Top 10 Tips for Traveling Light

Traveling light is by far the best advice I can give to someone about to go on a trip.

If you’re reading this, you’ve probably experienced the “Why did I bring this?!” moment after cursing yourself for carrying half of your luggage, thinking “just in case.” Maybe you even paid more for your airline ticket because of checked baggage and extra weight. Whatever the reason, traveling light is easier than you think. It can be summed up simply: carry as little as possible. Easy, right? Let’s see how to do it in practice.

1. Choose the Right Luggage

The best way to avoid overpacking is to choose a “container” that limits your options. A good travel backpack, around 40 liters, is ideal. It’s large enough for essentials and should be accepted as carry-on luggage, saving you from additional fees and fines for excess weight. A larger backpack may be necessary if you’re carrying camping equipment, but usually, 40 liters is sufficient. The Osprey Farpoint is highly recommended.

Per viaggiare davvero leggeri è meglio scegliere un buon zaino da viaggio.

2. Take Only What is Necessary

Before departure, it’s easy to overpack with items you might need in rare situations. Resist this urge. Remember, you can buy most things locally, often at a cheaper price. Lay out everything you plan to take and evaluate each item, asking yourself if you’ll really need it. If you’re not sure, leave it at home. Refer to my list of travel essentials for guidance.

3. Limit to One Week’s Worth of Clothes

Whether you’re traveling for two weeks, a month, or a year, only pack a week’s worth of clothing. It’s easier to wash clothes frequently than to carry weeks’ worth of changes. Most hostels and hotels offer laundry services, or you can use laundromats or wash clothes by hand.

4. Pack in Layers

For varying climates, choose versatile, technical clothes that can be layered. A base layer, for example, is warm, lightweight, and takes up little space. This approach prepares you for different weather conditions without adding bulk to your luggage.

Come viaggiare leggeri ed essere pronti ad ogni situazione.

5. Wear Bulky Items

Wear bulky clothing and shoes during your travels instead of packing them. For instance, if you need hiking boots and everyday shoes, wear the hiking boots and pack the other pair. If you need a heavy jacket for cold climates, wear it. Consider buying a cheap jacket locally if you’re only passing through cold areas briefly.

6. Leave Space for Souvenirs

Leave some free space in your luggage for souvenirs and make purchases towards the end of your trip to keep your luggage light for most of your journey.

7. Chase the Summer

For long-term travelers, plan your itinerary to follow warm weather, minimizing the need for heavy clothing.

8. Avoid Duplicates in Group Travel

When traveling with others, avoid bringing duplicate items such as nail clippers, sunscreen, and medicines. Share these essentials to lighten everyone’s load.

Come viaggiare leggeri quando si viaggia in gruppo o in famiglia.

9. Digitize Everything

Instead of carrying books, maps, and guides, use an e-reader or download everything to your smartphone or tablet. Hostels often have book exchanges where you can leave a book and pick up a new one.

10. Optimize Space

Use packing cubes to keep your backpack tidy and compression bags to reduce the volume of bulky clothing. This will make packing and finding items easier.

Do you have any questions? Updated information? Feel free to leave a comment or message me on Instagram!

If you found this article helpful, please consider purchasing your travel insurance through one of the links on this site, doing so supports my work at no additional cost to you. For EU & UK Residents, i recommend True Traveller. For everyone else i recommend HeyMondo (5% discount). Thanks!

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