The key to learning how to travel light is to get into the right mindset and learn the art of packing light. This means overcoming your fears of forgetting things or overpacking. When you’re traveling, you don’t want to be hauling around 70 pounds of luggage. Besides, if you forget something, you can always buy a replacement when you reach your destination.
Packing cubes
When you’re traveling, packing cubes can help you save space and keep your items organized. These multi-purpose travel accessories can hold clothes, shoes, underwear, toiletries, makeup, and more. They also come in different colors, making it easy to tell what’s inside without opening them. Some cubes even come with zippered accessory compartments for socks, ties, and undergarments.
One of the main benefits of using packing cubes is that they can help you avoid bed bugs. My friend Summer Hull had a bad experience with bed bugs while traveling, and since then, she doesn’t take her luggage into her own home. The packing cubes helped her prevent bed bugs from ruining her vacation.
Most cubes are made of nylon or canvas, and they’re lightweight and easy to wash post-trip. There are also mesh ones, but they are more likely to rip and don’t breathe as well as nylon. Aside from being lightweight, packing cubes also fit easily into standard carry-on luggage.
Some packing cubes are designed for space-saving travel, so they’re perfect for backpackers. These compact travel cubes are easy to stack and compress, but their size is limited and they’re also heavier than ultralight cubes.
Compression bags
Compression bags are a great way to travel light without packing too much. They are large, zipper-covered bags that you can fill with clothes. When you’re done, roll up the bag like a toothpaste tube, and seal it. The compression bags don’t require a vacuum, and they can be cleaned with dish soap.
Compression bags are ideal for packing clothes because they give them extra compression and can reduce the size of your luggage by 30 percent. They are especially useful for light-weight clothing or denim. However, make sure that you test your compression bags beforehand. If you don’t, you risk paying oversize baggage fees.
Packing cubes are another good option. These lightweight containers can fit more clothes and shoes. They are made of ripstop nylon fabric, which is strong and lightweight. They also feature breathable mesh panels. This makes it easy to see what you’re packing at a glance. They can also make more room for other items in your suitcase.
Compression bags are also excellent for storing and moving items. TFG editor Alex used compression bags when packing her bulky winter wardrobe. This way, she was able to pack the clothes without using any additional space.
Microfibre travel towels
When you’re travelling, it’s important to pack light and microfibre travel towels are an ideal option. These lightweight towels are highly absorbent and dry quickly, which makes them a great option for trips involving long walks or hikes. They’re also lightweight and compact, so they’re a great option for travelers who don’t want to carry around a bulky towel.
Towels made of microfibre are surprisingly light – they’re a mere 200g or so! Some are heavier than others, but they’re all still relatively light compared to cotton towels. In fact, a large towel can weigh anywhere from 200 to 300g, which is about the weight limit of most airplanes. Unlike regular cotton towels, microfibre towels dry four times faster than their cotton counterparts and take up just 1/8th of the space of a cotton towel.
Microfibre travel towels can be folded flat, and most of them come with a strap to clip onto luggage or backpacks. Because they dry so quickly, they don’t need to be washed as often. They are also soft and comfortable on the skin, making them a great choice for travelers who are pressed for space.
Microfibre travel towels also save space, as they are much lighter than cotton towels. Because of their high absorbency, microfibre towels dry out in seconds, so you won’t feel dripping wet even after a shower. Furthermore, most microfibre towels come with anti-bacterial protection, which helps prevent the formation of mould and odours. These features are especially important when traveling to hot and sticky climates, as these are ideal breeding grounds for bacteria.
Prescription drugs bought off-the-counter
One way to travel light with prescription drugs is to buy them off-the-counter. Buying these drugs overseas is possible, but be sure to bring a written prescription from your doctor. This way, you’ll be able to get the same medication at a lower price than you would pay in the United States.
