Ultra-light travel packing tips

Back in August, I left for Europe for nearly 3 weeks with just a day backpack. Not a backpacking bag like for camping. A literal 20 liter backpack. It’s so small that it’s actually the bag I bike back and forth to work with everyday.

Why, you might ask, would I choose to travel this way?

Why ultra-light travel travel is great

1. You can save so. much. money. You never have to check bags and this means you can take cheap European flights!
2. The challenge. I first learned about ultra-light travel originally on Snarky Nomad’s blog. When I first read it though I figured, “well, he’s a guy, and guys don’t need as much stuff and have more versatile clothing opportunities so that’s why he can make it look so easy.” I wanted to see if I could pull it off packing a female wardrobe, despite the fact that women’s travel clothing and shoes are often less interchangeable or even affordable.

Ultra-light backpacking is possible for everyone and it has changed not only the way I will continue to travel but my perspective on what I really ‘need’ when traveling. Curious? Read on to figure out how you can do it too:

Packing list for ultra-light travel

• 5 outfits:
  • 2 lightweight dresses
  • 1 pair of shorts (to mix and match with shirts)
  • 1 pair of loose pants (for the plane, sleeping, and for when it was cooler/more modest dress required)
  • 3 t-shirts (mix and match with shorts/pants)
  • 1 light sweater (for the plane, trains, and sleeping as necessary)
  • 1 sports bra and 1 regular bra (there was also a built in bra in one of the dresses)
  • 5 pairs of underwear (all quick dry)
• Shoes: flip flops, sandals, and tennis shoes.
• Toiletries:
  • 1 bar of soap for laundry and bathing
  • Mini shampoo, conditioner and toothpaste (with plans to restock at some point)
  • Mini toothbrush
  • Facial moisturizer
  • Sunscreen
  • 3 weeks worth of daily contact lenses
  • Assorted medicine: anti-pain, anti-allergies, anti-stomach issues, etc.
• Miscellany:
  • Eye glasses
  • Ipad loaded with books
  • Journal
  • Mini-purse that fit into my day bag

The bag weighed about 15 pounds and the dimensions were 50 x 33 x 15 centimeters, which were technically a little bigger than the requirements for a personal item for Ryanair and Wizz Air, but no one ever made me prove it. It looked small enough that I could get away with it.

The pros of ultra-light travel

1. Hop off a plane (at LAX) and just… leave the airport. No baggage claim, no customs, you can beat everyone through passport control because you don’t have a roller board and wah-la! Your adventure begins.
2. Don’t worry about keeping an eye on your luggage on trains/buses because… your bag fits at your feet.
3. Packing and unpacking takes 5 seconds.
4. Can’t check in until 3pm, but arrive in the town in the morning? Don’t worry, you are carrying so little it won’t cramp your style!
5. You just feel lighter everywhere you go. And because you carry so little, you worry less about your belongings (re: theft), and there is literally nothing more liberating.

The cons of ultra-light travel

1. You have to hand-wash your clothes regularly.
2. You might smell a little.
3. If you like buying souvenirs, you don’t have room for them. Sorry. I actually think this is a pro but this might depend on your spending style.

Hacks to keep in mind:

1. Bring clothes that won’t wrinkle too much when hand washed.
2. Buy quick-dry underwear.
3. Practice walking around A LOT in whatever shoes you bring. You will be wearing these day in and out so make sure you work out the blisters and break them in before you go!
4. Remember that in most countries around the world you can buy what you need on the fly if you run out or lose something. Pretty much the only non-replaceable item is your passport.
5. Aim to have enough outfits for 5-7 days, and try to stay places where you can either do laundry or will be staying a few nights to let clothes dry that you hand-wash.

Favorite items for ultra-light travel:

1. My trusted MacPac bag, Utsifoy, 50 x 33 x 15cm. One of my favorite bags for travel and commuting even before this adventure.
2. Dr. Bronner’s soap. Amazing for bathing and hand-washing clothes.
3. eBags for keeping things organized and clear plastic containers for toiletries and other assorted items. As Marie Kondo would say, “if you can’t see it, it’s as good as gone” (okay I don’t think she ever said that but you know what I mean).
4. RemFresh for time zone transitions and sleep on the plane! So important to try and get on the new timezone ASAP.
5. Universal travel adapter. For too long I have just been buying country or region specific adapters, but this bad boy is more sustainable and works across different country zones!

I challenge you to pack lighter next time you can – it has totally changed my perspective on what I can handle living without and being comfortable. I plan to travel this way into the future and will continue to update this post accordingly!