What’s the Lightest You’ve Ever Packed?

As far as I can tell, packing light is both an art and a mindset. You need an almost spiritual non-attachment to things (and by things, I mostly mean shoes for every eventuality). You must be prepared to wash clothes regularly while on the road, and to pack items that dry fast. And it helps to be an origami master of folding, or at least to have a vacuum bag or two.

Today, I’m looking to those of you who take light packing to a whole new level. You know who you are: Brave souls who head to Europe for two weeks with only a carry-on, weekend warriors who take little more than an extra sweater and a toothbrush, intrepid travelers who somehow manage to pack light but be ready for everything vacation throws at you.

How do you do it? What’s your secret to packing really light?

Not a super-light packer? Neither am I. But I’d still love to hear about your personal best, the lightest you’ve ever packed.

Submit your comments below, and thanks!

Here’s mine, to kick things off: The lightest I’ve ever packed was over a decade ago when I managed to stuff everything I needed for three months in Spain, Italy, Greece, and France into a backpack. My key space savers were Dr. Bronner’s soap and a scarf that worked as a shawl, a sun shield, and, on very bad hair mornings, headwear.