Want to Pack Better? Use These 10 Tips for Packing Light

Do you wish you could pack better when travelling?

Not always lugging around your overstuffed suitcase or a backpack, because not only is it a pain in the butt, but it also makes it obvious you are an amateur traveller, rather than the pro you want to be?

You’re in luck. 

We’ve got 10 tips for packing light that will help you.

And as ex-overpackers, we also have tips on how to manage the reduction process – going from “but I NEED all of that” to “pay extra for checked baggage? No thanks, I’d rather have 3 cocktails for that money.”

Ready to become a packing light pro?

Let’s gooo!

This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please read our Disclaimer.

Here’s a little bit about our journey, if you are new here! If you know us, feel free to skip this part.

After leaving our old life in Scotland in March 2022 (it rains too much there), we travelled full-time for almost 2 years. Sounds fancy, doesn’t it? Well, it was. If you think that carrying overpacked backpacks in 45°C heat around streets that aren’t even on Google Maps is fancy. And that’s just 1% of all the fun we had! 😆

During the 2 years we volunteered in Italy and Bulgaria (free travel while learning new skills, anyone?), explored other amazing European countries and backpacked Southeast Asia. Btw, even our secret wedding was more of an expedition than a wedding. 😅

And, of course, we researched and planned everything ourselves, because you gotta keep the budget low, right? If you are like us, you’ve come to the right place, because we want to share all the useful travel tips and info with you!

Excited? Good. Let’s get into it so you can go on your own epic adventures too!

Why is packing light smart?

First of all, if you are still, for some reason, wondering why you should give packing light a go, read this.

In this post, we list not 1, but 8 reasons why you will LOVE travelling light – once you apply our 10 tips for packing light to the process, of course.

So if you are not convinced, whether it’s worth sacrificing your extra 3 pairs of shoes, 5 dresses and a hair curler, check the post out.

Now. 

Onto the actual tips for packing light.

Tips for packing light

Do you ever look at the people who show up for the same trip as you, say a team-building weekend away, or a summer beach holiday, but with next to nothing luggage?

And you wonder: “HOW ON EARTH DO YOU DO THAT, WHAT IS YOUR SECRET, I MUST KNOW??”

Wanna know the secret?

They have a lot of help.

Like the 10 tips for packing light that we are about to share with you.

So you can become a packing pro too.

And the next time you travel?

Everyone will be looking at you wondering how YOU make it work!

Ready?

Let’s learn how to pack light.

#1 Skip all the bullsh*t

Hope we got your attention with that totally-not-SEO-friendly heading!

But really, one of the biggest tips for packing light is just to, well, pack less.

The “go without” rule

We talked about this rule in our article on why packing light is da best, but just in case you can’t be bothered to read it, we’ll explain it right here:

In the simplest terms, figure out what you can go without and how long for, and then don’t pack it on your next trip.

Sounds confusing?

Let us illustrate using an example.

A real-life example

If we are going on a short trip (say 5 days or less), we know we can go without, for example:

• Our own conditioner (use the one at accommodation instead)
• Mirka’s mouthguard (technically, should be worn all the time, but a few days won’t make a difference)
• Vitamins and supplements (same as the mouthguard)

Now you try.

Find at least 3 things that you can skip on your next short trip.

Then continue with this article. More torturous tasks incoming. Muhaha!

Disclaimer

Actually, two disclaimers.

1. We know that some people are not able to just “go without”. Maybe you have medical needs. Or kids. Or other reasons. In that case, just reduce what you can, and accept that you might not be able to pack like a 2-T-shirts-for-3-weeks 20yo backpacker. And that’s okay (cause who would wanna do that anyway??)
2. We also know that everyone has their own idea of travel. We want to see and experience as much as we can, and we are prepared to make many sacrifices for it (including sacrificing our possessions – we backpacked full-time for almost 2 years, so possessions really aren’t our thing).
   
   But we know that some people like to do trips and holidays differently. They like to dress up. Have pretty outfits, pretty shoes, pretty hair and make up. If that’s your situation, again, use as many tips for packing light as you can, and accept that that’s your limit. Don’t compare yourself to other, minimalist travellers, if that’s not your vibe.

Next, let’s talk about the miracle that are packing cubes, because they are useful for ALL TRAVELLERS and yet only backpackers seem to know about them.

#2 Get packing cubes 

If you are like: “What the hell are packing cubes??”, you’ve got to read this guide. It will tell you more about this amazing invention that lets you pack loads and loads without taking up space (serious magic stuff).

And that’s kinda the main point and the reason why all travellers, not just backpackers, should get them.

With packing cubes you can fit MORE into your luggage. And all your stuff will also be organised. Double win!

But wait, don’t rush to buy your first set of packing cubes just yet!

Read our guide first – it has tips on what you should think about before buying your first set of packing cubes (so you don’t end up making a mistake). 

#3 Don’t fold, roll

Wanna level up your packing cube game?

Then learn how to roll clothes instead of folding them!

By rolling you not only save space, but also keep your clothes more wrinkle-free, which is usually an uncommon occurrence when travelling.

The key? Rolling well.

Good news is, it’s a lot easier to learn the basics, than you’d think.

To get started, look up videos on YouTube of how soldiers do it. Learn from the best.

#4 Reduce clothes 

Let’s continue talking about clothes, because they usually take up the most space in your luggage, right?

Here’s the deal. It’s okay to rewear clothes.

On a holiday, but also in every day life.

Not talking about underwear and socks here, though! We are not animals! 😆

Disclaimer here is what we’ve already mentioned – if travelling for you means wearing pretty outfits that you can change often, this might not be a tip for packing light you can easily apply.

3 tips for packing less clothes

• One of the best tips for packing light? Thinking in outfits rather than just packing random clothes. If possible, lay the clothes you are thinking of taking out on a bed and see how you can mix and match them.
• Consider colour palettes. Don’t worry, it sounds fancier than it really is. Basically, just choose a few colours that work well together and also work well for your trip. For example, think red-forest green-white for a winter mountain getaway.
• Want to take it one step further? Look into creating a capsule wardrobe. You can do a wardrobe overhaul at home, if you want to start living more minimalistically. Or you can just have a good, capsule wardrobe for your travels (see the tip below). Another option is just using the principles of a capsule wardrobe and applying them to your trip packing!

#5 Invest into good materials

This is one of our favourite tips for packing light, because it helps us save a lot of space (and time) and yet it always gets forgotten about in articles!

Materials matter.

To travel better, have some basic clothes which you can always pack, for every trip.

The great news? You might need to go shopping, if you currently don’t own clothes like this!

And isn’t that awesome? A justified shopping trip – one that you can call an investment.

It’s pretty much a money saving technique.

How?

You buy better clothes, meaning you can pack lighter, meaning you will spend less money on each trip, not paying for heavy check-in baggage. The clothes will pretty much pay for themselves! 😄

Disclaimer here, of course, is that you have to pick the new clothes well and not spend a fortune on them.

What should you look for in travel clothes?

When shopping for your versatile basics, look for clothes that are:

• Made from thin, quick-drying materials (this will also make them a lot easier to wash and dry on your travels too – added bonus!)
• Made from anti-wrinkle materials (but remember to roll, not fold to help the clothes stay wrinkle-free)
• Essential – think plain T-shirts, trousers or underwear. Stuff that is either necessary (underwear) or perfect for creating a capsule wardrobe (T-shirts, trousers), so you will be able to pack them for pretty much all your trips as the basics.
  
  For example, Daniel loves these versatile trousers from Craghoppers. They work for a variety of occasions (he’s worn them on travel days, to bars, gigs, hiking etc.) and also are: lightweight, quick-drying, breathable, moisture-wicking, waterproof, UV-protective, insect-repellent and more. This is the kind of stuff you want – packed with benefits and yet not taking up a lot of space in your luggage. 
• Neutral – basic colours work well for these clothes. Think shades of black, beige or grey. Ideally no or subtle pattern, so you can easily combine them together, as well as with your more adventurous pieces.

Where can you find clothes like this? Look for them in sports shops, outdoor stores or shops that sell functional clothes (such as Uniqlo).

Remember to also check out Craghoppers – they don’t sell just awesome trousers for men, they’ve got cool clothes for women and kids too!

#6 Be smart about shoes

Okay, we know that this might be the hardest category to reduce. To be honest, shoes kinda suck in general, and no amount of tips for packing light can save you here.

Do the best you can, though.

Tips for packing shoes

• Try to find a pair of shoes that is comfy and suitable for a variety of occasions – ideally as many as possible.
• Have a good pair of flip-flops/sliders that you can always take. Yes, there is such a thing as bad flip-flops – actually, we would even say that flip-flops overall are a bad idea. Controversial opinion, huh? We talk about that in this post on the best shoes for travelling.
• Always travel in the heaviest shoes you are taking on your trip, of course. If you do have a long-haul flight or a bus journey ahead of you, though? Consider bringing slippers/sliders. Again, check out this post on what sliders to get and this post on how to survive long-haul flying without emerging from the plane looking like the purple minions (if you don’t know what these look like, google it. Kinda like we do every time we are heading to the airport at 4am, because we are all about saving money, so booking flights at the crack of dawn is the only way to live and travel).
• Don’t pack pointless shoes for “what if” situations, like we did. Especially, when travelling long-term.

#7 Travel in bulky clothes 

Everyone knows the “layering up like on a Ryanair flight” trick, right? 😆 Well, utilise it. Layer up what you can. And if that’s not comfortable or it’s just too hot, at least carry your bulky jacket with you on a plane/bus/spaceship. Even if you don’t wear it. Never let jackets take up space in your luggage.

For instance, if you are leaving from a hot destination to a snowy one for a winter holiday, take your jacket on a plane with you. And then use it as a pillow. See, it’s not just tips for packing light, it’s also tips for making long-haul flights (or, travel gods forbid, airport sleepovers) more comfortable.

#8 Solid cosmetics 

Solid toiletries were such a discovery for us. 

Honestly, since we’ve made the switch from liquids to solids, packing light has become a lot easier.

They are perfect if you only have hand luggage – no spilling, less bulky, less heavy – see the 7 reasons why you need them here. 

These days you can get so many things in a solid form – from shampoos to repellents to even perfumes. It’s worth looking into and switching what you can. This post will tell you more.

#9 Never pack a full-size product

Can’t swap something for a solid version? No worries. Just don’t bring the entire product with you. We almost never do.

How to do this

You’ve got 4 main options:

1. Take only a part of it — like one strip of painkillers instead of the whole box. Or a selection of plasters instead of carrying an entire pack.
2. Save almost-finished products for travelling. Toothpaste almost out? Save it for your next trip. About to finish your face cream? Save the last bit of it for your holiday. This might not always save you space (e.g. if the cream’s container is big), but it will save you weight. And if you guesstimate well, you can end up finishing the product on your travels and throwing it out there – meaning even more space for souvenirs and presents on the way back!
   
   Warning: This only works if you are able to guesstimate how much of the product you’ll need. If you only take a bit of a toothpaste and it turns out to be not enough, you will have to: 1. Spend precious holiday time going toothpaste-shopping 2. Spend money in a potentially more expensive country 3. End up with a toothpaste that isn’t your usual one and doesn’t suit you 4. Sacrifice a souvenir you wanted to buy, since you have no extra space, because a brand new toothpaste is your new souvenir (toothpaste is used as an example, it can be applied to anything you miscalculate).
3. Repackage into a smaller container, such as the 100ml travel bottles. For example, we travel with refillable perfume atomisers instead of big, heavy (and breakable!) perfumes. Or repackage creams into a tiny dish we got from this £1.34 hack that, btw, can save your phone.
   
   Pro tip: always save small containers from products. You never know when they might come in handy when you need to repackage something for your next trip!
4. As a last resort, you can always buy a miniature version of the products you need, like a mini conditioner or a mini deodorant. The problem with this? They are always terribly overpriced, so if saving money is your goal, try to avoid this option.

#10 Sharing is caring

 It’s a cliché phrase, but do you ever think about it when going on a trip with others? Whether your family or your friends?

Consider what you could share, so everyone doesn’t have to pack their own.

For example, these are some things we’ve previously shared on trips with others: sunscreen, deodorant, lotion, repellent (this one is great!), coffee, cocoa powder (if you are a weirdo like us), plasters, painkillers, manicure scissors, sewing kit.

If you are going travelling with someone outside of our household, make sure to speak to them about, well, all of these tips for packing light, to help them out. But specifically mention sharing – ask if they are okay to share some items and if so, decide who takes what.

Note: only do this with people you can rely on. Don’t agree with a flaky friend of yours that they will take the sunscreen and then sunburn on the first day, because, surprise surprise, they forgot to pack it.

How do I start packing light?

We know that you are smart. And so you know that reading about tips for packing light is just the first step.

A step that, honestly, doesn’t mean much, unless you put those tips into practice.

The challenge?

If you are a serious overpacker, this might be quite hard.

The good news is, packing light is a skill you can learn, and you’ve already made a start, by reading about these 10 tips for packing light!

What you should do

Remember our post on WHY packing light is the smarter way to travel?

Well, in that post, we also included two challenges.

If you want to start packing light, you can pick your challenge based on the length of your next trip:

Challenge 1 – Longer trip (5 days+) – read all about the challenge here.

Challenge 2 – Shorter trip (5 days or less) – read all about the challenge here.

Let us know how you get on with these challenges! You can comment on this post below or drop us a DM on our Instagram.

And if these tips for packing light aren’t enough? Because you have a trip coming up and the pile of stuff that you absolutely NEED is looking like a miniature version of Mt Everest in the middle of your living room?

Book a call with us and we can scream at it together. And then we’ll help you actually pack light. Pinky promise.