Packing can be one of the most daunting tasks of going on vacation. Your mind begins to wheel, what to bring, how to pack it, and will I make the dreaded weight limit. And, what happens if your tour limits you to one bag?

Yes, that’s right, one bag weighing only 50lbs. Well, for my upcoming trip to Australia, I was given this challenge. Due to the nature of our travels and the number of domestic flights within Australia that we will be taking, we were limited to one bag each. Now, how does a person fit 2 weeks of clothing for multiple functions into one bag you may ask? I am here to share a few of my packing tips that I have picked up over the course of my travels to make packing one bag feel like a breeze.

Lisa’s “It’s in the Bag” Packing Tips

It’s all about color. Pick a solid color that you can mix and match. Black, Navy, Gray and Brown work well as base colors for the wardrobe.
Pick clothes with wrinkle resistant fabric. Reversible options are also great. Versatility is key!
Layers! Pick items that you can layer for different looks or temperature change throughout the regions you visit.
Don’t fold, roll! Roll your clothes. Not only will they fit better in the suitcase, but they will be less prone to wrinkling.
Plastic bags are your friends. Use small quart size bag for your travel liquids. Use larger gallon size bags for shoes. This is great if you are visiting a sandy area and don’t want sand all over your clothes after a day at the beach. Large kitchen garbage size bag that can be used as a laundry bag for items that get too soiled.
Limit the number of shoes you pack. If you have followed tip one, you should be able to just take a few pair of shoes and not one for every outfit.
Pack heavier items at the end of the suitcase that the wheels are on, so that when you are rolling it the heavy items don’t squish and send the light stuff to the bottom. When having to take a Jacket with you, carry it on to the plane instead of using the space in your suitcase.
Plan your outfits out by your itinerary. I usually look at my activities and plan an outfit for each specific day or event. I do this for each day and then throw in one or two extra pieces that I can substitute if a change in weather or plans for the day change.
Use a packing list. I like to have a list out when I pack to make sure I don’t forget anything such as passport or phone charger. One of the lists I have used with regularity can be found at Organized Home.

I have to say in most cases we all tend to overpack. I know I certainly do. I can, however, proudly say I have never been over weight limit. Bonus, the space I save packing for the trip leaves me room for my vacation purchases. Who doesn’t like to get a bit of shopping in while on vacation?

Happy Packing!