Travel experts are unanimous on one packing rule: leave the 'just in case' wardrobe at home. When asked what passengers should not bother packing, over a dozen travel professionals all pointed to excess clothing.
The advice comes as holidaymakers struggle to fit a week or two of essentials into an underseat bag for airlines such as Ryanair or easyJet. While must-haves included a sarong, a fully charged battery pack, cereal bars and 'your favourite comb', there was far less variation on what to skip.
Why 'just in case' outfits are a mistake
Natasha Inglis, client experience director at Good Business Travel, said many travellers regret taking too many outfits that take up valuable space. She advised asking whether each item will genuinely be worn and whether it works with at least two other pieces in the suitcase. If not, it probably does not need to come along. She recommended versatile pieces with a simple colour palette so everything works together.
Joe Cronin, president of International Citizens Insurance, agreed, saying he leaves the 'just in case' wardrobe at home. After years of living out of a suitcase in places as different as Tokyo and Buenos Aires, he learned that the extra pair of shoes and extra jacket never get worn. He noted laundry is easy to find nearly everywhere, and anything forgotten can be bought on arrival, often for less than the cost of checking a heavier bag.
Packing light strategies from frequent travellers
Jim Webber, a retired teacher who runs the travel blog Travelwidstom, leaves as many clothes at home as possible and focuses on packing light and doing laundry on extended trips. He and his wife travelled for 17 days out west with just a carry-on and a personal item backpack each, washing clothes a few times at hotels.
Aman Thakran, founder of BharatFare, said 'just in case' items are for occasions that never happen. He travels with clothes that all go together so everything mixes and matches, saving weight and often allowing him to skip the checked bag altogether.
Vummy Kihaule, founder of Tanzania Safaris, noted excess clothes are particularly pointless on safari, as most hotels and lodges wash clothes daily and return them the same evening. Three shirts can last 10 days, and asking about daily washes can cut half the clothes from a bag. Weight is also a major issue on small aircraft on regional routes, most of which have a 15kg maximum including hand luggage.
