Pack Light, Pack Smart

Prereq: Learn about packing for airport security.

Hopping continents while hauling mounds of luggage is a gigantic drag. Want to breeze through countries instead of sweating along the sidewalk? Pack light, pack smart: a short packing tutorial.

Pack Less

Tackle the amount of stuff you're taking

1. Set out what you think you'll need to pack (include items like camera and guidebooks).

2. Put two thirds of it away. Even then, you may still find yourself with too much clothing while traveling. Force yourself to be ruthless! Try this test: put small items in the pockets of clothes you're wearing -- would you still want that stuff if you had to carry it on your body?

Carry the light, right clothes

Types of clothing are crucial to light, smart packing -- all-purpose or multi-purpose clothing means less space in a bag. Style is a good thing, but you'll wish you hadn't brought all those shoes.

• Bring soap (more on soap below) and you can get by with two shirts - one long sleeved, one short. Wear one while the other dries. You'll buy shirts on the road, too. And if yours are logo shirts, give 'em away or trade 'em before you come home.
  • Terriffic unisex travel shirt

• Pack or wear zip-off pants with several pockets; the lower legs can be zipped off and you don't need to pack a pair of shorts. Dorky -- yes, very. Light, washable, easy -- yes, very.
  • Men's travel pants
    
  • Women's travel pants

    Pants pockets make the difference in easy road travel, too. I got four pairs of the same cargo pants at European H&M stores in spring '06 because they have seven buttoning pockets. My day bag was soon almost empty while the pockets got packed, and they're my new travel faves.

• Check out money belts you can wear like a belt, rather than the cloth pouches. Either way, do learn about travel money stashing in clothes.

Packing Space Tips

• Stuff shoes
  
  Shoes provide massive unused space in a backpack. Cram them with underwear and socks (choose Smartwool socks -- no itch, no stink or shrink, not hot, fast drying). Speaking of shoes, consider Teva flipsoles -- built in indoor flip-flops (crucial for hostel showers) save packing space. Looks -- not so much. Comfy, though.
  
  • Tevas
    
  • Travel shoes
  • Travel foot notes
  • Smartwool socks
  • Best walking flip flops

• Roll your clothes
  
  Roll clothing you don't want to wrinkle. Some folks put clothes in plastic bags with the same goal in mind (haven't tried it).

• Keep toiletries tiny
  
  • Buy sample size toothpaste tubes and deodorant.
    
  • Stash small hotel soaps for travel use; carry in a small ziploc bag.
    
  • Pour your own shampoo into a plastic travel bottle (obtainable at drugstores) -- better yet, use the same small soap (above) for your face, hair, body, as shaving soap and for hand-washing clothes. I like Dr. Bronner's all purpose castille soap, too -- break a chunk off a big bar for travel or get the liquid. You can buy small laundy soap packets at laundromats on the road (spendy but easier than carrying), or bring sample sizes. I've bought cups or capfuls of laundry soap at hotel front desks, too.
    
  • Mini folding toothbrush is a must -- get 'em at Walmart.

All those clothing pockets can also become toiletry kits in packing - stash stuff that might ooze in a plastic baggie.

Pack the Right Bag

To truly travel light, ensure you have the perfect bag or backpack with tons of compartments so you can get your camera, clothes, guidebooks, and all necessities in one bag, preferably carry-on size so you needn't wait at airports for a checked bag (though carry on baggage is a problem area as of August, 2006) -- easier to sling on buses and trains, too. If you need a big bag or backpack for a long trip, use your backpack's zip off day pack as a carry on, or get a carry on shoulder bag both for the plane and for walking the streets at your destination. Check out a passport holder / travel wallet), too.

Bags sized for carry-on will also fit in most hostel lockers.

Tip: Current carry on bag size: keep it at or under 22x9x15 (ask when you buy your ticket). You can divide by sevens to be safe and keep carry on bags at 21x7x14.

• Travel bag resources
  
  • Learn about avoiding lost luggage, carry ons, and checking bags
  • Best laptop bag (plenty of space for a laptop *and* clothing)
    
  • Best shoulder travel bag
    
  • Great leather shoulder bag
    
  • Passport holder / wallet
    
  • Backpack reviews

Leave a Little Room

Lastly, leave some space in your bag for souvenirs. My souvenirs are often clothing which I can wear home and don't have to pack, like a Guatemalan shirt or a Mexican poncho. And if you find you were too ruthless about packing light and are short of clothes, you've killed two birds with one stone by getting an extra shirt and a souvenir.

Know that as of 2006, carry on rules concerning liquids and gels have changed -- read the news.

Don't forget to bring a light heart.

If you wish to travel far and fast, travel light. Take off all your envies, jealousies, unforgiveness, selfishness, and fears.
--Glenn Clark

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