The ultimate guide to packing light

The ultimate guide to packing light

Some would argue that overpacking is a rite of passage, but there is an easier way. Here are 12 tips for packing light

I started our big journey through the South Pacific and South America with a 45 liter backpack and 13 kg of weight. Over the course of the trip I managed to lose a fair bit of weight, bringing my bag up to 10kg. Apparently I had neglected to pack light from the start.

In a way, overpacking is a rite of passage: you have to do it to learn how not to do it. Of course there is an easier way. By taking advice from other travelers and being strict with yourself, packing light will become much easier. Here's where to start.

Buy a bag that seems too small

Parkinson's Law states that "work expands to fill the time available for its completion." Similarly, your toiletries and “must-have” knick-knacks will expand to fill the available space. To combat this, buy a bag that seems too small. This brute force tactic helps pack light by forcing you to choose what you really need rather than what you think you need.

alt=“Kia backpack”>Save 10 liters more than you would like

It is worth noting that the bag should be small in relation to you. My 45L backpack isn't huge, but I'm barely 5'2" tall, so it feels a lot bigger on my back. I would have benefited from losing about 10 liters.

Limit clothing to one-third of your bag

Take enough clothes for a week and no more. Trust me on this. If you're female, you can pack an extra fancy outfit, but that's it. All in all, clothing shouldn't take up more than a third of your bag. How to keep the weight down:

• Was Sie nicht einpacken sollten: Schauen Sie sich die Dinge an, die wir auf der Straße abgeladen haben, und lassen Sie sie zurück.
• Kombinieren und kombinieren: Stellen Sie sicher, dass alle Ihre Artikel einander ergänzen, damit Sie unterwegs neue Looks kreieren können.
• Waschen und tragen: Um den obigen Punkt zu wiederholen, nehmen Sie nur das, was Sie für eine Woche brauchen, und waschen Sie es, während Sie gehen.
• Etwas mehr ausgeben: Es lohnt sich, für leichte Kleidung in die Tasche zu greifen. Ich reiste mit einem klobigen Fleece und als ich nach Hause kam, stellte ich fest, dass meine Nordwand viel leichter war.
• Schichten: Anstatt sperrige Pullover für kalte Gefilde zu tragen, schichten Sie Ihre leichtere Kleidung.
• Versuchen Sie es mit Packwürfeln: Packwürfel halten Ihre Kleidung organisiert und komprimiert. Diese haben die Art und Weise, wie ich packe, verändert und das Leben unterwegs so viel einfacher gemacht.

Pack for the best case scenario

So many of us overpack because we want to cover every eventuality. What if I need more socks in Peru? What if I can't buy tampons in Rio? What if our iPhone charger breaks in Bolivia?

Instead of worrying about the worst, plan for the best case scenario and simply buy your way out of difficult situations. Even if you visit remote places like Tanna Island in Vanuatu or Mafana Island in Tonga, you can usually buy everything you need in larger towns nearby. Don't take a year's supply or backups just in case. These are basic rules for packing light.

Pack multi-purpose products

If possible, package products that do twice as much. The obvious place to start is electronics and gadgets. Smartphones, cameras, Kindles, laptops, electric shavers, epilators and countless other devices need to be charged on the go, whether via mains power or USB.

Instead of packing multiple adapters, USB ports, and cables, purchase an all-in-one adapter like the Ceptics World Travel Adapter Kit.

This kit works in over 200 countries and territories and can charge up to five devices using just one outlet. It is surge protected and includes two US plugs, two USB ports, a solid USB cable and six country-specific ports.

Ask yourself, “Will I use this every week?”

When considering an item, ask yourself: Will I use it every week? If the answer is no, leave it at home. You can make an exception for large items like sleeping bags if you do a lot of camping or a mosquito net if you're in malaria areas, but in most cases if you don't use it every week, don't pack it.

alt=““>We should have skipped the snorkel mask

Also, don’t get attached to low-value items. Peter wouldn't let me throw away our relatively cheap snorkel mask after the South Pacific, so he wore it for five months in South America. We used it about three times (when we could have hired instead). Don't make the same mistake.

Let yourself go

Every time I teased Peter about the aforementioned snorkel mask, he cheerfully reminded me that I was carrying around a glass bottle full of fishing perfume, which I now admit was completely unnecessary.

alt="">So my hair is a bit frizzy. Nobody cares.

I also packed two types of cleaners and three types of bras (regular, bandeau, sports). When you're out and about, few people will notice or care about your appearance, so leave the luxury at home. Don't worry about frizzy hair (leave your flat iron at home), don't worry about bra straps showing under your halterneck, don't worry about not smelling like a combination of sweet red fruits, soft caramel, honey and praline with the captivating power of patchouli and vanilla. It's really not that important.

Likewise, unless you're a fitness junkie, you should leave any specialized workout equipment at home. If you hike, swim, and walk on the street, you're likely staying fit and your workout gear will go unused.

Buy solid versions of toiletries

Liquids are disproportionately heavy and can be terrible for packing light. Instead of packing large bottles of shampoo and other toiletries, opt for solid versions. These are lighter, smaller, more durable, less dirty and longer lasting.

Optimize your shoes

This is difficult when you are taking a long-term trip that covers a wide range of situations.

Peter packed flip-flops, hiking boots, and fancy sneakers, the last of which he wore in formal situations. I packed flip flops, ballet flats, hiking boots and sports sandals. Honestly, I used them all regularly and I'm glad I packed them - but four pairs of shoes is the absolute maximum.

alt=“Muddy sandals after climbing Nevis Peak”>Quick-drying sports sandals are invaluable when cross-river hiking

Unless you're likely to find yourself in formal situations, ditch your dressy footwear (in my case, ballet flats). If necessary, you can always buy something on the go.

Optimize your leisure gadgets

We packed a wide range of devices including phones, cameras, Kindles and laptops. We were working on the go, so needed our laptops, but could have left a number of other items behind.

Your phone can function as a camera, e-reader, travel guide, map, and notebook, so leave the other things at home if you can.

Carry bulky items when transporting

I wore my gym sandals in transit throughout the Pacific. Wearing bulky hiking boots on a plane from Fiji to Samoa seemed like overkill. However, in South America I used my boots more often, so I decided to leave them outside and wear them during transport. What a difference!

My bag seemed almost a quarter lighter, was much more maneuverable and overall easier to handle. In short: it fits better on your feet than on your back.

Don't forget the little things

It was in Tonga, three months into our trip, that I realized I was carrying 14 British pound coins in my wallet. Coins – which most countries do not exchange.

I found myself in a dilemma: do I just throw the 14 pounds away or carry it around for another nine months? Luckily, on E’ua we met our compatriot Mandy, who was returning to the UK after five years abroad. I was happy to give her the coins as a parting gift.

Don't forget the little things like emptying your wallet, library cards, loyalty cards, gym memberships, and other essentials you won't use throughout the year. When it comes to packing light, every little bit helps.

Try it for 20 minutes

As mentioned in “What Not to Pack,” before we left the house, I tried on my backpack and went for a 20-minute walk. This was a great way to familiarize myself with the different straps and settings, and also a good encouragement to take off more stuff.

As a rule of thumb, you should be able to lift your own bag onto your back without assistance, lift it over your head for storage, and walk with it for 20 minutes. If you can't do this at home, you won't be able to do it in hotter climates, at altitude, or on uneven terrain. Hopefully, hiking with a backpack can be avoided for a long time, but at some point it will probably be necessary - like here in Fiji and Bolivia.

If you're really worried that you've left too much behind, you're probably exactly right.

Good luck!

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