You're probably packing too much. Leave these 5 things at home - USA Today

November is such a confusing month to travel, isn't it? It's freezing when your Uber picks you up at 5 a.m., but by the time you're checking into your hotel at noon, you're sweating through your collar. How do you pack for something like that?

It's tempting to bring everything: the waterproof shell, a backup blazer, the "just-in-case" dress shoes. By the time you zip up your roller bag, you've essentially packed the contents of a small apartment, and you're begging the gate agent not to charge you an overweight luggage fee. Knowing what not to pack saves more room than any packing cube.

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Overpacking got more expensive this year. In April, the major U.S. airlines raised the fee for a first checked bag to $45 on most domestic routes. American now charges basic economy passengers $55.

Overpacking starts in your head, with a voice that keeps asking "what if?" November, with its 40-degree mornings and 70-degree afternoons, is a good month to break the habit. Who knows? It could save you a few bucks in bag fees, too.

No new suitcase or clever gadget will fix this. You have to decide what stays home.

For example, luxury travel advisor Phil Lockwood uses a lightweight jacket and a vest that compress smaller than a paperback. He layers a warm vest over a button-down. That keeps him comfortable through three seasons. But his biggest downsizing involved his shoes.

"Shoes take up an incredible amount of space because they're bulky and oddly shaped," he explained. "I went from packing a variety – workout shoes, walking shoes, dress shoes, leather flip-flops, rubber flip-flops – to packing none at all and instead just wearing a pair of versatile running shoes."

Andy Abramson ditched his specialty travel clothes for the same reason. These extra items were bulking up his luggage and were only marginally useful at his destination.

"I realized I did not need to carry contingency plans through the airport," said Abramson, who runs a communications company in Las Vegas. "I only needed what was essential for the flight itself and for where I was landing."

They're both right. As someone who lives on the road, I can tell you less is more, and the travel clothes and luggage you see advertised are meant for tourists, not pros. The experts carry less, not more.

Another November mistake is packing variety. Different outfits for every day, because what if you feel like wearing teal on Thursday?

Frequent travelers know that their wardrobe is a uniform: a blue blazer, black T-shirts, khaki pants. Unless you're trying to make a fashion statement, you'll want to be plain and boring. 

One benefit of packing a uniform is that it's completely interchangeable and, if necessary, rewearable. (I'm not going to go into details.) 

But by "boring" I also mean being a minimalist.

If everything fits in a personal item, you won't pay a bag fee on any U.S. airline. With first checked bags now running $45 on most major carriers, that adds up.

Ellenby said his corporate clients saw a difference when they packed lighter. 

"The real improvement wasn't just speed through the airport," he said. "It was lower stress overall, which directly improved how they showed up in meetings. Lighter bag, sharper focus."

What if you run out of things to wear? Bill McIntyre, a director at Global Rescue, said there's a workaround for that, too.

"Pack half of what you think you need," he advises. "Then find the neighborhood laundromat, and you'll move through your destination fresh, nimble, and more immersed than any overpacked traveler ever could."

By the way, visiting a laundromat can be a cultural experience in some cities. It's a neighborhood bar without the beer – locals, conversation, 30 minutes of unscheduled life.

November will try to trick you. The forecast will say "variable." Your brain will say "what if?" Your closet will call to you with its fleeces and rain shells and that jacket with all the pockets.

Ignore all of it. Pack the blazer and the merino shirt, and bring just one pair of shoes. Leave the rest behind.

Christopher Elliott is an author, consumer advocate, and journalist. He foundedElliott Advocacy, a nonprofit organization that helps solve consumer problems. He publishes Elliott Confidential, a travel newsletter, and the Elliott Report, a news site about customer service. If you need help with a consumer problem, you canreach him here or email him at chris@elliott.org.

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