13 Best Group Travel Essentials for Packing Light

When I told people I was planning a trip to Japan with 10 of my friends, I got many wide-eyed responses. That’s understandable: Group travel is anything but easy. It requires a lot of patience, planning, and compromise. However, when a friend and I proposed this trip to our group chat last year, it was met with resounding interest, which is how we ended up planning a vacation across the world with nearly a dozen people.

For the most part, we kept our itinerary flexible, which provided space for everyone to choose whatever activities would bring them joy. However, despite our casualness with the schedule, one thing we were stringent about before the trip was luggage efficiency. When I surveyed my friends post-trip, one of the tips we all agreed on was to pack as light as possible and leave room in your suitcase—because, let’s face it, you will likely do some shopping when you get to your destination. I’d also suggest sticking to a specific color scheme with your clothes—earthy neutrals are always a good choice—so you can mix and match all the items in your streamlined wardrobe.

From comfy sneakers to packing cubes, these are all the essentials I’d recommend bringing with you on a multi-destination trip to make your journeys even more enjoyable.

Expandable Carry-on

Many people will likely tell you to buy extra luggage on overseas trips so you can bring all your souvenirs home. I don’t like having an additional item on my to-do list while on vacation, so I opted for a carry-on suitcase that expands.

I swear by the Away Carry-on Flex, which is available in two sizes. I’ve taken this suitcase all over the world, and it has been so reliable. Even in its compact form, this petite suitcase holds so much—and I love that I can expand it at the end of a trip and even (gasp!) check the bag on my way home if needed.

Compression Packing Cubes

To keep your luggage organized and streamlined, packing cubes are a must. I personally love these from Bagsmart because they’re super lightweight, impressively compress your clothes into neat, little packages, and make organizing all your clothes a breeze. I also use these for keeping shoes separated from my clothes, and simply place the perforated side facing down to keep them extra secure.

Travel Pouches

Travel pouches can help keep your essentials (like cords, cosmetics, or documents) organized and easy to grab, whether you’re keeping them in your personal item or carry-on. Two of my friends used this particular Amazon trio of pouches on our trip to Japan and gave them rave reviews.

Portable Power Bank

I don’t know about you, but I find my phone battery drains even faster when I’m on vacation—the combination of using map apps, plus taking ample photos and videos, leaves my phone fighting for its life before the day is through. That’s where a portable charger comes in handy, especially if you’re out and about all day. A friend of mine and my husband both packed these, and it was a total lifesaver when any of our phone batteries were dipping.

Mix-and-match Sets

I love a good matching set, and I think they come in handy when you’re packing for a long trip. On this trip to Japan, I packed the Aritzia Limitless Pant and the matching Regal Vest—and I can’t recommend this duo enough. These items are super versatile: I loved pairing the pants with a T-shirt or a white button-down and the vest with jeans or a skirt. More perks of the pants: They are wildly comfortable while still looking polished, and they don’t wrinkle easily in your bag.

Basic T-shirts

It might seem simple, but well-tailored tees are a packing must for any warm-weather trip. I’m incredibly picky about my T-shirts: They have to be well-made, soft, comfortable, not too tight, and perfectly structured. My current favorite T-shirts, which of course made their way to Japan with me, are the Madewell Cotton Relaxed Oversized Tee and the Aritizia Soft Feels All-time T-shirt. One of my guy friends on the trip also raved about these J.Crew Relaxed Premium Cotton T-shirts, which he owns in every color.

Long Skirts

What I love about long skirts is that you can dress them up or down, and they’re so lightweight and breezy. This high-waisted option from Amazon has over 1,200 five-star ratings and comes in a whopping 42 different colors and patterns.

Walking Sneakers 

During this trip, my friends and I walked an average of 25,000 steps a day, so solid walking shoes made all the difference. I packed my Alo Runners, which are quickly becoming some of my favorite travel shoes. These minimalist sneakers look nice enough to wear with jeans or tailored slacks—and since they’re designed for running, they’re supportive and well-suited for copious daily mileage.

Comfortable Insoles

On the first day of the trip, I didn’t slip my insoles into my sneakers—and it was a huge mistake. My hips were achy, my shins felt sore, and my feet just generally felt like they’d been beaten up. When I wore my insoles the next day, however, I felt like I could have walked all day (and honestly, I did).

My favorite insoles are from the brand Superfeet: I prefer the high arch support style, but they’re also available in various other options to fit your needs. I truly can’t recommend these enough, especially if you plan to do some serious walking on your trip.

Sturdy Sandals

On the days the temperatures spiked in Japan, it was nice to give my feet a breather by wearing sandals. I packed the Nisola Flatform Sandals, which have a small platform, solid tread on the sole, and awesome arch support, so I felt like I was wearing something sturdy while walking for miles. I also love that these leather sandals appear a bit more polished than a simple slide, so they’re versatile and work with virtually any outfit.

Compact Day Pack

As an alternative to a backpack, I’m a big fan of nylon sling bags. These tiny packs are incredibly lightweight, surprisingly spacious, and also easy to shove into your carry-on luggage. I brought the FP Movement Bulls Eye Sling Bag, and I was shocked by how well it fit all my essentials, including my digital camera. My husband was such a fan of the bag that he ended up buying a similar style from Uniqlo.

Light Rain Jacket

It’s always smart to have a lightweight rain jacket on hand if the weather takes a turn. I packed this FP Movement Colorblock Jacket, and it worked like a charm (plus, it aligned with my neutral color scheme). While it’s not technically a rain jacket, I found this ultra-lightweight windbreaker to be a great barrier to the wet weather, and it barely took up any space in my luggage.

Packable Duffel

Again, people will tell you to buy new luggage or even bring an additional suitcase with you—instead, I’m partial to a backup duffel. I love this one from Mystery Ranch, but this Amazon Basics duffel could also be a more budget-friendly pick at just $18.

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