check out Rick Steve's packing videos for men and for women

4 cotton dresses
2 scarfs
Sneakers, sandals, ballet flats (wear sneakers on plane).
4 socks
4 undies

Access to laundry at least every 3 days. I pack laundry sheets because they are small.
Kindle instead of books

Buy clothing meant for serious backpacking, where every gram of weight counts and bulk is the enemy. Product descriptions include words like packable, compressible, and lightweight. Don't bring anything you think you should "just in case", unless it's a medication you can't obtain at your destinations. Bring travel sizes of toiletries and other items, like a small hairbrush. Pack a minimalist rain jacket/windshell in lieu of an umbrella, and use it as your outer layer when one is needed instead of anything bulkier. Pack a minimalist mid-layer to use if you can anticipate chilly weather; don't pack a conventional fleece or sweater which is bulky and heavy. Here's an example of an ideal packable mid-layer: https://rab.equipment/us/women-s-alpha-flash-jacket?queryID=2e601644430841158f61049750d2ddf8&objectID=4407&indexName=rab_live_us_products

If you would ordinarily bring binoculars, choose a monocular instead. Use you phone for photos, don't bring a separate camera.

Anonymous wrote:I vow to not overpack for this trip. What are your best tips for minimalist packing?

Pack less

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wear bottoms (jeans, dark shorts) multiple days. In the summer, bring only one sweater or light jacket. Bring 2 pairs of shoes max - wear one, pack one. Thin cotton shirts or synthetics dry quickly -- just wash out the underarms if you're in a rush. No heated hair tools and no big hair brushes (combs only, as needed). Wear one pair (max two) of earrings.

Me again.

I TOTALLY understand -- on a tropical or resort vacation -- having fun with the cute dresses and the matching sets and the fun purses and big jewelry. I tend to go on city vacations where a black tshirt, jeans, some hoops, and comfy shoes are perfect and easy.

In a weeklong vacation to, let's say, Europe or Latin America, I'd bring all this and it would fit into a carry-on or on my body:

2 pants (jeans)
1 pair leggings to sleep in and wear on the plane
4-5 shirts (tshirts or maybe 1-2 blouses)
1 tshirt to sleep in
8-9 pairs underwear
1 light sweater or long sleeve shirt
2 pairs socks
Deodorant
Hair gel
Small bag of makeup
Crossbody purse
Small backpack for the plane

I would not want to sleep in the same leggings I wore during my travel day(and night) to Europe! Planes and airports are filthy. Unless you hit a laundromat as soon as you get to the destination, you'd have to wear those same gross leggings to bed that night without washing them? Yuck.

Also 2 pairs of shoes -- sneakers on my feet ans one pair of sandals.

Anonymous wrote:Wear bottoms (jeans, dark shorts) multiple days. In the summer, bring only one sweater or light jacket. Bring 2 pairs of shoes max - wear one, pack one. Thin cotton shirts or synthetics dry quickly -- just wash out the underarms if you're in a rush. No heated hair tools and no big hair brushes (combs only, as needed). Wear one pair (max two) of earrings.

Me again.

I TOTALLY understand -- on a tropical or resort vacation -- having fun with the cute dresses and the matching sets and the fun purses and big jewelry. I tend to go on city vacations where a black tshirt, jeans, some hoops, and comfy shoes are perfect and easy.

In a weeklong vacation to, let's say, Europe or Latin America, I'd bring all this and it would fit into a carry-on or on my body:

2 pants (jeans)
1 pair leggings to sleep in and wear on the plane
4-5 shirts (tshirts or maybe 1-2 blouses)
1 tshirt to sleep in
8-9 pairs underwear
1 light sweater or long sleeve shirt
2 pairs socks
Deodorant
Hair gel
Small bag of makeup
Crossbody purse
Small backpack for the plane

Where are you going and what are you doing?
If you are going hiking in Iceland I will have very different answers than if you are going to your cousin's wedding in Hawaii.

Pack one extra outfit and do laundry every evening.

Wear bottoms (jeans, dark shorts) multiple days. In the summer, bring only one sweater or light jacket. Bring 2 pairs of shoes max - wear one, pack one. Thin cotton shirts or synthetics dry quickly -- just wash out the underarms if you're in a rush. No heated hair tools and no big hair brushes (combs only, as needed). Wear one pair (max two) of earrings.

Commit to wearing clothes multiple times but pack 1-2 more underwear/socks than you have days (assuming you won't have access to laundry -- if you will, then pack even less). Use compression packing bags. Buy mini bottles of things/empty mini bottles that you can put your stuff in. Think about where you are going and what you actually need to bring with you in case of emergency vs. what you can easily buy there. Pack as far in advance as you can so that the day or two days before your trip you can look at everything and decide what you really need.

Anonymous wrote:Decide on black OR brown shoes, bag, belt, etc., then pick out outfits that coordinate with your choice. Taking both black and brown shoes and accessories takes up far too much room.

Wtf

We have no idea what kind of trip it is!

Op, do better

Decide on black OR brown shoes, bag, belt, etc., then pick out outfits that coordinate with your choice. Taking both black and brown shoes and accessories takes up far too much room.

Have access to laundry!

I vow to not overpack for this trip. What are your best tips for minimalist packing?