How to Pack Light: 8 Pro Tips from a Flight Attendant

Throughout my years of traveling, I’ve learned that packing light is the way to go. Traveling with only a carry-on saves you time, money, energy, and hassle! It’s truly a game-changer and makes your whole traveling experience so much easier. Read on for a quick guide on how to pack light, including all the tips I’ve learned from my time as a flight attendant!

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. When you purchase through links on my site, I may make a small commission (at no extra cost to you!).

Benefits of packing light

• Saving money: Many airlines nowadays charge for a checked bag. Bringing only a carry on will save you all those baggage fees!

• Saving time: If you don’t check a bag, you don’t have to wait for it to come out on the carousel after your flight.

• Better organization: When you bring too much stuff, it gets difficult to efficiently organize and sometimes even remember what you brought! Keeping it simple streamlines your choices and makes life easier.

• Not as cumbersome: Having just a backpack or carry-on suitcase makes it so much easier to get around. Public transport and cobblestone streets won’t be a problem anymore!

How to pack light

Pick a good travel bag

This is one of the most important steps! I personally prefer traveling with a backpack over a suitcase, so I’ll give a few options of good ones below.

Packing light for a weekend trip

The Fjällräven Känken backpack is my holy grail. These backpacks were designed to prevent back problems in Swedish schoolchildren, so you know it’ll be comfortable. Its shape makes organization super easy, and it fits a lot more than it looks like it should! It comes in a ton of colors and works great as a day bag as well.

Packing light for a few weeks

I haven’t used this one personally, but a lot of flight attendants have raved about the eBags Mother Lode Jr bag. From the same company that makes amazing travel lunchboxes, this bag opens like a suitcase and fits under most airplane seats.

Packing light for a backpacking trip

My favorite backpacking backpack is the Eagle Creek Global Companion 40L W. This bag also opens like a suitcase, making organization a piece of cake. It won’t fit under the seat in front of you, but it will fit onboard as a carry-on. It has waist straps, making it more comfortable for long-term wear or trekking.

Bring only two pairs of shoes

This will depend on where you’re going. I always bring one pair of comfortable sneakers that I wear on the plane. The second pair can be some sandals, boots, or heels if you have an event to go to. Make sure that your shoes will match with a majority of the clothes you’re going to bring.

Consider a capsule wardrobe

A capsule wardrobe is essentially a group of versatile items that can each go with every other piece to make several outfits. Think black pants, a white T-shirt, or a nice blazer: each of these items can be mixed and matched with a bunch of other pieces and still look good.

If you’re trying to pack a capsule wardrobe, save room for one colorful or trendy item just for funsies. I also like to spice up my more monochromatic outfits with fun accessories like earrings or beanies — they pack well and don’t take up too much space.

Bring clothes that pack well

Some fabrics pack better than others: merino wool, cotton, and nylon for example pack up small and don’t get too wrinkly. I look for fabrics that can be rolled and that don’t require any ironing to look presentable (because to be honest, I would never get around to doing it).

Some fabrics, like denim, don’t get much smaller when you fold them up. For this reason, I always wear jeans on the plane. Crazy? Yes. Effective? Also yes.

Narrow down your toiletries

Liquids are usually some of the heaviest items you can pack. Unless you’re moving to Siberia, there’s no reason to ever bring full-sized liquids when you fly. Pour your large liquids into smaller, travel-sized containers. Even better, don’t bring any liquids — instead, use shampoo bars or buy smaller, local items when you get to your destination.

Use packing cubes

Packing cubes are great if you want to keep your clothing organized by type — tops and dresses in one cube, bottoms in another, etc. They’re also great if you’re staying in shared accommodation (like a hostel) and need to get something out of your bag without making a lot of noise. They also make your clothing super compact, allowing you to bring more in a smaller amount of space. You can get great deals on packing cubes at Amazon.

Wear your heaviest clothes on the plane

I always wear my heaviest shoes, jeans, a sweater, and a jacket. Any items you wear on the plane are items you don’t have to carry on your back! As an added bonus, you won’t get cold and you can always use your jacket or scarf as an extra pillow.

Ditch your hot tools

Hairdryers, curling irons, and straighteners are annoying to carry. They’re heavy, bulky, and you probably won’t end up using them as much as you think you will. Instead, embrace your natural hair, try putting it in braids, or wear a hat. There are so many fun and cute hairstyles that don’t require any actual styling!

Hopefully, this flight attendant’s guide to how to pack light has given you a few tips on how to pack like a pro. If you take anything away from this post, let it be that backpacks are always better.

If you have any questions, go ahead and leave them in the comment section below. And if you want to see more flight attendant posts, click here!

xoxo Niki

Pin this post to save it for later!