Depending on your travel plans, a small suitcase can offer oversized rewards. You can skip the check-in and baggage claim lines, explore a city between two legs of travel without trundling huge bags, and avoid searching through piles of clothing to find a buried shirt. Plus, if you’re headed outdoors, the distance you travel depends on the weight you carry: a lighter backpack means the possibility to travel farther (with a less-achy back).

When you return from a trip, do some accounting: which items did you use most? What went unused, and what did you bring too much of? And next time you’re packing, consider these tips:

Clothing:

I use several stuff sacks (from old sleeping bags; also available for $5-$10 at outdoor stores) to sort clothing: one for socks, one for shirts. Pants go directly in the bag.

Shoes take up a lot of space: consider toning down. It’s a rare trip for which you’ll need more than two pairs of shoes. Depending on the climate and occasion, you might pack dress shoes and sneakers, or walking sandals (which can double for a night out) and hiking boots, or a single pair of comfortable flip-flops.

Don’t just throw clothing items into your bag. Think about what shirt goes with which pair of pants, and pack versatile items that can be assorted in a number of ways.

For women, a nice scarf is a simple way to embellish an outfit.

Personal items:

Plastic bags can shield books from the rain, carry dirty laundry, keep small items in one place, and much more.

Don’t waste your money on travel-size containers. Instead, use plastic film canisters to carry shampoo and lotion.

If you travel frequently, keep a separate toiletries bag for your suitcase: packing will be faster, and you will never forget your toothbrush.

A compact travel alarm can save the day, or at least the date. Earplugs are great for noisy airports and stations, or in hotels with thin walls and snoring guests. For longer trips, pack some powdered detergent and you can avoid the hassle and expense of laundry service.

Outdoors:

Once you’ve trimmed down your clothing list to bare essentials, wet weight is the easiest to shed. If you’re traveling to a place where water is abundant, pre-cook and dehydrate meals such as pasta, beans, or oats.

Do you have some packing tips of your own? Add them below!