Super Mom Hacks

How to Pack Light for 2 Weeks Away

Two weeks, one suitcase? No problem! Mastering the art of how to pack light takes some trial and error, but a few shortcuts can help. A week or two away from home with a single suitcase plus “personal item” is totally doable.

Two weeks, one suitcase? No problem! The art of how to pack light for two weeks away is easier than you'd think, once you know these hacks.

I recently packed for three back-to-back trips simultaneously:

And since I only own so many clothes, the only way to pack for all three at once was by packing light.

I thought I was on top of this skill already, but these trips were a great reminder of the “pack light basics.”

So the next time you’re getting ready for a trip, whether a personal trip for work or a family vacation, use these tips to help you pare down what you bring. It will make your trip simpler all around, and leave you more room for souvenirs coming home!

 



 

How to Pack Light for a Two-Week Trip

1. Make a list and think it through

If you really want to pack light, you need to limit what you bring. So before you start grabbing things, think in terms of categories. Then think about how you can manage with as few items in each category as possible.

For example:

For a ten-day work trip I take each summer, the same principles apply: Two skirts, three tops, one jacket or sweater – all interchangeable.

2. Think minimal for other categories, too

“OK, but I should still bring clean underwear for every day, right?”

Umm, no. This is a waste of space.

Instead, invest in some ✅ ExOfficio underwear (3 pair is more than enough – more on this below). You will travel comfortably and light.

ExOfficio undies come in lots of styles and colors, and dry way faster than cotton undies.

 

Two other categories where it’s easy to overpack are shoes and gear:


3. Plan to do a little laundry

This minimalist packing plan requires a little laundry, but it is soooo worth it. If you will have access to laundry facilities and are traveling as a whole family, doing some laundry during your trip is a lot easier than bringing fourteen days’ worth of separate outfits.

 

Our laundry, out to dry on our recent Caribbean trip

 

And if you’re going to wash anyway, each person can get away with 3 sets of underpants/bras and 3 pairs of socks per person. (I usually do 3 undies and 2 each bras/sock pairs.):

 

My compression socks, hanging in our hotel room in Israel.

 

No laundry facilities available? No worries. Just bring a travel clothesline (I like Sea to Summit’s version) and a small bottle of concentrated soap. (My 2-oz bottle of biodegradable Camp Suds will get me through two weeks of sink washes, and is small enough to go in carry-on luggage.)

 

So tiny, they take up almost no room!

 

That ten-day trip I take each year in the summer heat and humidity? Every night I wash out that day’s shirt and undies in the sink and hang them to dry. They’re usually dry enough to put away by morning.


4. Choose packable clothes that coordinate

Many companies now have exclusive lines of travel clothing. The clothes in these lines are easy-care fabrics that won’t wrinkle, are hand-washable, and often are made in quick-dry fabrics. Just as important, these lines are designed so that a few key pieces (e.g., skirt, pants, jacket, reversible top) can mix and match into almost infinite combinations, making you look as if you’re wearing a different outfit every day.

Other ways to achieve the same principle: a) think about your accessories (a statement necklace and a scarf can give a top two totally different looks), and b) make sure all your outfit components coordinate with each other. If I’ve selected my two skirts for a trip and I’m trying to narrow down four or five tops to three, I will choose the ones that match each of my bottoms equally well.

 

Wardrobe for my recent 2-week Holy Land trip: 2 Ts, 2 pr capris, 1 long skirt, 2 scarves, plus the long pants/long shirt I wore to travel.

 

This is especially important when packing for kids. “Theming” their clothes makes it much easier to dress them in multiple ways over the course of the trip. (But because kids are more prone to food accidents and diaper blowouts than grownups, I always take my adult minimum and add one – so, three bottoms, four tops, and 2 sets of PJs instead of two bottoms, three tops, and one set of sleepwear.)

5. Condense, contain, and edit

Once you’ve got your wardrobe laid out, double-check to see if there’s anything else you can eliminate. Then it’s time to pack everything into your packing cubes.

Packing cubes seemed like the dumbest idea until I tried them. Now I won’t travel without them.

 

I loved this coordinating 7-piece set so much, I got the girls each a set in their own color, for when they go to sleepaway camp!
 

 

Traveling alone? A set in assorted sizes will give you separate places for your clothes, toiletries, and electronic chargers/cords.


Once you’ve done a final edit of your clothes, make sure they occupy as little space as possible in your luggage. If you’re packing a pair of shoes, stuff the shoes with extra socks, power adapters, etc. Roll your shirts, pants, etc. to minimize how much space they take up. Then find a substitute layer for that bulky sweater, or try a compression packing cube.

 

For my recent 2-week trip, my suitcase was only half full when I left home.

 

And lastly, do a final edit of your toiletries. Swap out full-sized toiletries for travel sizes. If needed, you can DIY using travel-sized containers. If you travel by plane often, ✅get a reusable 3-1-1 bag. This is another “splurge” that I’ve found well worth the investment.

And if you’ll be staying in a hotel, skip the toiletries (lotion, shampoo, etc) that will come with your room.


6. Final tips

Finally, make sure you leave room (and weight!) in your bag to bring home souvenirs. My bag for my recent 2-week pilgrimage to the Holy Land was only about half-full when I left home, and 20 lbs shy of the maximum weight. This left plenty of room for shopping.

 

TIP: If you don’t already have one, grab this handy travel scale by Travelon. It will help you avoid excess baggage fees, and the built-in measuring tape can help you make sure your carryon is within allowed size limits.

 

There you go! Tried-and-true tips on how to pack light for a long trip. With these tips, you’ll have less luggage to schlep, and less to pack at trip’s end – leaving you more time and energy for enjoying your vacation!


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