How to pack very light

[TessTickle0]

We are going to Prague in a week for 4 nights,returning home tea time the fifth day.
We have hand luggage only(under seat bags)
There are four of us,my partner and two teens.
How do you all do it?do you pack outfits for both the day and night?
What about teens...my youngest is renowned for getting grubby so he will possibly need extras?
What about.shoes?and toiletries?
Will I need to.condense it right down? Ina way I'm looking forward to doing just that as I always take too many clothes and never wear them 🙃

Jumpsuits can be warmer for flights which feel cold, and may have extra pockets, so I would swop out one of the packed dresses in these lists for a jumpsuit to travel in.

I bring cardigans not jumpers because more versatile to wear.

Not sure if anyone has mentioned hats- you will need sun hats or winter hats if cold

Trainers over sandals always even if it’s hot. You can’t protect your feet in the same way doing a lot of walking in sandals.

Take a small cross body bag or bum bag so you can leave the rucksack or the little case you travelled with, back at the accommodation.

Jumpsuits are a PITA in aeroplane loos.

I seem to be alone in this but I really don't understand how dresses, jumpsuits or any one piece is a better option than separates, or any smaller to pack.

As soon as a bird shits on you, your beer gets knocked or you sit on chewing gum thats an entire outfit out of commission (at least until you get chance to wash it through) and layering is generally a lot harder.

If I wanted something to sleep in I would also always just take extra t's and shorts or leggings because they can be worn as daywear if necessary.

Multifunctional all the way for me. Although I draw the line at zip off leg trousers 😁

But interesting to see how different everyone is.

Thats a good point about greater longevity of separates but provided you have a sink to wash stuff in, jumpsuits are worth it for me. I don’t know why but a separate top and trousers takes up more space in the luggage than does a one piece with legs.

We do city breaks with under-seat bags all the time. Pack one outfit per day, and just one “nicer” option for evenings if needed. Teens can re-wear trousers/shorts - just pack extra tops and underwear. Limit shoes to what you wear + 1 light pair. Toiletries: decant everything into 100ml bottles and share basics like shampoo. Roll clothes, use packing cubes, and keep it simple – it’s easier than you think!

When I wanted everyone to pack light at a festival recently, I made sure everyone had clothes in really light fabrics.
Leggings fold up tiny.
Dresses made out of tencel.

I always think that that athletes and car racers try and make as many small gains as possible, and to use that rule for packing.
One pair if jeans folded, could take the space of about 3 lightweight outfits

Really excellent advice on packing here.
I’d just say, however, that personally I wouldn’t skip packing pjs - even a light, short nightie or a long tshirt - and plan on sleeping naked. That’s only from experiencing 2 early-morning earthquakes where, half-asleep and bewildered, we had to evacuate the hotel swiftly, no grabbing stuff etc. I imagine a fire or false alarm would be the same. But I am a worrier anyway!

I always travel with a small underseat bag only, sometimes for up to 10 days. As do my kids. I do this for summer and winter trips. Summer ones are easier for obvious reasons.
My advice is to pack something like the following (i am currently on a 7 day holiday with two teenagers)

1 x denim shorts
2 x midi length, lightweight skirts in block colours (think satin- like fabric that can be rolled, my skirts are from Hush)
1 x dress (this year it’s a loose camo one that hits mid calf but previous years I have had more fitted ones to dress up or down)
3 x vest tops in same lightweight fabric and block colours as skirts therefore can be mixed and matched with skirts or shorts.
1 x black vest to sleep in - I sleep
in this at home and could at a push wear it as clothing if need be as it isn’t specifically a PJ vest.
3 T-shirts
1 x Fit Flop flip flops in black - these are actually very important as will go with most outfits, and provide support akin to trainers for walking etc. I never skimp on buying good supportive flip flops now. Archies are similar.
1 x lightweight tan sandals that pack really flat.
If I take trainers I specifically take a pair of black Allbirds as they are super light, and comfortable and can be washed if needed be, they also squish right down. Not the most beautiful, but I dont wear them for style - I stick to sandals etc if dressing up more. I often wear these on the plane.
1 x swimsuit /bikini

Toiletries all in miniatures and therefore fits in bag easily. I take face creams/makeup/shampoo/hair products but buy sunscreen/body moisturiser/deodorant airside in miniatures that I use up whilst away. Cream deodorant like Akt in a mini pot is also a good alternative.
Collect perfume miniatures over the course of the year that I take on holiday or decant usual perfume into mini atomiser.

phone/chargers/applewatch
1 small pouch for jewellery
HRT because you’d have to wrench that from my cold dead hands.

I wear lightweight trousers to fly such as ‘dressier’ joggers or black looser fit trousers, and layer a vest or T-shirt with an oversized button up shirt in white which can be dressed up or down and provides warmth if needed. Sometimes I take a pashmina instead for the same reason.

This all fits in one rucksack / tote bag by rolling and clever folding, and I nearly always still have something I didn’t wear on my return.
Enjoy your trip!

ETA: forgot to add very small cross body bag for essentials only on days out/evenings.

You can buy compression packing cubes which reduce the bulkiness of your clothes.

Do you mean these vacuum ones? A lady in front of me at an airport used them, she only had handluggage.
Unfortunately for her, her bag was flagged and they opened 1/2 of all her cubes to find what they were looking for.

She really struggled to close ther bag as all the compression gain was obviously gone.

No, they have a double zip so you close them with one and then squash them down and zip the second one closed if that makes sense? They don't give loads of compression but handy when space is at a premium.

Im going to Canada for a fortnight..hand luggage only! My golden rules are..wear layers in the flight, only one “smart” outfit, one pair of shoes in bag, non iron clothes

We're flying round-the-world to Newfoundland, Malta, Sicily, Istanbul and Singapore, mid-Sept to mid-Nov. So warm-ish to cool-ish. Taking only a carryon case each plus a small bag with meds, iPad, spare knickers and tees, just in case. 3 pairs dark trousers, 1 warm, 1 medium weight, 1 light, shorts, 3 tees, 2 linen shirts, 1 very light but warm merino layer, 1 pair spare trainers, light waterproof, squashy hat, socks, undies. Have decanted moisturiser, sunscreen, cleanser into old pill bottles. Wearing heaviest trousers, tee, trainers, warm light merino shacket with big and secure pockets for passport, travel docs, cards. Could take a lot more since we're doing business class, but love to travel light and after 55 years of doing so, have perfected the art. It's amazing how little you need to carry.

Choose a colour palette - e.g. black and white, and bring a black top, and skirt or trousers, and a white top and skirt or trousers. That’s 4 outfits already. 1 dress, 1 cardigan or light jacket in either of your colour options, wear a pair or black or white trainers. Black and white T -shirts if you have space. Wear your jewelry. Prague sells toiletries so I’d just go to a supermarket and get some while I’m there. Bring minimal makeup.

I could just about make this work , if I didn’t need to cart my Revlon One Step and (mini) GHDs around with me!

You will never get all that in an underseat bag!
Overhead cabin bag yes, not underseat surely?

Maybe you can fit everything in if you wear size XXS/XS and shoe size EU 35, and your cosmetics are in travel sizes, i.e. tiny. But even then, it may be difficult.