From my own personal experience, I know that packing light is the way to go, especially if you are traveling long-term or moving from place to place frequently. In 2017, I embarked on a 9 month Round the World trip that took me to over 20 countries on 5 continents. Unfortunately when I departed, I wasn't aware how hard it would be to traverse the globe with nearly 50 pounds (22.7 kg) of baggage on me at all times. And after doing this for almost a year, on multiple airplanes, through numerous crowded cities, and in too many hot, humid climates, I vowed to never travel that way ever again.
Ever since returning from that trip, I have converted to #teamcarryononly. Traveling this way is insanely easier than justifying to yourself to bring those extra outfits and pairs of shoes 'just in case,' and here is just a few reasons why:
Easier to Carry
Having less stuff is just straight up easier to carry everywhere. It's never fun to struggle through some of the most pivotal days of your trip - the days you pack up and move somewhere else. Having a lighter pack will make any stair climb, sandy beach, or busy train station seem like cake compared to the alternative.
No Need to Check Your Bag
There are too many horror stories of airlines losing their passengers' checked luggage to not be worried about this happening to you. When you check a bag, instead of just relying on yourself, you have to trust the airline, train, bus, or other form of transportation with all the possessions you brought with you. Is that really a gamble you want to take? Packing a smaller, lighter bag that fits within the carry-on parameters means you get to keep your eyes on your stuff at all times. Not to mention, you won't need to wait at the baggage pick-up area!
Less Time to Pack
This may seem like a minor inconvenience, but when you're moving frequently, the amount of time it takes to roll, fold, and cram all your stuff back into your bag really does add up. Having less means you have a simpler, more efficient system for packing that makes this process a breeze when it's time to get up and go once again.
Less to Wash
This is probably the worst part of traveling. Whether you have to wash on the road or you come back from a trip with a mountain of dirty clothes to get through, it always sucks. By bringing less clothing, you may have to wash a little more often, but it will be a much smaller amount. And if you pack reversible and multi-functional clothing with moisture-wicking and anti-microbial properties, you probably won't have to wash more than you would with double the amount of regular clothes. Packing lighter with travel friendly clothes makes washing them a much smaller load to bear.
Don't Have to Leave it Behind
This happened to me more than a few times while traveling the world. On certain treks or expeditions, it's just not a good idea and sometimes not even possible to take a large amount of baggage with you. I had to leave everything behind but a tiny daypack when I spent 4 days trekking to Machu Picchu and when I spent the night camping in the desert in Jaisalmer, India. Both times, I had to leave my big bag with a hostel or tour operator and hope that it would be there when I returned. If I only had a small, lightweight bag to begin with, I could have brought it with me on both those adventures.
So did I convince you that packing lighter will improve your travels? Take it from me, you don't need to spend 9 months with 50 pounds of luggage to find out for yourself. And soon enough, packing light will become a little bit easier with the lightweight, compact, and functional styles of Splice Clothing.
Splice Clothing believes the lighter the pack, the greater the adventure. We want to help and inspire women to ditch the excess baggage to pursue those adventures. The design and manufacturing of the line is still in progress, but is set to hit retail stores in Spring 2020! If you'd like to stay up-to-date on the launch of Splice Clothing, please subscribe to our monthly newsletter!
Why do you want to pack light? Let us know in the comments!
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