A Guide to Minimalist Vacation Packing

The slew of new companies specializing in smart carry-on designs might make you reconsider the battered luggage you’ve been carting around for years. Lo & Sons creates light-weight weekenders and overnight bags with zip-sectioned compartments, while Away’s wheel-y even has an in-built phone charger so you never run out of juice on the go.

Instead of following the “roll, don’t fold” rule, stock up on compression bags. Fill one, seal it, then press to force air out the valves, smooshing your vacation wardrobe to around half its usual size.

Be ruthless when you curate outfits for the trip. Fill your case with easy-to-wear, layerable separates like T-shirts, shorts, jeans, shirts, and skirts, that you can mix and match to create a new ensemble every day, rather than dresses you’ll probably only wear once (ladies).

When it comes to toiletries and make-up, minitures are your friend. Decant your essentials into smaller bottles, and consider omitting shampoo, conditioner and soap if you’re staying in a hotel that’ll provide them free of charge. Better still, get on the waitlist for a GoBout—the leak-proof liquids organizer that stores four or five toiletries in one handy pod.

As lovely as it is to have pages to physically thumb through, books are heavy, bulky additions to your luggage. Download literature on the Kindle app, magazines on the Texture app, and swap your travel guide for the Culture Trip app to free up space.