Six Luggage Packing Tips Guaranteed To Keep You Traveling Light

If you love breezing your way through the airport, inside the plane and past security checks and luggage claim counters, then you must adore traveling light. In the following checklist, explore some useful tips on how you can make your dream of traveling light a convenient and easy-to-attain reality.

1. Start by selecting a light bag to use. Luggage ironically implies that you'll be lugging around something of great weight but of little monetary value. Don't let this definition sink in your head. Unless you are carrying very fragile things, you do not need to use a luggage that, even when empty, already weighs six pounds. Aim to bring only hand-carried luggage, and for this, the ideal choices include a shoulder bag, a belt bag, a duffel bag or a tote bag.

However, if you wish to avoid depositing your hand-carried luggage inside the plane's overhead cabinets, you may opt for checked-in luggage instead, and for this, the ideal choice is a soft-sided suitcase or a trolley (a bag with wheels).

2. Bring a wardrobe that you can easily wash, mix and match. Better yet, if you know that your destination sells clothes at rock-bottom prices, bring just two sets of apparel for daily wear and one set for night wear. Bring just one jacket in case you will get cold. In addition to the pair you're wearing, bring another pair of shoes. Pick a neutral design and color so that the shoes can easily match any of the wardrobe pieces you have. You can do your shopping as soon as you arrive at your destination.

3. Roll your clothes and fill in any empty containers or pockets with small necessities such as socks and underwear. These measures maximize the limited space that you have in your luggage. In addition, it also offers some form of protection for slightly fragile items in your luggage.

4. Invest in disposable stuff. Once you're through using them, you can just throw them in trash receptacles and your luggage just keeps on getting lighter and lighter. For instance, instead of bringing the conventional handkerchiefs, bring soft tissue or a small pack of wet wipes. Instead of bringing your entire collection of silk panties which you won't have time to wash anyway throughout the duration of your trip, bring a set of disposable underwear.

5. Pack small and think in combos. Pack only stuff which you're sure to use and completely consume. Bring mini-versions of your necessities. Ideally, these items should combine at least two functions: a perfumed lotion, a shampoo-and-conditioner in one, or a small bar of hand soap that can also be used for your small-time laundry needs. Sachets are a good choice. In other cases, you may have to transfer the content to smaller three-ounce bottles which can all fit comfortably inside a transparent one-quart or one-liter Ziploc bag.

6. Don't deposit a lot of coins in your hand-carried or checked-in luggage. You can easily secure this at money-changing booths and at souvenir shops immediately before you leave the departure area of your port of destination.