Almost everyone overpacks for a trip at least once. Overpacking unnecessary items leaves you struggling through airports with heavy luggage and hunting through unnecessary items for essentials when you arrive at your destination.
If overpacking is a problem for you, we’re here to help! Below are five tips on how not to overpack, from choosing the right clothing to packing as lightly as possible.
Why Overpacking is a Problem
Overpacking causes several problems most travelers would rather avoid, including:
Extra Expenses
Overpacking often leads to luggage that exceeds airline weight allowances, resulting in extra charges when you check your bags. Airlines may also insist you check overweight carry-on bags at the departure gate. While carry-on gate check-in is usually free, some airlines charge an extra fee to people using basic economy fares.
Physical Effort
Hauling heavy luggage makes travel awkward, especially when moving through airports or using public transportation. You expend more energy than if you pack lighter, and you risk pulling muscles or sprains, which can really limit your activity when you reach your destination.
Difficulty Unpacking
Overpacking makes it challenging to find the clothes and items you need when unpacking, as you have to sort through extra items. This may not seem like a big deal, but after a long journey, being able to grab your toiletries and other necessities quickly helps you wind down and relax.
Anxiety and Frustration
Heavy suitcases, struggling to find necessities, and extra physical effort can wear you down, resulting in frustration and impacting your enjoyment of travel.
Tips to Avoid Overpacking
Use a List
Making a list of the items you need for your trip is the simplest and most effective way to prevent overpacking. Keep the list as short as possible; the goal is to travel light, with everything you need, and not one more item.
Choose Matching Clothes
Pack clothes you can mix and match to create different outfits. Wear blue jeans with a green shirt one day, a yellow shirt on another, and so on. If you’re traveling for a week, you can make three pairs of pants and four shirts work just fine.
Keep your destination’s weather and the activities you plan to enjoy in mind as you pack. Remember to consider the clothing you’ll wear while traveling. Wearing comfortable layered clothing for the flight can reduce your packing.
Roll or Bundle Your Clothes
Rolling clothes is a great way to conserve space while packing. Roll every shirt and pair of pants or shorts. If you do it carefully, you’ll avoid most wrinkles. Flight attendants like Heather Poole use this technique to pack for 10 days. (If you look closely at the main article photo, you can see that Heather uses a Travelpro® bag; we are all very proud.)
Another method is to bundle your clothes: wrap shirts and pants around a small core bundle of underwear and socks. Bundling reduces wrinkles because the larger items are stretched out instead of folded. The downside is you must unpack an entire bundle just to get a pair of socks. It’s an excellent method if you’re staying in one place for your entire vacation, but not a great idea if you’re moving every day or two.
Use Travel-Size Toiletries
Full-sized shampoo, mouthwash, and other toiletries take up more space than they’re worth when packing, and if you’re traveling with just a carry-on, they won't meet the TSA’s 3-1-1 rule for liquids. (Remember that the TSA also considers creams, concealer, and other makeup as liquids. Check out our article on packing makeup for travel so you don't violate TSA regulations.)
You have several options for toiletries. You can purchase clear, reusable plastic 3.4-ounce bottles and pour your favorite toiletries into them; you can purchase dry shampoo bars, or, if you’re not picky about brands, you can use your hotel’s toiletries or buy the brands you prefer at your destination.
Leave Room for Souvenirs
Overpacking often means you don’t have space in your bags to bring anything home. Packing light leaves you enough space to return home with gifts and souvenirs.
Want more packing tips? Check out How to Pack a Suitcase to Maximize Space.
Picking The Right Luggage
Choosing the right luggage helps prevent overpacking. Carry-on luggage like the Travelpro® Platinum® Elite Carry-On Spinner offers built-in organization with a deluxe tie-down system, integrated accessory pockets, a removable quart-size wet pocket, and a drop-in, fold-out suiter.
Packing cubes are excellent accessories for travelers who want to stay organized, making unpacking much more efficient. And don’t neglect the importance of lightweight luggage, which takes up less of your weight allowance.
Remember, the next time you’re tempted into overpacking, you’re only going on vacation; you’re not moving. You don’t need to take every comfort of home with you. Just pack those things you need, and then see what you can take out before you leave.
How do you avoid overpacking on your trips? What tips or tricks do you have for those of us who believe in creating “a home away from home?” Share your suggestions and secrets on our Facebook page, or on our Twitter stream. You can also find us on our Instagram page at @TravelproIntl.
