You're Overpacking. Here's How to Stop.
How to pack less, dress better, and actually enjoy your holiday.
If you’ve always travelled with checked luggage, multiple suitcases, and a spare hand bag (or two), I’m not going to convince you to suddenly downsize to one bag—and I wouldn’t want to. Some of us travel better that way.
That said, even if you still prefer checking luggage, the tips I’ve picked up from years of one-bag travel will make your trips easier and your holiday outfits better.
My goal isn’t to force minimalist packing, it’s to show that you don’t have to compromise on comfort or style, even if you’re travelling lighter.
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The Case for Packing Less
I used to be an overpacker, so I know firsthand that more luggage often means more stress.
Checking bags is more hassle than it’s worth: worrying about them getting lost or damaged, waiting at baggage claim, or even missing a connection because of a delayed suitcase.
Travelling with only hand luggage might sound terrifying if you’re a chronic overpacker, but it actually makes the whole process smoother. And I say this as someone who worries about everything. I’m the type who arrives at the airport hours early and still panics about missing the flight.
One-bag travel has made my holidays feel far easier. When it comes to dressing away from home, fewer, well-planned outfits are better than a suitcase stuffed with options you haven’t thought through.
It’s better to bring five solid outfits you know work, feel comfortable in, and look good, than drag a suitcase full of clothes you’ll spend your entire trip trying to figure out how to wear.
Why You Keep Overpacking
There are all kinds of reasons why you might have a tendency to overpack. These are the most common:
Just-in-case packing: You’re not packing for your trip, you’re packing for every possible eventuality. It feels practical, but you won’t wear half of it.
Not knowing what you actually wear: You pack a holiday version of your wardrobe for a fantasy version of yourself. But it’s not how you get dressed, so it doesn’t work.
Outfit insecurity: You start thinking about being seen, so repeating outfits suddenly feels off-limits. That’s usually what turns a reasonable bag into an overpacked one.
Lack of outfit planning: You bring plenty of clothes, but haven’t figured out how to style them, so you end up wearing the same outfits you know work.
Fear of being uncomfortable: You don’t want to be too hot, cold, or in the wrong shoes. So instead of choosing well, you pack more.
Not trusting repetition: At home, you repeat outfits without thinking. On holiday, you try to avoid it (and laundry), so you pack for a new outfit every day.
Buying for the trip: You buy new things for your holiday, but don’t really know how to wear them yet. So they end up being the least worn clothes in your suitcase.
Shoes: They’re bulky and hard to narrow down. So you bring more options than you need—and wear the same pair anyway.
How To Stop Overpacking
Overpacking isn’t solved with clever folding or fancy packing cubes. It’s about understanding why you overpack and then changing those habits.
Knowing why you overpack is half the battle. The other half is trusting yourself to pack less—and that takes time. You’re not going to go from three suitcases to a single 15L backpack overnight (though maybe you will with my tips!). And you don’t even have to go that far.
If you’re fed up with dragging around clothes you never wear and struggling to dress like yourself on holiday, that’s exactly what I’m here to help with. I can show you how to pack less while getting far more out of your travel wardrobe—without sacrificing comfort or personal style.
How To Travel Light Without Sacrificing Comfort or Style
The secret isn’t forcing yourself to own less or giving up the clothes you love. It’s learning to get more out of what you already have.
A small, well-chosen wardrobe can cover more ground than you’d expect. The right combination of pieces—things that work together, suit your style, and fit the activities you’ve planned—can create enough outfits for any trip without a suitcase full of backup options. And if something goes wrong along the way, a quick wash, a styling tweak, or a well-chosen accessory will solve it.
The tips below will show you exactly how to do that: how to build a travel wardrobe that actually works, cut the things that don’t, and pack with confidence rather than anxiety.
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