Packing Light, Living Lightly

Being some notes from a woman road warrior… In the past three years, I’ve found myself traveling more and more and packing less and less.

There have been hundreds of essays (and some excellent websites) on why packing light is a good approach. Modern travel is stressful enough, without the hassle of pushing a trolley towering with oversized wheelie bags, or wrestling even one oversized suitcase from one checkpoint to another.

The best argument for packing light, however, is that it leaves you open to new experiences as you travel and once you reach your destination. There’s a lovely illustration of this in Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan’s book Apartment Therapy:

In 1991, I was traveling by bicycle in Italy. On [it] I carried everything I thought I needed to live: tent, sleeping bag, insulated mat, stove, cooking pots, repair kit, clothing — you name it, I had it. My bicycle was extremely heavy…

One day another rider rode up and slowed down to greet me. He was moving swiftly, easily clocking about twice as many miles a day as I was, yet I saw none of the panniers and packs on his bike that I had on mine. It was as if he was out for a day’s ride, but he was nearly seven hundred miles from home.

I asked him how he managed. What if something happened? I asked. What if he had something besides a minor breakdown? How would he be prepared?

His explanation was inspiring and simple. Rather than relying only on himself, he put his trust in others. Even though he didn’t need much, he looked forward to meeting people and asking for help when needed. By carrying so little, he not only moved more easily, he met more people and his experience was far richer.

Good stuff. However, it occurs to me that the greater proportion of packing-light advice comes from male travelers.¹ And, not surprisingly, nearly all of the advice for traveling light for anybody really is a just shopping list for new, albeit light, stuff.

What the woman road warrior could use is some practical advice on how to be low-maintenance. Live lightly and traveling lightly follows naturally.

For instance: Wear little or no make-up. Make-up is, after all, terrifically overpriced, and besides, just fancy dirt. And it’s now something you have take special care of if you want to go through security with your bag (which you do, if you want to skip the whole baggage-retrieval hassle). So don’t. Also, never pack shampoo. Your hotel has it; your host if you are visiting a private home has it. Even if you are devoted to a brand, travel is supposed to be about being open to new experiences. Try a new shampoo.

My other favorite strategy for packing light involves shoes. Wear the most comfortable pair you own. If they slide off easily that’s nice for going through security, but if the pair that never, ever gives you blisters has laces, wear them anyway. Plan your clothes to look acceptable with these shoes.

If you have to dress up on your trip, here is my best hint.² Find a dancewear store and look for black canvas character pumps. These are extremely lightweight (mere ounces) and have a timeless sort of style. Some have a pink elastic strap across the instep, which you can wear out or tuck inside. If you have a really dressy occasion, you could pack a pair of duplicate brooches and attach them to the shoes for a bit of extra decoration and sparkle.

Do not bring more shoes than these two pairs. Shoes weigh you down.

1. No, not all. Don’t be silly.
2. Yes, it’s a shopping hint, but you’ll thank me.