How to avoid overpacking
Overpacking plagues us all. Prior to Aer Lingus losing my luggage, I was TERRIBLE at overpacking. I’d pack outfits I would never wear! I’d pack shoes and clothes just in case. Being forced to make it work in Europe for a week with 1 dress, 1 pair of leggings, 1 pair of pants, 1 pair of tennis shoes, 1 pair of boots, 6 pairs of underwear, 1 jacket, and limited makeup (mascara, blush, powder foundation), my world opened up. When I got my luggage back, I opened it and was just amazed all of the useless crap I packed. When you don’t overpack, you have more room for souvenirs or you can go shopping! Here are my tips for avoiding overpacking.
Make a checklist. When I start my packing process, I make a checklist. I write out every.single.thing I plan on packing. From clothes to medicines to sanitizing wipes. This helps me get an overview of everything and makes it easier to nix certain items if you feel you have too much.
Plan your outfits. I plan out my outfits based on the activities I have planned for my trip and try to find pieces that can be used in multiple ways. If I know I’m going to a nice dinner, I make sure to pack a dress. I love shift dresses because they can be dressed up or made more casual. Plan your outfits and see what pieces can be reused throughout the trip (you won’t need 8 pairs of pants for a 7 day trip. Pack 2-3 max. including leggings). If you feel like you didn’t pack the right outfit for an occasion, it gives you the perfect excuse to go shopping : )
Pick the right suitcase. I have been using a soft shell Samsonite suitcase for YEARS and recently got an Away carry-on. The Samsonite allows more in it since it is a soft shell, so I may use that for longer trips and use my Away for shorter or for summer trips. I also have a Nike backpack I use as well as my personal item. Picking the right luggage is so important to make sure everything fits and is the right size for airline requirements.
Mix and match. Only pack clothing items that can be worn multiple times. To help with this, stick with the same color family. For me, I wear a ton of black, white, and blues. So my outfits tend to be easy to mix and match. I might bring one special outfit for a nice dinner or something, but I really try to stick to more comfortable and utility clothing for my trips.
Roll vs Fold. This is hotly debated. Do you roll your clothes? Do you use the Kon Mari Method? Do you fold your clothes? I use a mixture of all 3. For example, if I bring a big sweater, I cant roll that sucker or it won’t fit in my packing cubes. So I’ll fold it and then put my smaller, rolled sweaters on top. For lighter clothing, rolling probably works best, and you can roll outfits together. Figure out what works best for your clothes and your packing style and use that.
Packing cubes. What did I do before packing cubes?! There are so many options out there and you really cannot go wrong. Some are compactable. Some have dual sides for clean and dirty clothes. Some are purely for organization. I have some very basic ones from Amazon and I love them. I use these in different ways. Sometimes I’ll pack by outfits, sometimes I’ll pack by similar items (all pants in one, all tops in another). I also usually make an emergency cube with all of my underwear/bras/socks with 1-2 outfits in case I get separated from my luggage somehow. Figure out what works for you and do that.
Limit accessories. I personally am not big on accessories, so this doesn’t usually apply to me. But my best friend I travel most often with is always bringing a ton of necklaces and bracelets and other jewelry on trips to go with each outfit (not hating on her game!). This all adds up though, both in weight and in space it takes up. I got a jewelry organizer in a FabFitFun box and I use that! There are plenty out there, but I like this one because it is flat like a folder and holds plenty. I’m not sure if I would buy this for myself since I don’t wear a ton, but it is nice to have!
Limit shoes. This is a big one. I pack 2-3 shoes per trip. On this latest trip, I packed a pair of tennis shoes, chelsea boots, and hiking boots since we were hiking. If we hadn’t gone hiking, or if we had gone hiking in the summer, I probably wouldn’t have packed them because they were so massive. But I packed all of my socks in these shoes so I was able to make up some of the space lost. I would recommend 1 pair of tennis shoes or comfortable walking shoes, 1 pair of sandals in the summer/boots in the winter, and MAYBE 1 pair of heeled booties or a nice pair of shoes if you plan on going out. But keep in mind that shoes are not usually pliable and take up a lot of space. If you do plan on packing more than 2 pairs of shoes, wear your bulkiest pair on the plane.
Use small bags. I had an ipsy subscription and the greatest thing I got out of that were the small bags they send every month. I use these bags for everything! I put my medications, sanitizing wipes, ponytail holders, bobby pins, charging cables, makeup, etc. in these small bags. Organize by similar items and put them in your personal item on the plane for easy access. I swear this will change your life.
Purses. You don’t need a purse for every outfit on your trip. Most of the time, I don’t bring a purse. If I do, it is a small crossbody purse that holds my phone, cards, gum, and cash if I have it. I prefer crossbody purses on trips because it is harder to pickpocket. If you are carrying a big tote, it is almost impossible to prevent it from being pickpocketed if someone wants to. If you do plan on bringing a big tote, make that your personal item on the plane and bring either a ~ very fashionable ~ neck wallet/money belt, or a small crossbody.
Liquids. Invest in a sturdy liquids container. I have this one from Amazon and I LOVE it. If you plan on traveling, let this be your one investment. Stop using the ziploc bags that have no depth and upgrade to this one. You can fit so much into this! However, keep in mind that you don’t need full sizes of everything. My main liquids are hair and skincare items. I have curly hair and a strict skincare regimen so I have a lot of stuff… But I know that I don’t need the entire bottle of my enzymatic peel… Use contact lens cases and smaller bottles to bring liquids you don’t need full sizes of. Don’t forget the 3-1-1 rule when packing your liquids. Liquids must be under 3.4 ounces, fit in 1 quart-sized plastic bag and you are allowed 1 bag per passenger. Be sure to check the liquids restrictions in other countries. For example, if you have a layover at Heathrow in London, the EU only allows for 100mL, which is slightly less than the 3.4oz. And they will gladly throw your liquids away with no mercy if they don’t fit.
Honorable mention: Wear your bulky items on the plane. If you have a big coat you’re bringing on your trip, wear it to the airport so you save room in your luggage. Wear your bulkiest clothing and shoes to save room.