Tips for Packing Light

Well I'm in Florida on a business trip. As part of the committee that created the NAPO Certification Program and Exam, I am now with a group of organizers and we're evaluating the results of the inaugural exam. We'll be here until Wednesday and then I fly directly to Vegas for a few days of R&R with some friends. I left Atlanta on Sunday and I come home next Sunday so I'm out of town for a full week with only a carry-on bag and my purse. (LOVE this thing!) My seatmate on the plane thought it was amazing that I hadn't checked a bag, so I thought I'd share a few tips for packing light...

This is what was in my rolling carry-on bag. There's the large Eagle Creek Pack-It Folder which holds all my clothes (except the jeans, t-shirt and sandals I was wearing when I took the photo), the three smaller Eagle Creek zipper pouches which hold my underwear, my non-liquid toiletries, and my cords and chargers.

Next to those you can see my little blue cosmetics case and my regulation quart-size Ziploc bag of  liquid and gel toiletries, my orange pashmina wrap and baseball hat. Below those, there's my curling iron and two pairs of shoes. Look closely and you'll see my sneakers are stuffed with socks and a sports bra.

Here's a shot of the Pack-It Folder opened up, before I emptied it and another one of a week's worth of clothes (minus two pairs of shorts that are folded in the dresser) hanging in the closet.

OH and I almost forgot... I had my laptop and cooling mat in my carry-on bag too! That was one tightly stuffed bag, I'll tellya, but I was bound and determined to NOT check any luggage. My point is that if you're creative and you think ahead, you can pack for an entire week in just a single carry-on (and a fairly large purse).  Here are some tips I find handy for packing light:

 

• Plan your wardrobe around a limited color scheme. I brought black pants, brown pants, grey pants, and blue and neutral tops. This way I can mix, match, layer and create a bunch of different outfits without needing a ton of items.


• Use your shoes as containers. I can get three pairs of socks and my sports bra into my sneakers! Mens' dress shoes are roomy too, as are some ladies shoes.
  
  
• Call your hotel ahead of time to see what they offer in the way of conveniences to save space in your luggage. I almost never need to haul a hair dryer, a steamer or an iron, because most hotels will provide them at no charge.


• Leave home inessential toiletries. Now that the airlines are so fussy about liquids and gels, you can pretty much get away without bringing shower gel, shampoo, conditioner and mouthwash because most hotels will also provide those to travelers.


• Get yourself a couple of Eagle Creek Pack-It Folders! They keep your clothing all folded up into a nice tight bundle and reduces movement thereby reducing wrinkling. You can find these at The Container Store and BONUS! They're 25% off right now. Most excellent timing, Wayne.
  
  
• Try to bring shoes that will serve more than one purpose rather than a specific pair for each outfit. Shoes with a low heel for ladies can usually serve multiple functions and are a great compromise because they can dress up or down depending on the outfit.


• Keep your travel size toiletries full and packed at all times. This way, you never have to scramble to pack toiletries and you won't risk forgetting something important.

How are you able to travel super light to avoid checking luggage? Do you have any great tips or secrets to share? Do tell!

Comments

[Amie Ragan, www.psychologyofclutter.com]

Thank you for sharing this. I am going on a trip and figured I would need to check a bag. I am anxious about the "3 oz. of liquid" rule. I see that you have your make up there. I also know you have flown recently. Any problems with make up and airport screening?

[Monica Ricci]

Nope, just put everything that's a liquid or a gel into the quart bag and put it into the separate grey tub to go through x-ray and you're fine. No worries.

Have fun!
~Monica

[Vicki Voisin]

Good job, Monica! I want to know about the actually carry on bag. Does it roll?

[BigNerd]

Looks like I'm officially collecting RSS feeds from 'organizational' blogs. Came across your site from a comment you left at unclutterer.com (which I am digging too).
As for traveling, I read recently that packing a couple of self addressed, stamped envelopes, allows you to mail home receipts, maps, brochures and other 'clutter' that accumulates while on the road. Don't carry it around with you, sort it when you get home! Heck, I'd even entertain the thought of FedEx-ing my dirty laundry home ;)

[Jacki Hollywood Brown]

This tip is from my Mother:
Take half as much stuff and twice as much money!!!!

It doesn't really work if you don't HAVE twice as much money though :)

[Ariane Benefit]

Awesome tips! Can we see pix of your carry on bag? I'm such a voyeur! : )

[Megan Spears]

Okay - so now that I am totally addicted to your blog Monica... (thanks Brandie...) I am now convinced that you are my hero. The fact that you got all that in one case.. (and I am sure you will look fabulous everyday) is entirely impressive!

Lessons to be learned here boys and girls (mostly girls... we have way too much baggage!).

[uneedaklu]

The Eagle Creek folders look AMAZING! I always try to be a very efficient packer, but those will just make it so much easier - thanks for the tip!

[Vicki Voisin]

Monica...Your ideas are great. The only time I have traveled with just a carry on was when I forgot my other luggage!!! I do use the pack-it-folder, though. I can't tell if you've folded your clothes and put them on top of each other in the pack-it-folder, or if you have used the method of laying the clothes out flat, starting with your slacks on the bottom, placing the board on top of all, and then folding them over the board. I learned this method at www.onebag.com.

[Monica Ricci]

Ok, I'll try to get to all the questions in one reply...

Vicki and Ariane: Yes, the bag rolls and it's just a regular old carry-on bag. Nothing special.

Vicki: As for the Pack-It Folder, I do put the pants on the bottom, then fold the shirts and stack them on top and use the flexible plastic "board" on top of the whole stack. It gives it a bit more structure.

Big Nerd: Great tip about bringing a few SASEs along with you on your trip. I tend to not collect much so I've never tried that but it would certainly work! You know what else? You could pack a SASE Flat Rate Priority Mail envelope and then no matter how much you ship home, as long as it fits in the envelope, it'll always be the same price! Glad to have you as a new subscriber, I hope you'll come back often!

Jacki: I dig your mother! She's right. We really don't need everything we THINK we'll need on the road. And if by chance we do pack a smidge TOO light, there's always Walgreens! ;)

Megan: Thanks for the very kind post! And I must say, I have indeed looked fabulous so far! LOL... (I crack myself up)

Thanks for a terrific bunch of comments folks, I hope to see you all here again soon!

~Monica

[Monica Ricci]

Oh sister, I KNOW you're an efficient packer! You should pick up a few of these Pack-It Folders though, as well as the little zipper cubes. They are SO handy for partitioning the contents of your luggage! I love 'em and knowing you as I do, I suspect you would too!
~Monica

[Melinda]

Oh my goodness! I LOVE that purse! That's a dream.

Monica, thank you very much for your comment on my blog. I really appreciate it. I love coming here and seeing all the new things that make life easier. Your site is very interesting. Thank you for your work.

Sincerely,
Melinda Hollis

[Brandie Kajino]

LOVE this subject! I just posted some ideas on this on my blog... And I agree with Megan - I'm sure you looked fabu sistah! :)

[Alex Fayle]

I´m about to do a 3 week trip around eastern Europe and have a backpack. The only thing I have a lot of are underwear and t-shirts. As a hairy man traveling in summer, unless I want to offend those around me, clean undies and t-shirts are necessities.

[Monica Ricci]

Alex, I'm sure all of Europe thanks you for it! Have an amazing time and stay safe!!
~Monica