We recently came across a travel blog called Ends of Earth during our web surfing, and we contacted Brook because we found his ability to travel lightly was compelling, we asked him to give us girls a few tips, and this is what he has to say:

Dear Jill and Stacey,

I’ve been thinking an awful lot lately about travel packing since I keep getting questioned on how I travel so lightly. How do we keep our luggage comfortable to handle, yet adequate for our needs? What things are “must haves” and what things are luxuries that should stay at home? These and other questions have driven me to make up a list of considerations for any of your readers planning travel, particularly longer term travel like yourselves.

-Customize your packing list to meet your needs and capabilities. Jill and Stacey, y’all are “doing the roo” in a minivan. Your transportation doubles as storage for luggage, food, equipment, etc. You’re in a situation where you can pack heavy, lug all that luggage to the van once, and not have to worry about moving it for months. I, on the other hand, am doing months of travel on trains, planes, and buses. I’m carrying my luggage around every few days at least, so having a smaller load (an ~7-8 Kg backpack) makes my life so much easier than if I were to have, say, two big suitcases.

-Buy it there! Nearly everything we use can be purchased in big cities: toiletries, socks, cigarettes, flip flops, etc. If you’re traveling for several weeks or months, pack these items lightly or not at all, then cheaply (depending on what part of the world you visit) and easily replenish them on the road.

-Fit everything into a carry-on bag. I can’t begin to estimate the number of hours of standing in line I’ve saved, all because I have a carry-on backpack. I am the first person through customs and out of the airport because I move quicker and have less bulkiness obstructing me. Additionally, carry-ons give me negotiating leverage that others don’t have. What I mean is that I can easily walk to a different hotel or vendor if one offers me a bad rate. The hotel clerks and taxi drivers know this. People with many bags are nearly powerless, forced into staying put or facing backbreaking (or costly) work to move everything to another place.

-There is no need to max out the capacity of your bag. Whether you use a carry-on or have a big suitcase, pack as little as possible. Don’t fill up the luggage for the sake of filling the luggage…consider leftover space a bonus for all the interesting souvenirs you’ll acquire!

-Pack clothing that is versatile, multipurpose, and expected to be used often. For example, I do not travel with dress shoes or a suit because there are very rarely opportunities to wear such things. Mulipurpose clothing might be something like a jacket that is designed to be used as a raincoat, and can also be rolled up to form an improvised pillow for travel; shorts that double as swimming trunks; a bra-kini! (I just learned about these a couple weeks ago); flip flops for city walking, strolling the beach, or taking showers in hostels.

-Don’t pack too many clothes! I take a 5-day supply because I know I can have laundry done very inexpensively here in SE Asia whenever I want. So, my typical rotation of clothing includes 5 shirts, 5 pairs of socks, 5 pairs of underwear, and two pairs each of pants and shorts. If you over pack any clothing, make it underwear—you can never be too safe where these are concerned.

-Pack clothing that is easy maintenance. If at all possible, try to take clothes that can be washed together, with similar detergents, water temperatures, and drying instructions. I usually give a bag of clothing to the nearest launderer I find, provide no special instructions, pay about $1US per kilogram, and pick it up the next day. It wouldn’t be any easier if I were home.

-Pack clothing that is lightweight. If you plan to travel to hot locations, pack light, thin shorts and skirts. Leave the heavy duty pants at home. I converted from using calf-high socks to little ankle socks while traveling, simply to decrease my luggage weight and conserve space.

-Take one or two pairs of shoes, maximum! I think this is a rule often broken, especially by women! I’ve asked around recently, and was surprised to have one woman tell me if she could pack again, she would take one pair of flip flops and one pair of heels—her travel consisted of beachlife, shopping, and nightlife. Another would take one pair of flip flops and one pair of tennis shoes. It all depends on what kind of traveling you plan to do, but if it involves hiking and walking much, I think a good pair of shoes is essential.

-Leave your valuables at home! Jill and Stacey recently talked about a fellow they met that had his car broken into, and all his belongings stolen. He was devastated. Cut down on your packing weight, and eliminate your need for intense security. I recommend leaving all jewelry, and even expensive “toys” like iPods, smartphones, and laptops at home (unless you need them for work). Borrow a cheapie cellphone and use internet cafes to maintain communication, but consider that you are probably traveling to get away from the hustle bustle of daily life. Soak in the sights, sounds, and smells of your new surroundings rather than numbing yourself with your technological comforts.

-Get your toiletries from hotels. Unless you are very particular about using certain brands, those little bars of soap and tiny bottles of shampoo, provided by hotels, are perfect for traveling. They are small and “free” and easily replaceable. Men, generally, can survive with a small toiletries kit of toothbrush, paste, floss, soap, shampoo, and deodorant, along with any trimming supplies like razors, scissors, or tweezers. Women, generally, need more. Stacey, I’m sure you and Jill have some tips in this department.

-Some things to definitely leave at home: big, fluffy beach towels; multiple pairs of shoes; specialized clothing of any kind (suits, gowns) unless you are traveling for a special event; athletic equipment (Scuba gear, surfboard, frisbee, basketball, etc.), again, unless you are on a sport-specific holiday; accessories such as hats, belts, and anything else that takes up space and is unnecessary. Think you’ll miss these things? Then consider your holiday a chance to “re-invent” yourself by exploring a simpler, easier way of being.

-Take advantage of your holiday status. Remember, you are traveling! You will be moving around often and don’t need to impress anybody with your wardrobe of 100 pairs of high heels or 30 pairs of pants. Nobody expects a traveler to have an entire wardrobe on hand, so if you find yourself in a night club with tennis shoes, it’s okay, and will probably make for good conversation fodder.

Nobody ever returns from vacation and says “I wish I packed more!” You won’t regret the comfort of traveling light. Doing so will save time, energy, worry, and money, while also providing you more opportunities to enjoy your destinations and possibly even learn a bit more about yourself.

What travel packing tips do you have? Have you ever went way overboard or underboard with your luggage and regretted it? I’d love to hear your comments, even if you disagree with some of what I’ve written!

Jill and Stacey, thank you for letting me guest write and I hope we cross paths in Australia sometime!