How to Pack a Suitcase Properly: The Minimalist Approach

The seemingly simple act of packing a suitcase can spark surprisingly diverse approaches, ranging from the "just throw it in" method to treating it as a complex science. Social media offers a plethora of advice, including the 5-4-3-2-1 method (five tops, four bottoms, three pairs of shoes, two dresses, one accessory set) and the Sudoku method, which claims to create 27 outfits from just three tops, three bottoms, and three pairs of shoes. Decisions about folding, rolling, or standing clothes upright also add to the pre-travel deliberations.

Travel blogger Jenny Tropper, whom friends jokingly call the "Master of Packing," offers a radically different perspective. She and her husband travel exclusively with carry-on luggage for themselves and their three children, even for distant destinations. Their family, including their ten-year-old son Nunu who has visited over 100 countries, travels with little more than two carry-on backpacks, a toy backpack, a diaper bag, and a travel stroller.

"On trips, our motto is clearly: 'Possessions are a burden,'" Tropper explains. The family prioritizes packing only essentials. If something is needed, they buy it, often from second-hand stores, or borrow it. She recalls an instance during a three-and-a-half-month trip in Central America when they borrowed clothing for a volcano hike. "We live in abundance, and when traveling, you see how little you can get by with and how liberating that is," she emphasizes.

The benefits of minimalist packing, according to Tropper, include having everything readily accessible, reducing the risk of items getting lost, and avoiding the need for early check-in at airports. However, she acknowledges that minimalist packing is also a mental exercise tied to personal security needs. While essentials like a travel first-aid kit are important, she prefers to consult a doctor for specific medical needs, such as in malaria-risk areas, rather than packing extensive medications.