There’s no question that, when you start packing smarter and lighter, your life on the road becomes a whole lot easier. What’s more, taking a minimalist approach to packing is also budget-friendly: you won’t have to pay those excess baggage fees. Plus, traveling with less stuff means it’s easier for you to pack at home and between destinations.
Of course, when you’re traveling, it’s nice to have a few things from home for the sake of comfort and familiarity. And it’s always nice to deck yourself out in finery for a night on the town in a new city. So how do you decide what to take with you and what to leave behind?
Use Just One Carry-On Size Bag
As you know, carry-on bags need to fit in the overhead bin. The maximum dimensions for these bags are 9 x 21 x 14 inches. If you limit yourself to only what will fit in your carry-on, you’ll be doing yourself a favor by forcing yourself to pack light.
Another advantage of using one carry-on bag is it’s a lot less likely to get lost since you’ll have it with you the whole time. While other passengers wait fruitlessly at the baggage carousel, only to end up filing a claim in the lost-baggage department, you’ll be well on your way to your next destination.
Plan Mix-and-Match Outfits
Traveling light means carrying as few items as possible, but if you plan it right, you can still have a wide variety of outfits to wear. One way to achieve this is by bringing mix-and-match outfits. Be sure that any pants, skirts, shirts, shorts, and jackets that you bring with you can easily go with each other. Solid or neutral tops are an excellent place to start. This way you’ll have plenty of options but with a minimum of gear in tow.
And don’t forget about the footwear. Shoes are a major source of weight in anyone’s luggage. Be sure that any shoes you bring match with multiple outfits. Depending on the length and nature of the trip, you could even plan all of your outfits around the shoes that you plan to wear on the plane.
Use Packing Cubes/Travel Sacks
Packing cubes have become the must-have accessory for the smart traveler. These cubes keep your clothes sorted into functional, easy-to-access compartments. You could organize your travel clothes by article or by outfit. And you can use one to store underclothes as they get dirty. You might also consider compression cubes, which allow you you to remove the air from inside the cubes, pressing your clothes into a more compact profile.
Wear Your Bulky Clothes When You Fly
If you are traveling to or from a cold location, wear your heaviest clothing as you’re actively traveling. This also includes heavy shoes. The good news is that even when the airplane A/C is blasting, you have something to wrap around yourself and keep warm. Bulky jackets can also help make airplane seats a bit more comfortable.
Try the 1-2-3-4-5-6 Rule
Ah, the 1-2-3-4-5-6 rule. It’s almost magical. This guideline limits you to one hat, two pairs of shoes, three skirts or pairs of pants, four shirts, five pairs of socks, and six pairs of underwear. Of course, this is just a guideline: you can modify this list to suit your needs. (Does anyone still wear a hat?) The key thing is not to pack more than a week’s worth of clothing, whether you’re flying to the Philippines or Saskatoon
Other Tips
Keep in mind that most hotels provide you with toiletries, or you can always pick some up when you arrive and your destination. And you might want to leave the laptop behind. These days, smartphones and tablets can do almost anything a laptop can do, including providing you with access to the files on your laptop. Plus, most major cities will have a Staples or a FedEx Office that you can always pop into in a pinch.
Remember, less is more. Adopting a minimalist packing approach allows you to travel without the weight and the worry of being overburdened with more stuff than you really need.
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