Travel Writers Offer Top 10 Ways to Reduce the Weight of Your Luggage

03-04-2009

 

 

MARCH, 2009:   The Society of American Travel Writers (SATW), the world’s largest organization of professional travel journalists and photographers, recently polled their members to come up with the top 10 tips on how to reduce the weight of your luggage when traveling.

 

“It’s always been desirable to travel light, but never more so than today when many airlines are imposing surcharges on bags and on luggage that weighs more than 50 pounds,” states SATW president Bea Broda.  As a first step, she suggests travelers lay out everything they want to pack.  “People tend to take too much. Before you pack anything in a bag, look at everything you are thinking of taking and ask yourself, ‘Do I really need to bring this?’”

 

If the item passes the first test, here are 10 more recommendations travel writers – people who travel for a living – suggest to cut down on weight, along with some comments from SATW members:

 

1.                  Pick one basic color that doesn’t show dirt (such as black) then brighten with lightweight accessories like scarves.  Make sure each item of clothing can be worn with any other item and will match with all your shoes.

 

·        “I always stick to a single color scheme when I pack:  black and white, khaki and navy, denim and red.  It not only eliminates the need to pack multiple pairs of shoes and a variety of accessories, it ensures that I can mix and match as needed based on the weather, the day’s activities, or the formality of the establishments I’m visiting.” Kim Knox Beckius, freelance travel writer

 

·        “If you select one base color, everything will go with everything else and you can bring less pieces overall,” Robin Robinson, travel editor, Toronto Sun

 

2.                  Wear your coat and heaviest pair of shoes on the plane and always get by with just two pairs of shoes.

 

·        “With my heaviest shoes, coat, sweater et al on my back and feet, I can peel off as much as I want on the plane and get by with packing lighter clothes.” Lorraine O’Donnell Williams, travel writer

 

3.                  Pack clothes that can be washed in a sink and that will dry overnight.

 

·        “Synthetic microfiber clothing lightens your load, can be washed – and dried -- overnight and never wrinkles.” Amy S. Eckert, freelance travel writer

 

·        “Fast-drying clothes you can wash in your hotel room are the foundation of the go-light lifestyle.” John Flinn, freelance travel writer

 

4.                  Buy new lightweight luggage.  Many older bags are very heavy by themselves.  Advancements in plastics and materials have led to durable, strong bags that weigh a fraction of their older counterparts.

 

·        “Many of the new, lightweight suitcases are every bit as strong as the older designs with a heavy metal frame.”  Mary Ellen Botter, travel editor

 

5.                  Pack all heavy items in a carry-on bag, including cameras, books, reading materials and even shoes.  Also bring a change of clothes and any medications needed, just in case luggage is lost.

 

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