Tips for Packing Light - How To Travel With Just Carry On Luggage

I am, by nature, not very good at packing light. When I go somewhere, I think of every possible thing I could need for my trip and try to shove it into the smallest bag possible. The result? Hair curlers, multiple pairs of shoes, too many toiletries, and an overstuffed, unzipped suitcase. Does this sound like you? Well, you’re in luck. There’s a quick fix for all of your packing needs.

Last summer, I had to pack one single suitcase for two weeks of volunteering in Central America, a week of conference-going, and two weddings. This meant a mixture of tattered, worn out clothing, business casual, and formal gear, collectively with all of the things I picked up during my travels. It was a crazy time, but I learned how to pack as little as possible for my time on the road. Since then, I was able to pack strategically and simply for all of my subsequent trips. Here are some of my most useful discoveries for packing light:

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Roll your clothing items

If you haven’t heard of this age-old trick, try it on your next trip! Fold up your clothes as usual, but instead of folding in half, roll them up into a cylinder! This helps save space in your bag and also serves as a great organization system (you can roll shirts into one corner, bottoms into another, etc.). I love this packing method so much that I use it to organize my closet and dresser at home.

Bring items you can reuse and wash easily

Who here has never reused a pair of jeans two or more times without washing them? Yeah, that’s what I thought. Reusable clothing (read: things that don’t get dirty or stink easily) is a godsend when it comes to packing light. My personal recommendations are black “jeggings” or jeans (jeggings are much more comfortable in my opinion), anything denim, black items (they won’t get dirty) and tights. These things are easy to reuse with any outfit!

When I went to Guatemala on a service trip, I knew that I would be getting my hands (and pants) dirty every day for work, so for a two-week trip, I just bought two pairs of pants- one for the dirty work and one for nicer occasions. For tops, I brought one t-shirt for every two days and I ended up donating all of the shirts that I brought on the trip at the end. While I don’t condone going this minimal on packing for every trip, it has and can be done.

Minimize the shoes

Shoes take up a lot of room. That’s why I try to limit the number of pairs of shoes I bring on any given trip. Truly, all you need is a pair of good walking shoes and a nicer pair for nights out. Of course, this always depends on what you are traveling for (eg. If you’re going to the beach, you’ll need flip flops or if you’re headed hiking, you’ll want some boots) and what kinds of activities you like to participate. Keeping this in your mind while packing will free up a lot of space in your suitcase (and in your life).

Accessorize

Instead of bringing more clothes, which take up a lot of space and weigh quite a bit, why not consider replacing those extra clothes with accessories? A simple black dress can be dressed up for three different nights out with different scarves, necklaces, earrings, and belts. These are a lot easier to carry around (read: you can pack more of them) and they will enable you to reuse your clothing and dress up the most ordinary of outfits. Accessories are key to packing light.

Carry thick jackets and bulky items outside of your suitcase

When you have to travel to cold places from warmer ones, there’s often no need to wear a coat to the airport. Instead of shoving it into your suitcase, I recommend carrying it on its own instead. This will save you space for thick winter clothes, and your coat will also be on hand for when you need it upon landing. Plus, coats make great pillows/blankets on airplanes!

Forget the things you can live without

This one might seem self-explanatory, but if you aren’t going to use it every day of your trip, don’t even think about taking it. I’m talking about everything from hair straighteners to extra shoes to purses and more. Electronics are a usual culprit – I’ve caught myself traveling with a tablet and two laptops all at once! Lay all of your belongings out on the floor or the bed, take the things that you’ll need for a majority of the days and leave the rest at home.

Traveling with less will lessen up your bags for a freer and lighter life. If you’re a serial overpacker like me, you’ll soon come to see why it’s so much easier to travel when you don’t have to worry about things. Getting rid of the clutter in your life will help you do more of what’s really important – exploring!