Travel Light In 2024 - Simple Yet Life-Changing Tips
Most of us tend to overpack when getting ready for a trip. We know how tempting it is to squeeze the entire home into the luggage, as this gives us a feeling of security. Yet, if you already arrived here, it's probably that you want to grab the basics to travel light.
Packing and travelling light are all about seeking comfort somewhere far away from home without letting excess stuff weigh you down. This usually means you will travel with a carry-on only, with wiser choices of what you should take and what you don't.
Once you have mastered the art of travelling light, you won't have to worry about extra fees for overweight bags at the airport. Less stuff in your luggage gives you more freedom and mobility when hopping between planes, trains, and buses.
15 Tips For Travelling Light
Whether you're hopping on a budget flight without checked baggage or simply aiming to travel more sustainably, mastering the art of minimalist travel can transform your experience. Here are essential packing tips to help you travel lighter, smarter, and more freely.
1. Go One Bag
One bagging lets you see the world in a new light.
One suitcase and one day bag is what most would recommend for a light trip. That’s a great way of travelling light. However, have you ever thought about travelling with one bag only? Check-in fees, delayed or lost luggage, and cucumbersome loads will become a thing of the past.
This approach allows you to move freely and explore destinations with ease and hands-free. You can breeze through the airports and public transportation, take last-minute detours, hop on unexpected buses, or take day trips without worrying about luggage logistics.
Pro tips: Consider expedited programs such as Clear if you want to spend less time at the airport and more time for travelling.
2. Your Choice of Material Matters
Merino wool is the best choice for your base layer, all year round. Photo By Ruta Gudeliene on Unsplash
Invest in a few well-made, versatile clothing items that will last. This is more sustainable and reduces the need to pack a lot of "just in case" options.
Choose lightweight and quick-drying synthetic fabrics. If your clothes dry quickly between washes, this means you can have more outfits available to choose from.
Meanwhile, lightweight material won't weigh you down. Also, you should choose wrinkle-resistant fabrics. There's no breaking out the iron to straighten your clothes when unpacking the luggage.
Merino wool is unbeatable when it comes to the best travel fabric. The material will keep you cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Merino wool is also wrinkle-resistant, breathable, and odour-resistant, making it ideal for travelling. The only catch is the material is a bit expensive.
Synthetic performance fabrics also do a good job of wicking sweat, if you want to add more items without spending a lot of money.
3. Learn The Art Of Layering
Layering helps you feel comfortable no matter where you are. Photo By Khamkhor on Unsplash
If you're a seasoned backpacker, you already know layering clothes works amazingly with different types of weather.
Layering is also the key if you want to travel light. This way, whether you are heading to the beaches or backpacking your way through a snowy trek, you will worry less about protecting yourself from the weather.
Winter might call for heavier stuff to keep your body warm. If you travel in cold seasons, it's worth using merino wool as a base layer. It can be a short or long shirt made of the material.
Then, add a light sweater on top of it, and another outer layer of puffer coat or a jacket, and put on your gloves, and wool hats. That’s enough to survive the temperate cold.
When the weather gets hot, it’s easy to take off one or two outer layers. This way of layering will give you more flexibility when travelling across multiple climate zones.
4. Prioritise Items With Multiple Purposes
With wise choice, a piece of clothing can multitask. Photo By Cavan for Adobe on Adobe
Multi-functional clothing and items are another key to minimalist packing. If you’re sitting between a raincoat and a poncho, go for the latter. Not only ponchos will give you more coverage, but they can also double as a backpack cover, a groundsheet or a tarp.
For ladies travellers out there, try travelling with a sarong next time instead of towels. There are multiple ways to wear a sarong as a dress. But did you know it can also be a great beach towel or headscarf whenever you want?
If you're not particularly picky about toiletries, let us tell you there are such things called multipurpose soap. It can be a body wash, handwash, shampoo, and face wash in one. Every toiletries you can think of may have a multi-purpose version somewhere.
5. Have Your Customised Packing List
Have a packing list to cross things off as you load your luggage. Photo Liza Summer By on Pexels
Packing lists on the web are useful for you to get started. But let's be honest, they're normally too long, so you will unavoidably overpack if you follow them to the letter.
Instead, use these sources for inspiration and narrow down to what works for you. We know that it might be tempting to throw half of your closet into your backpack, as it gives you mor