Mastering the Art of Packing Light for Your Next Adventure
Many travelers have resorted to wearing multiple jackets or stuffing shoes into coat pockets to avoid extra baggage fees. With a long weekend approaching, the challenge of overpacking and avoiding unsolicited arm workouts is on many minds. At the Filter, we recently tested a dozen personal-item backpacks, identifying four top performers that offer surprising capacity and clever organization, though living out of them for extended trips requires strategic planning.
Insights from a World Traveler on Efficient Packing
For expert advice, we turned to Angie Madden, a world traveler who has visited over 30 countries and recently completed a three-week trip to Australia using only her Baboon to the Moon backpack. Her tips are revolutionizing packing approaches, including an affordable laundry hack that could replace bulky suitcases for upcoming trips like hiking in Japan.
Four Key Strategies for Packing Light
Pack for Activities, Not Mood Boards: Avoid overpacking by selecting clothing based on purpose. Madden recommends versatile pieces, such as a romper that can serve for exercise, casual wear, and dancing, maximizing functionality while saving space.
Do Laundry on the Go: Utilizing washing machines at accommodations like Airbnb or Vrbo reduces the need for excess clothing. Madden suggests using plastic-free laundry sheets for lightweight, eco-friendly cleaning. For situations without access to machines, she relies on Zote laundry soap for hand-washing, conserving valuable luggage space.
Think Multipurpose: Repurpose items creatively to minimize packing. Instead of separate headbands, face masks, and scarves, Madden recommends a Buff neck warmer. This aligns with advice from wardrobe stylist Samantha Elise on versatile staples like black pants and trench coats that pair with almost anything.
Lay Out Everything and Be Ruthless: Avoid haphazard packing by categorizing items into necessities and nice-to-haves. Our guide on travel accessories helps in making trade-offs, ensuring you only bring what's essential for your journey.
Product Highlights for Winter Comfort and Home Upgrades
Space Heaters for Chilly Days: With winter lingering, we recommended five space heaters to supplement unreliable HVAC systems. One standout is the Vornado MVH Space Heater, praised by Guardian US's head of audience, Tom Johnson, for effectively warming his home office in Washington DC during cold spells.
Luxurious Bath Towels: Upgrade your bathroom experience with our refreshed guide to the best bath towels. Options include the budget-friendly Threshold Spa Towel and the splurgy Parachute Organic Super Plush Towel, likened to a luxury bathrobe for everyday indulgence.
Valentine's Day Chocolate Taste Test: We conducted a blind taste test with 10 Guardian US staffers sampling various chocolate bars. Top picks included the Beyond Good Microbatch Vanilla Bean Chocolate Bar and TCHO Perfect Matcha Chocolate, with some bars receiving enthusiastic proposals from testers.
Edible Valentine's Gifts: For those preferring food over traditional gifts, Filter US commissioning editor Karen Yuan curated 16 Valentine's Day foodie gifts, such as the Levain Classics Cookie Tin Gift Set, perfect for chocolate chip cookie enthusiasts.
These recommendations and tips aim to help you live better, whether through smarter travel or enhanced home comforts, all while buying fewer, better things.
