Packing light vs packing heavy is a constant struggle for me because I am definitely a chronic over-packer. To help myself pack less when situations call for it I set out to make some rough guidelines for when it is ok to pack as much as possible and when it might be better to be picky.
So you’re going on vacation! Congratulations, you earned it and you definitely deserve a break. I know you work hard day in and day out to create the life you want for yourself and your family. BUT before you can mentally check out and leave, you have to pack your suitcase.
Does that fill anyone else with a slight sense of dread? Haha I know it does for me. What if you forget something? Or what if you decide not to bring something and then end up needing it!
So of course then you end up packing all the things you might possibly maybe need if things align just right. Which leads to overpacking and a suitcase that weighs 15 pounds too much (which is pricey if you’re flying!!). Following this guidelines will help you know when it is ok to pack a little more and when to cut back.
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Long Trip VS. Short Trip
Packing Heavy: Long Trip
Yes, I do fell like this one is extremely obvious but it had to be put out there. The longer the trip the more you are bound to need. With some exceptions of course. If you have access to laundry services that can drastically cut down on what you will need in terms of clothing.
I estimate going about two weeks before absolutely needing to do laundry. You can pack for more but then how much you’re bringing just starts to get out of hand. Not to mention when things are in a suitcase the dirty touches the clean and eventually everything starts to smell.
Packing Light: Short Trip
On the other hand of this the shorter the trip is the less you will have to bring. Although I will say the difference between one night and one weekend is minimal. However the difference between one weekend and two weeks or a month is quite large. So the shorter the trip, the less you have to pack.
Driving VS. Flying
Packing Light: Flying
If you are flying you most likely have weight limits and baggage limits to adhere too. So flying to a location is going to be a limiting factor. Not to mention everything you bring you are going to have to carry on and off the plane, in and out of whatever transportation you use and into your hotels.
You still have the up to the limits of your airline and you can always purchase more although I feel like those prices are going up every day. Other than the budget airlines that offer only a personal item I find the airline set limits are usually enough to fit what I need. I just use all my packing tricks to fit as much as possible. I’ll write them up in a post for you one of these days!
Read more about flying on Allegiant Airlines a budget airline where packing light is very important.
Packing Heavy: Driving
With driving on the other hand has no set limits on baggage. The bigger the car the more stuff can fit, plus there are tons of options for trailers and car top containers. So if you are in driving distance, not only is it a lot cheaper for families than flying, you can also take a lot more.
Now I’m not saying take more just because you can because you still have to keep track of everything. But it is a chance to take some extra toys for the kids or pack food rather than eating out every meal. This can be a huge money saver because eating out adds up really quickly. Another bonus is being able to bring extra like beach toys if you’re going to the beach or bikes to ride so that you don’t have to rent them once you reach your destination.
More Packing Help:
- Customizable 1 Week Packing List – In a Carry On
- Customizable 2 Week Packing List
- 9 Travel Minimalist Packing Tips and Hacks for Smarter Packing
- Beach Vacation Packing List for Peace of Mind
- Ultimate Cruise Packing List
One Location VS. Many Locations
Packing Heavy: One Location
If you are staying in one, maybe two locations your whole trip I would be much more inclined to pack heavy. There is no reason not to. You’ll have minimal contact with your suitcase(s) and realistically they will just sit in the hotel room.
In this case pack the extras you feel might come in handy and just let yourself relax. This is often more of a “vacation” than a “trip” anyway and should allow more maximum relaxation.
When I volunteered in India for a month I was in one place the whole time and only traveled on the weekends to other nearby cities. So I packed a large suitcase for the trip and packed a backpack to travel with on the weekends. It worked out very well!
Packing Light: Many Locations
This one might seem counter intuitive but trust me. If you are traveling through a country, the less luggage the better. When we traveled through all of Germany in a week and a half we packed two HUGE suitcases. Hauling them over cobblestones, on and off trains, and up stairs got old very quickly.
We learned from our mistakes in Germany and when we traveled around Bali, Indonesia for two weeks we limited ourselves to two carry on size suitcases. They fit so easily into car trunks and were much easier to lug around as we got on and off boats and moved to new cities. We are going to do the same thing for our upcoming trip to Italy.
One Climate VS. Multiple Climates
Packing Heavy: Multiple Climates
This one packing heavy vs. packing light is almost out of necessity. It is so hard to pack for two different climates in one trip. One year for Christmas we flew to Sweden to visit my husband’s family and then decided to visit Thailand on our way home. We went from freezing, snowy temperatures to the warm, humid jungle. There were a few tricks we used, like packing clothes that layered well, to help lessen what we had to bring but there was no way around it. We had to pack more then if we had stayed in a single climate, warm or cold.
Packing Light: One Climate
So, obviously, that means when you are only visiting one climate you can pack less. You can reuse the same items and not have to worry about double the clothes.
This is extra true if the one climate you’re visiting is warm. That means no big coats or bulky sweaters and swimsuits take up hardly any room at all. I find it so much easier to pack for warm weather areas because I can take more in less space. When I pack for cold weather I tend to be pickier and more methodical with my packing.
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Shopping VS. Frugal
Packing Light: Shopping
Maybe you are just a big shopper in general then packing light vs packing heavy might be the way to go. You can just buy what you need at your destination and use it while you are there. If you are going to a country that has cheap clothing, why not! In countries that are cheaper like Thailand or Mexico you might end up buying more than you expected! The trick here is to leave enough space in your suitcase so that on the way home you don’t exceed any weight limits or have to pay for extra bags.
Packing Heavy: Frugal
If you are more like me where, with few exceptions, you like to bring everything you need from the beginning then you will be packing more. Especially in countries where things cost more like in America and throughout Europe you might buy less due to the high price. I like to buy my one souvenir for my collection (keychains) and call it a day. Since you are buying less that does mean you’ll have to pack more in but on the way home you won’t have to worry.
Happy Packing
Hopefully these travel comparisons were helpful to you and now you know whether you should pack more or less on your trip! Are there any situations you can think of that would call for packing more? Less?
Packing light vs. packing heavy is not so simple as saying I will always pack light. I think there is a time and a place when it is ok to pack heavy and bring that extra dress you were eying! Share this with someone you know is a chronic overpacked!
There is so much to consider when packing and I know it can be overwhelming. Especially when you sit down to pack for the first time at 10 pm the night before you leave. (Been there, done that. Don’t necessarily recommend it). So make sure you give yourself time to weed through items. Make a list for sure and separate your clothes by day if it helps you. That is what I do, and I try and see how many different ways I can reuse items in new ways to save space too!
Amazing Destinations to Visit:
I love how you broke down when it’s okay to pack light or heavy. I always struggle with this and have too much stuff. We are driving 6 hours for a trip this week with three boys and towing a camper. I totally didn’t even think about having access to laundry services could cut down on the number of clothes. Thanks for all these awesome tips!
I tend to overpack too lol! Laundry can be a life saver!! And having clothing items that can be worn multiple different ways so you don’t get tired of the same clothes.
I usually end up packing more than I end up using but try to pack light. It’s so challenging to pack light for winter destinations though when everything is heavier and you might need extra layers or things like snow pants. It’s so true about visiting multiple destinations! The more I change hotels, the less I want my luggage to weigh. It gets so annoying to tote a large suitcase from place to place.
I tend to overpack too! Winter is so hard your are exactly right. Maybe when traveling during the winter try and stay in one location and day trip out so you don’t have to move luggage too often!
I always end up over packing for everything! I’ll have to remember these packing tips for our next family trip!
I totally overpack too. That’s why I had to start setting guidelines for myself.
I am a chronic overpacker; I’ve just come back from 2 nights away where I travelled with 2 carry on suitcases, a tote and a suit carrier, so ridiculous! Love that you acknowledge it’s ok sometimes to pack heavy, although can’t say my latest trip warranted it!
Haha you sound like the old me! It can be hard to cut back, just keep trying! Baby steps.
Impressive! Thanks for the article.
King regards,
Thompson Cannon
Thank you for reading!