8 Secrets of Ultralight Packing

It’s time to put your suitcase on a diet. Packing light—really light—doesn’t mean sacrificing style or comfort, but it does require rethinking such travel basics as suitcases and shoes. An ounce here, a half pound there—when you’re packing for a trip, these small increments can add up fast.

Do the math and it’s easy to see why this matters: If your checked bag is too big or heavy, you’ll incur bag fees on most airlines. If you are carrying on a suitcase, weight matters even more since you’ll be lifting your bag dozens of times while in transit (in and out of the car, onto the security belt, into the overhead bin, etc.). Spare yourself the extra cost, sore muscles, and baggage rage.

1. Suitcase - Packing light starts with a featherweight foundation. When you're looking for a suitcase, consider these weight classes: A 22-in. carry-on roller suitcase is generally considered lightweight if it's anything under 10 lb. Manufacturers start claiming "ultralight" status at around the 7-lb. mark.
   Seven pounds seem comparatively light, but at IT Luggage's World's Lightest Luggage line their 19.5-in. carry-ons from 3.4 lb., beat the other contenders by a healthy margin. (Larger sizes are also available.) This ultra light suitcase still offers some structural integrity. While your items may not have as much protection as they would in a heavier, more reinforced suitcase, if you're using it primarily as a carry-on, you don't need as much armor against luggage-hurling baggage handlers anyway. (NOTE: Even for a 3-4 week trip you should be able to pack all that you need in a carry-on).
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2. Shoes - Ever wonder why your bag always seems so heavy by the time you're finished packing? Shoes, especially boots, wedges, and just about any men's work or dress shoe—may be the culprit. And many ultralight options have their drawbacks: There's only so far you can walk in flimsy flats, and lightweight sneakers don't always deliver on the fashion front. When it comes to shoes, packing light and well is a tricky balancing act between bulk, style, and comfort. Since shoe needs and preferences are highly individual, there's no one-size-fits-all solution, but here are a few hints to point you in the right direction: Shop Light: Most shoes were not designed with weight in mind, but shoes sold by travel outfitters tend to be the exception. If you're looking for lightweight options built for comfort, start with a company like Magellan or TravelSmith. The offerings may not reach any pinnacles of fashion, but there's enough variety that most travelers can find something suitable. And, unlike most online sellers, travel outfitters often list shoe weight in the specs, so you can shop accordingly. Determine Scale: In women's shoes, most travel-oriented options built for all-day wear weigh in at somewhere between 10 oz. and 1 lb. For comparison, a sample pair of flat boots (women's size 8.5) weighed 2.8 lb., and a pair of wedge sandals (also women's size 8.5) was 1.7 lb. Dealing with the Heavy Pair: If you've got a heavier pair you need to bring, let your feet do the heavy lifting and wear them when you're in transit, reserving your suitcase for lighter shoes.
   
   
3. Toiletries - For years, we've been thinking about packing toiletries in 3.4-oz. increments to abide by TSA carry-on restrictions. But you can do better than that. The lightest options are Travelon's shampoo, conditioner, and bodywash sheets, which each weigh in at about half an ounce per package of 50, offering the prospect of packing all three for less than the weight of one travel-size bottle of shampoo. Even solid shampoos, conditioners, and small bars of soap tend to weigh less than their liquid counterparts; Lush makes a variety of shampoo and conditioner bars for different hair types. And since each bar delivers serious suds, you can travel even lighter by cutting the bar and taking only the portion you'll need for your trip. The truly lightest option, of course, is to not pack the sort of toiletries that hotels provide and depend on your hotel bathroom to provide you with basics such as soap, lotion, shampoo, and conditioner.
   
   
4. Cases - Shoe bags, toiletries kits, suit bags: They serve a purpose, but heavier canvas-and-zipper models seem built for a previous generation of travelers in a time when most airlines didn't charge checked-bag fees and no one thought much about bag weight. So be sure your storage bags are light and that you're only using those you actually need. On a recent trip, I made the switch to a roomy mesh bag, thereby saving myself more than half a pound even before adding toiletries. The downside of mesh, of course, is that if anything leaks, there's no real barrier to protect everything else in a suitcase, but since my liquids were all in a quart-size plastic bag for TSA compliance, I wasn't worried.
   
   
5. Outerwear - Backpackers had the art of super-lightweight outerwear figured out years ago. A quick spin through REI yields lightweight finds such as a 4.3-oz microfiber jacket (women's size medium) and an 11-oz. multi-sport jacket  for men. Outdoorsy not your style? Since so many companies now offer some variation of lightweight outerwear, you've got plenty of options that don't sacrifice fashion for weight. Nau's Carry-On Blazer for women weighs in at a mere 8 oz., and L.L.Bean's Newburyport Microfiber Jacket for men is another lightweight option. Travel outfitters such as Magellan's and TravelSmith also have a variety of weight-conscious options.
   
   
6. Electronics - Traveling with the right electronics can save you both weight and space. A typical e-reader or tablet weighs in at somewhere between 8 oz. and 1 lb., roughly the same as (or less than) a modestly sized paperback guidebook or sizzling beach read. Even if you're the sort who swears by printed books, it's worth considering the higher-tech route for travel. You can store an entire suitcase full of books on one small device, and with a tablet, you can score handy additional features like travel apps that can help you cut down on your vacation paper trail. Just don't forget the charger.
   
   
7. Materials - When you're choosing clothes, consider lighter fabrics. While wool and heavyweight fleece are sure to keep you warm, they also tend to be both bulky and heavy. Fabrics known for being particularly lightweight, on the other hand, include silk and synthetics such as nylon, polyester, and rayon (think the same materials for your underwear). These materials keep you both warm when its hot and cooler when its warm due to their 'wicking' properties, and they don't wrinkle! Cotton, linen, and cotton blends are slightly heavier, but they tend to still be on the lighter end of the spectrum and so should remain on your list of options (but remember they wrinkle).
   
   
8. Overpacking - No matter how many ounces you shave off by opting for lightweight gear, you won't reap the benefits of ultralight if you overpack. Everyone has their own method for smart packing, but here are a few tips to break the habit of bringing too much: Whenever you feel that overpacking urge rise up inside of you, talk yourself down. Lay out everything you want to take, then remove anything that's single-use (unless it's for a special occasion) or any item that is too similar to something else you're bringing. You don't need two black sweaters—just the one will be enough. Be realistic about your shoes. Unless it's for a specific special occasion, all your shoes should be multi-use. If you're worried about running out of clothes, pack a small packets of laundry soap. That way, you can wash an item or two in the bathroom sink of your hotel if you need to refresh before re-wearing.

​​              Remember, there are stores where you're going so if absolutely necessary you can buy what you                       need and save the weight in your bag, e.g., I carry just enough toiletries to last a few days and I  
              purchase what I need as I go, so spare yourself the extra cost, sore muscles, and baggage rage by
              packing ultralight!