When you're going away from home for a while, it's tempting to pack everything but the kitchen sink. After all, we all enjoy our creature comforts and have our routines and loves for particular items that we feel like we'd struggle being away from. However, it's often work packing light when you go away. It means carrying heavy bags around, making it easier to navigate through airports, train stations, and crowded city streets. Since many airlines charge for checked baggage, going with a smaller and lighter bag means you will often qualify for carry-on allowances, which are usually free so you'll save money too. Packing light allows for greater freedom of movement and last-minute changes to plans. Plus it gives you less things to keep track of and worry about meaning you can get on with enjoying your trip. Here are some of the ways you can pack lighter for your next holiday.
1. Versatile Clothing
Choose clothing items that can be worn in multiple ways and can be easily dressed up or down. For example, a plain white t-shirt can be worn with shorts during the day and dressed up with a skirt or shorts for a night out. Creating a capsule wardrobe in this way will allow you to make the most out of every piece you pack, as well as save space.
2. Multi-functional Items
Pack items that can serve multiple purposes, such as a sarong that can be used as a beach cover-up, a wrap, or a scarf. This will save space in your luggage and reduce the number of items you need to bring. Functional accessories like this are fantastic as they allow you to switch up the more basic pieces in your capsule wardrobe and don't take up a lot of room.
3. Rolling Clothing
Roll your clothing instead of folding it to save space in your luggage. This also helps to minimise wrinkles and creases in your clothing. Youtube has plenty of videos showing how to do this in the most effective way, so take a look and consider utilising this method to maximise the space in your suitcase.
4. Lightweight and Compressible Items
Pack lightweight and compressible items which won't take up much space in your luggage. Avoid anything too big or bulky and of with things that can be compressed or folded down, especially things like jackets and larger items like trousers.
5. Limiting Shoes
Limit the number of shoes you bring to two pairs - a comfortable pair for walking and a dressier pair for evening events. Shoes are often bulky and take up a lot of space in your luggage, so limiting the number you bring can help to save space and reduce weight.
Don't forget, you can always find a shop and buy anything you really feel like you need when you get to your destination. If you're travelling with children for example, buying things like nappies and wipes when you arrive instead of lugging them in cases will free up space. And toiletries like shampoo and body wash can always be purchased when you arrive instead of adding them to your case.
How do you keep your packing light when you travel?
