Packing Like A Minimalist

I am one of those vacationers that likes to bring multiple outfits for each day on vacation because I’m not sure what I’ll feel like wearing that day. However, when surfing the web and trying to find the best deals, I always try to buy one of the crazy cheap Spirit flights or a Basic Economy United flight. Those are both the types of flight that are dirt cheap, but do not include any extras. This means that you have to pay for your luggage if you plan to check a bag. I already have anxiety around loosing my luggage while traveling, so in those scenarios I am definitely packing as light as possible.

Of course, packing everything in carry-on isn’t hard for a short trip, but the Spirit flights and Basic Economy United flights do not even allow for a full-sized carry-on bag without extra fees. That means that you have to pack even lighter– I’m talking 9 inches x 10 inches x 17 inches or less. That is the size of a large purse or very small backpack. The red bag picture above is the one use on the cheap basic flight. If you’re flying cheaply in one of these flights, this post is for you. Or perhaps you are just trying to cut out the clutter of your life and embrace minimalism in all facets of your life.

Keeping the Destination in Mind

This may be easier for you, depending on the weather of your destination. For example if you are headed to Florida to spend all of your time on a beach, you can get by with a lot less than if you are headed to Colorado for skiing. When I went to Florida, I packed everything I needed in my small red bag. I was only gone for four days, so this wasn’t much of a challenge. I researched what amenities my Airbnb had, so I knew that I wouldn’t need to bring shampoo, conditioner, a hairdryer, or beach towels. (Which is the same deal for most hotels and hostels that I have stayed in too) That alone frees up a lot of space.

I wore my heavier clothes on the plane: a pair of jeans, a t-shirt, my Patagonia sweatshirt (I do not travel anywhere without this sweatshirt), and tennis shoes. Then I packed two pairs of shorts, two swimsuits, one swim coverup, two tees, and two dresses. I still ended up not wearing one of the shirts and one of the dresses though because I just wore my swimsuit coverup one day and I wore the t-shirt that I traveled in twice. I always try to limit myself to two pairs of shoes when traveling– comfy walking shoes, and then the other pair would depend on the destination (sandals, heels, or snow boots, etc.). The only issue with packing a carry-on when flying is that it limits the liquids that you can bring. I knew that I would just be reading by the ocean, so I only brought mascara, liquid eyeliner, and lavender essential oil for sleeping at night. We stopped at a CVS by our place and loaded up on sunscreen.

If you are heading to a colder destination or for a longer amount of time, that is where packing light gets trickier. When we went to Iceland, I used the pack pictured below and I packed plenty of warm layers and sweaters. I re-wore most of my outfits at least once. I was wearing my winter coat on most of the time anyways, so I wasn’t concerned about pictures.

The Bag

When we traveled to Spain and Portugal in 2015, Collin bought me a Kyte 36L Osprey pack. (This bag would not fall under the dimensions above; it’s a full-sized carry-on.) I wasn’t quite sure how I was going to live out of the pack for two weeks, but it challenged me to pack light and limit myself. I think that’s one of the tricks– when you have a larger bag, you feel like you can bring more things (like multiple outfit options per day) and fill it all up. When you have limited space, you are able to cut out unnecessary things and condense your packing list more than you realize. Now I have traveled all over the world with my pack, and I can’t imagine traveling with anything else.

I love bringing my pack because it’s easy to carry and travel with. The weight is on your hips rather than your back, so it’s comfortable too. You can easily run through an airport with it or squeeze into crowded trains with it if needed.

Find a Place to do Laundry

Now if you are planning to be gone for a few weeks, but still trying to pack light, you may want to figure out a way to do laundry while traveling. You could find a laundromat, have your hotel wash your clothes, or choose a VRBO or Airbnb that has a washer and dryer. You could always try washing clothes in the bathroom sink if you are in a pinch. When we were traveling in Wyoming, we specifically chose an rental with a washer & dryer to stay at towards the end of our trip after we had been camping for five days.

Packing Strategies

With the clothes that you do choose to pack, make sure that they go with multiple things. When I am going on a longer trip, I try to bring shirts or pants or skirts that I can mix & match and wear more than once to help save space. (It’s ok to be an outfit repeater) It’s important to have versatile pieces. I am a firm believer of the rolling packing method. Folded clothes take up less space than wadded clothes, while folded and rolled clothes take up even less space.

Start by putting the heaviest items at the bottom (like shoes and pants). I like to keep my toiletries in the top, most easily accessible spot, and then have shirts and underwear beneath them. If you are using a backpack, it’s best to have your heaviest items in the middle to keep the weight centered.

Avoid packing “what if” items. “What if” may not happen, and if it does, then you can usually buy what you need on the road. You can also avoid this by checking the weather a day or two before your trip. When I am packing, I like to divide up my items into “I will definitely wear this” and “I will probably wear this” piles. Then go through the “I will probably wear this” pile and do not pack most of it.

What are some of your packing tips?