The ultimate guide to easy packing

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Some would argue that over -packing is an initiation rite, but there is a simpler way. Here are 12 tips for easy packing

With a 45-liter backpack and 13 kg weight, I started our big trip through the South Pacific and South America. In the course of the trip, I managed to lose a good bit of weight and bring my bag to 10 kg. Obviously, I had failed to grab it from the start.

In a way, overpacking is a transition rite: you have to do it to learn how to do it. Of course it is also easier. By obtaining advice from other travelers and being strictly with themselves, packing light luggage makes it much easier. Here is where to start.

buy a bag that appears too small

The Parkinson's Act says that "work is expanding to fill out the time that is available for its completion". Similarly, your toilet articles and "must-have" frills will expand to fill the available space. To counteract this, buy a bag that appears too small. This brute-force tactics help to pack light by forcing it to select what you really need and not what you believe that you need it.

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

It is worth noting that the bag should be small in relation to them. My 45-liter backpack is not huge, but I'm barely 5 feet 2 inches tall, so it seems much larger on my back. I would have benefited from it if I had lost about 10 liters.

limit clothes to a third of your bag

Take enough clothes for a week and not with you. Trust me on it. If you are female, you can pack an extra chic outfit, but that's it. All in all, the clothes should not take more than a third of their bag. How to keep the weight low:

  • What you shouldn't pack up: Take a look at the things we have unloaded on the street and leave them behind.
  • combine and combine: make sure that all your articles complement each other so that you can create new looks on the go.
  • Wash and carry: To repeat the above point, only take what you need for a week and wash it while going.
  • spend a little more: it is worth digging into your pocket for light clothing. I traveled with a chunky fleece and when I came home I found that my north wall was much easier.
  • layers: Instead of wearing bulky sweaters for cold areas, layer your lighter clothes.
  • Try it with pack cubes: Pack cubes keep your clothes organized and compressed. These have changed the way I pack, made life so much easier on the way.

Pack for the best case

so many of us overpress because we want to cover all eventualities. 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 thinking about the worst, grab for the best case and simply buy out of difficult situations. Even if you visit remote places such as the island of Tanna in Vanuatu or the island of Mafana in Tonga, you can usually buy everything you need in larger cities nearby. Do not take any annual supplies or backups with you. These are basic rules for packing light.

pack multi -purpose products

Pack products that do twice as much if possible. The obvious starting point is electronics and gadgets. Smartphones, cameras, Kindles, laptops, electric shavers, epilators and countless other devices must be charged on the go, be it via the power grid or USB.

Instead of packing several adapters, USB connections and cables, buy 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 with just one socket. It is protected and includes two US plugs, two USB ports, a fixed USB cable and six country-specific connections.

ask yourself: "Will I use this every week?"

If you consider an article, ask yourself: Will I use it every week? If the answer is no, leave it at home. You can make an exception for large articles such as sleeping bags if you camp, or a mosquito net if you are in malaria areas, but in most cases, if you don't use it every week, don't do it.

alt = ““> We should have done without the snorkeling mask

they do not hang on low -quality objects either. Peter did not let me throw away our relatively cheap snorkel mask after the South Pacific, so he wore it in South America for five months. 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 because of the snorkeling mask mentioned above, he cheerfully reminded me that I dragged a glass bottle full of fishing perfume with me, which, as I have to admit, was completely unnecessary.

alt = ““ So my hair is a bit frizzy. None is interested.

I also packed two types of cleaners and three types of BHS (normal, bandeau, sports). On the way, only a few people will notice their appearance or take care of it, so leave the luxury at home. Do not worry about frizzy hair (let your smooth iron at home), don't worry about the bra carrier that are visible under your Neckholder, don't worry that you do not worry after a combination of sweet red fruits, soft caramel, honey and chocolate with the captivating power of patchouli and vanilla. It's really not that important.

You should also leave any special training equipment at home unless you are a fitness junkie. When you hike, swim and walk on the street, you will probably stay fit and your training equipment will remain unused.

buy fixed versions of toilet articles

liquids are disproportionately difficult and can be terrible for packing light. Instead of packing large bottles of shampoo and other toilet articles, choose fixed versions. These are lighter, smaller, more durable, less dirty and durable.

optimize your shoes

This is difficult if you do a long -term travel that covers a variety of situations.

Peter packed flip-flops, hiking shoes and chic sneakers, of which he wore the last in formal situations. I packed flip flops, ballerinas, hiking shoes and sports sandals. To be honest, I used them all regularly and I am glad that I packed them up - but four pairs of shoes are absolute maximum.

alt = “muddy sandals after climbing the Nevis Peak”> fast-drying sports sandals are invaluable in cross-river hiking

If you probably don't find yourself in formal situations, do without your elegant footwear (in my case the ballerinas). If necessary, you can buy something at any time.

optimize your leisure gadgets

We packed a large selection of devices, including telephones, cameras, Kindles and laptops. We worked on the way, so we needed our laptops, but could have left a number of other items.

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

Take bulky objects when transported

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

My bag looked almost a quarter lighter, was much more agile and overall easier to handle. In short: it is better on your feet than on the back.

little things do not forget

It was in Tonga, three months after our trip, when I realized that I was wearing 14 British pound coins in my wallet. Coins - which most countries do not swap.

I was in a dilemma: I just throw the 14 pounds away or do I carry it around with me for nine months? Fortunately, we met our compatriot Mandy on e’Ua, who returned to Great Britain after five years abroad. I liked to present the coins as a farewell gift.

Don't forget the little things like emptying your wallet, library cards, loyalty cards, membership in the gym and other utensils that you will not use all year round. Every little helps when packing it lightly.

Try it out for 20 minutes

As in "What you shouldn't pack up", I tried my backpack before we left the house and took a 20-minute walk. This was an excellent way to familiarize myself with the various belts and settings, and also a good encouragement to take more stuff.

As a rule of thumb, you should be able to lift your own bag on your back without help, to lift her over your head for storing it and run with it for 20 minutes. If you cannot do this at home, you cannot do it in hotter climates, in height or on uneven terrain. Hiking with the backpack can hopefully be avoided for a long time, but at some point it will probably be necessary - as with us in Fiji and Bolivia.

If you are really afraid that you have left too much, you are probably just right.

good luck!

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