10 Ways to Pack LESS and Travel Light 

Thanks for watching! What are your tips for lightening your luggage?

I'm the worst with "I might need" items. Work in progress 😂

I always overpack underwear. Just in case I have an accident. Only takes one time to live in fear for the rest of your life!

Just to add to the outfit planning, I usually will try on everything I’m planning on wearing (to make sure it fits right) but also to plan what jewelry or other accessories will go best. That way I don’t end up packing too many unnecessary things.

The outfit planning and color palette tips have turned me into a carry on only kinda gal! This was a great, informative video.

Great tips ! I especially like not packing for your fantasy self .lol.guilty !

Planning outfits is so true. I usually take a picture of each outfits before I pack them and roll them together with the socks and underwear so to save time during the trip (no need to rummage through my suitcase before I shower)

I think it’s also helpful to do photos of each outfit and store it as an album on your phone. Mimi Ikonn had this on her packing video years ago and I thought it was genius. Then when you get to your destination you have a visual of what to wear each day!

I have shipped stuff that I've bought back to myself, still cheaper than paying to check bags.

Since I've started using packing cubes, I haven't been able to go back! Definitely, my number one way to pack less. If the cube is filled, I know I'm starting to overpack lol

This is all so true. I have to pack for 1-3 week international work trips (sometimes cold climate AND hot climate) ONLY in carry on. We are not allowed to check bags. I bring laundry detergent powder for underwear/workout clothes, and it has been game changing! For business travel, I generally pack a suit that has pants, a skirt, and a dress. Add in 5-6 tops/sweaters that can be worn with the suit for work or black jeans for daytime or dinner, and I’m good for 2 weeks. I color coordinate black and navy so I only have to bring one pair of work heels. Before I travel, I also lay out the suit pieces and jeans and make sure each top works with at least 2 bottoms options. I also rely heavily on hotel products-is the shampoo as good? Nah. But it does the job! I also use travel as an opportunity to use the little freebie and sample size products/perfumes I have laying around. Combine that with packing cubes, and my suitcase usually doesn’t end up stuffed. That international adapter/USB cube is the best. I bring 2-one for the hotel, and one for my work bag at the international offices. Best part of packing less is that you have soooo much less dry cleaning and laundry to do when you get home!

Packing cubes have been a revelation! I've always traveled with a carry on suitcase, even on 2-week international trips but packing cubes made packing even easier and I felt more organized because I knew where my socks were instead of digging around the whole suitcase. Doing laundry during a trip is so key to packing light! I'll book an airbnb with laundry amenities or scope out laundromats in the area. My husband and I actually had a fun time doing laundry at a laundromat in Kyoto where they had a shoes off policy so it was absolutely spotless & well run.

I make very specific lists too and it helps so much especially when it comes down to the actual packing part. Makes it so much quicker. I just did a 4 day trip in Florida with a backpack which I never knew I could do. Loved it! Thanks for the tips!

That last tip is the truth. The next time I visit my mom and her husband in Alabama, I'm going to bring less clothes because they have a washer and dryer.

These are great tips! I do this as well, but instead of writing everything down, I lay the full outfits on the bed and take photos of my outfits right before packing them. 😌

I make a list for outfits as well! Most of my clothes are the colors black, white, and darker tones. So it's easy to mix and match. I use to go shopping before each trip, now I shop my closet. The travel adapter with the USB ports are amazing! My only tip to add would be to pack clothes that you can wear multiple ways. I love dresses. They can be a dress, a shirt, and a shirt depending how you wear them. :)

My two tips are: 1) like your first tip, I plan my outfits but I take pictures of them. Then I add a picture of the full outfit to an album and will either have the outfits in order or type something like “Day 2: ATV Excursion” on each one, and 2) I always pack carry-on but if I don’t feel like dealing with my suitcase during layovers, I courtesy check it for free 👍

I’ve started transitioning all my liquid toiletries into solid forms. So for example, instead of carrying liquid shampoo and conditioner, I pack a Lush Godiva shampoo and conditioner bar that covers both 😊 I also now have a soap I use for my face and body, so that saves me liquid allowance on that too!

I LIVE in a small color palette! My friends used to tease me about wearing black, grey, and red almost exclusively! Now it’s a capsule wardrobe. I was way ahead of my time! Definitely makes packing easier! We go on a cruise about three years, and that’s always more challenging. Because if I forget something, it will cost a fortune, IF I can find something similar. And I’m picky, by necessity, about anything going on my skin. But I plan to the max, so I’ve only gotten in a bind once! I’m a pro at packing only what you need!

Doing laundry during the trip is huge! That’s my favorite tip 😊

There she goes again bursting my bubble on my fantasy self! lol But seriously GREAT video! I could literally watch travel videos all day...

Just came across this as we’re getting ready for our first international trip since pre-COVID. Great tips! One thing that I can’t get past though is the “just in case”. I think when travelling with small children (small can mean different things for different people), there are certain things you always need “just in case”. Examples include: ibuprofen, acetaminophen, Benadryl, etc. you don’t want to have a small child who is sick in the middle of the night in an unfamiliar place. In some hotels you may be able to get at the front desk but not usually for small children. All these can fit in a TSA approved liquid bag.

Love all of your tips! I finally learned to pack with a color palette in mind on my last trip. This has been the biggest change for me!

This is so liberating lol!!! I not only pack my fantasy self, I pack the damn fantasy of the fantasy self. 😅

No joke: we might think exactly the same. I’ve been traveling by myself since I was 5 or 6yo and regularly use almost every tip. My favorite is packing by color palette. It keeps my bag light and gives me flexibility to be creative with my outfits, if I want to. The night before I leave, I also carefully pay attention to whatever I use in the bathroom to make sure I have what I actually use to get ready at night and I. The morning, but nothing more.

Can mail items to yourself. Oftentimes cheaper than checking a bag. Small container of baby shampoo works for doing laundry by hand and it is cheap. My second trip to Paris, I packed for my "fantasy self". I think my inspiration was "Sabrina”, with Julia Ormand. Did not make that mistake again!😁

Great tips. I went from carrying everything to light packing when I had my first and then my second child. Now for 2 wks family vacation, I packed one suitcase for all + shoes. I'm so happy when I return and see that all items packed were worn

My tip is before a trip to start saving up almost empty toiletries if checked baggage is included. If not, I have a whole load of tiny samples/pots etc for carry-on. Look out for tiny samples of serum with screw tops etc....these make great carriers for hair oil!

Thank you for all the great suggestions! I roll my clothes, which prevents wrinkles, and use packing cubes. What are your thoughts on different weather, rainy, cold pm/am, to a hot afternoon? So, could you give examples of packing for a colder and then hot weather destination? Agreed! I love your fantasy self idea- so refreshing!

Do the lunges, you know.. I don't even know how many squats I've done in freshly washed jeans. 😂

I have watched so many of these "how to pack light" videos but for the first time, after watching your video and the way you explain things, it finally makes sense!! I just packed for a week long trip to go see family, and while it's not a carry on, I DID pack way less this time and it took me a fraction of the time because I knew exactly what I wanted/needed to bring. 💕

Really like the grid idea. Helps to have a visual of everything, and it could be used even for items to wear twice. Thanks for the video

This really helps a lot because next weekend I'm going to Orlando for a week with family and I have NO idea where to start with packing and I don't wanna overdo it. Thanks, Allison!!!

I have learned to buy solid versions of my favorite cosmetics! Instead of taking liquid shampoo to travel with I take a shampoo bar. It is more eco-friendly but also very easy when traveling especially solo!

Love these types of videos. Such practical advice

Happy Belated Birthday!! Loved your story about your mom and her perspective on life and birthdays! I turned 32 in April and I totally don’t feel 32 haha! I’ll keep your mom in mind whenever I or someone I know may be panicking about a birthday in the future 😊 Isn’t the goal to get old and live a full life of adventure and love? Thanks for the reminder 🤗

I overpacked for the first time ever for a 1 week trip I took a couple weeks ago. This was my first girls cruise and I had hopes of doing all these different activities. The ladies I went with nixed everything I had in mind. Instead of activities with 0 shopping, they had us shopping with 0 activities. I ended up with an entire packing cube of unworn outfits, gear that never got used, and a ton of souvenir stuff I hadn’t planned on buying and had no room for. I ended up having this heavy overstuffed luggage to carry back off the boat and back through TSA to get to my return plane. *Important tip: find out what the group plans on doing before you pack😐*

I loved this. Totally related to everything you said. Thanks for awesome tips!!♥️😊

Biggest tip and you mentioned it that don’t pack for every scenario! And don’t stress when packing. Odds are you going somewhere where you can buy what ever you find you need or what you might have forgotten!

I love this! I've also been incorporating dresses and rompers when possible- they're typically thin and they're a whole outfit in one piece!

I am a light packer and I like duffel bag for travel. My current favorite travel bag is Nomad Lane Bento bag. I love it because it has a lot of compartments, a trolley sleeve and it is small enough to fit under the seat. You'll love it too!

This was very helpfull! I loved the one to lay out all of the outfits on a paper!

You have very neat handwriting. Love your ideas. Planning is the key. Pack for comfort, not to be noticed.

Typically travel is very stressful so I only bring my comfy clothes. Love that you mentioned not packing for your fantasy self. That used to be my problem

I started planning outfits especially for Disney days! Love the boxing and how you laid it out! ALSO LOOOVVVEEE the fantasy self tip and story!!

Would love to see the capsule wardrobes that you pack. In your recent video you mentioned using rent the runway so it’d be cool to see what you pack for certain trips!

I haven't though of this before. Will definitely take this advice when i travel. I'g glad i found your channel! I'm loving your content and you 😊

Leaving for a week long work conference today...this video came at a perfect time. Thank you 💕

Recently on a trip to London I realized that I might have a slight problem with overpacking when my giant oversized suitcase *broke* during my trip and so I had to buy a new one (and the matching carry on of course) and trying to fit everything that I brought with me, plus everything I had already purchased, into these two smaller ones was a nightmare! Definitely didn't need to bring that much stuff. I'm hoping I can get myself down to just travel with a carry on for my next trip because it makes everything so much easier, especially when you're navigating public transport! Thanks so much for the tips! x

I'm planning a 7 day trip to San Diego California this was very very helpful thank you 😊

For the $16 hair product that you bought at your destination because it was over 100mL, you could've just transferred some of it into a small bottle like the ones they have in the travel-size aisles! They cost like $1 and you can reuse them for products whenever you travel

been loving!!! these vids of yours

I’ve watched various videos about packing, but yours is the most helpful

When I was 18 I studied abroad and traveled Europe with a 50 lb checked bag, a 30 lb hikers backpack carry on, and a regular size backpack personal item 🙄 I felt pressured to pack a lot because of the length I was gone. I came back from that trip super strong but I regretted lugging all that junk around! Ever since I challenge myself to pack as little as possible. I’ve found that repeating outfits makes for less decision making and it feels freeing!

Excellent content and recommendations. Thank you! 😊

OMG, Love this video...YOU JUST GLOWING !!! Nice shirt, this color fits you perfectly...

Finally a packing light video that makes sense! I used to be that person with the large suitcase and a heavy sticker to warn baggage handlers. Embarrassing! I’m not at the stage of packing in a carry on for 2 weeks (let’s not get crazy), but I have have downsized to a medium case and getting better with every trip. Listing my outfits is one of the techniques that helped me. My husband thinks I’m crazy, but it makes like so much easier. And realising you can re-wear clothes is essential. I think it’s harder when you’re traveling with friends and staying in a hotel. We will be staying in Airbnb accommodation on our next trip, so washing should be easier. I love packing cubes, but this time I’m going to try compression packing cubes. I always want to leave room for buying something new but never have room - so that’s what I’m going to work on for my next trip. And packing less makeup. And stop packing the ‘just in case’ clothes. 😬 We are very lucky in Australia that our two major airlines, Qantas and Virgin, include luggage, so paying for checked bagged isn’t an issue. 😊

Thank you for the video and sharing your tips 😄 #1 is so true, thank you so much for telling us 😊👍

I do this too. For trips I do repeatedly (camp in the summer, visiting relatives) I keep a note in my phone about what I *actually* wore. Keeps me from overpacking!

Excelent ideas 💡!!! Your video was very helpful 👍🏽

I check my suitcase at the airport mostly just so that when I have connecting flights I don’t have to bring my luggage with me everywhere I go in the airport while waiting for the next flight.

This was incredibly helpful!

Thank you for these tips! I’m flying with my cat for the first time next week and he counts as my carry on. Technically I can still check two bags free with southwest and have my personal item, but carrying all that with my little guy strapped around my shoulder isn’t going to cut it! Time to practice some better packing skills.

Thank you, such good advice! Especially blocking out the days' outfits & not packing for your fantasy self! 💯😅👍

Genius advice. Thank you! 💡

These were all really great tips! ❤️

The buying when you get there would work really well for liquids that you need in abundance, like sunscreen. Sometimes people find it less expensive to ship/mail items separately to their destination as well. Also, some items can be rented or borrowed for a trip.

Great tips 🤗 thank you

Also.... already have been thinking about 90% of these tips.. so I already feel better. Thank you!!

Really great suggestions! Thank you!

Amazing advice and great content. Your a rockstar! We are always trying to learn how to pack less for our full time traveling lifestyle 🎉

This was a really helpful video, thanks.

This helped me so much you have no idea. I'd pre pay for oversized bags and now I'm going on a shorter trip so I'm gonna map out all my outfits. Luckily I left toiletries with friends the last time so I'm happy someone else thought about that too. Thank you!!

Awesome trips 😎🤘🏽 thabk you for sharing 🤗🧡

I only take black clothing on holiday. Maxi skirt, wide leg trousers, dressy shorts. Add 4 nice vest/tops and you have 12 outfits. Pick fabrics that dry quickly and can be washed in a sink if needed.

I love packing cubes and rolling shirts, pants etc! And I usually only wear one pair of shoes and being one other. All my toiletries I put in travel size bottles and leave a travel bag put together so I only need to add a few things before I leave!

Thank you for these tips. I’m going through my carry on suitcase tomorrow before we leave to downsize even more.

Love your videos Allison 💖

Thanks for your tips!

Packing small toiletries is an obsession for me! Great tips !

Right to the point and everything makes sense. I’m an overpacker and this time around I’ve decided no more. Best and most helpful video

Really great ideas!

Great tips, thanks!

Great video!!

Great tips, loved number 9

I love your videos and how much information you give us, also make us think realistically about all of these travel things, which we always think we will dress like a total different person when we are on holiday:)) why do we even do that? thank you again, i find these videos very interesting. xx

Great tips !

This was really helpful!

Something to keep in mind that being able to buy what you need at your location is a certain level of privilege. As a plus size WOC, clothing and beauty care that work for me are not always widely available.

Great tips

I am a carry-on only traveler, I’ll never go back. I just bought an Away Carry-On, can’t wait to travel again! I love my Lo & Son’s Deluxe Catalina Tote. It has a shoe compartment in the bottom and is a great under seat bag.

I am guilty of every one of these bad habits-great tips! You’ve inspired me to try to reform!

Love your video! 👏👏👏👏Thank you

I'm pleased that I've discovered all of these techniques over time, myself. It makes me feel like these are like secret, universal things people should be doing and some people slowly come to know THE TRUTH OF PACKING haha

Just discovered your channel. Going to binge watch now lol

Good tips, thanks!

I just get minis of my favorite products or put some in a TSA friendly container 😊

A few years ago I discovered Hipknoties. I packed in a underseater rolling bag for a week trip to New Orleans. My Hipknoties were a dress a skirt a swimsuit cover-up a shawl!!!

I always do my laundry while traveling if at all possible. Not only cuts down on items packed, but also a bit less stress when you get home😉

Packing for the fantasy self - loved that. Yes I always think I am going to wear something on vacation that I never wear at home! Thanks for all your tips!! I am also looking for a good lightweight backpack for daytime that can be stored into a small like 5x7 bag. Any ideas?