Five things I learned from backpacking with only 7kg of luggage

When I announced to my friends that I’d be taking a grand total of 7kgs of hand luggage on a two-month backpacking trip, they were sceptical. It’s not uncommon to bring full-sized luggage for even a two week trip, but since there was no way I was paying for checked baggage, off I went. There’s hardly a “wrong” way to travel, but after that experience there definitely emerged a few pros and cons of travelling super light.

You probably need fewer things than you think

Depending where you go and what you plan to do, you’ll probably use the same stuff day to day (clothes, toiletries, phone, etc.) and not need “sometimes” items (like more formal outfits, your laptop etc.) quite so often, or at all. Thanks to the magic of coin laundry, it’s more than possible just to carry clothes you need for about a week, and when you’re mixing and matching tops and bottoms, that shrinks even more. Things like toothpaste can be replaced on the go, rather than carrying extras. You might not even notice missing creature comforts while you’re busy seeing the world.

7kg doesn’t stay 7kg

You know the story – for your departing flight you hit as close to the limit as possible, and for the returning one you’ll be throwing out “non-necessities” at the airport. Especially when you start with smaller luggage, souvenirs and stock-ups, stack up quickly. You might be able to get rid of other items (like used-up toiletries) to make room, or even mail non-essential items back home before you leave. As far as your return flight baggage limits – and your physical strength – it’s a good idea to have a Plan B.

Backpack beats suitcase

Just to make things extra difficult, rather than a backpack I used a small suitcase for my luggage – mostly because it’s what I had. Needless to say it was bulkier and more awkward to carry than a large backpack, but carrying around 7kg bags of any kind for extended periods is going to take its toll. The fewer destinations you cover, the more you can leave your luggage at your accommodation, but that’s a matter of priority. But if you are planning on travelling with (the equivalent of) carry-on luggage – just get a backpack. Trust me.

Know your details

My return flight actually didn’t have the same baggage limit as my departure, since it was with a different airline. That meant that I didn’t have to worry so much about weight limits, but I did need to use a totally different procedure to check in. Your best weapon when travelling super light is information – which accommodation can take your bags before check-in, where the nearest coin laundry is, how much instant ramen costs – which weighs nothing, so stock up! Needless to say, WiFi or data is a must while travelling, but you can collect and save info on your devices as far in advance as you want.

Kondo EVERYTHING

The key to packing a 7kg bag of luggage is: strategy. Edit your choices carefully, and weigh your bag constantly. You want to fit as much stuff as possible while not going over the limit, which means yoga pants beat jeans (though it’s not a bad idea to have one trusty denim pair) and travel-sized toothpaste is your best friend. If you haven’t seen the light already, let me clue you in to Marie Kondo’s method for fitting more clothes in less space – thank me later when you show me your best travel snaps.

Chelsea Paisley

Chelsea is studying International Studies at the University of Sydney, but has a lot more contact hours with Netflix.