How to Pack Light for Any Trip
A lot of us aspire to pack light, but it doesn’t always come easily for everyone, or every trip. I should know. I’ve spent years obsessing over how to pack light, both as a travel writer (I’ve written over 100 articles on packing alone!) and a traveler. Over the years, I’ve gone from a 65L to a 45L, and now a 25L backpack for every trip I take — regardless of trip duration, season, or destination.
Getting to this level of minimalism didn’t happen overnight. It was an evolution, thanks to some smart tips and strategies I’ve learned over the years. If you too are trying to pack less on your next trip, here are several tried-and-true things to do to pack light.
1. Get a smaller bag
No matter how big or small our bags are, we always feel compelled to fill them. After all, how many of us have packed an extra dress or t-shirt that we never ended up wearing, just because we had the space for it? 🙋♀️ The solution? Get a smaller bag.
Most bags are measured by their carrying capacity, or liters, and a maximum-sized carry-on will generally be somewhere around 35-45L. For example, the Away Carry-On Suitcase is just under 40L. This is a pretty good size for most people and trips. But I always feel freer when carrying something that’s more of a “weekender” size—which is about 25-30L.
We’re all different, though, so I’d suggest trying to find a bag that’s 10L smaller than what you currently carry. It will act as a forcing function to limit your packing list, and reevaluate what you really need when you travel. Some of the best bags I’ve demo’d in my years reviewing travel gear include:
Tortuga Travel Backpack 30L ($325) This is a backpack designed for travel, featuring a clamshell opening, lots of organizational features, and anti-theft zippers. They’re an investment, but can withstand a lot and the models I’ve used have withstood years and thousands of miles of travel—with very minimal wear and tear.
Away Carry-On Suitcase ($275) This is one of the most popular hard-shell roller suitcases out there, and for good reason. They’re sturdy, have a great warranty, and also include some great organizational features in the interior.
Remote Equipment Charlie 25 L ($269) This is the bag I currently carry and I love it. If you’re getting into day-bag territory (20-25L), it’s actually kind of difficult to find a backpack that has water bottle cages, hip straps, and a design that’s more suited for every day carry and travel than hiking. The Charlie 25L is a rare unicorn in that regard. It has a split “open” mode for easy access, hip straps, lots of interior pockets for organization, and two water bottle cages on the outside. It’s also super waterproof—a much appreciated feature when I used it while hiking the Kumano Kodo trail.
2. Don’t bring more just because you’re traveling for longer
Don’t pack more just because you’re traveling for a longer amount of time than usual. If I’m gone for longer than a week (2, 3, 4 even) I will still pack the same amount as I would for a week-long trip.
Generally, the core of our packing list (passport, phone, chargers, water bottle, book, comb, travel pillow, etc.) stays the same no matter where or for how long we’re traveling. For this tip, focus on limiting the amount of clothing you’re bringing. Plan to do laundry, or, invest in articles of clothing that are odor resistant and don’t need to be washed as often.
When I’m gone for a long time, I’ll get in the habit of hand-washing a pair of underwear in my morning shower (ExOfficio’s quick dry undies are good for this), which you can do with a simple bar of soap. For travel-friendly clothing, ADAY is one of my favorite brands. They’re an investment, but absolutely worth the price tag — I have items from them I’ve been wearing for 6+ years and counting, and they still look fresh and stylish — and stand up to the challenge of travel well thanks to pill-resistant and odor-resistant fabrics. Anything merino wool is also a great bet if you’re looking to build out your travel wardrobe.
3. Create a travel capsule wardrobe
Clothing is the most variable part of our packing lists. It also tends to be where we overpack most often — especially when we think in terms of packing outfits, not items of clothes.
To keep the clothing portion of your packing list light and straightforward, create a travel capsule wardrobe. A travel capsule wardrobe:
Is a set of 10-12 items
Includes all of your clothes, shoes, and jacket(s)
Features easy to mix-and-match items
Doesn’t include underwear (pack however many you’ll need outside of the 10-item limit)
I always try to limit myself to 1-2 pairs of shoes (3 is the absolute max) since those take up quite a bit of space in our bags. For an example, here’s what I packed while hiking the Kumano Kodo, trying to stick to this concept as closely as possible.
4. Always bring travel-sized toiletries
Rather than bringing two-months worth of shampoo for a week-long trip, take a little extra time to decant your daily products into travel-sized containers. Further: really consider how much you’ll need. Although most people will max out at 3.4 ounces (the max limit for liquids, gels, and aerosols in carry-ons), I’ll bring even less for items like serums and face creams.
For containers, some of my favorites are the silicone travel bottles by GoToob ($30 for 3) for items like shampoo and conditioner, and the original Cadence capsules ($84 for 6) for my face wash and cream. I’ve also found that some eco-friendly or zero waste toiletries, like shampoo bars, can be space savers as well.
5. Use compression cubes
Okay, so this tip doesn’t really help you pack less—but rather fit the same amount in less space. Packing cubes, and specifically those with compression technology like Thule’s Compression Cubes (from $20) can help you pack more efficiently and fit more in a small amount of space.
I’ve tested a lot of packing cubes (and I mean a lot!) and these are by far the ones I’d most recommend—especially for carry-on only travelers—thanks to that one additional feature.
6. Limit your “just in case” items
For all the rest, focus on bringing what you know you’ll need and not what you think you’ll need. No rain in the forecast for your 3-day trip? Leave the umbrella at home. No plans for a fancy dinner? Ditch the heels. Going on an urban adventure? Re-think that backcountry first-aid kit lying next to your suitcase.
Remember: unless you’re going somewhere incredibly remote, you’ll be able to handle most things you were unprepared for with a quick stop by your hotel’s front desk or a shop down the road. And, often, these situations are ones we hadn’t thought of in advance anyway.
This article was originally published in 2019 but most recently updated in 2024 to include updated information and product recommendations.
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