Packing Light for Travel

Going on a flight but don’t want to have checked luggage? We get it. The worry of losing your luggage, having your bag tampered with, or just not wanting to lug a case around with you is enough to make anyone want to have only carry-on baggage.

But how do you pack for a trip when you’re limited to 15 or only 7kg?
Lucky for you, we stock Osprey, Cotopaxi, Pacsafe and more, with plenty of lightweight, organised bag options. With a little forward thinking, you’ll be packing light in no time.

Before choosing a bag or even starting to pack, do some reconnaissance:

• What is your luggage weight and size limit? Airlines are mostly consistent about carry-on dimensions, but they can vary a little, so it’s best to check. Better safe than sorry!
• Where are you staying? If you’ll be in fancy hotels and dining out, you’ll need a lot fewer things than if you plan on taking long hikes, cooking for yourself or bunking in hostels. Consider what you really need, what you can acquire there, or do without.
• What’s the weather? Layering is always your friend when planning outfits. Just shed a layer if it’s unseasonably warm, or bundle up when a cold wind comes through. Choose layers that are versatile with your outfits and can be worn again, to limit total clothes volume. Consider carrying or wearing your largest jacket while travelling to save extra packed space!

Choosing the right bag

Looking for a roller bag? 
The average weight of a small suitcase is between 3-5kg. It may not sound like much, but it can really start to eat into your total weight allowance. However if you’re travelling with fragile items or will only be walking on footpaths, sealed roads, etc. it can be really helpful to have a set of wheels for easy movement that doesn’t weigh on your back or shoulders and a hard or semi-hard case to provide more protection for your items. Being able to open your luggage like a butterfly can also make it much easier to gain access to things without rummaging and turning your whole case upside down. 

Travelling off the beaten track?
Wheels are not worth the hassle when it comes to rocks, cobbles, or constantly needing to pick your bag up to climb steep, narrow stairs (looking at you, cheap French AirBnB attic). If you’re not going to be on sealed roads or footpaths, wheels can become a hindrance and are more susceptible to damage which can cause problems in transit. Imagine trying to run through an airport and the wheels on your case refuse to roll.
This is where a travel backpack or duffel bag may be a much better option depending on both your physical ability and quantity of items. Lightweight duffel bags provide the best empty weight to capacity ratio, though backpacks are the most comfortable carrying option for stairs and longer trips.

Ready to start packing!

How can I pack enough clothes for a week-long trip?
This is where we combine packing tricks with outfit preparation and ultimately comes down to how you choose what to wear. For those of you who have a favourite outfit formula (thinking of the classic jeans and shirt) then you have a relatively straight-forward approach and only need to consider location within the bag (Top for the start of the trip and bottom for the end of the trip). If you prefer to select outfits for each day, then organisation of your bag is key to success. 

• Packing Cubes are a great way to separate bottoms from tops, dirty laundry, or have set outfits. Your Monday outfit is in the green bag! Compression bags can even press the air out of items so they take up even less space. 
• Footwear: Minimise the amount of shoes you take to a pair and a spare. Depending on where and when you’re travelling, you can often get away with one pair for most of your trip. But as many of us have experienced, walking in one pair of shoes when it’s hot and your feet sweat can create some pretty unpleasant smells. Rotate shoe use where possible and when you’re not wearing your main pair, put some small shoe deodorisers inside to reduce their offensiveness. Boot Bananas are a great option for travelling and they only weigh 200g which is lighter than a third pair of shoes! For less intense stink-situations, Sneakerballs are even smaller and lighter.
• Merino clothes, including socks, are naturally odour-resistant and great for temperature regulation. They're especially great as thermals, and can usually be worn for a few days between washes, so they punch above their weight when packing light.
• Toiletry Bottles: Minimise the amount of unnecessary weight by decanting your toiletries like shampoo, conditioner, soap/moisturiser and sunscreen into smaller containers. You’ll need to do this anyway to limit liquid volume for international travel to most places. Humangear GoToobs have their total volume marked on the outside for easier clearance through airport security, and the soft tubes are easy to use without mess.

Wherever you travel and whatever you bring, we hope you have a great time and stay safe!