One of the biggest concerns travelers, especially frequent fliers, can have is all about luggage. While it’s important to have everything you need for the trip, it’s also just as important to pack as lightly as possible.
But while there’s no definite procedure when it comes to packing – you can even choose to not pack at all – there are a few things you can keep in mind to avoid dealing with baggage fees or storage when travelling:
Pack only the things you absolutely need to have
This is the first, and arguably, the most important rule you need to follow: you can’t possibly have everything for every situation, so it’s best to approximate by only packing for the things that definitely will happen.
One rule you can follow for this is by making sure what you pack meets these criteria:
- Takes up a small space
- Doesn’t show stains
- Can be worn for any weather or occasion
Another good rule of thumb for this is the 80-20 rule: 20% of what you pack will be 80% of what you will end up wearing for the duration for the trip.
If you’re travelling for a week or more, packing for about one week is your optimal decision. Not only is it a manageable amount of time, but is also much easier to prepare for and adjust, especially when you will need to do laundry.
Find the right bag
Packing one huge bag is just as difficult as packing several smaller bags, so the natural option when travelling light is to simply use a bag that’s ten or twenty percent smaller than the size that you think you need.
Next, be sure to stuff it full – the reason why your bag still feels bulky is because of the many nooks and crannies you can see between your things, which means you’re not using the space well enough.
One way to solve this is by starting with your clothes. Choose ones that are made of light but strong materials, and be sure to roll them rather than folding. There are many ways to roll clothes, especially pants and jeans, and rolling takes us much less space.
Pack the lighter pair of shoes
It’s a good idea to an extra pair or two of shoes when you’re going to be staying somewhere for about a week or more. However, when you do, it’s important to wear the bulkier one among the bunch since this saves more space in your luggage.
You should also consider investing in durable shoes that can both be worn in a casual setting as well as more formal one, since this reduces the number of pairs you actually need to bring.
The same can even be said with clothes: pack multipurpose and versatility rather than for one-time occasions.
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