5 Tips for Packing Lighter

There's nothing better than being able to carry all your gear easily on a long international voyage. It beats fussing with multiple pieces of baggage. I always use a backpack, but I can't go carry-on despite being a light packer because of the length of my backpack. But I can share some of my tips for packing light. Here's what I do.

1. Leave the jeans at home - They're bulky and they dry slowly. Instead, I grab a pair of chinos like the REI Adventure pants. You can wear them anywhere you'd wear jeans, but they'll take up a quarter of the room in your pack.. I also avoid military-style BDU pants for the same bulky reason. I usually have some other quick-dry stuff for more hardcore outdoor stuff - Patagonia, Cloudveil and the old-style REI cargo pants.

2. Pack in plastic - I always get a bunch of big, sturdy self-sealing bags (like Ziploc) that are two gallons or bigger. I pack everything in the bags, roll them to squeeze the air out and seal. You won't believe how much they shrink minus the air. It also makes organizing your gear a snap.

3. Big shoes on the feet - I always wear my biggest boots onto the plane. That frees up a nice chunk of room in my pack. And that's more valuable than having fewer laces to unravel at the security mags.

4. Skip the laptop - Seriously, I can go without for a little while. Internet cafes -which provide not just wireless but actual computers- are common outside the United States. If I have documents that might be handy, I upload them to a file-hosting service. And I don't fret about work: I'm on vacation.

5. Re-think the underwear - Why bring 10 pairs of underwear when you can get away with three? Ex Officio makes these awesome easy-wash, quick-dry chones for men and women. After I wear them, I wash them in the hotel or hostel sink (or a river, if I must!). Then, I just need to ring them out once, stick them in a towel, roll them up, squeeze them good, and let them hang overnight. Dry undies the next day.