Believe or not, I went for almost half a year trip to Asia with 4 kg and I could stay much longer with the quantity I had. The truth is, that you pack the same if you go for a few days or a few months trip. Many people asked me, how to pack light, and how I can travel with such a small amount of clothes, especially as a girl. In fact, you need much less stuff to feel comfortable, than you think! Having lots of clothes is less attractive for me, then carrying heavy backpack. The solution is clear: take only the most necessary things!
How to pack light? Few more tips and packing list of essentials
Traveling with a very few things taught me, how much we are attached to the goods we have, which are in fact, just not necessary things. Attachments keep us tight in our comfort zone, where we consume and buy more and more, never feeling satisfied. Of course, I was missing my clothes, when I was wearing and washing all over the same stuff, but I understood how less I need to be happy and simply enjoy the trip.
1. Don’t hesitate to weight
When I was packing, first, I put all the things I was willing to take on my bed. I quickly realized that is too much and I will regret every day carrying this elephant on my back. After that, I started to separate items, which are essential. I literally put on the weight my clothes, choosing those pieces, which are even few grams lighters. Every gram was important! In the end, I was quite satisfied with the results!
2. What kind of clothes you should take?
Feels like carrying more than I weight.
When choosing your clothing take a look at each factors: thickness, weight, wrinkles, and texture. Your ideal travel clothing is durable, takes up minimal space and weight, is wrinkle-free and opaque, and matches with the rest of your clothing in style and fit. Besides, make sure you can throw all these items together in a washing machine without any drama. I always take for the trip used, old clothes. Why? First of all, washed many times textile weights a bit less. Second, in the end of my trip I always throw away most of my clothes, because they are completely destroyed after being washed every week. Third, I want to get rid of them after seeing them all that time. This way, I have half of my backpack free to carry souvenirs for my family.
3. Be minimalist
When you are backpacking, you don’t need to go for important meetings and occasions to look fancy don’t come often. I usually take one piece of cloth (dress), which looks little bit more elegant (pff elegant is too big word for that rug), than other clothes I have. Still, I can use it during everyday travel because it’s light and comfortable. Remember you are backpacker, everyone will understand that you don’t carry the whole wardrobe on your back! Have distance! Carrying some items which MAYBE you will use once MAYBE not, is not a good idea!
Minimalist mindset can also save you money as you are able to define your exact goals and destinations. We all have different things we consider as necessities. Becoming a minimalist is a process, but it allows you to appreciate what you have, reduce waste and save the environment and be more responsible consumer. The best way to start is to evaluate what is important to you and prioritize what you truly want. Later on, get into details regarding planning your trip in terms of accommodation, food, clothes etc.
4. Don’t worry about laundry
Most of the cultures in the world figured out, how to wash clothes, so no worries about that. There is running water almost everywhere, in case you don’t find a public laundry. Traveling will teach you self-discipline, when you will have to hand wash your underwear frequently. I usually take enough clothes to survive without laundry 5-7 days, no matter for how long I go.
5. Medicines and first aid kit
Of course, it all depends of your personal health, but I have seen people exaggerating size of their first aid kit. I am talking especially, about going to exotic destinations. Do you really think it is worth carrying all those, if anyway in case of health issues, you will go to the pharmacy, or you will more likely, go to the doctor? I have to tell you, every country has different bacteria, so carrying some medicines from your home country may simply be useless. For local diseases, try local medicines. Anyway you have travel insurance, which will cover it, right? I used to take first aid kit but now it is limited to few patches and some tiny Asian cream working for headache, muscle pain, cold symptoms, insect bites or other basic problems. Pharmacies are almost everywhere, what’s more, first aid medicines are usually cheaper, where I travel, so I don’t see the point in carrying them.
6. Carry-on size
Whether you travel with backpack or suitcase, always try to buy carry-on size. Of course, if you are packing for a road trip it does not matter much as the car has a lot space. But backpacking and taking planes will make your life easier with a small bag. it is cheaper to buy the ticket just with the hand luggage, because you don’t pay baggage handling fees. Moreover, you are sure your bag will not be lost. Believe me, you will always pack whatever size backpack you have to the absolute maximum… It just work like that, and you cannot help. Having small size makes it impossible to over pack, right?
7. The final packing list of essentials:
- Backpack (35 liter max)
- Bag liner in case of rain (usually included with backpack)
- Passport and other documents
- Poncho or other kind of compact raincoat
- Five shirts
- Girls: one dress suitable for all the occasions
- One pair of pants (for girls I hardly recommend legins as those are the lightest)
- One pair of shorts (or a skirt) and one pair of long, summer pants
- Three pairs of socks
- Five pairs of underwear
- Sunglasses
- Scarf
- Some long sleeves shirt or sweater for cooler days
- Comfortable sandals or/and comfortable walking shoes
- Shower kit (personal variation, just keep it small and remember about small sizes containers)
This is my personal way, how to pack light, which I tried on myself and share with you. Remember, that there will be always additional things like electronics: phone, camera or laptop, water, snacks which you would like to take. Keeping your clothes at the minimum will help you to acheive light traveling. Please, don’t hesitate to share your thoughts and tips.
PL Pszczoła kocha przyrodę, kwiaty oraz herbatę. Najbardziej sprawia jej przyjemność życie i podróże w rytmie slow, bez pośpiechu. Stara się podróżować bardziej ekologicznie i inspirować do tego innych. Lubi poznawać inne kultury, tradycje, spędzać czas z lokalnymi i kosztować ich przysmaków. Jej ulubione miejsca w każdej podróży to uliczne bazary.
ENG The Bee is a nature lover and tea addict. Loves the idea of slow life and responsible traveling, constantly trying to improve to bee more eco-friendly. Appreciates old cultures and traditions, loves to immerse with locals, listen to ethnic music as well as taste regional food and drinks. Her favorite spots while traveling are family houses and street markets.
Very enlightening article good clues you have here thanks 🙂
Happy I could help 🙂
Od zawsze zabieram za dużo, a podróżuję często chociaż na krótko. Zainspirowałaś mnie. Najbardziej spodobał mi się pomysł na zabieranie lekko znoszonych ubrań, które na koniec wyprawy wyrzucasz. Super pomysł!
Cieszę się, że moje rady ci posłużą 🙂 Na krótkie wyprawy zazwyczaj zabiera się tyle samo co na długie, przynajmniej ja tak mam 😀 ale nie lubię nosić ciężkiego plecaka, więc jest to wystarczająca motywacja, by spakować się minimalistycznie i myśleć o każdym zbędnym gramie.
I have problem with be minimalistic, because i need ewerything😉
Będąc osobą mojego wzrostu zawsze sprawdzam, czy jestem w stanie podnieść swój własny bagaż, bo kiedyś popełniłam ten kardynalny błąd! 😀 To było w szkole, rodzice spakowali mnie na wycieczkę, wsadzili bagaż do autokaru… a pod autobusem okazało się, że… nie jestem w stanie zataszczyć tej wielkiej torby do pokoju! To był dramat, bo nikt nie chciał mi pomóc! 😀
Teraz jestem już mądrą dorosłą kobietką i staram się pakować z rozsądkiem. Nie potrzebuje 4 ręczników, ani wielkich kosmetyków, wystarczy jeden duży, ewentualnie drugi mały, mini szamponik z żelem, a ciuchy dobieram tak, żeby wszystko do siebie pasowało i podmieniam je na lżejsze rozwiązania. Np. zamiast legginsy zamiast grubych dżinsów (w lato).
A to historia, dramat z dzieciństwa 😀 Minimalizm to podstawa, też zabieram wszystko jak najmniejsze i pakuję do miniaturowego plecaczka 😛
Cenne wskazówki! Podczas Camino de Santiago ograniczyliśmy się do minimum z ekwipunkiem, od tego czasu znaczniej sprawniej przebiega nasze pakowanie 🙂
Ja też po tej wyprawie zrozumiałam, że jak trzeba, to się da 😀
Bardzo przydatne. Napewno wezme to pod uwage gdy bede jechac chociazby na urlop 😊
Mój odwieczny problem 🙂
Nie ma problemów bez rozwiązania 😉
Właśnie, ja zawsze zabieram te rzeczy, które mogą sie przydać, a potem jak już nakupuję pamiątek to mam problem z nadbagażem 🙂
Właśnie takie są chyba prawa fizyki, że niezależnie jak mały czy duży bagaż zabieramy, zawsze wypychamy go do pełna 😀 Nie zdarzyło mi się nigdy mieć pół plecaka rzeczy, czy pół walizki. W związku z tym oprócz pozbycia się starych rzeczy, nie ma innej opcji by zwolnić miejsce. Oczywiście mówię o dłuższych wyprawach, kiedy ubrania rzeczywiście mocno się zużywają.
Yes!! Minimalism is key when travelling!
true is that 🙂
Including electronics items 5 kg weight is truly awesome! I also carry much legins because of the lightweight and also stylish. But I felt bad to throw away my clothes as all are my fave, bit crazy I know 🙁
I can understand if they were your favorite, I only throw away clothes which get totally used and destroyed, not really possible to wear anymore. After few months of washing over and over again, most of them are like that.
Great tips for packing light! I always tell my family about #4. We can always wash our clothes or buy new ones.
Hey, cool post. It’s always harder to pack light when you travel during winter season, or go to colder places. In summer, when you need only light clothes and swimsuits it’s easier to fit to 4 kilos 😉
Thank you for the great list of how to pack light. I am guilty of packing to much when going traveling. I also wanted to thank you for the ideas on cheap sleeps. I never thought of volunteering to get cheap overnight stays.
Super rozwiązaniem dla dziewczyn jest kombinezon. Robi za koszulkę i spodenki a jest lekki, zajmuje mało miejsca i szybko schnie. Szarawary, alladyny to jest jak dla mnie konieczność w autostopowe podróży. Lekkie, przewiewne, szybko schna i można podciągnąć nogawki jak jest gorąco a jak zimno to można założy pod spód legginsy. Ja zawsze do apteczki pakuję rutinoscorbin i tabletki na biegunkę ewentualnie jakiś gripex i apap, plastry i mała buteleczki octeniseptu. Mały suchy szampon często ratował moje włosy gdy nie bardzo było jak je umyć. No i koniecznie mokre chusteczki!
Bardzo dziękuję za Twoją listę, na pewno zainspiruje wiele osób i pomoże w pakowaniu! :*
Z pakowaniem radze sobie doskonale. W wieku 19 lat spakowalam jeden plecak i wyjechalam na zawsze! Wtedy jeszcze nie wiedzialam, ale moja ulubiona filozofia w zyciu jest minimalizm.
<3 Podziwiam i pozdrawiam serdecznie :*
I don’t know if I’ll ever learn how to pack light. I guess it’s also because I always have a 25kg allowance whenever I travel
Well, if you ever travel with cheap airlines you won’t have the allowance so those are few useful tips to pack within few kilograms 🙂
This is such a great post. I truly enjoy reading it.
I love packing light and take it on as a challenge each time! 🙂
Ja nigdy nie podróżowałam w taki sposób, zazwyczaj robilam listę, pakowalam wszystko do walizki, a walizkę do samochodu 🙂 ciekawa jestem jak wyglądałaby podróż z takim miminum jakie tu pokazujesz 🙂
Może warto spróbować? 😉 Przekonasz się, że tak naprawdę nie potrzebujemy wiele by czuć się komfortowo, a kto wie może zainspiruje Cię to do ograniczenia kupowania i konsumpcji w trosce o naszą planetę.
Cenne rady. My już po wakacjach i zawsze zabieram za dużo. Muszę sobie ten artykuł wydrukować by za rok nie popełniać błedów przy pakowaniu.
Nasze pakowanie było podobnie ekstremalne, z tym, że pakowałyśmy się w sakwy rowerowe z namiotem i kuchenką gazową 😂