Day 7: Tried-and-True Tips for Super-Light Packing

There's a 95 percent chance Senior Editor Christine Sarkis is thinking about travel right now. Follow her on Instagram @postcartography and Twitter @ChristineSarkis.

Christine Sarkis is an SATW-award-winning journalist and executive editor at SmarterTravel. Her stories have also appeared on USA Today, Conde Nast Traveler, Huffington Post, and Business Insider. Her advice has been featured in dozens of print and online publications including The New York Times, Conde Nast Traveler, and People magazine. She has also shared travel tips on television and radio shows including Good Morning America, Marketplace, and Here & Now. Her work has been published in the anthologies Spain from a Backpack and The Best Women's Travel Writing 2008. She is currently working on a travel memoir.

The Handy Item I Always Pack: The Trtl Pillow. It's easy to pack and comfortable, and makes it so I can actually sleep on flights.

Ultimate Bucket List Experience: Seeing the Aurora Borealis from the comfort of somewhere warm, like a glass igloo or hot spring.

Travel Motto: Curiosity is an amazing compass.

Aisle, Window, or Middle Seat: Aisle all the way.

Email Christine Sarkis at editor@smartertravel.com.

See recent posts by Christine Sarkis

Packing Hacks is a 31-part series devoted to helping you become an expert packer! Each installment offers advice on how to get organized, pack smarter, save on bag fees, and eliminate packing stress. New to Packing Hacks? Start at the beginning.

You’ve aced choosing and packing your main luggage set. Now it’s time to get into the nitty-gritty of lightening your load dramatically when you travel.

Packing really, truly light doesn’t have to mean ditching everything but the toothbrush and a pair of underwear. But to become the lightest version of your traveling self, you’ll likely have to dramatically rethink your packing habits. Ultralight packing takes an ounce-by-ounce approach, until you ultimately shave weight off just about everything in your suitcase.

You’ll learn:

√ Why your lightweight luggage may not be light enough

√ When to (and when not to) look to backpackers for inspiration

√ How to deal with those overpacking urges

Up next: Day 8: How to Pack for a Weekend Getaway.

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