When we think about travelling, one of the first things that come to mind is packing. Whether it’s a short excursion or an extended over-sea journey, packing can be one of the most stressful parts of preparation

If you don’t pack light, your travel experience will be less fun, and you’ll have less space for the things that matter (like souvenirs!). However, there are many approaches to light-packing that make the task far easier and less stressful than you might imagine.

The first rule of packing light is to pack only the essentials. Here are some tips to help you choose.

1. Go for A Capsule Wardrobe You Can Layer

Layering is the experienced traveller’s secret weapon when it comes to packing light. Instead of having a lot of separate pieces, it’s better to have fewer but more versatile pieces.

Layering is a great way to ensure you are always dressed for the weather. Locations like Stonehenge on Salisbury Plains in the UK can be very chilly even on a warm day. These locations will benefit from layers so you can shed clothing as it gets warmer and put on lighter layers to avoid the chill.

Using a capsule wardrobe when you travel also means that you’ll look put together. The very idea of a capsule wardrobe is that you can swap and change items, and they will always go together, no matter the occasion. 

2. Wear Your Heaviest Items

Wear the heaviest items when travelling. Travelling can often end up being cold so this can help you stay comfortable, but it also means that you can take that thicker hoody with you, even if you don’t have room in your bag. 

You can also save space in your bag by planning to wear layers so that you can shed clothing as you get warmer or put on more layers as the weather cools down. Layers also help with a capsule wardrobe – one layer can go with many outfits, rather than one thick jumper which only pairs with a specific skirt. 

3. Consider What You Can Leave Behind

If you’re heading into a city, then remember that there are shops there – you don’t need to bring a full first aid kit ‘just in case’, you can easily buy over-the-counter medicine there. 

You might have 9 different products for your face cleansing regime, but can you make do with just a cleanser and moisturizer for a week? 

Remember to layout outfits including shoes before you pack – that way you won’t take any items which aren’t needed and you can see if you can get away with just two pairs of shoes rather than 5. 

4. Avoid Full-Sized

The most obvious is don’t take full-sized toiletries with you on your trip. They take up a lot of room in your bag, and liquid soap in bottles has a habit of spilling regardless of how well it has been packed! You can get many mini versions of things like shampoo, conditioner, and soap at the hotel or hostel you’re staying at. If you must pack toiletries: Get travel-sized bottles or liquid soaps/shampoos that are TSA-compliant and pack them into a clear zip-lock bag before you leave the house.

Have a think about other travel-sized options – do you need your normal thick coat or would a lighter raincoat work just as well? This will fold up smaller. Instead of taking a whole range of plugs and adapters, can you find one that will work for everything?