If you’re about to take off on an adventure and you’re starting the packing phase, this post is for you. Packing skills are muscles that get stronger with each trip you take, but facing poor packing consequences amidst your adventure is a struggle we’d all like to prevent.

While underpacking is the golden rule for all journeys, it can mean different things for different people. This post will guide you in not overpacking in the ways that make sense for you. If you want to see what I packed in a school backpack for a month, the ultimate underpacking challenge, you can read that post here.

How to Not Overpack 101

Remember, the clothes you bring on a trip are there to keep you covered and comfortable. It may be tempting to turn your trip into a fashion show, but if you want to travel with fewer things and less stress, leave the extravaganza for your outfits at home. Think like a minimalist while you’re packing and reap the benefits of living with less on your journey.

Make sure you leave enough time to plan your packing. If you don’t have enough time to review what you’ve packed, you will likely take off with some dead weight you could’ve shed back home. Treat the items in your suitcase as tools rather than toys. Less is more, and your future self enjoying their adventure will definitely thank you.

8 Questions to ask when making your packing list:

1. What climate(s) am I packing for?
   • What types of clothes can work for more than one climate?
2. Are the activities in my destinations different?
   • What can I bring that works for more than one activity?
3. At which points on my journey will I be able to do laundry?
4. Which of my clothes do I love enough to wear every day?
5. What types of clothes can I wear more than once without washing?
6. What type of shoes could I wear every day on my trip?
7. Will I be exercising or need activewear?
   • Can this double as streetwear?
8. How many nights in a row am I fine wearing the same pajamas?

10 Questions to ask when reviewing what you’ve packed:

1. How many times will I be able to wear this? Until it’s dirty and for how many purposes?
2. Would I wear this at home? Am I confident in it?
3. Is this something I will be comfortable wearing all day?
4. Will this make me a target for pickpocketing? Does this fit in with my destination?
5. For multiples: do I need more than one because it gets dirty after every wear and I wear it every day? Or is it an unnecessary option that I can leave behind?
6. Can this be easily replaced with something else I packed?
7. Is this for a hypothetical event, or can I wear it for most events?
8. Will this accessory or gadget actually improve my trip? Or is it deadweight?
9. Could this break during my trip?
10. If this got stolen, would I be devastated?

What other questions do you ask yourself to not overpack? Drop them in the comments!

Check out this video from the trip the cover photo was taken on.