After years of travel, I think I have finally mastered the art of compact packing. It was a long and painful journey, no pun intended, my friends used to tease me all the time about how awful I was at packing. I found it especially tricky to fit everything into just one small backpack. But, rising luggage fees inspired me. As a result, today I am quite good at packing, so I thought I would share some of my best tips with you all.
Take versatile items of clothing with you
As much as possible, choose items of clothing that can be worn in several different ways. This range of swimshorts for men is a great example of what I mean. Men can wear them for swimming, but they work just as well for other activities like sightseeing or cycling. They can also potentially be worn as pajamas. You can even slip a pair on under trousers. That way if you get hot while travelling you can take the jeans off and just wear the shorts. These swim shorts can potentially work for both sexes.
Choose clothes that will pack up small
It sounds obvious, but you need to avoid packing heavyweight clothes. If you pack a couple of pairs of lightweight cotton trousers instead of a pair of heavy denim jeans, you will have more choice. On colder days you can always wear both pairs. You will be far warmer dressed in lightweight layers than you would be if you were to wear just one layer of heavier clothes.
Take the right shoes
If possible, pack sandals or shoes made from soft material or fabric, so they can be flattened and not take up too much space. It is wise to take a pair of closed in shoes like trainers or boots, but you can usually wear these when you travel.
Squeeze out the air
Learn to pack everything up as small as possible. For example, rolling up your tops instead of folding them will save you a surprising amount of space. Little things like using elastic bands to keep items like socks and towels tightly wrapped will also make a big difference. Compacting each item before packing it is far more effective than trying to press everything down once it is in your bag.
Pack in the right order
Putting larger items at the bottom of your case or bag is usually the best way to start. As you put things into your bag, fill in any little gaps using items like socks and underwear. The idea is that there will be no little space left unutilised.
Pack early
If you have really limited space, it is especially important to pack early. You need to be sure you can fit everything, so need to have a dry run. Doing this gives you time to jiggle things around and change what you take slightly, if necessary. That way you will not be forced to have to leave something important behind and have to make potentially expensive purchases when you arrive at your destination.
Use a packing list
When you pack light, you have to be extremely organized, so it is always wise to use a packing list. The one on this page is likely to need editing, but it provides a good starting point.