Long weekend escapes are fantastic, offering a refreshing break without the hefty price tag of extended vacations. However, with the rise of budget airlines and their strict carry-on baggage policies, mastering the art of traveling light has become essential. The secret to stress-free travel and avoiding those pesky baggage fees? Embracing the backpack.
For years, I’ve navigated the globe with just a carry-on, and I’ve perfected the skill of maximizing space within a single backpack. This guide breaks down my tried-and-true method into eight simple steps, empowering you to do the same. Consider this your blueprint for conquering long weekend getaways with just a backpack, though remember, personalization is key! Feel free to adapt these steps to your unique travel style and needs.
Step 1: Choosing the Right Backpack
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Vicki Denig/Travel + Leisure
Frequent travelers understand the value of investing in quality luggage, and a reliable backpack is no exception. While I personally splurged on a Tumi Voyageur black leather backpack for its durability and style, any standard-sized backpack can work wonders for your Travel With A Backpack strategy. When selecting your backpack for travel, prioritize features that enhance organization and accessibility. Look for backpacks with front and side pockets – my Tumi boasts both, which are incredibly useful for quick access items. A dedicated zippered compartment for a laptop or tablet is also highly recommended for security and ease at airport checkpoints. The main internal compartment should be spacious yet manageable. While some backpacks include internal dividers, I find the main compartment most versatile for maximizing packing efficiency, primarily using a smaller zippered section for secure passport storage and easy retrieval.
Step 2: Curating Your Travel Wardrobe
Clothing often presents the biggest challenge when packing for a three-day trip, inevitably consuming the most backpack real estate. This is where strategic packing and packing cubes become your best allies in efficient travel with a backpack. A crucial packing tip is to wear your bulkiest outfit on travel day, including layering extra items. This immediately reduces the clothing volume in your backpack, leaving you to pack for just two days. For a long weekend, this translates to packing essentials like three sets of underwear and socks. Depending on your destination and activities, consider adding a swimsuit (optional), pajamas, two versatile t-shirts, two pairs of shorts or lightweight pants, and potentially two sets of workout clothes (also optional, depending on your fitness routine).
The key to minimalist travel is maximizing the utility of each clothing item. Think about repurposing items: a t-shirt worn during the day can double as workout wear the next day, and gym shorts can serve as a swimsuit cover-up before your workout session. Choosing versatile pieces in neutral colors allows for mixing and matching outfits, further minimizing the need for excessive clothing while you travel with a backpack.
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Vicki Denig/Travel + Leisure
Step 3: Streamlining Liquid Toiletries
This might be a somewhat controversial opinion, but I advocate for a minimalist approach to liquid toiletries when you travel with a backpack. Many hotels provide complimentary toiletries, and travel-sized versions of your preferred brands are easily purchased upon arrival at your destination. To expedite airport security checks, I opt for a clear zip-lock bag instead of a bulky toiletry bag.
My essential liquid toiletries include travel-sized shampoo, conditioner, lotion, and body wash. I also include a small bottle of vitamin C serum (you can substitute with another skincare essential or two), toothpaste, lip balm, and a teeth whitening pen. For fragrance, I carry two mini-sized perfumes. Prioritizing travel-sized containers and essential items significantly reduces bulk and weight in your backpack, crucial for efficient travel with a backpack.
Step 4: The Essential Miscellaneous Bag
Consider your miscellaneous bag as the travel equivalent of a kitchen junk drawer – filled with seemingly random items that invariably prove essential at unexpected moments. Given the limited space when you travel with a backpack, the contents of this ‘junk drawer’ bag are curated and compact, ensuring every item earns its place.
My miscellaneous essentials include: three instant coffee packets for a quick caffeine fix, earplugs for restful sleep, a pair of tweezers, a few tampons, a small assortment of Band-Aids, two pens, a toothbrush, a small jewelry bag, a compact change purse for local currency, a compact mirror, two eye masks (essential for light-sensitive sleepers!), hair ties, any necessary prescription medications, allergy medication, sleep aids, a razor, hair clips, and a universal adapter. This list is, of course, adaptable to individual needs, but even with these items, you’ll find space for a few additional small necessities. This carefully curated miscellaneous bag ensures you’re prepared for minor inconveniences without overpacking when you travel with a backpack.
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Vicki Denig/Travel + Leisure
Step 5: Managing Your Tech Wires
Staying connected while traveling necessitates bringing your tech essentials, and organized wires are key to avoiding tangled messes in your backpack. When you travel with a backpack, wire management is crucial for space optimization. My tech wire kit includes my laptop charger, a Lightning iPhone cable, a USB cable (specifically for older airplane charging ports, as many aren’t yet equipped with USB-C), and a USB charger for my portable battery – and the portable battery itself, naturally. While you could include a phone charger wall adapter, I usually plug my Lightning cable into my laptop and then connect the laptop to a wall outlet to minimize bulk. I also always pack a spare pair of wired headphones as a backup in case my AirPods run out of battery. Keeping your wires organized in a small pouch or organizer will save space and frustration during your backpack travels.
Step 6: Random, Yet Indispensable Essentials
These are items that don’t neatly fit into the miscellaneous bag but are nonetheless essential for my travel comfort and convenience. These random essentials for travel with a backpack include my laptop, reading material (magazines are a great lightweight option), my keys, AirPods, and sunglasses. My sunglasses case also conveniently holds a few extra cards that I don’t typically keep in my wallet, maximizing its utility and saving space. These are the items I access frequently, so keeping them readily available is key.
Step 7: Backpack Assembly – The Tetris Game
Assembling your backpack is akin to a game of Tetris, but with a little strategy, it’s surprisingly quick. Efficient packing is paramount when you travel with a backpack. Begin by placing your packing cube filled with clothes at the bottom of your backpack. Next, ensure your passport is placed in a designated, secure yet accessible compartment – for me, it’s the zippered back section. Layer the toiletry bag, wire bag, and miscellaneous bag on top of the clothing cube. Slide your laptop/tablet and reading material into the back laptop compartment. Finally, tuck your keys, AirPods, wallet, and a water bottle into the side pockets or your clothing pockets for easy access. This layering technique optimizes space and weight distribution within your backpack, making travel with a backpack comfortable and manageable.
Step 8: Leveraging Your Travel Day Outfit
Your outfit on departure day is not just your day-one ensemble; it’s also your secret weapon for carrying a few extra items without exceeding baggage restrictions when you travel with a backpack. My standard travel day outfit typically consists of jeans, a basic white t-shirt, and a jacket (adjusted seasonally). I always bring a sweatshirt, either wearing it if it’s cold or tying it around my waist. If you plan to bring a hat, scarf, or other clothing accessories, wear them during travel days to save backpack space. For additional items, I’ve found that attaching a small bag containing sandals (I usually wear sneakers for boarding) to the exterior of my backpack rarely causes any issues. Utilizing your personal attire to carry extra items is a smart and effective strategy for maximizing what you can bring when you travel with a backpack.
