11 Backpacking Travel Hacks – DIY Packing for Ultra Minimalist Travel

Packing minimally will make your vacation more fun and less stressful. Trust us, ultra minimalist travel is the way to go without-a-doubt! And if you haven’t ever packed minimally before, bringing only what you need on your adventure, then we are here to help you out. Our backpacking travel hacks will help you become a minimalist traveler.

Traveling can be difficult, an especially stressful when you have a few giant pieces of luggage along! You’ll wait in the long lines at the airport at bag check and baggage claim, and then have to lug a huge suitcase everywhere you are going. Wouldn’t it be easier to just pack a backpack? Or maybe a carry-on at the most? Yes!

But you have to bring everything you need on the trip… How do you get everything you need on your trip into a backpack or carry-on? By using these DIY packing travel hacks!

Having some extra space in a bag, and having the perfect travel snacks along, can be a LIFESAVER on your vacation! Over the years, we have learned a lot of secret packing hacks on our travels, and picked our 11 favorite to share with you!

On top of that, we will give you our recommendation for the best minimalist travel backpack. This bag will help you on your ultra minimalist travel adventure, wherever you are headed around the world!

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11. Roll Up Your Clothes

If you aren’t rolling your clothes to pack them, you are doing it wrong. This saves SO MUCH space. We didn’t believe it until we started doing it, and it is pretty shocking when you do it for the first time.

I have a challenge for you doubters out there. Pack an entire bag full of clothes the way you normally do it, by folding and stacking. Now unpack your bag and re-pack it with the exact same clothes, but this time roll the clothes tightly (like you would roll a sleeping bag) and then pack them. Did you save space? If the answer is no, then you’re either a terrible roller, or you’re lying.

10. Use Contact Cases for Liquids

Coming in at number 10 on our list of backpacking travel hacks for ultra minimalist travel solution is a way to save space on the liquids you bring along: pack them in a contact case!

We HATE having to bring entire bottles of liquids and gels on trips. They are heavy, take up a TON of space, sometimes get stopped at security, and you usually don’t even come close to using them all!

What is the solution? It’s right in front of your eyes! Your contact cases. These small storage containers are a perfect size for you to bring face lotion, sunscreen, acne cream, and so much more. They are super easy to pack and most even have a locking mechanism which is perfect when you are bringing it in a backpack!

And the best part is you don’t even have to wear contacts to use this trick! And if you don’t want to use contact cases, you can use small travel bottles instead.

9. Pack Some Snacks!

We love food. You love food. Everyone loves food. Where should you not buy food? The airport! Airport food is expensive. Airport food is usually unhealthy. And airport food almost always comes with a wait in a long line.

Skip the line and the dine on some fine snacks that you brought along! Our favorites are pistachios, beef jerky, and our guilty pleasure: gummy bears (the Albanese brand is to DIE for).

When you buy in bulk ahead of time, you’ll spend less on food and be able to eat wherever and whenever you want! Just pack a little bit and you’ll be able to save space. And if you have leftovers, then you have some great grub to bring on a hike or walk around the city!

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8. Put Undergarments in Shoes

Don’t make this weird. We don’t mean for it to be weird. There is so much unused space on the inside of your shoes when you’re packing! What better way to use it than to stuff your socks and undies down in there!

If you would like a layer between your undies and shoes, then just throw them in a little ziplock bag! Or another way to use the space in your shoes is to put your jewelry in them.

7. Pack Jewelry in Saran Wrap

Do you wear jewelry? Read this! No? Skip to number 6. Coming in at number 7 on our list of backpacking travel hacks for ultra minimalist travel: pack jewelry in saran wrap.

Why? First, it keeps your jewelry untangled! You can individually wrap each item, and then put all of the wrapped jewelry in a bag! You’ll save at least 15 minutes of untangling your necklaces and bracelets.

Second, it’ll stay clean! On multiple occasions Julie’s earrings have poked a hole in a bottle, or somehow a bottle has opened, causing the bag to be a MESS! You will be able to avoid those shenanigans by wrapping your jewelry in some saran wrap!

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6. Pack Mainly Neutral Colors

Clothes will take up the most space in your luggage. Any DIY packing tips that reduce the number of clothes you bring along will help immensely, and using neutral colors will do just that. You’ll be able to wear clothes in multiple outfits without the colors clashing. The best people we know who practice ultra minimalist travel use every single article of clothing a few times in multiple outfits on each trip!

The obvious reason for this is that you’ll pack fewer clothes! We know you want to look fly on your trip, and want to pack a poppin’ wardrobe to boot. We are here to tell you that you DO NOT need to pack your ENTIRE wardrobe to look and feel like a million bucks on your trip!

You need to start by packing neutral base colors. Pack the stuff that you can dress up, but also feel comfortable in. Some leggings and jeans will be a no-brainer for you ladies.

Next, make sure you have at least one or two popping colors for each day of your trip. Make it items that go well with a few of the neutrals you’ve packed. We both know you’re going to want options when you’re getting dressed each morning.

Finally, make your jewelry the cherry on top. If there’s anything that can make your outfit a showstopper without taking up a lot of space in your bag, it is your jewelry. Bring a few options!

5. Use Binder Clips to Cover Razors

Have you ever ruined a razor by packing it without a proper cover? It scratches on all your other toiletries and then gives you some nasty razor burn on your trip. We have a solution hiding in your desk drawer! Covering your razors with a binder clip will protect your razors, and everything around them, during your vacation.

4. Put Shower Caps Around Shoes to Keep Clothes Clean

This is especially good if you are going to be hiking or doing a lot of walking around the city. Your shoes are GOING to get dirty, and you do not want that dirt to make it onto your white shirt or brand new pants.

What’s the solution? Get a couple shower caps to keep the dirt from making its way from your shoes to your clothes! Shower caps are super cheap when bought in bulk online, and you can even reuse them from trip to trip!

3. Put Cash in an Empty Chapstick Bottle

This is an excellent DIY packing tip for ultra minimalist travel. It accomplishes two different things: saving space and preventing theft!

Keeping your cash in a discreet place is especially important if you are worried about pick-pockets. Your money will be hiding in plain sight in your empty chapstick bottle! As a bonus, it is a really easy way to keep all your cash in one place in your pocket or purse. Your bills won’t be floating around and be tough to find when you need them most.

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2. Put a Dryer Sheet in Your Bag to Keep Clothes Smelling Fresh

Any DIY packing tips that keep you smelling great are a must. You don’t want to be smelly walking around the airport, or have a suitcase that you can smell from 10 feet away! Coming in at number 2 on our backpacking travel hacks is a must: use dryer sheets to mask the smell.

This one we had to learn from experience. We took a trip to Zion National Park in Utah. UNBELIEVABLE scenery, such a beautiful part of the world. However, in the 100 degree heat the sweat was flowing… That did not bode well for the smell of our clothes and backpacks on the way home (sorry, people who had to sit next to us…).

Ever since that trip, we have brought a few dryer sheets along in our bags, and haven’t had the same problem yet! These bad boys basically soak up any bad smells and keep your clothes and bags smelling fresh!

1. Pack an Empty Water Bottle That You Can Fill Up After Security

What is the worst thing to buy at the airport? Water. Why? Because it is free, people! FREE! Five finger discount! All you have to do is pack a water bottle to fill up at the fountains once you’re through security.

Our favorite is the 32 oz Gatorade squeeze bottle. It is squishy enough that it will fit into the side pocket of any bag, and it holds enough water to last at least a whole flight. What’s better? This thing costs about as much as 2 or 3 bottles of water at the airport. 3 uses and you’ll pay it off! And it is a PERFECT hiking water bottle, also.

Best Minimalist Travel Backpack

There You Have It

Those are our 11 favorite backpacking travel hacks for ultra minimalist travel and our recommendation for a minimalist travel backpack! Did you enjoy them? What are your favorite hacks that you’ve learned on your trips? Share them in the comments, we would love to hear from you!

Thank you SO much for reading our article on DIY packing travel hacks. We sincerely hope you loved it! If you loved the article please Pin it using the images below!

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