Here's Your Guide for Packing Light for Eco-Conscious Travellers.
We’ve all been there — packed one too many tops for vacation, only to regret the extra luggage as we haul it up flights of stairs or across busy train platforms. Let’s face it, if you’ve never overpacked, you’re probably in the minority. Mastering the art of carry-on packing isn’t hard, though, and it can make your travels lighter, more efficient, and eco-friendly.
The key is simple: you only need a few choice pieces from your wardrobe. Traveling in style while keeping it light doesn’t have to mean compromising on looks. Worried about looking underdressed while you’re snapping pics in a different country? This guide has you covered (remember, a little outfit repeating never hurt anyone!).
1. Pick Your Travel Vibe
Are you going for laid-back tourist vibes or a more classic, city-chic look? Picking a style upfront will make it easier to plan your wardrobe. Your color palette and choices should follow that vibe, whether it's light and breezy or sleek and minimal.
2. Plan your Adventures
Oftentimes overpacking is a result of throwing clothing in, ‘just in case’. Map out what you’re planning to do on your trip. Do you need to go to a nice restaurant? Hiking? Cover up your knees while visiting a temple? Knowing what your trip has planned can help you minimize what you bring along.
3. Try the 3x3 Grid Method
Here’s where the magic happens: the 3x3 grid (or “sudoku packing”) method. Encircled covers it in more detail here, but in short, you’re choosing 3 tops, 3 bottoms, and 3 layering pieces that mix and match effortlessly. This method gives you up to 27 outfit combinations.
Depending on your destination’s weather, it’s generally good to go for a pair of pants, one skirt, and one pair of shorts or leggings. Then, select a shirt, a dressy top, and a tank or tee. The idea is to keep it versatile but simple.
These are some great travel staples from Encircled to help you build your 3x3 wardrobe:
Bottoms: The Dressy Sweatpant
Tops: The BeyondCool T-Shirt
Layering Pieces: The Chrysalis Cardi (a must-have for any trip!)
4. Pack Fabrics & Clothes That Travel Well
Traveling light means packing pieces that are multifunctional, or easy to dress up or down. Always challenge yourself to see if you can wear a piece of clothing at least 3 times during your trip. If you can’t, you may want to leave it out. Fabrics like Linen, Cotton Gauze, Bamboo, Merino Wool, Modal and TENCEL Lyocell are perfect for travel. They’re breathable, resilient, easy to wash and dry quickly.
5. Do Laundry On The Go
For longer trips, don’t be afraid to do a little laundry. Whether it’s making a trip to the local laundromat, using hotel services, or handwashing in your Airbnb, it’s an easy way to keep your wardrobe fresh.
Pro tip: pack some Kind Laundry travel-size detergent sheets – they’re compact, biodegradable, and eco-friendly, perfect for conscious travellers looking to reduce their footprint. They’re easy to pack, too, taking minimal space in your carry-on!
Following these 5 tips, you’ll be a savvier carry-on traveler on your next vacation. Gone are the days of overpacking and coming home with a suitcase filled with unwashed or unworn clothes. By simplifying your wardrobe, you can spend less time worrying about what to wear and more time enjoying the adventures ahead. So pack smart, stay eco-friendly, and focus on making memories.
This blog was written in collaboration with Encircled.
ENCIRCLED
Encircled is a Canadian-based travel clothing brand on a mission to empower women to go places with elegant, timeless, and functional designs crafted from luxuriously comfortable fabrics. Our travel-inspired styles transcend vacation wear, designed for everyday adventures. We believe beautiful clothes can’t come from veiled processes, so transparency and ethical choices are woven into every thread of our supply chain. Our mission is to inspire you to embark on your midlife journey, with unwavering confidence.
