to café requires comfy walking shoes, but there’s no need for those sturdy boots that are more suited to nature hikes. Outdoor activities require sun protection, but items such as hats and sunscreens can easily be bought at your destination.




Once you’ve determined what types of clothing to bring, you must decide what to pack.




Mix and Match to Expand Your Trip Wardrobe

Mixing and matching different items can turn a simple suitcase into a functional wardrobe. Choosing neutral tones makes it easy to combine different pieces of clothing. This includes your shoes and accessories.




In many cases, two pairs of pants and three tops are more than enough to cover a week’s worth of vacationing.




Follow the Rules

Experts recommend using the Rule of Three as a guide when packing for a trip. Simply pack three of each item: tops (with long and short sleeves), bottoms (pants, shorts, skirts), three pieces of outerwear (jackets, raincoats, sweaters), and accessories such as jewelry and scarves.




The 1-2-3-4-5-6 Rule is handy for longer trips. It’s one hat, two pairs of shoes, three bottoms, four tops, five pairs of socks, and six pairs of underwear. This mix is ample for most activities and scenarios.




Odor-Resistant, Lightweight, and Quick to Dry

If you’re going on a lengthy trip, select clothes that are odor-resistant. You can wear these several times without washing them.




Should hand-washing be unavoidable, pack lightweight items that dry quickly. You’ll most likely wash them after a day out and will need them to dry fully overnight.




Multipurpose Clothes

Select items that do the job of two or three garments. For example, a waterproof jacket can keep you warm, serve as a raincoat, and even be used as a cover for a backpack. Convertible pants are not the most fashionable variety, but they are versatile and can double as long pants or shorts depending on the occasion.




When you have a choice between two similar items, pack the one that can serve multiple functions.




Shoes

Footwear is generally bulky, quite heavy, and takes up a lot of space in your bag. Pack sensible, versatile shoes. A good all-purpose, go-anywhere pair and a fancier pair for an evening out should do the trick.




Layer Up

Versatile layers of clothes are more practical than one or two bulky items. Pack mix-and-match partners you can put on or remove as the weather changes.




For example, short-sleeve and long-sleeve shirts you can wear over one another are better than one chunky jacket or sweater. Similarly, a lightweight jacket takes up much less space than its bulky counterpart.




Accessories and Jewelry

Choose accessories and jewelry that are multipurpose and versatile. A belt, scarf, or earrings that go with everything in your suitcase means you can pack less without sacrificing that finishing touch.




Devices

If possible, leave your laptop at home and travel with a tablet and phone or just a phone. You can always upload your pictures to the cloud and get a multi-port USB adapter to charge your devices when you’re not on the move.




Bags and Suitcases

Bring the smallest case or bag possible. This will help you limit what you pack and make it easy to transport your belongings from one point to another. When people select bags that are bigger than necessary, they tend to want to fill them with items they won’t need.




Something with wheels is handy for long treks on foot, such as stretches between airport terminals. These types of suitcases are also handy when you’re traveling with children. When you’re hopping from destination to destination, a backpack is the most practical solution.




Packing Aids

Today’s market is full of neat solutions that help save space and organize your suitcase or bag. There are packing cubes, stuff sacks, compression bags, zip-lock solutions, dividers, and more. These make it easy to pack and find items. They can also protect clothes against unwanted spills or leaks.




If You Can, Carry On

Carry-on luggage ensures your belongings are always under your watchful eye. It also eliminates the risk of the airline losing your bag or it ending up on the other side of the world.




Try to avoid traveling with your valuables, such as jewelry and electronics. Sentimental value and device-based photos cannot be replaced.