Minimalist Backpacking: 10 Packing Tips to Help You Travel Light

Packing for a trip can be a fun activity, but it can also feel like a chore. I remember when I first started travelling solo, I had a 75-litre backpack and I would fill it to the brim. It was stressful to think about what I needed on a trip so I just brought everything with me. Talk about the opposite of minimalist backpacking, huh?

And it took me years to downgrade from an extra large backpack to my current 30-litre backpack. Along the way, I trimmed down my packing list where I only bring a travel wardrobe that consists of three to four sets of clothes, minimal travel toiletries and a few essential travel items.

I didn’t become a minimalist traveller overnight and it took years to perfect my minimalist packing list. Along the way, I learned how to pack efficiently for each trip, know what to bring and what not to bring and came up with a list of minimalist backpacking packing tips. In this post, I’m going to share with you my top 10 packing tips so you can travel light for your next trip.

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Minimalist Backpacking Tips: How to Travel Light

I wasn’t always a minimalist traveller, and it took years for me to figure out how to pack light. So if you need help and want inspiration for packing, keep reading as I am sharing all my best tips on how to pack light.

And you don’t have to be a minimalist traveller to try these travel packing tips. If you are someone who finds yourself always overpacking for each trip, and want to pack less and travel light, then keep reading.

10 Minimal Backpacking Tips on How to Travel Light

1. Start with a smaller backpack or suitcase

First, you want to start with a smaller backpack or suitcase. When you are physically restricting the actual capacity, you are already winning!

I use my minimalist backpack for all my trips. It is a 30-litre lightweight backpack with one main compartment and minimal straps. For me, this is the perfect size for travelling light. I can fit all my belongings, and the bag can fit in the overhead bin on the plane.

If you are in the market to buy a new backpack or suitcase, choose a size that is a bit smaller than the one you normally use. When you limit the size of the luggage, it limits the amount of space you can fill.

2. Layout everything you want to bring, take half (or more) away

For most people, overpacking is a result of bringing too much clothes.

One way to pack less is by taking all the clothes you want to bring and lay them out. Then take half of the clothes away. So if you took six t-shirts, only take three. Do that to all the clothes you want to bring. And if it is possible at all, take away more than half.

I always pack my bag that will weigh 7kg or less which means I have about three to four sets of clothing where I can mix and match.

This may be very ambitious for beginners, and it may take a few attempts. But if you manage to pack fewer clothes, you are already winning at the packing challenge!

3. Forget the idea of glamorous Instagram photos and one-off photo opportunities

I’ve seen so many gorgeous photos on Instagram where the girls have the prettiest maxi dresses in places like Bali, where their flowy dresses fly gloriously on the giant swing.

Part of me is a bit jealous that they have such nice photos for their Instagram.

But a bigger part of me is not envious of the extra-large suitcases they are lugging around.

Instead of bringing clothing for one-off photoshoots, bring a travel wardrobe where you can mix and match to create different looking outfits. A different top to match with a different bottom (pants or skirt) can create a completely new look.

Like I mentioned in the last point, my minimalist travel wardrobe consists of three to four sets of clothing. I can create at least 16 different looks depending on how I style my clothes. I can still be somewhat stylish and not travelling with an overweight suitcase!

4. Take travel size toiletries only

Next, take out some necessities that you can easily replace them at your destination. These items include regular size toothpaste, big bottles of shampoo, conditioner, etc. It is not necessary to bring a few weeks (or even a few months) of supplies. They are heavy and take up a lot of room!

Instead, bring travel-size toiletries of the items you need. Typically, a 100ml bottle of the product (face wash, toner, shampoo) can last for a few weeks to few months. You can use this for a few weeks and replace them at your destination.

FYI, if you only travel with carry-on bag, make sure that these small-sized travel toiletries are in 100ml bottles and are placed in a clear zip-top bag ready for airport security check. Any bottles that are bigger than 100ml will be confiscated.

5. Replace and buy new things at your destination (if possible)

Like I mentioned already for the previous point, you can buy more toiletries when you arrive at your destination. There is no need to bring full-size bottles of shampoo and conditioner!

And you may even be pick up an extra sweater if the weather suddenly changes or a bathing suit if there is an amazing pool at your hotel. But if you are not sure you need a specific item, don’t bring it and buy a new one at your destination.

But this all depends on where you are travelling to. It is easier to replace or buy new items when going to a city or an urban area.

And if you are going on an adventurous trip like hiking multiple days into the jungle or trekking across a desert, then you may want to bring everything you need with you.

Evaluate what items you NEED on your trip and bring them with you. And eliminate things that you might not need. If you need it later on, you can replace it or buy a new one.

6. Take out all the “but I might need this later” items

We all go through the conundrum of packing and try to anticipate future situations. I used to bring so many different things and realized that I didn’t use any of them at the end of the trip.

Here are some of my favourite “I might need this later” item that you really should take out of your bag. If you have more, let me know in the comments below.

• Umbrella – you can easily find an umbrella or rain poncho at your destination
• Hairdryer, curling iron or hair straightener – I travelled with a hair straightener before, but it died while I was in Hungary. But I learned how to curl my hair with a hand band on Youtube. So I no longer need one!
• Headlamp – unless you are going on a camping or staying in a dorm room in a hostel
• Extra batteries – for your headlamp and other devices
• Camera – I even eliminated my camera because I have a reliable camera on my smartphone
• Other credit cards, bank cards, loyalty cards – you only need two credit cards and two ATM cards

7. Weigh your packed bag at home and take out any extra items

Weigh your packed bag with a handheld luggage scale and it will tell you exactly how much your bag weighs and exactly what you need to take out (if your bag is over the weight limit). Do this at home, and don’t wait until you arrive at the airport, and then you have to take things out frantically.

If you are checking in your luggage, make sure you know how many luggages you are allowed to check in. Also, make sure your bags under the weight limit because the penalty for overweight bags is calculated by multiply the rate (each airline is different) by the number of exceeded kilo!

If you are travelling with carry-on luggage only, you should double-check your airline’s carry-on weight policies. Most airlines have a weight limit of 7-10kg, including one carry-on bag and a personal item (laptop bag or purse).

8. Pack light by swapping your heavy items for a lighter equivalent

The airline industry has many guidelines and restrictions for the size and the weight of a luggage and carry-on bag. And because there is such an emphasis on your bags’ weight, try to bring lighter items if you can.

Some items are particularly heavy, like jeans and certain types of shoes. You can swap your jeans for jeggings or pants. And swap your clunky shoes for flats, flip-flops, or any lightweight shoes. Or you can wear your heaviest items on the plane and eliminate the need to pack them altogether.

9. Don’t pack the night before your trip

Don’t procrastinate and pack two hours before your trip because we all know that it is disastrous! You might panic, forget to bring your travel essential items and end up bringing things you don’t need.

Give yourself some time so you can filter things out. Start with picking a spot in your house where you can gather all your travel gear. Maybe a box? or a drawer? Whenever you remember you need to bring a specific item, take that item and put it in that spot. You can start this packing process a few weeks before your trip.

And maybe about a few days before your trip, take a look at this spot again and see what you’ve gathered so far. Then start packing your bags with all of these items and any other items that are still missing.

And this is also a good time to filter some stuff out that you previously added and don’t think you will need on your trip. And make sure to weigh your bags at home, so you know exactly how much stuff you are bringing.

10. Follow free online packing list template

There are many free online resources that include tips to packing light. Many of them include packing lists templates where you can follow along. Some packing lists are country-specific, and others are catered to specific activities.

These templates can inspire you to pack differently or add value to your current packing process.

I, too, have a packing list to share with you. I’m big on minimalist backpacking and so I created a minimalist packing list for anyone who wants to challenge themselves to pack a backpack that weighs less than 7kg. I’ve used this packing list for short journeys and trips that last for months. Check out the packing list and let me know what you think.

Do you find these Minimalist Travel Packing Tips Useful?

I hope you enjoyed this post and understand how minimalism can help you travel better. Even after many years of travelling, I still follow these tips and follow my own packing list for each trip.

Don’t feel intimated or discouraged if you don’t think you can follow these minimalist backpacking tips. It took me years to learn how to pack less. It is definitely a process. You will notice an improvement each time. So keep at it because it will improve your travel life.

Did you like these minimal backpacking tips and find them useful? Let me know in the comments below!

Thank you for reading my post on minimalist backpacking tips

You might also like these other posts on minimalist travel:

• How to pack 7kg carry-on luggage
• My minimalist packing list for every trip
• How to create a minimalist travel wardrobe for every trip
• How to pack the perfect minimalist travel toiletry kit
• My 10 must-have essential travel items for every trip
• How to find the perfect minimalist travel backpack
• Minimalist hiking: my minimalist hiking gear list
• 10 best gifts for minimalist travellers

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queenie mak

Hi, my name is Queenie, and I’ve been a solo traveller for 20+ years and currently based in Hong Kong. Follow me on my adventures through Instagram and my blog!