Carry-on for extended trips only Cruise altitude: 4 Professional packing tips

Being an efficient and fast packer is a great indicator that someone travels frequently. Frequent travelers probably have this in part because they want to board the airline as soon as possible to maximize their chances of securing a comfortable overhead bin space and avoiding checking their carry-on luggage. Like most frequent flyers, I try to avoid checking bags whenever possible.

Taking 10 days off with a little rollboard may seem impossible, but it is possible, I assure you. Wilson Santiago Burgos, frequent writer for USA Today and creator of Mochileando.com, is currently traveling for three months with only one bag. We had a conversation.

While we don’t always use the same tactics, we’ve traded tips on how to pack more efficiently, and between the two of us, we hope you’ll find these four tips useful as you travel.

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4 expert packing advice | cruise altitude

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1. Lose the shoes

My main advice to almost anyone trying to travel light is this. The largest items you can pack are shoes, so if you can fit a pair or two together, your bag will fit a lot more room.
Santiago informed me that on his current trip to Central Asia, he only took sneakers and a dressier pair for dining and sightseeing. Maybe you just need dinner shoes and flip-flops for warmer weather.

Santiago informed me that one method he always does to minimize space in his luggage is to wear the biggest shoes he owns when traveling.

Besides, I am also busy with it. I obviously don’t bring my snowboarding boots on the plane.a trip to the mountains, but I’ll wear regular snow boots while I travel and pack a pair of sneakers if need be for that kind of trip.

2. Don’t be afraid to do laundry

Santiago told me that he often travels for months at a time with just one backpack, which I admit is a problem because I don’t normally travel that long. The secret to his method is don’t be afraid to do laundry while you’re away.

“When I travel for a long period of time, I wash my clothes at the hotel and keep them for seven to 10 days,” he said.

“I did my laundry in Uzbekistan last week, and it only cost $14 — it was very affordable,” Santiago added. “When calculated, doing your laundry is probably less expensive than paying for a checked bag every time you travel for three months.”

Last week’s Cruising Altitude: Why airport bathrooms are gaining attention

3. Make a list

This was a big point of difference for us. I pretty much never make a paper list for packing. I have my own routine and usually know what I need to bring. I often just pack a few hours before I leave, especially if I have an evening flight, and count out the items I’ll bring by day.

However, Santiago informed me that he always makes a list.

“I think this list is important because it makes sure you don’t forget important things like your passport, medication or technology,” he said.

To his credit, he may be right. For the first time in my life, I neglected to bring toothpaste on a recent vacation. Maybe it’s time for me to start organizing things better.

4. Do a post-mortem

If you can’t travel light on your next trip, you don’t have to feel like a failure; But, if this happens and you want to travel light on your next trip, you can do some introspection after you get back home.

Here’s a question to ask yourself: Did you use everything in your suitcase on your most recent trip? If the response is negative, you know you have room to get better at packing, according to Santiago. According to my observations, 70% to 80% of people will admit that they didn’t use everything they brought on their previous vacation.

Hear me out: I’m not a purist here. I believe it is a good idea to pack a few extras. You never know when you might need a change of underwear or change your shirt after spilling something. However, you have to be honest with yourself when packing: How many times do you change into numerous outfits throughout the day in your daily life? If you don’t need any specialist equipment, you can avoid overpacking by taking only what you need on an average day.

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