5 Essentials for Packing Light

Photo by Noël Zia Lee

Southwest Airlines has worked hard to make sure we all know other airlines are charging up to $200 round trip to check a bag. Unless you're flying Southwest or  another carrier that doesn't charge for checked baggage, packing light for holiday trips makes more sense than ever. Not only will you save time and money but it's great fun to breeze past all those bedraggled masses waiting at the baggage check.

Packing light, however, requires a certain mindset and preparation. After two years traveling throughout Europe with a single carry on, I consider myself something of an expert. Here are five tricks I learned for  brief trips.

1. Buy the right bag: Before you sit down to make a list, find a bag that will suit your needs. Airlines have very specific size requirements these days. According to Expedia.com, the safe maximum size is 45",  in the form of a 22" x 14" x 9" bag, with a 50-pound limit. I brought a tape measure with me when shopping as the sizing information listed on luggage tags wasn't always accurate. The manufacturers' measurements usually indicate the interior space, not the exterior. Nor do they take into account the size of a fully stuffed bag, which will bulge beyond its natural contour. The wheels and carry handle also can add another couple of inches.

Almost all bags have wheels these days, but it's wise to take a test drive around the store to ensure it won't wobble. If you're planning a future European trip, make sure the wheels are sturdy enough to handle cobble-stoned streets.

Cost is not an automatic indicator of quality. My $40 bag from a discount store had all the pockets I needed, wheeled perfectly on the roughest of surfaces, and remained sturdily intact throughout many airplane, train and hostel ventures.

Finally, don't forget to attach luggage tags and include this same information inside the bag, in case the tags become detached.

2. Make a list:  Select your clothing first, as this will compose the bulk of your luggage. This is no time to be a fashionista. Select clothing for practicality and how you will spend your time. I found The Universal Packing List Web site invaluable as it includes everything from weather information to reminders about pet care. The list can be a bit heavy handed, however, so you'll want to trim it down. Since many of us will visit cold climates over the holidays, give your layers a test run to ensure comfort and explore how many different outfits you can make out of some basic items.

If you anticipate attending a fancy New Years Eve party requiring formal wear, consider borrowing or buying something at post-Christmas sales. You can always leave it behind or ship it home.

Check the Transportation Security Administration's Web site for specifics on packing liquids and prohibited items. While these regulations can be a real pain, they also help to winnow down your list. If you're visiting family or close friends, ask to use their shampoo, soap, blow dryer, etc. to cut down on space required for toiletries. Hotels make it easier because they restock such supplies as you run out. Pack any remaining toiletries in a toiletries bag or resealable plastic bag to reduce bathroom clutter and prevent any surprise explosions that will damage the rest of your luggage. Don't forget tightly-closed bottles can explode if you're flying from or to a high-altitude destination. Since I'm based in Colorado, I always wrap such bottles in an additional plastic bag.

3. Check  it twice: Place everything you intend to pack on the bed and everything you intend to carry with you on the floor. Is there anything you can eliminate? Remember, holiday trips don't last a lifetime, even if it may feel like it, and you can buy or borrow some items. Also consider whether you're likely to receive an extra scarf, hat or pair of socks for Christmas and cross those items off your list.

4. Folding clothes: If you'll be staying in just one place the entire trip, bundle packing is the most efficient use of space and reduces wrinkles. As the name suggests, bundle wrapping requires carefully wrapping clothes around a central core in a specific order, so the larger and more tailored garments will end up on the outside of the bundle and less easily wrinkled pieces are closer to the core. Visit onebag.com for specifics and a diagram. 

Organization is the key, if you're going to hop from place to place or live out of your luggage. I always unpack the clothes from my bag, even for a one-night stay or if there is no dresser and I have to pile things on the floor. This reduces wrinkles and allows me to better see what I have to wear.

5. Keep your essentials close: Are you packing items you couldn't live without? I always pack tickets, prescriptions, eyeglasses, cameras, expensive jewelry and necessary paperwork in a backpack/purse that can be carried close to my body because even a carry-on bag can get lost in the shuffle. This bag is always my first concern and I never let it out of my sight.