What I wouldn’t pack

Do I overpack? Never.

Do I slightly underpack? …sometimes.

I’ve read so many blogs titled “50 Things You NEED to Pack” or “The Ultimate Packing List” and every time I finish reading them, I wonder who is realistically using all of that. 

Most of it falls into two categories: Things you’ll only use once and things you won’t use at all. 

Experience has taught me a much simpler approach: Pack things you will actually use and wear multiple times. That’s it. No complicated system. No overthinking.

(If you’d like to see what I actually pack, you can read it here: Travel Essentials

Plane, Train & Bus Journeys

There are so many travel gadgets designed to make your journey “more comfortable”.

Neck pillows, foot hammocks, inflatable everything, clip-on cup holders…
Honestly? I find most of them more annoying than helpful.

They take up space, add weight, and the journey is rarely long enough to justify carrying them around for weeks.

I stick to basics:

  • Headphones

  • Something warm (scarf and hoodie)

  • Entertainment (e-reader, tablet, music) 

Simple, effective, no clutter.


The “Mini Everything” Trap

Mini toiletries seem like a great idea… until they’re not.

They can sometimes cause issues at airports and they take up more space than you think

I prefer a few well-sized, reusable bottles instead of ten tiny ones floating around my bag.

The Suitcase Situation

This is the easiest place to overpack.

You’ve spent weeks planning cute outfits, you want to have options, you might need that one top… I get it. I’m also just a girl.

But more often than not you will not wear all these outfits and it’ll take unnecessary space for the gifts and souvenirs you’ll buy during your trip. 

My approach:

  • Pack about one week’s worth of clothes

  • Do laundry during the trip (especially easy in Asia)

  • Bring extra underwear (always)

  • Add one spare outfit for long travel days

That’s usually more than enough.

Inside My Everyday Bag

This is where overpacking starts.

You might think: “I’ll bring an extra layer… just in case” or “Some snacks… just in case” or also “A book, sunscreen, water, a full first aid kit…”

Suddenly your “light day bag” weighs more than your suitcase.

Unless you’re heading to the middle of nowhere, take things out! 

Most of the time:

Drinks and snacks are easy to find at convenience stores or food stalls, you only need an extra layer if you’ll actually be outdoors for long periods, a full first aid kit is better left at your accommodation (a small version is more than enough for the day) and that big book? Probably staying in your bag all day

Light bag = better day.

Final Thoughts

Overpacking usually comes from trying to prepare for every possible scenario.

But travel doesn’t work like that.

Pack for your actual plans, not every “what if”.
Trust that you’ll figure things out if needed.

And if you forget something?
You’ll probably find it wherever you’re going.