The art of packing light

Travelling with one small bag changes a trip. You skip the baggage carousel, climb stairs without a struggle and never worry about lost luggage. The secret isn't a special bag. It's choosing less.

Start with a colour plan

Pick two or three colours that all go together. Then every top works with every bottom, and a handful of pieces makes many outfits.

Follow a simple count

For a week, most people need:

• Three or four tops that can be layered
• Two bottoms, one of them dressy enough for dinner
• One warm layer, like a fleece or light sweater
• One rain jacket that packs small
• Two pairs of shoes, and wear the bulkier pair on the travel day

Plan to wash a few things in the sink or at a laundromat halfway through.

Choose fabrics that work hard

Wool and quick-dry fabrics resist smells, dry overnight and handle a range of temperatures. They cost more up front but replace several cotton pieces.

Shrink the toiletries

Buy small refillable bottles, and remember you can pick up most things where you're going. Solid shampoo and soap bars save space and never leak.

Pack, then remove a third

Lay everything out on the bed. Then put a third of it back. It's an old trick because it works: almost everyone overpacks "just in case."

For outdoor trips, think in layers

If you're hiking or spending time in the mountains, weather can change fast. A thin base layer, a warm middle layer and a waterproof shell handle almost anything. Add a hat and gloves, even in summer at higher elevations.

Light packing is a habit. The first trip feels strange. By the third, a big suitcase will feel like the strange one.