The principles before the list
Packing is a wardrobe problem, not a gadget problem. Choose clothes in three colours that all match, plan to wash once a week, and count days not outfits. A lighter bag means easier transfers, cheaper fares and less stress. The American travel body TSA publishes the security rules that also apply as a baseline at many airports.
This pairs with our cabin bag test, which shows the sizes that clear the strictest gates.
Clothing: a capsule that works
Three base tops, two mid-layers, one warm layer, two trousers or skirts, and one pair of shoes worn on the plane with a second flat pair packed. Add socks and underwear for five days plus one, and a light shell for rain. Choose quick-dry fabrics for anything you will wash by hand, and pack a small flat laundry line. That capsule covers a week and still leaves room for souvenirs.
Toiletries and the 100 millilitre rule
Decant everything into small refillable bottles, and keep them in one clear bag you can pull out at security. Solid soap and shampoo bars save space and never leak. Take only what you will truly use in a week; a travel towel and a small first-aid strip cover the rest. Refill at a shop on arrival rather than carrying a litre of anything.
Pack half of what you think you need and twice the patience.
Electronics, kept minimal
One universal adapter, one multi-port charger for everything, and one short cable per device. A power bank only if you know you will be out all day. A cheap plug adapter with a USB outlet saves carrying two bricks. For leisure trips, leave the laptop behind; a phone and a paper book are enough, and the trip will be better for it.
Health, documents and money
Carry copies of your passport and insurance in the cloud and on paper, and keep medicines in their original packaging with a short note of what they are. Tell your bank you are travelling, and carry a little local cash for markets and small towns. A cheap doorstop and a small padlock add a little security in a shared room or a hostel.
What to leave behind
The honest cuts: extra shoes, a second camera lens, a heavy travel guide, and anything you packed for a trip you might take. If you did not use it on the last trip, it does not come on this one. Keep a small to-do drawer at home where those items wait, and let the light bag teach you what you actually needed. For a lighter budget as well as a lighter bag, see our daily costs guide.
