Tips for Packing Light – 10 Essentials for Any Travel

Our best tips for packing light

Packing light sounds simple, but finding the balance between bringing enough and bringing too much can be surprisingly difficult.

Jeff and I have spent decades refining our packing strategy. As travel bloggers, we’ve travelled extensively on six continents, including a family trip that lasted nearly a year and covered 48 countries. Despite the length of the journey, our family of four returned home with a combined total of just 55kg of luggage, including carry-on bags, checked luggage, jackets, and souvenirs.

More recently, we spent nine weeks travelling through South America using only carry-on luggage.

The secret isn’t packing less. It’s packing smarter.

These are the tips for packing light that work for us on almost every trip.

1. Start with a colour-coordinated wardrobe

One of the easiest ways to pack less is to make sure everything matches.

For each trip, we choose a colour theme and build our wardrobe around it. Black and white serve as versatile basics, while one or two accent colours add variety.

Because everything coordinates, every top works with every bottom. This gives us far more outfit combinations than the number of items we actually pack.

2. Layer instead of packing bulky clothing

Layering is one of the smartest tips for packing light.

Rather than bringing a heavy coat, I pack a long-sleeve shirt, a fleece, and a breathable waterproof jacket. Together, they are just as warm as a bulky coat but take up much less space and adapt to changing weather conditions.

This strategy works whether we’re travelling through tropical rainforests, exploring cities, or visiting alpine regions.

3. Never travel without packing cubes

Packing cubes completely changed how we travel.

They keep everything organised, compress clothing, and make unpacking and repacking incredibly easy. We use different sizes for clothing, electronics, undergarments, and outerwear.

Instead of digging through a suitcase to find one item, everything has a designated place. These are ​our current favourite packing cubes​.

4. Invest in a quality rain jacket

If we could only recommend one travel item, it would be a good rain jacket.

A lightweight, breathable, waterproof jacket works in almost every climate. It keeps us dry during tropical downpours, blocks wind on cool days, and serves as an outer layer when temperatures drop.

A good rain jacket earns its place in every suitcase. While they are nearly the same, ​Jeff picked this one​, while​ I chose this one​.

5. Choose versatile clothing

Every item you pack should serve multiple purposes.

For women, a simple black dress can work for sightseeing during the day and dinner in the evening. For men, a collared shirt can be casual or dressy depending on the occasion.

The more versatile your clothing, the fewer pieces you need.

6. Use accessories to create different looks

A colourful scarf, statement necklace, or other lightweight accessory can completely transform an outfit.

Rather than packing extra clothing, we often use accessories to create variety. They take up almost no space while helping us avoid looking like we’re wearing the same outfit every day.

7. Plan to do laundry

One of the biggest mistakes travellers make is packing enough clothing for every day of their trip.

Instead, we pack for about a week and do laundry as needed.

Many hotels offer laundry facilities, and laundromats are easy to find in most destinations. We also carry a lightweight bungy-style laundry line for hand-washed items.

Doing laundry occasionally is much easier than hauling around a heavy suitcase.

8. Limit shoes and bulky items

Shoes take up more space than almost anything else.

Most trips only require two pairs: a comfortable walking shoe and a lightweight sandal. We choose shoes that can be worn in multiple situations and leave specialty footwear at home whenever possible.

Bulky items should earn their place in your luggage.

9. Keep electronics to a minimum

Years ago, we travelled with a separate flashlight, alarm clock, GPS, camera, and notebook.

Today, our smartphones handle most of those tasks.

We still travel with cameras and laptops when needed for our work, but we are careful not to bring unnecessary gadgets. Every charger, cable, and device adds weight and takes up valuable space.

10. Carry only essential health and travel items

We always travel with a small first aid kit containing basic medications, plasters, pain relief, and any prescription medications we may need.

We also carry important documents, passports, credit cards, insurance information, and digital backups stored securely online.

Being prepared doesn’t require carrying everything. It means carrying the right things.

Optional extras we often pack

Some items aren’t essential for everyone, but we find them useful on certain trips:

• Emergency toilet paper
• Silk sleeping bag liner
• Hand sanitiser
• N95 mask
• Reusable water bottle

Whether these belong in your bag depends on your destination and travel style.

Get our ​free packing light list​ here.

One final tip for packing light

Possibly the best packing advice we can offer is this:

Pack your bag, then remove a few items before you leave.

Most travellers use far less than they expect.

The more we travel, the less we pack. We have learned that carrying lighter luggage makes every part of the journey easier, from navigating airports and train stations to walking through historic city centres.

And if you forget something, chances are you can buy it when you arrive.

Oh, and one final essential.

Never travel without a sense of humour.

“There are two kinds of travellers in the world: those who pack light and those who wish they had.”

How does this match your list of essential things to bring? Do you have any additional tips for packing light?

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