A lighter suitcase is easier to carry and less likely to go over your airline’s weight limit. Whether you’re going on vacation or need to bring more for work, these seven tips help you cut weight without leaving anything important behind.
Start with a light suitcase (a carry-on should weigh no more than about 10 lbs empty), then plan your outfits around your itinerary and one basic color. Pack no more than three pairs of shoes, bring a small laundry kit so you can rewear clothes, cut everything that isn’t essential, and use compression cubes to keep what remains compact.
Table of Contents
7 tips to make your suitcase lighter
1. Start with the right suitcase
The suitcase itself is the first place to save weight. A hard-shell rolling suitcase takes the load off your shoulders, while a nylon backpack works if you want to travel really light. A carry-on suitcase should weigh no more than about 10 lbs, or it eats into the weight you can pack. Our guide on how much a suitcase weighs explains what affects luggage weight.
2. Pack by your itinerary
Plan what you’ll wear on each day of the trip and what you can buy at your destination. This stops you from packing things you won’t use and makes it less likely you’ll forget something important. Start your packing list early, and check how long you’ll stay and what the weather will be like. If your trip has several stops, see our tips on how to pack for multiple destinations.
3. Pack around one basic color
Choose clothes in one basic color, for example separates in the same shade of blue or white, so your jackets, skirts and shoes all match. You’ll need fewer items to make complete outfits.
4. Don’t pack more than three pairs of shoes
Shoes are heavy, bulky and awkward to pack. Wear one pair on the plane and pack two more; depending on where you’re going, flip-flops can be one of them. Put packed shoes in a plastic bag to keep dirt off your clothes, and if space is tight, carry them in your carry-on or backpack. On long trips you may want comfortable flat shoes in addition to dressier ones.
5. Pack a lightweight laundry kit
Being able to wash clothes on the road means you can pack fewer of them. A small, foldable laundry bag, ideally waterproof or made of durable nylon with a drawstring, keeps dirty clothes separate. For detergent, use a travel-sized container or fill a small zip-lock bag.
6. Decide which items are essential
Make your list a few weeks in advance and divide it into essentials (what you definitely need) and non-essentials (what you might not need). Then leave most of the non-essentials at home.
7. Use compression cubes and bags
Compression cubes reduce the space your clothes take up and keep different items separate, which helps you fit more in a carry-on. Look for cubes made of nylon or a nylon-polyester blend, which are strong and less likely to rip. They work for clothes, underwear and electronic accessories alike.
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