That perfectly packed bag might be the source of your problems.
The internet is flooded with lists of “travel essentials,” a seemingly helpful collection of items that promise to make your journey smoother and safer. But in the real world of travel in 2025, many of these so-called must-haves are actually a source of unnecessary weight, stress, and inconvenience. They are solutions to problems that no longer exist or are simply not as practical as they seem.
A truly smart packer knows that what you choose to leave behind is just as important as what you put in your bag.
1. The bulky DSLR camera is a relic of the past.
There was a time when a big, heavy DSLR camera was the only way to get a high-quality vacation photo. That time is over. The camera on a modern smartphone is now so incredibly powerful that for 99% of travelers, it is more than good enough. A DSLR is heavy, bulky, and a constant source of anxiety about it being lost or stolen, according to Staying Blonde.
Unless you are a professional photographer, carrying a giant camera is a huge and unnecessary burden. It immediately marks you as a tourist and can create a barrier between you and the experience you are trying to capture.
2. A money belt just screams “i am a tourist with valuables”.
The money belt, that secret pouch you wear under your clothes, is a classic piece of travel advice that is now dangerously outdated. While it may seem like a clever way to hide your cash and passport, it immediately marks you as a nervous tourist, as reported by CNN. Professional thieves know exactly what a money belt is, and they can spot the tell-tale bulge or the awkward way you access it from a mile away.
It can actually make you more of a target, not less. A much better and more modern approach is to use a cross-body bag and to minimize the amount of cash you carry.
3. Too many physical guidebooks are just dead weight.
A beautiful, glossy guidebook can be a great source of inspiration when you are planning your trip at home. Actually carrying two or three of these heavy books with you on your trip, however, is a huge and unnecessary mistake, as mentioned in The Poor Traveler. They are incredibly heavy, take up a massive amount of space in your luggage, and much of their information, like restaurant recommendations, can be out of date.
Your smartphone is a much more powerful and lightweight tool. You can download digital versions of guidebooks or simply use online maps and blogs for the most up-to-date information.
4. Brand-new hiking boots will only bring you pain.
Buying a new, sturdy pair of hiking boots for a trip that will involve a lot of walking seems like a very responsible and essential purchase. It is, however, one of the biggest mistakes a traveler can make if they have not properly broken them in. A brand-new, stiff pair of hiking boots is a guaranteed recipe for painful, trip-ruining blisters after the first long day of walking.
The real essential is a pair of your most comfortable, already broken-in walking shoes or trail runners, even if they don’t look as adventurous. Your feet will thank you for it.
5. Your entire collection of jewelry is a liability.
Traveling with a collection of your favorite or most expensive jewelry is a huge and unnecessary risk. A hotel room safe is not as secure as you think it is, and wearing flashy jewelry on the street can make you an immediate target for thieves. It is a constant source of anxiety, worrying about whether your precious items are safe.
The best and most essential practice is to leave it all at home. If you must bring some accessories, stick to a few, inexpensive pieces that you would not be devastated to lose.
6. Traveler’s checks are a fossil from a bygone era.
This is an essential that is so outdated it is almost comical. Traveler’s checks were a great idea in the pre-digital age, a secure way to carry money abroad. In 2025, however, they are a complete and total relic. The vast majority of businesses, and even banks, in other countries will have no idea what they are or how to process them.
The combination of a credit card with no foreign transaction fees and the ability to withdraw small amounts of local currency from an ATM is the modern, and only, way to handle your money abroad.
7. A full-sized hair dryer is a waste of space.
A powerful hair dryer might be an essential part of your daily routine at home, but it has no place in your suitcase. It is a heavy, bulky item that takes up a huge amount of space. Almost every single hotel, and even many Airbnbs, will provide one for you. On top of that, a high-powered American hair dryer will often not work with the different voltage in other countries, even with an adapter.
You risk blowing a fuse or, even worse, frying your expensive hair tool. It is an essential that is best left at home.
8. An outfit for every single, specific occasion.
The “just in case” mindset is the enemy of light packing. Packing a fancy dress “just in case” you get invited to a gala, or a full suit “just in case” you need to attend a formal business meeting, is a classic mistake. This leads to a suitcase full of clothes that you will never wear, which you are forced to lug around for your entire trip.
A much smarter approach is to pack a small, versatile “capsule wardrobe” of items that can be mixed and matched. A simple black dress or a pair of dark trousers with a blazer can be dressed up or down for almost any occasion.
9. A giant, u-shaped neck pillow.
The giant, bean-filled, U-shaped neck pillow is a common sight at any airport. It is also one of the most awkward and cumbersome travel accessories ever invented. It is too big to fit in your bag, so you are forced to carry it or to have it dangling from your backpack, where it will bump into everyone and everything.
While it may seem like an essential for a long flight, many people find that they are actually not very comfortable and that a simple, inflatable neck pillow, or even just a rolled-up jacket, works just as well without any of the hassle.
10. Too much cash is a recipe for disaster.
While it is essential to have a small amount of local currency for small purchases, carrying a large amount of cash is a huge and unnecessary risk. If your wallet is lost or stolen, that cash is gone forever, with no way to recover it. In the modern world of 2025, there is no reason to be carrying hundreds of dollars in cash.
The combination of a credit card with no foreign transaction fees for most of your purchases and a debit card to withdraw small amounts of cash from an ATM every few days is a much safer and more efficient way to manage your money.
11. Single-purpose travel gadgets are just clutter.
The market is flooded with a huge variety of clever-seeming, single-purpose travel gadgets that are presented as “essentials.” This includes things like a portable luggage scale, a special travel alarm clock, or a white noise machine. The reality is that the powerful smartphone that is already in your pocket can do all of these things.
Your phone has a scale app, an alarm clock, and a white noise app. Packing these redundant, single-use gadgets is a waste of space and money. It’s a form of clutter that you can easily avoid.
12. Your entire skincare routine.
While it is important to take care of your skin while you travel, trying to bring the full-sized bottles of your entire, multi-step skincare routine is impractical. It is heavy, takes up a huge amount of space, and is a violation of the TSA’s liquid rules if you are trying to carry it on. This is a common mistake that leads to overpacking.
The better approach is to “decant” a small amount of your essential products into a set of small, reusable travel-sized containers. It’s about bringing just enough for your trip, not your entire bathroom cabinet.