TRAVELING 101: PACK ONLY THE ESSENTIALS AND LEARN TO LET GO

You are heading off on your next big adventure. Whether you are hiking the PCT or heading to camp in Tahoe for the weekend you need to pack. Keeping your backpack weight down, while still bringing the essentials is always a balancing act.

The first time I packed for my travel adventure in Europe I had no idea what I was doing!
I made room for clothes that I would most likely never wear. I quickly learned I had prioritized incorrectly.

Within the first week, I sent home a package of dresses, shoes, and clothes I realized I would hardly ever wear. That was the best choice I could have made looking back.

Keeping the essentials, I rotated my attire with the seasons and learned to let go of my apparel when it was time to move on. That meant thrift stores were my best friend.

I had one solid winter jacket and a good pair of hiking boots I kept with me, everything else changed.

When backpacking, traveling and camping you learn a few tips and tricks along the way. Here are 7 tips to help you keep your pack light and multifunctional.

 

TIPS TO KEEP YOUR PACK LIGHT

Cut your deck of cards in half.

You don’t really need a full deck of cards, cut them in half and that’s even more space you can put towards food or a lighter pack.

 

Half a toothbrush

Continue to cut your space down by cutting your toothbrush in half.

Single serving flavor packets

You have reached a point where you are sick of water, or maybe water has never really been your jam. Getting dehydrated on a camping trip is the worst, so pack the single serving flavor packets. These will change up the taste of your water, and provide you with a few choices that way you don’t have to make a huge batch at once.

 

A trash bag is a great poncho/ pack cover

Mother nature is unpredictable! Stuff a trash bag in your pack to use in a pinch. It’s a great poncho when the rain is pouring down and super light.

 

Tiny waterproof LED lights

Can’t find your water a night? Don’t want to have to bring a lantern? There are now awesome waterproof LED lights you can pop into your water bottle to make it glow!

 

Mouthpiece water filter

Rather than worrying about boiling your water or carrying around water purifying tablets, simply invest the money in a high-quality mouthpiece water filter. One less thing for you to have to worry about on long treks.

 

Take the time to tear your toilet paper into sheets.

Don’t just shove the whole roll in your bag. This takes up so much unnecessary space! Instead, grab a zip-lock baggy and tear the individual sheets. You can press out all the air, and are good to go!

 

Comfort is key

I am sure you already know this. When backpacking pack for lightweight and comfort. Ideally, this time is not about taking all the photos to post to Instagram, but rather embracing nature.

IAB has some amazingly soft workout attire that is perfect for all types of adventures. Look for multifunctional clothes that are possible to layer. The fewer clothes you have to pack, the better. Remember though, during winter months this is not the thing to skimp on.

Here is a packing list I have created to help make sure you have all the essentials for your next adventure.