Limit Your Items
One common guideline is packing one hat, two shoes, three bottles, four tops (short or long sleeves or outer layer), five socks, and six pieces of underwear. This should be enough to keep you fine for two weeks. Alternatively, customize your package list to include swimwear, raincoats, or other items related to your trip. You may not need everything (pack as little as you can), but this can take you up to six days before you wash your clothes. No matter how long your journey is, try to balance clothes that do not exceed seven days. Get used to wearing more than one dress (no one notices or cares).
Plan Ahead
It seems obvious, but do make a checklist of what you need and what you want. Then cut out this list of things you want in between. If you are unsure if you will need something, do not take it. (You can usually buy, rent or get more items wherever you go). Put all your planned clothes and kit on before you go, and think twice about each item.
Compress
Roll up your clothes and use packing cubes, stuffing bags, compression bags, or inexpensive zip-top bags to maximize space and keep your items organized. Packing organizers make it easy to find what you need quickly without having to search everything in your bag. Although compression bags squeeze things down by removing excess air, you need to ensure that you don’t end up adding extra weight by packing too much stuff. If you carry a backpack, you may find that bags of things fit better than rectangular packing tubes.
