Traveling light: Keeping it all in just one bag

You managed to snag a couple of cheap airline tickets during a seat sale, but you realize later on that to keep the price down, you had to sacrifice your check-in baggage allowance. Can you really travel for more than three days with just a 7-kilo carry-on? Here are some tips to help you pack for that big trip:

Plan your wardrobe

Traveling light means you only bring the necessities. This means you need to maximize the use of each item. One way to do this is to ensure that all of your shirts will match all the pants, shorts or skirts you’re bringing. Another is to bring clothes that can be worn on daily excursions, yet can be dressy enough when you go out at night. Same goes for footwear.

Bring lightweight clothes

Weight matters a lot when you’re backpacking. It’s not just because of the small baggage allowance – a heavy backpack means a heavy load on your shoulders as you walk around looking for your hostel. Several travel and sports brands have come out with performance clothes that are perfect for traveling light: they hardly weigh anything, they’re comfortable to wear and more importantly, they dry quickly. They usually come with a hefty price tag, but if you plan on traveling long term, they are a great investment.

Doing laundry is the key

So how can backpackers travel for six months with just three shirts in their backpacks? The answer is very simple: they just wash their clothes. If you don’t mind having a very limited wardrobe, doing the laundry while you travel is the best way to keep your bag light. Just bring a bar of detergent and get scrubbing on the bathroom sink. Some hostels and guesthouses even have its own laundry facilities so you won’t have to do it by hand.

Microfiber towels are your best friend

Nothing weighs a bag more than a wet towel. Eliminate this problem with super absorbent microfiber towels. Even the smallest of these towels can dry you completely after a shower and best of all, it’d be dry within the hour.

Don’t bring what you can’t afford to lose

We all want the comforts we’re used to at home when we travel, that’s why we end up throwing everything into our bags when we pack. Before packing the stuffed bunny that has been with you since you were a kid, ask yourself this: Can I bear to this? Not to say that you’ll surely get robbed when you travel, but there is always that possibility. Besides, it’s a great way for you to decide which unnecessary items you can do without on your trip.