I’ve written about travel for years and tested dozens of suitcases, but somehow, I’m still an overpacker.
No matter how hard I try, it’s always impossible for me to simplify my packing list into the bare necessities. I have to remind myself that, no, I probably don’t need to pack a second sweater in July.
As any overpacker will know, this struggle has led to my fair share of heavy, unwieldy suitcases that are a huge pain to drag, lift, and maneuver. I almost solely travel with a carry-on out of fear that, left to my own devices, I’ll pack a checked bag that is much too heavy, resulting in expensive overweight fees.
Fortunately, I’ve become a little better at packing lighter as a direct result of a few pieces of travel gear that I now can’t go anywhere without.
In this article
Lightweight Luggage
My top tip for packing lighter: look for lightweight luggage.
Choosing a light bag is the easiest way to shave pounds off of your luggage without sacrificing your packing list.
While it depends on whether you’re choosing a checked or carry-on suitcase, I recommend looking for luggage less than 10 pounds. Generally, I’ve found that hard-shell suitcases are much lighter than their soft-side counterparts, since the plastic shells weigh less than nylon and polyester. The gold standard is polycarbonate, though polypropylene is exceptionally lightweight as well, and both are highly durable and designed to withstand damage.
Antler is one of my favorite places to shop for lightweight luggage. The brand’s Single Stripe line is the lightest, with the medium checked bag weighing 7.94 pounds and the expandable carry-on weighing a mere 5.94 pounds.
A lighter bag is also easier to wheel and maneuver around tricky terrain like grass, gravel, or carpet.
Packing Cubes
Traveling light is about more than just packing less.
In my experience, I always have lighter luggage when I intentionally maximize my capacity and organization. As an overpacker, I love using packing cubes to ensure I’m only bringing exactly as much as I need for a given trip.
Packing cubes are polarizing, but I like that they give you additional boundaries when you’re packing; after all, you can only fit so much into one cube, which helps you add only the necessities without any extra bulk.
Plus, you can use a smaller, lighter bag when using space-saving options like compression packing cubes.
I use Roam’s Packing Pods, which includes a waterproof cube, a soft, felt cube for jewelry and delicates, and two large, mesh-front pods for storing clothes. They fit perfectly inside of my suitcase, so there’s a place for everything I pack.
Refillable Toiletry Bottles
Packaging from travel-size toiletry bottles seems negligible, but when every ounce counts, bulky plastic can add unnecessary weight. And if you’re only traveling for a day or two, you might be bringing more shampoo or conditioner than you actually need.
When I travel, I prefer to pack my toiletry bag with reusable, fillable squeeze bottles.
Personally, I use these uber-budget-friendly silicone bottles from Target. The silicone is incredibly lightweight, and I love that I can add exactly as much product as I’ll need for my trip.
The fact that I can reduce my single-use plastic consumption and bring my salon shampoo and conditioner wherever I go is an added bonus.
A Multicharger
With laptops, headphones, e-readers, gaming consoles, and smart watches, extra weight from technology adds up fast, especially when you’re traveling for work.
When it’s difficult to cut back on the tech you’re bringing, choosing a multicharger or portable charger is a great way to keep your gear charged and ready to go without managing a ton of blocks and wires.
I like this travel adapter from Ceptics, which includes USB-C and USB-A ports, so it’s quick and easy to attach any charger without dragging along cumbersome blocks.
It also has a built-in, retractable USB-C cord for charging without bringing a slew of cords.
Plus, the adaptable prong system means that it’s compatible with outlet shapes and sizes across the globe, so you won’t have to worry about bringing the wrong type of cord and leaving your devices for dead.
A Portable Luggage Scale
Last but not least, I highly recommend that every frequent traveler invest in their own portable luggage scale.
There’s truly nothing worse than placing your bag on the scale at the airport, only to discover that it’s too heavy and now you owe an overweight baggage fee.
Owning my own luggage scale has helped me keep track of how much everything on my packing list really weighs, which I appreciate when I’m lugging around my suitcase in a busy airport.
In my experience, regularly checking the weight of my luggage helps me prioritize what I really need to pack, ensuring that I bring only the necessities and avoid towing along anything that adds extra weight.
I own this $10 option from Amazon, and like that its slim design is easy to pack to take with me, since I’ve been known to go overboard on souvenirs.
The Shortcut
Weight starts with the bag itself. A lightweight suitcase like Antler's Single Stripe (5.94 pounds for the carry-on) gives you a head start before you've packed anything.
Boundaries beat willpower. Packing cubes like Roam's Packing Pods force you to fit everything into a fixed space.
A $10 luggage scale lets you find out your packed bag's weight at home, not at the check-in counter when it's too late to fix.
Consolidate what you can. One multicharger like Ceptics' adapter replaces a bag full of blocks and cords, which adds up more than you'd think.
