There are so many ways travel can enrich our lives. Family vacations, solo adventures, and romantic getaways can all expand our horizons with just a car ride or plane ticket.
In the last year, the number of U.S. citizens traveling internationally has widely expanded. While travel statistics have yet to reach pre-COVID numbers, we’re seeing a pervasive love of travel return to our daily lives.
For all the benefits travel has, it can also have some downsides. One of the major challenges when it comes to traveling is the hassle of packing.
If you pack too much, you’ll be loaded down with apparel, accessories, and other items you don’t actually need. If you pack too little, you may find yourself lacking something critical at a crucial moment.
Finding the perfect balance can be tricky. Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to simplify your needs.
Below, we’re going to offer our essential tips when it comes to packing light. This way, you’ll be ready for your next adventure, wherever it takes you.
#1: Plan Ahead
Plan what you’re going to bring before you actually start packing. It may seem tempting to simply toss your favorite clothing, toiletries, and electronics in your bag and call it a day.
If you only have fifteen minutes to plan for an impromptu trip, this may be your only option. In all other cases, however, planning ahead may be the better choice.
A packing list can help you be mindful of every item you take with you. This can make it easier to subtract unnecessary items as you plot how to make your luggage lighter (and avoid forgetting a must-have item in all of the chaos).
Planning ahead isn’t just a wise way to help you travel lighter. It can also have health and psychological benefits for your trip.
Stress is a significant factor affecting happiness, and organization is one of the most effective stress-management techniques. By planning ahead, you can make it easier to prepare yourself for a lovely trip.
#2: Know Your Essentials
Overpacking is cumbersome, and it can slow down your ability to move around, no matter your location. This is especially true if you’re going backpacking or traveling to multiple cities on one trip.
All other factors considered, you should identify the true essentials you cannot stand to be without.
Start with your phone, wallet, keys, charger, and maybe even a power block. Even on a regular basis, these are items that most of us rarely leave home without, save for the latter two.
The second essential is your clothing. This is where most people start to accumulate unneeded baggage. It can be tempting to plan for completely different outfits for every day — or even every activity. That’s not even getting into those “just in case” outfits we’ve all convinced ourselves we need on one trip or another.
Once you’ve decided on all the clothing you want to pack, narrow your clothes down to an even smaller selection from those items. Pack that smaller capsule wardrobe instead. Most of us err on the side of caution when we’re packing for a trip, but a small collection of versatile clothing is really all we need.
Toiletries can be a harder bridge to cross. What we deem necessary can depend on our daily habits — maybe your hair really will suffer without your five-step routine, or maybe hotel shampoo and conditioner will suffice.
Deodorant, toothpaste, a toothbrush, sunscreen, and our daily makeup needs are the basic toiletry essentials. Beyond that, use your judgment for what you’ll really benefit from bringing and what can be left at home.
Who knows? By leaving some of your skincare favorites behind, you might free up space for new items and experiences you discover along the way.
#3: Use Your Space Efficiently
The best traveling isn’t just about what you pack — it’s about how you pack it.
The first way to maximize your luggage capacity is to eliminate negative space. This is space within objects that takes up room but can still be used for storage. The most obvious example is the space inside most shoes, which can be used to store socks and small toiletries.
A second way to make the most of your bag is to fold your clothing as efficiently as possible. This can help you tightly pack your garments, leaving more room for other essentials.
Tightly packing can also help combat wrinkles, meaning you won’t have to rely on your hotel iron. Choosing high-quality travel clothes with wrinkle-resistant fabric can also combat this issue.
If you want to minimize your storage weight further, eliminate unneeded bags. Toiletry bags and Dopp kits often look good and can add a bit of luxury to your storage. Unfortunately, they can also add extra weight and bulk. A resealable, recyclable bag can make everything lighter and leave room for adventure.
#4: Choose Quality Over Quantity
We previously mentioned the ways people tend to overestimate their clothing needs. When you choose specialized pieces that only work with certain outfits, you box yourself in. With three shirts, two pairs of pants, and two pairs of shoes, you can create twelve outfits — if all the pieces go together well.
A high-quality capsule wardrobe with pieces that can be used in multiple scenarios like travel days, elegant dinners, and sightseeing trips can reduce clutter (and make choosing outfits in the morning a no-briners).
Some clothing can only be worn once, like undergarments. However, the bulkiest items we pack — meaning pants and jackets — can easily be worn more than once.
#5: Leave Some Space
Admittedly, this tip won’t help you travel light on the way home. However, it can make your return voyage home significantly easier.
When making any long-term trek, especially to major cities, you may pick up a few extra items along the way. If your luggage is already packed to a point of exertion, that small extra item becomes a larger issue.
Leave some room in your bag for souvenirs. That way, you won’t be stuck the night before, worrying about how to transport your new finds back home.
#6: Invest in Techwear
The clothing you bring on your trips matters, obviously. One high-end garment can outweigh the need for countless others. This holds true in regards to style, versatility, and longevity. For clothing that’s built for your next adventure, consider techwear.
Techwear is a unique style of fabric meant to serve the practical need of clothing. It includes luxurious merino wool for comfort and weather-based responsiveness. That’s not to mention its complex synthetic fabrics designed to wick moisture, fight off wrinkles, and more.
Paskho prides ourselves on our intricate selection of Techwear for all. When companies sacrifice quality for profits, everyone suffers — from the people producing the clothing under inhumane conditions to the consumers wearing clothing that simply doesn’t get the job done.
Our mission is to combat the inequalities that mass-produced fashion can create.
In the design process, this results in greater attention to both the quality of materials and effectiveness. In the production process, this means being ethical and transparent about how we act and conscious about making positive change.
We aspire to bring all our production to the United States, providing jobs in underserved communities. Where some businesses forsake their workers, we bring sustainable practices to local communities in need.
Buying ethically from one company does more than just support the immediate communities involved. It also encourages large and small fashion brands alike to do the same — and to create better clothing.
#7: Moderate Your Electronics
We live in the digital age. Some electronics, like our phones, are practically glued to our hands. Nearly 75% of people report feeling uneasy leaving their phones at home while running errands or going elsewhere.
Other electronics provide a safety net, work connections, or a source of entertainment. These include laptops, tablets, game consoles, and more.
Leave them all behind, save for the true essentials like your phone. If your destination is work-related, bring the items you need to function, like your laptop — but maybe leave the second monitor in your home office.
#8: Only Versatile Footwear
Most items can be folded or condensed to reduce the space they take up. The one exception to this rule is footwear. Footwear can’t be made smaller, so you have to make some tough style decisions. If you wear the right shoes on the plane, you may not even have to pack any in your luggage.
Your choice of footwear depends largely on the nature of your trip. For hiking or outdoor travels, you’ll want a sturdy pair of athletic shoes. For city vacations, a pair of walking and formal shoes may be needed.
Take the fewest pairs of shoes you possibly need. Ideally, we’d recommend bringing no more than two pairs, including the ones you wear in transit.
Conclusion
Packing lighter comes down to a few key factors. The first essential detail is to prepare well in advance so that you don’t find yourself rushed or taking half-measures. Secondly, organize your space to make use of every available inch you have at your disposal. Lastly, only take the absolute essentials — and make sure that whatever you bring is of the highest quality.
Sources:
APIS/I-92 Monitor I International Trade Administration
Plan Your Way to Less Stress, More Happiness I Time
2022 Cell Phone Usage Statistics: How Obsessed Are We? | Reviews.org
