Part of the art of packing light involves knowing what to bring for the trip you’re on. If you’re going on the road for fun — not work — you’ll pack differently than when you’re moving around as a digital nomad.
Here are 10 things you should leave behind on a backpacking adventure or non-working trip.
Guest post by Yogi and Suchna
When you pack items you don’t need, you slow yourself down, tire yourself out, and can even add to the cost of your trip.
The art of packing light is a process, and there is always room for improvement. To lighten your load, here are 10 things we suggest you leave at home when you head out for your next backpacking adventure.
#1: Forget your big suitcase
The first tip for packing lighter is to select the right suitcase or bag according to your travel plans. You should always go for a lightweight trolley suitcase or duffel bag, instead of a heavy bag. This will cause no extra strain on your muscles, and you can move around freely.
#2. Ditch the extra outfits
Well, clothes are not the things to leave behind, but, yes, carrying excess outfits can cost you extra charges as well as heavy loads. Just keep in mind your goal is to enjoy the place, not to show yourself off.
#3. Do you really need to bring your own food and water?
Food and water are vital for living, but not worth carrying in a significant amount. You can get hygienically cooked food and packed water at every tourist place. So a wise traveller will never carry the extra burden of food and water.
#4. Forget the books and magazines
You enjoy reading during your vacation, but carrying books and magazine can cause space and weight problems. So update yourself with a lightweight, slim tab that will serve you the purpose.
Editor’s note – I never go anywhere without my Kindle. Why a dedicated reading device instead of a tablet? Better sleep. . . Kindles use e-ink, not the blue light that you should avoid before bedtime for better quality, deeper sleep. If you don’t have a Kindle device, that’s okay, because you can download the free app and use it on a tablet, smartphone, or computer. For books on a budget, consider a Kindle Unlimited or Scribd subscription that lets you read unlimited books for a single monthly fee.
#5. Downsize your toiletries
Toiletries are essential, but we don’t need a lot at one time. Almost all hotels provide basic toiletries, so choose only a few items that take care of your daily needs. Leave the big bottles and take a ready-to-use pouch or small container, and use all-in-one makeup kits.
#6 Leave the heavy gadgets at home
An unnecessary glut of electronic gadgets can be cumbersome while traveling, so forget carrying the laptop, DVD players, coffeemaker, etc. Instead, take a smartphone with enough storage to store your favorite movies, songs etc. Remember — this is advice for a non-working trip!
#7. You’re not Imelda Marcos, so forget all the shoes
Make sure you are carrying only one or two pairs of all-purpose shoes that work with all weather conditions and outfits. It will make your luggage lighter and less bulky.
#8. Don’t roll out the sleeping bag
Never carry a sleeping bag unless you’re going camping in the woods. Even then you may not need it — nowadays there are facilities to hire bedding and camping gear at many destinations.
#9. Your hotel has you covered
See sleeping bag above — unless you’re going camping in the woods, you don’t need to bring your own sheets and towels. If you are planning to camp, make sure the linens you bring are light weight.
#10. Leave it on the vanity at home
Many hotels provide what you need for hair styling, so leave your hair straightener, hair dryer, curler at home as they eat up your luggage capacity. And leave the large, clunky jewelry at home, too. It just takes up space in your bag.
Remember, you’re traveling for fun! And you’ll enjoy your trip a lot more if you can shorten your airport check-in times, reduce the weight you’re lugging around, and make that tight connection.
Author Bio
Yogi and Suchna believe in taking the road less travelled and stumbling upon some hidden gems along the way! For over a decade, they’ve mapped their way across various continents, sniffed out unusual routes, discovered new flavors and stayed at quirky hostels. TheBackpackerCo is their expression of soul travel. You can catch up with them at TheBackpackerCo – The Backpack Paris Trip Experts.