Packing light – everything you need to know

If you’re going backpacking then one of the most important things to remember is this: if you pack it, you have to carry it! Packing a suitcase is easy as you can wheel it to the airport and then check it into the hold and worry about it at the other end. However, if you’re going backpacking it’s vital that you travel light to avoid giving yourself a bad back on your travels.

We’ve put together a guide on how you can travel as lightly as possible…

Make a list

Create a list of everything you think you’re going to need. Sure, looking at it in the end will be daunting when you realise that you’re never going to pack light with all that in your bag. But if you go over it with a fine tooth comb, you’ll start to realise that a lot of the items you have written down aren’t actually essentials.

Restrict yourself

Purchase a bag and limit yourself to fitting everything in there. When you know how much room you have to play with, you’ll find it much easier to discard items you don’t need and stick with items that you do.

The rule of three

You may think that this is a little drastic, but if you truly want to pack light, the rule of three is the way to go. This means three pairs of socks, three pairs of underwear, three shirts etc. Leg wear can go longer without a wash, so only two pairs in that department, for example one pair of shorts and one pair of light trousers.

Mix and match between t-shirts, shirts, shorts, or trousers as you see fit. Wear one, wash one, dry one. It’s a good rule for those really looking to cut down on their luggage.

Pick items carefully

You won’t have to carry as much if you select items that can be repurposed as something else. One savvy blogger said that a frisby was his best travel buddy. It’s a great way to make friends in a new place, it’s a dry place to sit, it works as a bottle opener, you can eat off it – the list goes on. So think carefully about each item and whether it can double up as something else.

So that’s our quick and easy guide on packing light. If you have any top travel tips, let us know!