5 Ways To Pack Lighter

It's so tempting to overpack. Travel can be stressful, and "you never know what you'll need." Then, before you know it, you're trudging along your vacation with an overstuffed bag thinking, "what the heck is in here?"

Next time, keep these tips in mind when you're packing. Your arms, back, and shoulders will be glad you did!

1. Plan Your Outfits

A lot of people throw some clothes in their bag based on what they think they'll need. Then, during their trip, they wonder why they packed two blazers, three pairs of jeans, and only two pairs of socks. Think through each day of your trip, and try to envision what you'll wear. If you won't be in a formal situation, don't worry about bringing a jacket and tie or dress slacks. One-day-use items like socks and underwear should take precedence over items like pants that can be worn again.

2. Forget About Specialty Items

Do you need hiking boots if you're going on a one day hike in a week-long trip? And do you really need a curling iron for a weekend getaway? Think carefully about how much you're going to use what you're planning to pack. If it's only useful for one thing that you won't be doing much of, don't bring it.

3. Except For Specialty Travel Items 

There are tons of great products designed with the traveler in mind. While you shouldn't go out and buy every single one, they can help you save a lot of space. A packable rain jacket can replace a bulky raincoat. A microfiber travel towel takes up a fraction of the space of a regular one. You can even get bags that help you vacuum-pack your clothes and save even more space!

4. You Can Always Buy Things There

Unless you're going on a trek through the wilderness, you'll probably have access to stores and supermarkets at your destination. If something's cheap and easy to find, don't bother packing it. This is especially true for toiletries. That big bottle of shampoo is just going to take up space. Buying a bottle after you arrive will open up more room in your bag.

5. Leave Your Books At Home

Nowadays, most savvy travelers use an ebook reader, which saves weight and space over traditional books. But even if you prefer ink and paper, think long and hard about which books to bring. If you're not a speed-reader, one will probably be enough for a trip. Remember, you can usually find a used bookstore somewhere around town and pick up a few cheap paperbacks while you're there.

Follow these tips and lose the weight and clutter on your next trip.