A practical guide to packing light
If you are new to packing light, start with the basics below before buying anything.
Check the conditions you will actually face; most problems come from planning for the wrong ones. Budget about 38 dollars for this if you do not already own the basics.
The first step is to decide what matters most for your situation, then remove everything else. In our tests this saved about 5 minutes per outing.
Local knowledge beats general advice, so ask people who have done it recently in the same place. In our tests this saved about 15 minutes per outing.
A simple checklist prevents the mistakes that happen when you are tired or in a hurry. In our tests this saved about 40 minutes per outing.
Maintenance takes minutes and adds years, yet it is the step most people skip. Budget about 13 dollars for this if you do not already own the basics.
Treat these points as a starting checklist and adapt them as you learn what works for you.