How to pack light

My top 7 tips for packing light

This week I’m going to Ayacucho, a city west of Cusco, for the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Ayacucho. This was the final battle in the war for independence from Spain. (Read the article I wrote about the first battle for BBC Travel). I’ll be there for a week and I’m traveling with only a carryon.

Here’s my top seven tips for packing light that I’m following for the Ayacucho trip.

Why pack light?

For starters, it’s a pain to lift a heavy bag in and out of taxis, drag it through airports and wrestle it around your hotel room. Even if you’re traveling where you expect somebody to get your luggage out of your taxi and take it to the airport for you, and you expect somebody at the hotel will take it up to your room, you’ll still have to deal with it on your own at some point. If you want to use public transportation (NYC subway or Paris metro) you need something you can handle on your own.

Also, travel can be much easier if you don’t have to check a bag. Flying through Delhi I was offered a seat on a flight two hours earlier than my originally scheduled departure, and since I didn’t have a checked bag there was no charge for the switch. On the other hand, I once missed a connection from LA to Seattle because my checked bag didn’t make it from Bogotá, and I waited too long hoping it would appear.

1. Make a list and check it twice.

Every time I make a list, and stick to it, I find that I arrive with only what I need. When I just start tossing things in, I inevitably end up with more than I needed. Figure out what you need and resist adding anything extra.

2. Pick the right bag.

I am slightly embarrassed by how many suitcases, duffels and backpacks I own, but it means that I can always pick the right one for any trip. Pile everything from your list on your bed or couch and then pick the bag that fits the pile with just a little room to spare.

3. Use space efficiently.

If you follow a bunch of travel writers like I do, you’ve seen the roll vs. fold debate. I fold my clothes, but a lot of people swear that rolling uses space more efficiently. Most experienced packers will now tell you to use packing cubes, and I think they’re right, even though I don’t use them. Experiment with both and then stick with whatever you think works best.

Also, you might have to empty your suitcase out and start again if things don’t quite fit. Playing tetris with your stuff can help you find the best way to fit it all in efficiently.

 4. Start with an empty bag.

This tip is partly about packing light – so you don’t have extra stuff you don’t need – and partly about safety. You don’t want to end up at an airport with something you can’t take through security. The horror stories are out there (Brittney Griner and Ryan Watson) and this is not how you want to be on the news.

5. Organize your toiletries.

Buying new travel size toiletries every time wastes a lot of little plastic bottles, so get something you can reuse and take only what you’ll need. Like starting with an empty suitcase, start with an empty toiletries bag so you don’t end up with extra stuff. It’s both extra bulk and extra weight.

6. Leave space for souvenirs.

Sometimes I know what kind of souvenirs I’m likely to buy and know how much space to leave. Sometimes I’m surprised by the souvenirs available and want to buy something that I know won’t fit in my bag. If you’re good at only buying what fits, decide how much extra space you have and stick to it. If you usually end up buying more than what fits, take a small packable duffel or resign yourself to buying more luggage before you go home.

7. Clearly label your bag and put in an AirTag.

This might not seem like a packing light tip, but if you miscalculate your carryon bag’s size or weight, you might not get to carry it on. Even if you plan to travel with only a carryon bag, you never know when the airlines might make you check it. I have two tags with my name, phone number and email address on my suitcase and I always put an AirTag in. (Read about the new plan for airlines to use AirTags for lost luggage).

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