Note: This is a guest post from Natalie Sisson, Suitcase Entrepreneur.
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Learning how to pack light is an effective and highly desired art.
Much like travel, the more you do, the better you become at it. Until one day you wake up and feel like a pro as you whip out your perfectly packed, minimalist suitcase, at the ready, with the essentials you need.
My aim is to help you get to the point of minimalist travel, one essential item at a time, because if there’s one thing I’ve learned from traveling to 70 countries and being a Suitcase Entrepreneur for 6 years full-time—less is more.
If you’ve ever experienced lugging a giant suitcase behind you on a sandy path to your island resort, or have stood in line at airport security watching a customs officer unpack every single item that took you three hours to squeeze into your bag, you’ll appreciate learning how to pack light and traveling as a minimalist.
There have been more than a few times where I’ve short-changed myself on time and had to pack in a rush to get to the airport. What’s helpful is that I don’t have a ton of stuff to pack up when I leave a place. I’ve gotten used to living out of a suitcase and I have smart systems that I follow to make it much easier to organize my life.
4 Steps on How to Pack Light
- Getting Started
- Packing Your Suitcase
- Traveling with a Carry-On Only
- Your Essentials Pre-Flight Checklist
Step 1: Getting Started.
First, consider your destination—will it be summer or winter, humid or wet? This will make a huge difference in what you need to take.
I recommend getting your suitcase out and placing it open on your bed. Open your wardrobe and pull out what you’d like to take with you.
Once you’ve laid out what you want to take, get ruthless and remove any ‘extra’ items you’ve put in that you think you might need. Usually, this is the fifth dress, the seventh t-shirt, or the extra pair of shoes or shorts.
If you’re not good at this, bring in some help. Ask your friends, family, your partner, or someone else who will say “no”, even when you put up a fight: “Do you really think I’m going to need or wear this?”
At this stage, keep in mind that you will end up wearing your same favorite outfits over and over again, much like you do in everyday life. This is an important key to learning how to pack light.
Repeat this step one or two times always looking for ‘extras’ that have made their way into your piles. Trust me, you’ll be amazed at what you really don’t need to pack when you practice minimalist travel.
Step 2: Packing Your Suitcase.
I have loads of tips I’ve learned over the years and I’ve included the best of them in my book, The Suitcase Entrepreneur: Create Freedom In Business and Adventure in Life.
I dive deeper into not only what to pack, but the benefits of minimalism, what happens after you arrive at a destination, and the best ways to acclimate to your new environment.
For now, though, let’s concentrate on some simple rules that will make your minimalist packing experience that much easier.
- Take one outfit that you can wear in a casual situation, one for business attire (if your trip isn’t purely for pleasure), one that makes you feel pretty, sexy, or handsome, and one that’s comfy for traveling.
- Make sure you can throw all these items together in a washing machine without any drama.
- Choose fabrics that don’t need to be ironed—that you can roll up in your suitcase and will stay relatively crease-free.
- Linen and rayon are not your travel friends. Wool (and knit fabrics in general) and synthetics work great.
- Use travel size containers for skincare, creams, and gels. Or buy travel size kits at the airport or pharmacy. This reduces weight and space dramatically.
As you pack your suitcase or bag of choice, ask yourself the following question: Do I have room to buy stuff and fit more things in while traveling or is it crammed to the brim already?
If you have no space and it’s really heavy, take it all out and eliminate more items. You rarely wear everything you take with you and if you do need anything else, you can almost always buy it in the destination you’re going to.
A few exceptions here:
- Quality shoes. Especially if you have a very small or large foot.
- Sunscreen. Oddly this is one item that can be really expensive even in poorer countries, and the types of spectrum and quality are often limited.
- Medical supplies. Bring your medicines with you in case you can’t get a prescription, as well as contact lens solutions and a basic first aid kit never goes amiss.
- Electronic supplies. Cords and cables for your specialist equipment if they can’t be easily replaced.
- A dry bag. Useful for putting in the electronics or other valuables, and doubling as a small day bag on trips when you don’t want your items to get wet.
Step 3: Traveling with a Carry-On Only.
If you’re going away for a short period of time, from a few days to a few weeks, you definitely want to consider a carry-on only.
There is nothing better than arriving at the airport knowing you don’t need to check in your luggage or spend ages waiting for it at the luggage carousel at your destination.
It’s also incredibly freeing to travel light and know you can pick it up and take it with you anywhere, with a baggage weight that’s completely manageable and doesn’t leave you in a sweat if you have to lift it a lot or are in a rush.
For most of my travels, I had a check-in bag simply because my suitcase was my home, but when I traveled through Asia and South America for 6-8 weeks, I happily used a carry-on bag only.
If this seems unbelievable to you, here are my key minimalist travel tips (a few are gender-specific) to help you learn how to travel in a carry-on bag only:
- Don’t skimp on your choice of luggage. Rimowa and Samsonite, in my opinion, are the best. Yes, they’re expensive but they also weigh next to nothing, versus cheaper bags that already have added 6kg to your weight before you’ve even put anything in them.
- Choose a soft bag or super flexible materials with wheels. They will be lighter, more flexible, and easier to fit in the overhead locker on the plane, train, or bus.
- Bags with expandable sections are fantastic if you’re traveling light to your destination but planning to come back with some gifts.
- Bags with a separate compartment to stow your electronics for easy access are great at security and saving you time.
- Forget being fashionable and wear your walking, running, or hiking shoes on the plane. They’re not only super comfortable (especially when your feet swell up on long flights), but they’re also the bulkiest and often heaviest items. Take one pair of dressy shoes (yes ONE), one pair of sandals you can dress up or down, and one flip flops/ jandals for the beach and beyond.
- Make lightweight and economical choices. If you’re heading to colder climates, it’s all about layering—lots of light layers to stay warm and dry, without adding bulk weight to your suitcase or bag.
- You never want to run out of clean underwear, so wash them in the shower at night with travel size soap paper (it lathers up but isn’t a liquid) and hang up to dry.
- If your suitcase doesn’t have a compartment for underwear, buy a small mesh bag or use your dry bag to put them. It’s way easier to find them all in one place.
- Roll clothes rather than pack them flat as they take up less space and don’t come out as creased.
- Don’t take physical books with you. Download your favorite ones to a Kindle and read to your heart’s content.
Step 4: Your Essentials Pre-Flight Checklist
Now that you have a better idea of what you’re going to pack, it’s a good idea to get a few things in order and prepare the basics.
The only thing you really need is your passport and wallet and you can go anywhere. But for some people, that’s just too little.
Consider the following before you travel:
- What Visa requirements will you need and how far in advance should you apply for one?
- Do you need to get a series of vaccinations before you head into the jungle or off into the outback?
- Is the time of year you’re considering going a monsoon season or will it be sweltering hot in your chosen destination?
- What are the basic costs of living there, and does that fit within your budget?
If you could only take the bare minimum, then these are the essentials you’d want to pack:
- Passport and Visas
- Vaccinations, medications
- Health and/or travel insurance
- Local currency, extra cash, and credit card(s)
- Copies of all important documents (online and paper)
At the end of the day, the whole reason for your travel is the experiences you will have and the memories that will last a lifetime. Packing lighter and traveling like a minimalist will make that happen more often.
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To find even more tips and ideas about minimalist travel and packing lightly, check out Natalie Sisson.
About Joshua Becker
Thanks for the tip to start by considering the weather in the area we’ll be traveling to. My husband just finished up a big project at his work, and I think it’d be fun to surprise him by booking a relaxing weekend at a bed and breakfast soon. I don’t want to end up packing too much and cluttering gup our car, so thanks for sharing these helpful guidelines for packing light!
Hey Joshua. Packing light while traveling is very important. Your tips sound very helpful to me as I always end up overpacking. But now whenever I’ll go on a trip, I’ll try to minimize the unnecessary things and will keep useful things like sanitizers, power banks and other important things with me. Thanks for sharing.
Buy some Dr. Bronner’s. I’m bias to the peppermint. Whether flying or riding, they have a small enough bottle for either. You can do everything from wash your dishes to your clothes to your hair to your teeth with the stuff.
I hand wash my running clothes every day with it. Keeps the stink out and reduces water/energy consumption.
Great tips! Thanks for sharing :)
Wondering why Rimowa (hard-sided luggage only) is recommended as luggage choice, when in the very next step only soft bags are suggested?
Color me confused.
My thought as well…
The place else may I am getting
that kind of info written in such a perfect way?
We cruise and on small ships you run into the same folks over and over. Black pant with black tops in several styles with the third element. A jacket, vest, scarf, scarf into sleeves, etc. All colorful. I add a few statement necklaces using one neck ring with the fancy add ons.
You all have great ideas!
About sunscreen: The last time I flew, which was last March out of Palm Springs to SFO, my bottle of sunscreen was disallowed due to “no liquids” security rule. I don’t know if spray sunscreen would be allowed but I don’t like the spray kind.
I am planning a trip and this the perfect guide for packing lightly. Thanks
Awesome post. I love packing light. We road trip with our kids every year and focus on packing essentials only. I had never heard of soap paper! Sounds awesome! Thanks for the idea!
www. jaimedeclutters.com
Superb focuses! I likewise utilize those work sacks to keep like kind garments set up. Makes it less demanding to design outfits, less demanding to dress. Travel sizes for toiletries is an absolute necessity.
Years ago I developed a packing list for international travel. I’ve updated it a bit to account for new technology.
Foreign Travel Packing Tips
By Susan Vogt
Overall:
L Women: Cultivate “easy hair”, i.e. very short or very long
2. Pack for 1 week, i.e. underwear (plan to wash clothes once a week)
3. If possible plan to take everything in one carry on and a backpack
4. If you aren’t able to do this, put gifts and anything you won’t need for a week in the checked luggage
5. Wear heavy bulky items, i.e. shoes and light jacket
6. Couples/Families: Unless you will be staying in separate places, combine toiletries
7. Ideally, plan travel for warm weather so you don’t have to take heavy winter clothing
Security wallet
1. passport
2. visa (if needed)
3. driver’s license
4. currency (If it’s not a 3rd world country, credit cards & some cash may be all you need.)
5. smart phone
6. pen
7. sm. notebook
8. tweezers
9. comb, hair bands
10 rubberbands
11. safety pins
12. vaccination papers (yellow fever)
13. important telephone numbers and codes
Backpack of daily needs
1. small laptop computer, with cords
2. hand sanitizer
2. camera (if you need more than what your smart phone )
3. toilet paper
4. sun block
5. sunglasses
6. scarf
7. foldable cap or sun hat
Documents:
1. copy of passport packed separately plus one left home with a relative
2. itinerary to relatives
3. calendar/planner (if not already on your smart phone or computer).
5. Rx forms and directions,
6. photos of family
7. maps
8. tickets/visa
9. business cards
Suitcase toiletries
1.. Medications, i.e. malaria pills, aspirin, anti-diarrhea, (Cipro for serious diarrhea) constipation, , sore throat lozenges, cough drops, vitamins, Sudafed (for congestion on plane), Neosporin (Put all in labeled plastic bags, with directions if needed.)
2. deodorant
3, shampoo
4. toothpaste, brush, dental floss
5. razor
7. contact lens solution and case (if needed)
8. hair brush
9. more toilet paper (if going to undeveloped areas)
10. soap & wash cloth (and camping towel ?‘?) in plastic bag
11. emery board
12. Woolite (or like product for handwashing underwear if necessary)
13. sewing kit
14. mini-mirror
15. duct tape
Clothing:
1. 8 underwear & socks
2. 2-3 versatile slacks
3. 1-2 versatile skirts
4. 1 light night shirt
5. 1 all purpose (black) suit? Type blazer (for business purposes)
6. 1 thin, light, i.e. biker’s rain jacket (instead of umbrella) plus a plastic head cover
7. 1 jacket
8. 2-3 pairs of shoes – (serious walking shoes, dressy flats (nice sandals might cover this)
9. cosmetics (minimal)
10. jewelry (light)
11. extra bag for bringing things back (very light and compact)
12. plastic laundry bag
13. host gifts
Airline back pack
1 set of underwear, traveling toiletry bag, travel books, papers for talks/meetings, deck of cards, mini bible, another pen
Avoid taking:
1. keys
2. hair dryer (unless your hair requires it and you won’t be in a place that has one).
3. extra credit cards
4. weight or bulk
5. scissors (except in checked luggage)
Impressive and many good tips there. Yes to toilet paper, or tissue paper of undeveloped countries especially
What a great list. I have travelled quite a bit but I don’t always bring my packing game. I always leave it to the last minute and throw everything in.
I went to France for 2 weeks with no checked luggage, just carryon and a smaller bag. It was brilliant. I learned the light technique from my 80 yr old inlaws that had been traveling the world their whole lives like this as musicians. And one of their bags was a viola or an oboe!!
That’s really impressive!!
Thank you for your tips!!!
I’ve always disliked packing & now I know why-I give myself too many options!!!
Excellent points! I also use those mesh bags to keep like kind clothes in place. Makes it easier to plan outfits, easier to dress. Travel sizes for toiletries is a must.
I’m happy to see you included exceptions for large or small feet. I wear a 12 women’s and my son wears a 14 men’s and both on the slightly wide side, so going anywhere without a back up pair of shoes is a no no, because even on a weekend trip within the US, it’s still very difficult to find a replacement pair should something go wrong.
I’ve struggled with this in the past but have definitely come around to the benefits of packing lightly and packing “well” rather than for every possible scenario.
Traveling light for years. Am always looking for new luggage ideas. You mentioned to choose a soft bag or super flexible materials with wheels yet you only recommended hard bags. Any soft bag recommendations? I also have eliminated wheels when choosing a bag as it give me more inside room. I like using packing cubes too. When traveling to more than one destination, I have a cube per location and only have to mess with that one cube.
Thanks for the article.
I do something not ordinary. I plan this. We all need new underwear from time to time. I buy new and wash up and leave at home. I take the older, along with plastic bags to put them in and leave them at the motels! I always make sure it’s all wrapped up and no one has to touch them. Extra room? Souvenirs to bring home (maybe).
I often get rid of underwear. You can get disposable and environmentally friendly underwear which is great. You can also get ones that come in a tiny tin and expand when you pull them out!
The best trip I took was with a carry on flight bag with literally the bare essentials, down to the underwear. Even with my cpap machine, I had plenty of room in my bag. Everything coordinated and it saved so much time! The worst trip I took was to Europe about 20 years ago with 2 enourmous rolling duffle bags stuffed with nearly every thing in my closet to the point the zippers broke on the way over! I had no idea how much walking on cobblestone streets I would be doing with these catastrophic bags! It must have been like a idiot abroad comedy show for anyone witnessing my efforts! Over half the clothes I brought were new and didn’t fit anyway! And did I mention how many shoes were in there? The shame!! Oh, and guess what- you actually CAN buy shoes in Europe. Gee whiz.
Live and learn. Keep up with what you’re doing! Your lessons are awesom! Jann.
Great post. I recommend purchasing quick drying underwear, like Tilly or Ex Officio. I went to Ireland with only 3 pair of underwear and socks. Washed them in the hotel sink and they were dry in a few hours. I also recommend a backpack vs rolling suitcase, so you can simply strap it on and go. Makes you look less like a tourist.
Thanks for mentioning this. We have backpacks, and I’ve wished we had gotten the rolling backpack version to make it easier for the children to help carry their own bags since the full sized backpacks are heavy. Maybe we just need smaller backpacks.
An addendum to my previous comments: I suggest choosing a “color scheme” for your travel wardrobe. I take black pants which means I only need two pairs of shoes, black walking shoes and black dressier shoes. I add color by selecting colorful tops, scarves, or jewelry. My jacket/sweater is also black.
(The added benefit of black is that it doesn’t show dirt or spots.)
True colour matching is a great idea so you have multiple outfits from just a few items of clothing.
Can you edit with links to the above things on amazon? Like a good electronics carrier? clothing lines (Betabrand is awesome!) , etc? Thanks!
I learned the hard way – big bag, very heavy – over several trips to TRAVEL LIGHT! I can now take a two week trip to a foreign country using a 21 inch roll on bag and a small carry on that will hold my purse as well as slippers, book, water, and iPad. I would strongly recommend a bag with spinner wheels, They are so much easier to handle in airplane aisles.
I too am believer in light travel. It’s almost enjoyable to figure out how minimal you can pack.
It’s about being comfortable, however you define that. It’s not a fashion show, rather its being presentable. Good shoes and easy fabrics. Take clothes and shoes that all work together, nothing that works alone.
To think 10 yrs ago we hauled the 27-30″ suitcases around and now it’s a 19″ easy. Travel light my friends and free yourself.
Less is definitely more. Travelling with a huge checked-bag ruins the fun. Natalie’s article has good tips. I’d add two:
I. Have a travel list on your computer with everything you’d need. Print out when you pack, you’ll never forget an important item.
2. You can also go to a laundromat…some of our most fun experiences has been doing on foreign trips.
Yep great tips. And I do have an Essentials Packing Checklist as part of my book and resources on my site
I went to china/Bali for three weeks with an organized tour. Without exception ever single person took their maximum baggage limit of two large checked and one carry on. And all were bulging to the max. My hubby and I only took one small carry one. Not one carry on each… one between us. In retrospect it was the most liberating trip we ever took. now each trip I take becomes s challenge yo see how little I can take!
Nice!
I know! It amazes me what people feel they need to take, almost like a safety net. Yet if they’d done what you and hubby had done, I’m sure they would have had a lighter and freer experience
What perfect timing. I will be in a 2 week solo camping trip to the 5 Southern Utah National Parks, on to Monument Valley and then back home to Phoenix next week. I can certainly use some of these ideas! Thank you!!!
Great timing indeed and glad you found it useful
These are great tips!
I always try to roll my clothes and pack shoes that are flexible, like track running shoes. And yes, soft bags all the way – preferably one that separates heavily soiled articles like shoes, with your other things.
Rick Steves has a wealth of great tips on “what” to pack as well. One pair of shorts for a week? He’s actually on to something there.
I just LUGGED a 42 lb. piece of luggage to Santa Fe, NM, for what was actually a 5-day trip, not counting travel days. It WAS a large reunion with a variety of activities planned for each day, requiring nice outfits and the weather there is quite changeable..
I had a carry on that had nothing but hair tools,makeup, skincare,jewelry/belts, meds etc. I simply couldn’t decide what I wouldn’t need!
I used about 1/3. (But I always had the perfect outfit!)
This wasn’t a Rick Steves type vacay.
I HAVE learned that packing disposable pantyliners eliminates the need for several pairs of undies. Not that helpful from a weight standpoint. :/
I had also bought LOTS of new clothes, most of which I didn’t take and returned when I got home. Should have shopped in my closet first. Still, I’ll never be a light packer, I’m afraid.