This post may contain affiliate links
Packing light has never been my forte but on my recent trip to Australia I had to try. For the first time I was going to be taking a backpack instead of a suitcase and I was worried I would over pack and not be able to carry everything. On the other hand I was worried about not having enough stuff. I decided to go with the 68 liter Osprey Kite bag with the intention I would still have enough room for things to buy as I travel. There are plenty of ways to save space while you travel and throughout this post I will share with you what I did.
Please note: This post relates to my trip to Australia. There are plenty of geographical variables that will affect how you pack. As Australia is usually very warm I only needed to bring light clothes. This helped me to save a lot of space. Make sure you understand the environment you will be traveling to in order to pack accordingly.
Clothes:
The majority of space in your bag is probably going to be reserved for clothes. It is super important to only pack what you know you will wear. If you are thinking about bringing that skirt you wore one time, don’t. Here are some tips:
- only pack what you will wear
- Try to bring neutral colors so you can mix and match to make more outfits
- If you are going on a long trip plan to do laundry once a week
- Use compression bags to pack your clothes.
Compression Bags VS Packing Cubes
Using a compression bag or packing cubes are a great way to save space and keep your clothes organized. But which is better? To be honest it doesn’t really matter. Compression bags work by having an extra zip that reduces the size of the bag once packed, essentially by forcing all the air out. Packing cubes don’t have that extra zip. Compression bags will save you some space but the weight will be the same regardless of which ones you use. Compression bags are also harder to ‘live out of’ meaning you need to unpack them every time. Whereas packing cubes are like a mini suitcase. I tend to use packing cubes in my suitcase and compression bags in my backpack.
These are the compression bags I am currently using for my trip. Click here to find them on Amazon
Downsize you make-up bag
If your like me you’ll always be bringing you make-up bag, no matter where you go. Even though make-up can take up quite a bit of room. Just like with your clothes only bring what you’ll use. I still like the option to be able to do a full glam for a night out so if you want some inspiration on what to pack you should check out my post How to keep your make-up bag light.
Toiletries
Yet another area where people tend to overpack. If you haven’t guessed it already the theme here is only bring what you need. Going to a warm climate and going to be staying in hostel? Don’t even think about bringing any fake tan! A 500ml bottle of moisturizer? you won’t want to carry that around for a month. The trick here is just to downsize.
- Buy travel sized bottles and fill them up before you leave.
- Buy shampoo bars instead of bottles
- Get a reusable razor and some extra blades
- Bring reusable make-up remover pads over disposable ones
Remember that you will usually be able to replenish your toiletries as you go. Don’t feel the need to bring 3 months worth in one go.
I suggest getting one of those hanging toiletry bags to keep everything in one place and organized. You can also just grab the whole bag and bring it to the shower with you to save time. Click here to find it on Amazon
Shoes
Don’t bring you entire shoe collection. For Australia I brought one pair of flip flops. These take up no space at all. One pair of white trainers that go with everything and I can wear to the gym. One pair of sandals for wearing out and about and my walking boots. To make the most of the space bundle up your socks and stuff them into your shoes.
Collapsible Tubberware
Another great space saver is some collapsible Tupperware. I always recommend traveling with your own Tupperware as it will help you to save money. You will be able to take lunches with you rather than having to eat out all the time. This is especially handy if you are going to be taking some long bus or boat trips. Getting collapsible ones means they will take up hardly any room when you are not using them. You can even get collapsible water bottles now too.
Electronics
Some of the bulkiest and heaviest items you’ll have will be laptops etc. I brought my laptop because I use it everyday, but even I thought about not bring it! Usually for travel I just bring my iPad, apple pencil, iPhone, portable speaker and portable charger. That’s it. Everything fits in my carry on with plenty of room to spare. I also picked up a cord organizer to keep everything safe. It is less than a inch wide and is perfect for traveling. If you absolutely must bring your laptop them I suggest downsizing to a 13 inch one to save on space. Alternatively if you do have an iPad you can get a Bluetooth keyboard for it.
I will leave you with this for now and let you know of what other ways I come up with to save space as I discover them. If you have any questions please feel free to use the comment section below. I will reply promptly! As always happy travels <3
From visitors