I've been writing about my wedding planning much too often lately, so time for something off topic. I've been slowly convincing my friends to give one bag travel a try and it is inevitable that they ask me how to pack lighter.
The first thing I tell them is to get packing cubes. I used to think they were a gimmick, but once I've started using them I can't imagine life without them. Not only do they help organize my packing, but they also help to compress what I've packed while also limiting how much I can bring. As a general rule, other than shoes, if I can't fit them into my packing cubes they aren't going into my bag. Even though I have more space in my bag after putting in my packing cubes and shoes, I leave that room empty to make sure I have room for anything I buy while traveling.
My first time traveling with just my Campmor/Outdoor Products Essential Carry-on was for a month long trip to Nepal and India. The trip was a bit of a last minute decision and focused on multiple activities. It was a combination research, yoga, tourism trip and I wanted to make sure I could fit everything I needed into a carry-on. In Nepal the nights were cold, but the days hot. India was constantly hot. Other than weather, what determines what I pack is influenced by comfort and my need to not look like a tourist on safari.
I apologize for not having clearer pictures of everything, most of the photos I took were selfies since I was traveling alone.
For yoga detox I packed:
- A moisture wicking long sleeve running shirt
- Running tank top
- Black yoga pants
- Lightweight capri drawstring pants
These worked well to alternate between washes, and doubled as sleepwear.
As I was saying goodbye to my family, my mom threw me a thick cashmere cardigan for extra warmth. When that happened I tossed out the jacket I was about to bring since I didn't want too many cold weather items. I'm grateful she tossed me that sweater because it kept me warm and was much more put together than what I was planning on. So yes, I wore cashmere on dingy buses and questionable surfaces, not exactly recommended, but sometimes throwing in a curve ball works out.
For covering up I also brought:
- One long black cardigan
- One hip length gray cardigan
- One camel colored shrug
- One tailored jacket
Looking back I probably went overboard with cover ups because I was traveling to India as a single female traveler less than two months after the December 2012 rape riots. In retrospect I would consolidate these pieces and opt for one structured cardigan to have both comfort and a tailored look, and a light shrug to cover up in hot weather.
The rest of my packing list included:
- A fancy top (my choice was chiffon and red)
- Two layering camisoles (one in nude and one fun color)
- Three dresses (one casual maxi dress, a shirt dress, and one dressier style)
- One pair of leggings
- Three tops (one plain fitted t-shirt, a black dressier top, and one trendier shirt, in this case I brought a chambray top)
- Two scarves (one larger sarong sized and one fun one)
- Seven pairs of underwear (this is one thing I don't skimp on)
- Three pairs of socks
- Two bras
- One pair of lightweight racing shoes (less bulk than sneakers, but very comfy)
- One pair of slip on sandals (replaces flip flops)
- One pair of comfortable city shoes (shoes for every day walking, but still look dressed up)
This took me through yoga detox in the mountains, traveling by local buses in India, dinner at Esphahan in the five star Oberoi Amarvilas, cocktails at the Aer Bar in the Four Seasons Mumbai, afternoon tea at the Taj Palace Hotel, lounging by the beach in Varkala and trekking through tea plantations of Munnar. The only thing missing was a bathing suit, but when I packed I didn't plan on heading to the beach.
After the trip was over I realized I still over packed! I had room to add ten scarfs as gifts, but I wanted to bring back more gifts. Next time around I'd replace one pair of jeans with a pair of thicker leggings, drop the fun colored camisole and bring a tunic top instead of the chambray. One other change would be to go with gray colored items instead of black since gray shows wear and dirt less.
I usually bring one or two pairs of earrings to help make my outfits look more put together (it is the
details that make the difference), but I also recommend a statement necklace to bring a bit more color and glamour to staple items of clothes. That way you have the option to blend in when you don't want attention, and to stand out when you do.
The main take away is that when packing, consider packing clothes you'd wear on your home turf, but focus a little more on comfort and plan for being slightly more conservative. Look for items that mix well with each other and can be used multiple ways, but that doesn't mean you can't take fun items as well. If it's not something you find yourself reaching for when you're at home, you most likely won't reach for it while traveling.
As for toiletries:
- Toothbrush and floss
- Toothpaste
- Travel sized 2 in 1 Shampoo and conditioner
- Travel sized body wash
- Travel sized lotion
- Tweezers and nail clippers
- 3ml perfume atomizer (some say a woman is never fully dressed without perfume, I say it's the little luxury details that make things fun)
- Night cream
- Combination moisturizer and sunblock
- I don't wear a lot of makeup normally, so I only bring gel eyeliner, eyeliner brush, eye shadow, mascara, and tinted lip balm
I know most of these can be bought once I land, but I like to have my toiletries for the times I'm not in a hotel that supplies them or arrive too late to stop by the store to pick some up.
Skip the laptop and invest in a tablet, I confuse airport security all the time when I tell them I didn't have a laptop to take out.
I also bring a travel towel and crank flashlight, which was more useful than I expected in both India and Nepal. Add a camera and I'm done! Though to be honest the towel, flashlight, camera, and tablet all go into my shoulder bag when I travel, but worth mentioning as part of my packing list.
I know there are some hardcore light packers who might scoff at my choices, but I just want to show that you don't have to look like you're a backpacker in order to practice light travel. I notice that I tend to be a little dressier in my day to day and it's only nature to stick with my own style even while traveling light.
One more tip, during the day keep cool with your hair up in a bun, then let your hair down with instant glam waves for going out at night. Leave styling tools at home.
Depending on the weather, activities, and location this list can be modified, but the general idea is the same. Comfortable, but not frumpy. Mostly practical, but room for something fun.
The first thing I tell them is to get packing cubes. I used to think they were a gimmick, but once I've started using them I can't imagine life without them. Not only do they help organize my packing, but they also help to compress what I've packed while also limiting how much I can bring. As a general rule, other than shoes, if I can't fit them into my packing cubes they aren't going into my bag. Even though I have more space in my bag after putting in my packing cubes and shoes, I leave that room empty to make sure I have room for anything I buy while traveling.
My first time traveling with just my Campmor/Outdoor Products Essential Carry-on was for a month long trip to Nepal and India. The trip was a bit of a last minute decision and focused on multiple activities. It was a combination research, yoga, tourism trip and I wanted to make sure I could fit everything I needed into a carry-on. In Nepal the nights were cold, but the days hot. India was constantly hot. Other than weather, what determines what I pack is influenced by comfort and my need to not look like a tourist on safari.
I apologize for not having clearer pictures of everything, most of the photos I took were selfies since I was traveling alone.
For yoga detox I packed:
- A moisture wicking long sleeve running shirt
- Running tank top
 |
| Multi-use Running Tank |
- Black yoga pants
- Lightweight capri drawstring pants
These worked well to alternate between washes, and doubled as sleepwear.
As I was saying goodbye to my family, my mom threw me a thick cashmere cardigan for extra warmth. When that happened I tossed out the jacket I was about to bring since I didn't want too many cold weather items. I'm grateful she tossed me that sweater because it kept me warm and was much more put together than what I was planning on. So yes, I wore cashmere on dingy buses and questionable surfaces, not exactly recommended, but sometimes throwing in a curve ball works out.
For covering up I also brought:
- One long black cardigan
- One hip length gray cardigan
- One camel colored shrug
 |
| Light Colored Shrug |
- One tailored jacket
Looking back I probably went overboard with cover ups because I was traveling to India as a single female traveler less than two months after the December 2012 rape riots. In retrospect I would consolidate these pieces and opt for one structured cardigan to have both comfort and a tailored look, and a light shrug to cover up in hot weather.
The rest of my packing list included:
- A fancy top (my choice was chiffon and red)
- Two layering camisoles (one in nude and one fun color)
- Three dresses (one casual maxi dress, a shirt dress, and one dressier style)
 |
| I Practically Lived In This Maxi Dress |
 |
| This Shirt Dress With A Pair Of Leggings Allowed Easy Movement For Activities Like Hiking |
- Three tops (one plain fitted t-shirt, a black dressier top, and one trendier shirt, in this case I brought a chambray top)
- Two scarves (one larger sarong sized and one fun one)
- Seven pairs of underwear (this is one thing I don't skimp on)
- Three pairs of socks
- Two bras
- One pair of lightweight racing shoes (less bulk than sneakers, but very comfy)
- One pair of comfortable city shoes (shoes for every day walking, but still look dressed up)
This took me through yoga detox in the mountains, traveling by local buses in India, dinner at Esphahan in the five star Oberoi Amarvilas, cocktails at the Aer Bar in the Four Seasons Mumbai, afternoon tea at the Taj Palace Hotel, lounging by the beach in Varkala and trekking through tea plantations of Munnar. The only thing missing was a bathing suit, but when I packed I didn't plan on heading to the beach.
After the trip was over I realized I still over packed! I had room to add ten scarfs as gifts, but I wanted to bring back more gifts. Next time around I'd replace one pair of jeans with a pair of thicker leggings, drop the fun colored camisole and bring a tunic top instead of the chambray. One other change would be to go with gray colored items instead of black since gray shows wear and dirt less.
 |
| Light, Beautiful, And Instantly Glams Up An Outfit |
details that make the difference), but I also recommend a statement necklace to bring a bit more color and glamour to staple items of clothes. That way you have the option to blend in when you don't want attention, and to stand out when you do.
The main take away is that when packing, consider packing clothes you'd wear on your home turf, but focus a little more on comfort and plan for being slightly more conservative. Look for items that mix well with each other and can be used multiple ways, but that doesn't mean you can't take fun items as well. If it's not something you find yourself reaching for when you're at home, you most likely won't reach for it while traveling.
As for toiletries:
- Toothbrush and floss
- Toothpaste
- Travel sized 2 in 1 Shampoo and conditioner
- Travel sized body wash
- Travel sized lotion
- Tweezers and nail clippers
- 3ml perfume atomizer (some say a woman is never fully dressed without perfume, I say it's the little luxury details that make things fun)
- Night cream
- Combination moisturizer and sunblock
- I don't wear a lot of makeup normally, so I only bring gel eyeliner, eyeliner brush, eye shadow, mascara, and tinted lip balm
I know most of these can be bought once I land, but I like to have my toiletries for the times I'm not in a hotel that supplies them or arrive too late to stop by the store to pick some up.
Skip the laptop and invest in a tablet, I confuse airport security all the time when I tell them I didn't have a laptop to take out.
I also bring a travel towel and crank flashlight, which was more useful than I expected in both India and Nepal. Add a camera and I'm done! Though to be honest the towel, flashlight, camera, and tablet all go into my shoulder bag when I travel, but worth mentioning as part of my packing list.
I know there are some hardcore light packers who might scoff at my choices, but I just want to show that you don't have to look like you're a backpacker in order to practice light travel. I notice that I tend to be a little dressier in my day to day and it's only nature to stick with my own style even while traveling light.
One more tip, during the day keep cool with your hair up in a bun, then let your hair down with instant glam waves for going out at night. Leave styling tools at home.
 |
| My Hair Never Curls, I Was Shocked How Athen's Humidity And A Simple Bun Equals What Styling Tools Never Can Do |
Depending on the weather, activities, and location this list can be modified, but the general idea is the same. Comfortable, but not frumpy. Mostly practical, but room for something fun.
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