Leave: High-tech expedition shell.
Take: Rain poncho and a light windbreaker.
Why: Unless you're doing serious foul-weather trekking, the poncho-windbreaker combo will keep you just as dry. It also costs less, packs smaller, and is less likely to be stolen.

Leave: Blue jeans.
Take: Dark-colored, lightweight pants.
Why: Jeans are bulky and take forever to dry. Simple cotton or synthetic pants (ahem . . . avoid the dorky zip-off legs) pack more easily, dry faster, and look presentable in any number of on-the-town settings.

Leave: Flashlight.
Take: LED headlamp.
Why: Flashlights require bulkier batteries than headlamps, and twice the hands, not to mention they feel like a brick in your pack. LED headlamps have a comparable light output and increased efficiency with half the weight.

Leave: Travel towel.
Take: Sarong.
Why: A thin sarong soaks up less water after a shower so it will dry faster and won't stink up your pack like a damp towel. It also folds down to the size of an envelope and gives you something to wear between the shower and your room.

Leave: Hiking boots.
Take: Sport sandals.
Why: Nothing bulks up a pack like a pair of boots. Sandals are lighter and, in most climes, more comfortable. (You can add socks on chilly nights.) Hint: If you really need boots or dress shoes, you can always buy them locally.

Leave: Daypack.
Take: Small messenger bag.
Why: Daypacks are clumsy to carry in crowds and too accessible to thieves. Messenger bags ride safely under your arm or in front of your body, making them easier to use and much less attractive to pickpockets.

From the print edition, April 2004