How To Pack Lighter For A Trip
Packing lighter for a trip can feel like an impossible task if you are used to paying for extra luggage and space. I for one used to be the type of person who would always travel with a 20kg bag for even a week long trip. Over the years I have moved away from the 20kg bags to fitting everything I need for a 2 week trip into one backpack.
Below I have created a list of all of my tips and tricks to help make it easier for you to travel lighter and save some extra weight in your luggage. It may be hard in the beginning to commit to the idea of packing lightly but even if you slowly add in some of these tips and tricks along the way you will be sure to benefit from just some of the benefits to travelling lighter.
The benefits to packing lighter…
No need to pay for extra baggage fee
Less luggage to carry around
No waiting around in the baggage halls
Quicker packing times
No need to worry about checking in any bags
My tips and tricks for packing lighter-
Luggage
This is the most important part of packing lighter! Whether you are bringing just a 10kg carry on bag or a backpack it is always important to check the weight of your luggage to ensure this isn’t what will be taking up the majority of your weight limit.
When I am travelling lighter I swear by my Jansport Main Campus Backpack. I have used this backpack so many times while travelling and it gives so much space. It has 3 different main compartments as well as 2 smaller compartments and a place for your water bottle. What makes this even better is it has two straps at the side you can pull in to make it look slimmer so you don’t get caught out by Ryanair for your bag being to clumpy.
2. Packing Cubes
These are a great travel essential to have! Packing cubes are great for saving space and fitting more clothing. I have used packing cubes for so many years and I find them great when wanting to travel with just a backpack or small suitcase. They help to compress your clothing while keeping them wrinkle free and if you love having things organised like me then you can use one or two packing cubes to separate your clothing. You can fold your clothing any way you like but I have found that you save a little bit more space by rolling.
3. Travel CheckList
A travel checklist is the perfect tool to keep you organised and while travelling. This will save you time by writing down all of your clothes and accessories you need before you pack so you can tick it off once you have packed it into your luggage. This will also help you know exactly what you brought which will of course let you travel stress free!
4. Wear your thick clothing
To save space in your luggage, keep the bulkiest clothing like jackets, sweaters and chunky shoes out of your bag and wear them on the plane. This will save space in your luggage as well as keeping you warm if you are going to a colder destination.
In conclusion…
When all is said and done the last thing to remember is your mindset. You may struggle at first with changing up your routine to packing lighter and there is not just one magic tip which will help with this but with practice and and experience you will be able to incorporate this tips one by one to help you pack lighter for your travels.