6 tips on packing light, according to travel experts

While it may seem efficient to plan out a single outfit for each day that you’ll be traveling, in reality, you’re likely packing more tops and bottoms than you need. Instead, Echo Wang, CEO, cofounder, and seasoned traveler behind Cool Travel Vibes, says to choose items that can mix and match, making it easier to pull together an outfit with fewer items.

“Pack neutral tones and basic styles that you can layer for different temperatures,” she told Stacker. “Think interchangeable tops and bottoms you can wear with multiple outfits. Remember, you can always hand wash clothes in a pinch, so pack light on the quantity and focus on quality, multifunctional pieces.”

An easy way to do this is to follow the 5-4-3-2-1 packing method, invented by blogger Jen Bosen and referenced by numerous travel experts across the internet. The method goes as follows: pack five shirts, four bottoms, three pairs of shoes, two layers, and one dress (or formal wear). With this method, you can create 120 different outfit combinations, and your suitcase is still exponentially lighter.