When you’re travelling somewhere, and you need to pack your suitcase or backpack, you need to think carefully about what to take, how much things will weigh, and how far you will be walking carrying them. You’ll also need to make sure you stay within weight limits, and whether you’ll actually need what you’re packing.
Weight limits:
Many airlines these days have weight limits, and some of them can be quite strict meaning that if you go over them at all, you’ll have to pay extra for your luggage. Try to make sure you choose light weight suitcases so that you don’t lose a chunk of your weight allowance before you start. If you can take on hand luggage without it being weighed then try and put the heavier items in here. Yes this will mean that you have to carry that weight on, but if it means you don’t pay extra it can often be worth it.
Making the most of space:
When you pack items such as shoes which are bulky but have space inside them, fill them with other things – items such as socks and pants can be stuffed inside easily and the shoe won’t take up any more space filled like this than it would empty.
If you roll clothes instead of folding them, they tend to take up less space. Unless of course you have a vacuum bag you can transport them in, in which case, fold them flat, slide them inside and then remove the air. This is useful if you have no weight limit, but do have a limit on space, and won’t be needing to carry your luggage too far by hand.
What to take and what to leave behind:
Think about whether it’s worth carrying shampoo, soap etc. with you or whether it would be easier to buy these items when you arrive. If you’re staying in a hotel, often they’ll provide complimentary soap, shampoo and shower gel for example.
Think about where you are going. Will you actually need a hairdryer or could you borrow one when you get there. How many pairs of shoes do you really need to take? Shoes are one of those items that take up space and weight and are awkward to pack, so if you can get away with just one pair that you wear to travel in, plus one extra pair, then do so.
Carrying your luggage on your back:
If you’re going to be backpacking and doing a fair amount of travelling with your luggage on your back, then you’ll want to think about weight, space, and ease of carrying things. If you’re going to be travelling for any length of time, it’s very worthwhile to spend a bit of money making sure that everything you take with you is very durable whilst at the same time being light weight. A good example of this would be a sleeping bag. This is an item which can be very bulky and heavy, but a good quality modern version will be light weight, will roll up into it’s own very small carrying bag, and will also be warm and durable.