Travelling Light: A Traveller’s Guide to Packing Light
For most of people, learning to pack and travel light is hard. However it is absolutely necessary if you intend to travel light. Once you learn the art of packing light, your life on the road will become more comfortable, easier and fun. Moreover, by packing light, you can even save lots of money by avoiding the extra luggage fees. In this article, we are going to give you tips on how to pack and travel light;
1. Plan Ahead and Make a List
You should start by planning ahead and making a well thought out packing checklist. Using a packing list will help you cut down on items to bring and will help you pack only the essential items. You need to write down how many shoes, trousers and shirts to carry. Remember to take into consideration the climatic conditions of your destination when making your packing list. This is especially true if you’re travelling with kids as there will be so many different factors and needs to take into account when packing.
2. Wear Layers
During the travel day, consider wearing the bulkiest and heaviest items you are taking. This basically means your heaviest jeans, bulkiest sweater and shoes. Layering is actually a great idea on travel days, especially because of the freezing atmosphere in airports due to air conditioning. It becomes even more important if the climate of your destination is cold.
3. Limit the Pair of Shoes You Bring
It’s best to limit the number shoes you bring to only 2 pairs; one to wear when travelling (i.e. the heavier pair) and an extra pair (preferably a fancy one). This is because shoes usually take up the most space in your bag. Remember, the pairs of shoes you carry will depend on your particular destination and the itinerary you have planned. For instance, if you intend to spend most of the time at the beach, you can simply bring with you some flip flops.
4. Choose the Right Bag
A great way to avoid over packing, is by getting a smaller bag. This will force you to prioritize and will keep you from tossing in things and items you do not really need. In addition, more economically sized bags are lighter, more versatile and easier to carry around when travelling than heavy baggage.
5. Choose a Color Scheme
A brilliant way to save space in your traveling bag is to pack only a few items of clothing which you can be able to mix and match. Consider bringing clothes which are of a neutral color, for instance, brown, blue, black or white. Jeans are also a good choice since they are versatile. You can wear your jeans and shirts, and they will match perfectly. If you’re a lady, consider packing thin knits since they offer more versatility
6. Use Packing Cubes
Another great tip for traveling light is utilising packing cubes. They compress your belongings into small manageable sizes. The packing cubes will save space in your traveling bag since they help separate your items and also help you find your things more easily. This is especially useful if you have numerous destinations on your itinerary and you need different types clothing for different climatic conditions.
7. Make use of Every Inch of Your Bag
When packing, make sure you fill all the dead spaces by making use of every inch of your bag. You can roll your tops, socks and such other small items, and then stuff them into the shoes so as to make sure every space available is filled.
8. Consider Sealing Your Items in Ziplock Bags
Ziplock bags are another great alternative to the packing cubes. They are available in different sizes and come in packs of two, four and eight. Some ziplock bags also come with vacuum spouts which allow users to suck out air using a vacuum, while others will need you to push out the air using your hands.
9. Use a Folding Board
To save space, you need to fold your clothes in a methodical manner. If you happen to simply cram your clothes into the bag, they will take up lots of space and will get wrinkled by the time you arrive to your destination. A folding board will allow you to easily fold your clothes easily and properly. This will make it easier for you to stack them on top of each other and consequently save more space. This also means that you’ll have to learn how to make a