I have finally learned that packing light is easy, and rather wonderful. It is one of the happy conquests of my new life.
This post contains affiliate links to some of the gear I use. If you buy through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I’ve kept the links in because readers have told me they find them genuinely useful; everything here is something I actually travel with.
For many years I was the cliché of the woman who cannot leave for even a weekend without a rigid 80-litre suitcase, a vanity case, a handbag and a laptop bag: the nightmare of every sensible travelling companion, and, I suspect, of every driver and flight attendant too. In my defence, my old life demanded it. You go to the theatre in an evening gown with everything that implies, to meetings in outfits chosen for the hour of day. I always needed a great many clothes, shoes, and bags, and I always packed more than necessary so I wouldn’t have to decide in advance.
Then my life changed, and I began to travel purely for pleasure, on far smaller budgets. At first I set off on the road with the same terrifying luggage, which I quickly came to loathe, shedding clothes at every checkout along the way. But you learn from your mistakes, and I treasured mine. This winter I spent over a month across Sri Lanka and Dubai, and my bag weighed just 13.8 pounds. Not bad.
Which bag for travelling light?
First, I abolished suitcases. I started with a classic hiking backpack, but, helped by my experience of life on a sailboat, I now travel with a lightweight, fully waterproof bag-backpack by Helly Hansen. The front-zip opening and the inner and outer pockets make packing effortless, and the adjustable backpack straps make it easy to carry. It is durable and simple to clean: a sponge and a little washing-up liquid, and it still looks new after countless trips.
What to pack?
However long I am away, I only pack a week’s worth of clothes and rely on local laundries. I roll everything and sort it into packing cubes so I can find things quickly without rummaging.
For warm destinations:
- three pairs of shorts, or sarouel trousers if I’m heading somewhere more modest in dress
- two nicer dresses for the evening
- enough tops to go with the trousers
- a week’s underwear, with a few extra pairs of socks if I’ll be visiting temples barefoot
- a swimsuit
- flip-flops
- a pair of sandals for the evening
- a pareo, which doubles as a beach towel
- a light waterproof jacket
For cold destinations:
- two pairs of comfortable trousers
- one smarter dress for the evening
- enough tops to go with the trousers
- two jumpers
- a week’s underwear
- a swimsuit
- flip-flops
- a pair of shoes to go with the dress
- a light waterproof jacket
In the wash bag:
- toothbrush and toothpaste, of course
- shampoo and shower gel (I skip these if I’m heading to big cities or hotels with Western standards)
- deodorant
- rose water
- cotton pads
- monoï oil, which I use as body cream, make-up remover and hair conditioner all in one
- sunscreen
- a little make-up
- nail file and tweezers
- earplugs
For a couple of years now I’ve swapped the old vanity case for a small waterproof pouch, which I also use on the spot to carry my phone, money and bits on boat trips.
A few other things I no longer travel without:
- a silk sleeping-bag liner, so I sleep comfortably even when a place doesn’t look quite clean (I use a stretch silk liner that has lasted years)
- a microfibre towel, for the same reason
- a spare foldable bag for when I shop too much; I’m still a woman
- a universal travel plug adapter
- a hairband
How I dress for the journey
- jeans
- a T-shirt
- a jumper or sweatshirt for the air conditioning on the flight
- trainers, or boots in winter and in cities
- a jacket, denim in summer, padded in winter
- a scarf, always and everywhere
My hand luggage
I carry a backpack or a soft shoulder bag to use on the spot for walking and sightseeing.
- baby wipes, wonderful where there’s no bidet, and a stand-in for loo roll when sailing
- my camera and charger
- phone with charger, waterproof case and earphones
- my e-reader (I’ve long travelled with a Kindle, with charger and waterproof case, models change, so pick the current one that suits you)
- a USB power bank
- a small LED head torch
- padlocks for the bag and for hostel or hotel lockers
- my beloved hat
- pen and notebook
- sunglasses
- a pouch with medicines, insect repellent and so on
- a spare pair of socks for padding around barefoot on long flights
I also keep a copy of all my travel documents as PDFs on my phone and e-reader, a precious habit.
If you have any doubts or questions, even about how to pack for a stay in a grand Ritz-style hotel, do ask. I’ve done both lives, and I’m happy to help.
Further reading
- How I plan trips: independent travel
- Travelling alone: solo female travel
- My favourite travel gadgets
- The best travel apps
Frequently asked questions
The key is to pack for one week regardless of how long you’re away, and rely on local laundries, which are cheap and everywhere in most of the world. Choose a single versatile bag, roll your clothes into packing cubes, take a capsule of mix-and-match items in a consistent colour palette, and wear your bulkiest clothes and shoes on the journey. You end up carrying far less than you think you need.
There’s no fixed rule, but as a benchmark, I travelled for over a month across Sri Lanka and Dubai with a bag weighing about 13.8 pounds (roughly 6.3 kg). Aiming for cabin-only, and keeping under most airlines’ carry-on limits, is a realistic and freeing target for most trips.
The small things that save the day: a silk sleeping-bag liner and microfibre towel for less-than-clean stays, a universal plug adapter, a power bank, earplugs, a scarf that works as a wrap, blanket and modesty cover, and PDF copies of your documents on your phone. Something to cover shoulders and legs for temples, and socks for hot marble floors, are easy to overlook.
Yes, whatever the length of the trip. Local laundry services are inexpensive and quick almost everywhere, and doing a small wash on the road is far less hassle than hauling a month of clothes around. It also forces a disciplined, versatile wardrobe, which is the whole secret to packing light.
Really useful article. Particularly love the idea of putting PDFs of the travel docs onto the Kindle. Obvious now you’ve said it!!
But what’s a K way? 😉
Thanks! I’m really glad that you found it useful 🙂
K-Way is an Italian brand producing waterproof, windbreaker light jackets you can zip up in their own hood. You can get them on Amazon and on their official website you can even customize your own.
You should try it!