Let’s face it: most of us pack like we’re prepping for an international modeling contract, not a weekend away. Three pairs of “just in case” shoes, all your favorite grooming products, that weird extra jacket you haven’t worn since 2016—all crammed into a carry-on that now weighs roughly as much as a baby elephant.

But here’s the dirty little secret of seasoned travelers: no one cares what you look like on day three. They’re too busy worrying about their own wrinkled shirts and hotel shampoo hair. Traveling light isn’t just practical, it’s a kind of low-key superpower. You glide through airports. You laugh in the face of overhead bin panic. You breeze past baggage claim while others are still praying their suitcase didn’t take a detour to Oslo.

And it doesn’t matter if you’re traveling for business, a romantic getaway, or dragging the kids through an airport at 6 a.m. while clutching a stuffed giraffe and a half-eaten granola bar, traveling light saves your sanity. Less stuff means fewer things to lose, less time unpacking, and more energy for the trip itself.

In this guide, we’re sharing the clever, compact products that help you pack smarter, not bulkier, so you can skip the backache and the baggage fees, and maybe even look like you have your life together.