Remember when travel meant bulky checked luggage, three pairs of shoes and “just in case” outfits? Well, those days are over.
Madri van der Westhuizen, from ANEW Hotels & Resorts believes in travelling small. “If 2024 flirted with the idea of travelling light, 2025 has turned it into a full-blown lifestyle shift,” she says. “What started as a workaround for airline baggage fees has become a bragging right. Travelling with nothing more than a compact, airline-approved backpack is now a sign of being a savvy, flexible, modern traveller, who values mobility and freedom.”
“Small-bag travel looks less like a fleeting trend and more like a growing movement. The smartest travellers are no longer the ones who bring everything – they’re the ones who bring only what they need, in the best quality, and nothing more.”
Travelling compact is no longer niche. The market has exploded with smart backpacks and zip-flat cabin cases designed to compress and expand. Bags that hold your clothes, toiletries and laptop with strategic compartments are now widely available online. The five-day backpack has become the default way to travel, whether for work or pleasure.
TikTok creators like @cheapholidayexpert, have been advocating this minimalist approach with her reels going viral. Pushing the boundaries of travelling light, earlier this year she packed for a three-day trip to Europe using only a tiny handbag, and the internet loved it! Primark’s Ryanair-compliant travel bag, which is a compact suitcase with detachable wheels, is one of many signs that big brands are responding to the growing demand for travelling lighter and efficiently.
Madri says the trend has not simply come out of nowhere, but rather due to evolving travel habits post the Covid-19 pandemic:
Your seat is sorted, but your baggage costs extra
Airlines have gradually changed the rules. Although flights might be appearing cheaper, once you add checked luggage the price rises. In response, travellers are bypassing the system, by avoiding the extras and packing smarter. In addition to saving costs, they are skipping the queues with everything kept close as carry-on.
No extras, no limits
Today’s travellers are far more spontaneous. Rigid, hyper-planned itineraries are giving way to trips that favour adaptability, spontaneity, and freedom. If your bag fits under a seat, you can hop between destinations, jump in a rideshare, travel at your own pace, and always keep it close. Learning from the July 2022 European disaster of lost luggage, packing light is also about peace of mind with no delays at the carousels and no lost or damaged luggage. The shift reflects a broader desire to cut the excess, not just in luggage, but also in life.
Space for your “office” and your clothes
Remote and hybrid work have also blurred the lines between work and holiday. Many travellers pack for both meetings and downtime, leading to simplified packing formulas to include one smart outfit and leisure outfit that can interchange, laptop, power bank, sneakers and essentials. If it doesn’t fit, it stays behind. With so many clever travel accessories available, like vacuum bags, fold-flat toiletries and portable tech pouches, the small bag life feels more achievable than ever.
Social feeds are setting the travel tone
There’s also a performance aspect. “Pack with me” video content has become a genre of its own. Social feeds are full of tips, hacks and visual bragging rights, that can include anything from three-in-one toiletry kits to folding styles and minimalist must-haves. Travelling light is no longer limiting and has become a kind of competition to see who can pack the smartest and the most creative.