Half a year ago when we were packing our bags I faced a very real fact: It's just a hundred times easier to pack light when you’re a grimy guy only needing a shampoo and a toothbrush! Alex and I are traveling forever with carry-on backpacks only, so you can imagine the hazzle it was to initially decide what to bring and what to leave behind…
After carefully selecting each item of clothing for a perfect travel wardrobe and considering all the most compact options I managed to fit everything I needed for infinite travels into a single carry-on backpack. This accomplishment was very much thanks to a few selected items that spared me a lot of space by being multifunctional or compact.
Here’s a list of 5 items that will save any dame a lot of weight and space:
1. Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps
Soap bars might seem a bit old-fashioned, but for travelling they’re extremely efficient. First of all they aren’t fluid, which is practical for staying under the 3,5Oz fluid limitation for carry-on luggage. Secondly they last forever.
Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps are my personal favorite because this soap can be used to clean anything you need cleaned; from you hands, body and hair to your clothes. Allegedly you can even use it for brushing your teeth since it is 100% organic, but I really doubt that would be comfortable. I also don’t know how I feel about lavender smelling breath…
Tip: Remember to bring a plastic bag to keep your soap bar in after use! Otherwise it will most likely be quite a nasty affair re-pack it…
2. DivaCup
The DivaCup is a small silicone device inserted into the vagina to collect menstrual fluid. For a lot of girls this one might seem a bit odd and uncomfortable (myself included... this is actually one thing on this list I don't personally have...). But the matter of fact is; tampons and pads take up a whole lot of space when you’re trying to pack as lightly as possible. The menstrual cup is a great alternative that will save you not only space but also a significant amount of money. Don’t worry girls; it’s not as hard as it sounds! Here’s a step-by-step guide for using a menstrual cup.
Fun fact: When we went to Argentina there was a national deficit
of tampons and these were sold one-package-a-client in selected stores only
and at a crazy price! That was one time I wished I'd had this little device...
3. Collapsible Foldable Sports Water Bottle
Staying hydrated is crucial, especially when you’re on the move a lot. I know a lot of people who invested in expensive metal or plastic water bottles for their travels only to realize that these were extremely impractical for packing light. They take up a lot of space and they can be unnecessarily heavy. Of course there’s the alternative of buying new plastic water bottles wherever you go, but this is a waste of money and resources. Foldable water bottles are light, compact and cheap! The Squeezit Collapsible Silicone Sports Water Bottle is probably the best option for the money! It's saved us more than once.
4. Off! Towelettes
Make-up remover, wet wipes, disinfection agent and specialized facial washes. All of the above can be replaced by simple facial wipes. Cheap and non-fluid they don’t take up very much space and save you a lot of struggle! Not only are they obviously useful for removing make up and keeping your face clean and moisturized, they can also be used to clean your hands when you don’t have a sink or soap available. Moreover they can be your saviors in an acute toilet-paper situation! Off! Towelettes are an amazing option that not only helps with sweat but keeps pesky mosquitoes away. A must have for Thailand or pretty much any humid area.
5. Dry shampoo
Okay, so the soap bar is one thing. But most girls like to treat their hair a little bit well and you’re probably thinking about bringing a shampoo anyway. Consider bringing a dry shampoo instead. The soap bar is efficient for washing your hair while a dry shampoo can let you postpone each hair wash by a day or two. At the same time it can replace styling gels and hairsprays as a lot of dry shampoos apply a decent amount of hold to the hair as well. At the end of the day a dry shampoo saves you space for fluids, spares you a lot of hair washes and is a great styling agent for the road. Win-win! We loved the Serge Normant Travel Size Dry Shampoo. Perfect for those quick touchups in a hostel!
