This is part of our series on Leo Babauta’s Simple Living Manifesto. We invite you to join us on the journey.

The 68th idea in the manifesto is:

Learn to pack light. Who wants to lug a bunch of luggage around on a trip? Here’s an article on using just one carry-on.

leavin' | Photo by recphoto

After having my luggage lost for three or four days on a return flight home, I quickly decided I would do everything in my power to pack light and only use carry-ons from that point forward.

And so far, other than using a large duffel bag for two week’s in Nigeria, I think I’ve managed to do just that.

Packing light makes your trip so much easier and much more enjoyable.

Of course I realize, it’s tends to be more difficult for women to pack lighter than for men. Men obviously don’t have to worry much about hair dryers, make-up, curling iron or straightener, heals or flats, etc, etc. (I tell My Life she doesn’t have to worry about those things either — but that may be a harder sell than getting her to listen to NPR with me.)

But I do have a few pointers I’ve picked up along the way…

• Make up your mind from the beginning that you’ll only use one carry-on sized suitcase and a backpack. Only use the backpack for things you’ll use on the plane or small electronics. I like to pack my SLR camera and bag in my backpack along with a book or two, my Zune, my Flip HD video camera and any necessary chargers (I need to find a good wall-to-USB charger).
• Leave your laptop at home. I know this is a tough one sometimes but if you really need a computer on the trip consider purchasing a small netbook computer or take advantage of local Internet cafes or libraries. Along with taking up space, laptops often become an extra hassle at security.
• Pack shoes that will go with every outfit. I usually wear a pair of Sketchers on the plane and pack a pair of dress shoes (if absolutely necessary) and a pair of flip flops if I’ll be poolside.
• Keep your outfits simple. I usually try and stick with a pair of cargo shorts, one pair of jeans, a few t-shirts and sometimes a few button down casual shirts. I may also bring a pair of workout shorts as well (which means I’ll switch the Sketchers for a pair of sneakers that I can wear to the gym.)
• Be sure you can mix and match everything (shirts/pants/shorts etc.).
• Roll all your clothes rather than folding them — you’ll save a lot of room this way.
• Wear bulky items on the plane — jeans, coats, etc.
• Make a list of essentials — stick to that list.
• If you’re uncertain about anything — leave it behind. You can always buy a hoodie, jacket or dress shirt once you arrive.
• Remember that you don’t have to pack an outfit for every single day. You can wear the same things several times on your trip. And if you’re worried about getting your clothes dirty or smelly — the majority of places you’ll visit will have washing facilities available. You can either spend a few dollars and a little time washing your clothes, or $25+ for checked luggage. It’s your choice.

There’s a number of other helpful pointers others have shared as well…

• 15 minutes – clean clothes – anywhere in the world
• 10 days in a carry-on (great tips for women)
• Packing list

And finally… don’t pack like my best friend Matt.

Got any other pointers for the rest of us? What works best for you?

Join us!

Write a blog post about the point above and then share the link in the comments below…

keep reading...

• Simple Manifesto #72: Will this decision simplify my life?
• Simple Manifesto #71: Live closer to work
• Simple Manifesto #70: Leave space around things in your day