Travel Light, Travel Happy: The Super-Light Travel Guide

Packing light is an art, and it's worth taking the time to master it. Travelling light means more freedom when you're on the move. With less to lug around, you can easily manoeuvre through crowded spots, speed through baggage claim, make last-minute plans without worrying about your stuff, and spend less time tracking gear. Plus, many airlines now charge fees for bags or luggage that exceeds certain size or weight restrictions.

- Pick the right luggage: Go for something small, light, and ideally carry-on only. A good target is a bag with a maximum capacity of around 35 to 40 litres.

- Apply the 1-2-3-4-5-6 rule: Pack one hat, two pairs of shoes, three bottoms, four tops (a mix of short and long sleeves and outer layers), five pairs of socks, and six pairs of underwear. This should be enough for two weeks. Customise your pack list to include swimwear, rainwear, or other items specific to your trip.

- Plan on doing laundry: Unless you have the luxury of hotel laundry services, doing laundry is part of travelling light. Bring a small bar of biodegradable soap, which can also be used for hair, body, and dishes. Wash items while you're showering, or in the sink.

- Bring multi-purpose items: Pick clothes that serve more than one purpose and weigh less or take up less space. For example, a poncho can replace a rain jacket, umbrella, or backpack rain cover. A sarong can be used as a towel, picnic blanket, or skirt.

- Stick to a packing list: Make a list of things you need and things you want, then cut the 'wants' list in half. If you're not absolutely sure you'll need something, don't take it. You can usually buy, rent, or find most things at your destination.

- Wear bulky and heavy items: Wear your hiking boots and any other bulky items on travel days. Airports and planes are often cold, so you won't regret wearing that extra layer!

- Use travel-size or solid toiletries: Solid toiletries are a great option as they won't accidentally spill, and they avoid liquid allowance restrictions at security checks. Alternatively, opt for travel-size toiletries.

Choose the right luggage

Choosing the right luggage is a key consideration for any trip. If you're travelling with just a carry-on bag, you want it to be lightweight yet roomy—expandable options are always helpful. Your bag should be easy to manoeuvre in tight spaces and have a side handle to make it easy to lift into overhead bins and into a rental car.

If you're travelling with just a carry-on bag, it's best to opt for a backpack or duffel bag, as these are much easier to carry—especially when you're travelling to a country where sidewalks aren't a thing. If you're travelling with your family or taking a guided trip using private transport (or renting a car), a suitcase is probably a better idea.

When picking a new suitcase or backpack, check its weight! If you shop online, retailer sites like Amazon or REI will give you the exact dimensions, including weight.

• Osprey Ariel 55—comfortable to wear and sit nicely on shoulders and hips, and also opens at the front.
• The North Face Base Camp Duffel Bag—comes in various sizes and bright colours, so it's easy to spot on the carousel.
• Level8 Voyager—easy to carry thanks to its 360° spinning wheels, and also easy to pack as it has several compartments.
• Classic 44 L Cabin Zero—super light at 760 grams (1.7 pounds) and fits in the overhead compartment on planes.
• Eagle Creek Warrior—weighs 1.9 kg (4 pounds) and, depending on the airline, you can still pack another 8 kg (17.6 pounds).
• Monos Carry-On Plus—7.8-pound hard-shell suitcase with 360-spin wheels and a padded front compartment that fits a 15-inch laptop, a scarf, and a book.
• Cotopaxi Allpa Roller Bag—a hybrid of a hardcover back and adjustable softcover front, with two wheels and vibrant, easily identifiable colours.

Pack versatile items

Packing versatile items is key to travelling light. The more uses an item has, the less you have to pack. Here are some ideas for versatile items to pack:

• A poncho can replace a rain jacket, umbrella or backpack rain cover.
• A sarong can be used as a towel, picnic blanket or skirt.
• Convertible trousers are rugged and quick-drying. Zip off the lower half for a hot hike and convert back to longer trousers to go to dinner or visit a temple.
• Instead of a long- and short-sleeve shirt, consider one with roll-up sleeves.
• Use a bandana or Buff neckwear to keep your neck warm, protect your head or neck from the sun, or as a sleep or smog mask.
• Pack shorts that you can hike, swim and walk around town in.
• Running shorts and a sports bra can also be used as swimwear.
• Pack versatile layers that you can put on or take off as the weather and temperature change. Think like a hiker or backpacker when layering clothes for your next adventure. Rather than pack one bulky sweater, layer a short-sleeve shirt with a long-sleeve top. In colder climates, add a lightweight packable jacket.
• A good jacket is a lot more versatile than an umbrella.
• A Buff is made of a special seamless, stretchy material. You can use it as a bandana, sweatband, scarf (great for motorbiking), sleeping mask or sun guard.
• A skirt with inner shorts can be perfect for a city walk and, because of the inner shorts, can be used for hiking too.
• A good travel towel is super light and perfect if you're staying in hostels where towels may not be provided.

Plan to do laundry

Planning to do laundry is an essential part of travelling light. Here are some tips for planning to do laundry while travelling:

Packing tips for doing laundry while travelling:

• Assemble a travel wardrobe with laundering in mind: Choose clothing that is easy to wash and doesn't need to be washed often. For example, travel pants and leggings in darker, neutral colours can be worn for several days without washing.
• Familiarise yourself with care labels: Know which items must be washed in cold water or laid flat to dry. Leave at home anything that can't be washed (except for outerwear) or dry-cleaned.
• Adopt odour-reducing strategies: Use reusable panty liners and underarm sweat vests to help extend the time between washes. Vodka is also a great odour remover.
• Plan when to do laundry by the load: Consider whether you want to use a self-serve laundromat, a laundry service, or do your own laundry in your accommodation.
• Handwash regularly: Handwashing takes just a few minutes each evening, and lightweight and quick-dry fabrics are usually ready to wear the next day.
• Suss out drying options in your accommodation: Look for places to hang laundry to dry, such as a travel clothesline or hangers.
• Fast-track drying: To speed up the drying process, wring out as much water as possible from your clothes, then roll them up in a towel to absorb excess moisture.
• Conduct a handwashing test: Test how long different items of clothing take to dry at home, so you know the best time to wash them while travelling.
• Book accommodation with washing facilities: If you don't want to handwash, book accommodation with access to washing machines.

Laundry packing list:

• Dry-bag 'washing machine': A dry bag can serve as a DIY washing machine, especially when camping or staying in facilities with communal sinks.
• Travel clothesline: A retractable clothesline may be available in your accommodation, but a lightweight travel clothesline takes up very little space in your bag.
• Travel hangers and clothespins: Bring your own hangers to increase your drying options. Folding hangers are more reliable than inflatable hangers, which can leak.
• Laundry detergent: Decant your favourite liquid detergent into travel-sized bottles, or use laundry eco-strips, which are ultra-concentrated, biodegradable sheets of 'liquidless' laundry detergent.
• Stain remover: A Tide to Go Instant Stain Remover Pen or hand sanitizer are great for removing stains on the go.

Make a packing list

Packing light is an art, and it's an essential one to master if you want to travel super light. Here is a detailed packing list to help you do just that:

• Pick the right luggage: The best way to travel light is to start with a very light suitcase or backpack. If you are buying a new one, check how much it weighs. The smaller your bag, the less you will pack.
• Travel carry-on if you can: This means no lost luggage ever, and it makes changing flights or having a layover much easier. Most regular airlines will allow you to bring on board a personal item and a small carry-on bag.
• Use packing cubes: Packing cubes and packing organizers are one of the smartest inventions ever. They help even the most disorganized traveler to keep things nice and tidy, and they help keep down the number of items you pack.
• Weight your bag: Weight your bag rather than guessing how much it weighs. Get a digital scale that you can even take with you on your trips.
• Apply the 6-5-4-3-2-1 rule: Pack 6 pairs of underwear, 4 tops (a mix of short and long sleeves and outer layers), 3 bottoms (pants, shorts or skirts), and other things specific to your trip such as a swimsuit or rain gear.
• Plan on doing laundry on the way: Most hotels and hostels offer laundry services or have washing machines that you can use. You can also bring a bar of biodegradable laundry soap so that you can wash smaller items in the sink.
• Don't pack last minute: One of the biggest mistakes you can make when trying to pack light is to leave your packing to the very last minute. Pack at least a day before your trip.
• Stick to a packing list: Write yourself a packing list a few days before your trip. Then only pack half the items on your list.
• Bring items you can easily mix and match: Pick neutral colors that are easy to combine, such as black, white, blue, dark brown, and khaki. In general, darker colors will stay (or look) cleaner a bit longer.
• Bring items that have two duties: For example, you can pack a poncho instead of a rain jacket. Since it’s nice and large, it can go over your backpack too. You can also pack a sarong that you can use to go to the beach, as a skirt or quick dress, and as a towel.
• Pick the right shoes: Don't pack all your shoes. Stick to a maximum of two pairs of shoes, plus a pair of flip-flops.
• Wear bulky and heavy items: Wear your hiking boots and any other bulky item on your flight and for any travel day as that will save space in your bag. Airports and planes are usually cold anyway, so you won’t regret wearing them!
• Don't pack clothes "just in case": The odds of freezing temperatures in a tropical country are slim, and you won't need a tank top in Alaska during the winter. If you really need an extra layer, you will most likely find a shop that sells it.
• Wear (and pack) layers: Layers mean more items you can mix and match to create outfits, and they also mean being able to quickly adapt to changing weather conditions. For example, instead of packing a bulky sweater for colder climates, bring a short or long-sleeve shirt, a lighter sweater, and a lightweight synthetic insulated jacket.
• Ditch the jeans: They are heavy, they aren’t comfortable to wear on long-haul flights, and they won’t keep you warm when it’s cold outside.
• Use large Ziploc bags for your shoes: Shoe carrier bags are expensive and heavy. Large Ziploc bags, on the other hand, weight nothing and you will certainly have some at home.
• Pack an extra empty bag for your dirty laundry: This is a great way to keep your clean and dirty clothes separate.
• Use travel-size or solid toiletries: Solid toiletries are one of the smartest inventions ever. First of all, you won’t have to bother with the liquids allowance at the security checks. Furthermore, they won’t accidentally open and spill all over your stuff. Consider opting for solid shampoo and conditioner, a bar of soap instead of shower gel, a deodorant stick, and even a bar of body moisturizer.
• Only take prescription medications: When it comes to non-prescription drugs, you can usually get them off-the-counter pretty much anywhere. If you still want to carry some, just pack one of each.
• Opt for deflatable/collapsible versions of objects: Travel pillows, water bottles, and the like are all very useful but can take up a lot of space. You can opt for the travel version, which is much better when packing light.
• Leave your laptop at home: If you think you may need to check your email once or twice during the trip, you can use your smartphone.
• Bring a Kindle: A Kindle is so much better than paper books if you want to travel light. If you are on a longer trip and an avid reader, you will be going through a few books, and there is no way you can take all the paper versions with you.
• Bring a buff: A buff is a good (and light) thing to pack. It can work as a scarf, a bandana, a headband, a sleeping mask, or to protect your head from the sun.
• Bring a number padlock: In case you are staying in hostels, a number padlock is 100% a must. Get a small wire padlock that you can also use to secure your luggage during transit.
• Bring a plug adapter: Depending on where you are going, you may need a plug adapter.
• Bring a USB charger: Bring a USB charger so that you can plug in all your electronics at once.

Pack in advance

Packing in advance is one of the best ways to ensure you're travelling light. Here are some tips to help you pack in advance:

Plan your packing

Give yourself plenty of time to pack. Packing in a panic is a surefire way to end up overpacking. It's best to pack at least a day before your trip. That way, you can pack in a calm and controlled way, giving yourself time to consider each item and whether you really need it.

Make a packing list

Write a packing list in advance, and then only pack half the items on it. A good rule of thumb is to pack a week's worth of clothing and plan to do laundry on longer trips. If you're struggling to decide what to pack, search online for packing lists specific to your destination and length of trip.

Choose the right luggage

Pick a bag that's small and light. The right luggage will depend on the type of travel you're doing and what you'll be doing there. If you're exploring multiple destinations or spending a lot of time on trains, a travel pack with shoulder straps is a good option. If you're going on a safari or bike tour, a duffel bag is a durable and affordable choice. Families or travellers who won't be moving around a lot may prefer a wheeled backpack for convenience.

Pack versatile items

When deciding what to pack, focus on items that will be useful all the time or that have multiple uses. For example, a poncho can replace a rain jacket, umbrella or backpack rain cover. A sarong can be used as a towel, picnic blanket or skirt. Pick clothes in a simple colour palette so you can easily mix and match tops and bottoms for several outfit combinations.

Wear your bulkiest items

Wear your bulkiest items, like a coat or hiking boots, on travel days. That way, you'll save space in your bag and won't have to worry about these items getting lost in transit.

Frequently asked questions