Minimalist Backpack Packing: 8 Tips to Pack Light
Traveling with heavy suitcases in tow is becoming a thing of the past. People are now looking into minimalist backpack packing for easier travel.
‘Packing smart’ is what they call it. Packing your entire room is not the wisest thing to do. Furthermore, it will cost you more money, more time and is quite a hassle.
Having less allows you to be more mobile. This enables you to travel more easily.
Choose a Smaller Backpack
The first tip to achieve minimalist backpack packing is to choose a smaller backpack.
Find a carry-on backpack that has a capacity of 45L. This is helpful as it gives you a limit.
Likewise, it’s not advisable to think of using a bigger bag to have some ‘extra’ space. You will most likely fill that extra space in no time.
Pack Small Stuff
Since your aim is to make your essentials fit in a smaller backpack, you should pack small items as well.
Pack travel-sized toiletries. Also, don’t pack heavy shoes. Moreover, bulky items should have no place in your backpack.
Must-haves Only
When packing, think if each item is a must-have, good-to-have, or a might-need. Off all three, only the must-have can have a spot in your backpack.
Pack for a Week
When packing clothes, just bring a week’s worth of clothing. Anyway, you can easily wash and dry your clothes if you’re staying longer.
Bring clothes that are versatile and can easily be mixed and matched with your other clothes.
This may be debatable, but some travel gurus say jeans are a no-no. They take up a lot of space and they’re heavy.
Think of items that are useful in several ways. For example, a sarong can be used as a shawl, a bathrobe, a blanket, or a towel.
Packing Cubes
Almost all travel bloggers recommend using packing cubes if you want to achieve minimalist backpack packing.
Packing cubes are lightweight containers made from soft fabric. They are used to organize and pack clothes.
They come in different sizes for your different clothing items.
Packing cubes can save you space especially if you use compression cubes. However, packing cubes can only save you space but not weight.
Roll Clothes
Instead of folding and stacking your clothes, roll them. This saves more space in your backpack.
Plus, it doesn’t leave a crease on your clothing.
Don’t Bring Everything You Need
Don’t worry about packing everything you need. Wherever your destination may be, there are stores.
You can buy toiletries when they run out. Or, if you need an extra pair of slippers or sandals, you can buy it there.
Pack Beforehand
Last minute packing can result in overpacking. As mentioned, minimalist backpack packing requires you to think and make decisions.
On the other hand, if you’re in a hurry to pack, you might just shove in anything you grab.
Leave Some Space
Reducing the items you pack is already a big challenge. But, see if you can still leave some space in your backpack.
This extra space is for souvenir items, keepsakes, or anything you will buy from your trip.