Ask Mike: The perfect packer
Hey Guys,
I’m getting ready to go on a vacation and while I’m looking forward to the trip, I can’t say that I’m too eager about packing my suitcase. Every time I go anywhere, I vow that this is the time I won’t over-pack. Alas, it turns out that every time I lie, because I tend to bring too much of everything. Vowing to make this time different, I checked for some tips on packing on Yahoo! Answers. Here’s what I found…
Many travelers in the Yahoo! Answers community recommend laying out everything you think you need for your trip and then putting half of it back. I’ve heard this one before. The theory is that you can actually get by with far fewer clothes than you think. You may imagine needing several pairs of pants, but you’ll probably be fine with just one. There is some truth to this, but consider the risk–spill something on your one pair of pants and you’re in bad shape.
Another interesting thread came from Hatterswidow, who asked for tips on packing clothes in a way that ensures they won’t wrinkle too badly. One person suggests folding clothes along their natural creases, and includes a stellar link from HowToDoThings.com. Another responder argues that rolling up clothes instead of folding them is the better option. I’ve tried both, and I have to say that rolling does work better for me. Other thoughts?
As for the actual clothes one brings, opinions will, of course, vary depending on where the traveler is going. But as this answer explains, it’s best to try to pack things you can mix and match. “Stick with classics,” it argues. I’ve find that to be good advice–you want clothes that won’t stick out because you’ll probably be wearing ‘em multiple times. So much for my “Who farted?” t-shirt.
What about you guys? Got any expert advice on packing for an extended trip? Any must-bring items that most people forget? Please leave a comment below, and I’ll see you in a few weeks.
Thanks for reading,
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One thing I have learned to always pack, if going on a vacation, is an empty extra backpack or duffel. I always end up buying souveniers, and then struggling to shove them in the already full suitcase. That way you can buy tshirts or other items to bring home and you will have something to carry them in. Make it small enough for an extra carry-on when flying.
Rolling or fault-line- folding your habiliments won’t do.
Have your butler pack and hang your raiments and simply send him ahead of your departure; so when you get there all is nice, clean and ready to wear. .
FP
Always pack the essentials, they are the one thing people usually forget.
Make sure the pack the following three items first
1) Phone charger
2) Wallet
3) Toothbrush
haha thats funny, im going on a vacation tommorow night, for 4 nights, except there is no checked baggage so that means i have to drag along a suitcase with clothes, shoes, accesories, towels, bags, hats etc in the one suitcase. so far the suit case is filled to the top and its just my clothes and underwear!
The trick to packing is to pack what you think you need, and then unpack everything and take out HALF of what you packed. My rule of thumb is count how many days any one person will see you, add one outfit and be done with it. No more than two pairs of shoes unless you are hiking, dancing etc. and need a special pair. Plan to hand wash at least once, for an underwear count. I always bring something I am getting ready to throw away for a night shirt (assuming you are alone of course) and then throw it away on the road. Miniature everything for toiletries and include some laundry soap (Woolite and not regular soap) I use refillable bottles and it works great. Plan to layer clothing. On very long trips I mail things to myself and then mail back from on the road (works for business trips very well). Have fun!
I find that rolling the clothes takes much less room in the suitcase, and leaves fewer wrinkles. A couple things I don’t like to forget are Q-tips, who likes to go to bed with water inside your ears? And I take along a slim pack of baby wipes, so handy for everything from cleaning your hands or freshening up when there’s no water around, to wiping off a sticky steering wheel, to cleaning up a spill, you name it. They are indispensable to me!
I also use those space saver bags, that you can suck all the air out of with the vacuum. I roll my clothes and then suck them down. That way, I have room for things I might pick up on my trip, and with the bags, there’s no need to carry a huge bag. People always tell me that when you’re flying ALWAYS have an extra pair of clothes in your carry on just in case, however, I keep an extra pair of clothes in a bag outside my suitcase, just in case that barbeque I got from that pit stop makes its way to my shirt or pants.
I travel a good bit, and I’ve had to learn things on my own… this is what works for me.
Hi Mike..
The reality is that we all overpack…
We’re all thinking in the back of our minds, what if I need to be more formal ? What if something get’s soiled ?
Put that out of your mind..
If you really want to pack light, just pack the stuff you you wear every day…Your favorite Ts…That couple pair of jeans that fit perfect…
In an actual emergency, there’s always a laundrymat down the street..
In packing, just realize that less is more…You know what you need and that in a pinch you’ll figure it out…
Just take a step back, realize what you’ll actually “need”, and go from there..
moj..
Follow the advice of Rick Steves. He travels with only a backpack. Don’t take personal things. Most of those can be bought after you arrive at your destination. I think he takes three changes of clothes. One for travel, one for sight-seeing, and one for dress. He has a lot more tips. Check out his web site.
I’m the same as you, overpacking is my thing but it isnt usually clothes, its things like packing a hairdryer when theres one in the room or bringing a whole bottle of shampoo when i use it once
Just once, please write a blog with a point to it.
u go girl
Just think of it like this, how many days u goin, in everyday life u change once a day. How often do u spill sumthin on urself? Not often, so pack clothin for as many days as ur goin, but wear jeans first and the last day “ur favorite ” of the trip, so wear the pants 2 different times deleatin 1 pair of pants. From their u figure it out. Tryin 2 help hope I did
I travel all both domestically and internationally, and never bring more than my carry-on allowance. I made the decision to stop checking bags when the TSA created rules to allow them, and the airline handlers, to steal my stuff. Even if I could lock my checked bags, I don’t think I would ever go back to checking luggage, with carry-on only I get out of the airport so much faster.
I have clothes that I specifically purchaed for travel, and I never where them any other time. All are fabrics which will wash out and dry quickly in a bathroom sink. Cold destinations are more of a challenge because they require heavier clothes. I try to get by with a hooded sweatshirt and a windbreaker if I can. I also try to get by on just one pair of shoes, that means I don’t have to pack any and use up alot of valuable space.
I also have problems when I am packing for a trip. although I start out with good intentions, I always ended up with too much. To get around that problem, I always unpack my suitcase when I return and note what I brought that i did not need. I also note what I really needed but did not take with me. In the end, I am slowly getting better and better at packing but have a long way to go. like you, rolling clothes seems to keep them in better condition. I often use underwear or another soft item to roll my clothes aroud. As for plastic bags, they are a great way to organize items.
Twas quite helpful. I’ll try the rolling tip.
I gotta say I always run into this problem I over pack – For one thing if your going somewhere with a washer you can use like we do then you definantly don’t need as much 2-3 pairs of pants/shorts and 2-3 shirts – My hubby generally brings 2 pairs of his cargo shorts 1 tan and 1 black plus a pair of running shorts for any sports or swimming type activities also he uses those for sleeping in – plus he brings 1 casual but can be used in a pinch as a dress up shirt button up shirt plus 2 tees – between the 4 of us we have enough to do laundry every 3rd day so we don’t bring as much – in found when i packed alot i still only ended up wearing the same things as i would wash it and wear it again so most of my stuff came home never been taken out of the suitcase
well,i’ve heard of ‘rolling’ my clothes lots of times,but never did it,i tried it though.It did take up a lot of space (my bag was big,i was packing for the summer).
The best thing you can do is find some shortcuts to pack some stuff,like putting shampoos or other things in your shoes or seperate bags.It takes up less space,and gives you more.
Also,when packing bags of a bunch of stuff in them,spread them out in the bag.Fragile products (alchoholic beverages) that may break during flight should be wrapped with a shirt or two;cottonwrap!
Take only four pair of dresses in your suit case. Also keep in mind not to buy more than 2 things in your trip. Keep your suitcase light, it would be easy to carry as well.
All the best !!!!!!!!!
Ahaha! Interesting!
I think lots of people forget Q-Tips.
The little things. I’d take a list with me all day for one day and write all the things I use (personal products) so I know what I need to pack.
The Perfect Packer?
The Perfect Packer was Brett Favre.
I spent 4 months on a theatre tour in Asia, where, before you go, you have no idea what you will or won’t have access to. I can say that I got by on one large and one small carry-on sized suitcase for the 4 months, and I got by quite well (souvenirs and all). If traveling to foreign countries (for women), purchase a box or two of applicator-free tampons (O.B. & such), because Asians in particular only use pads. Another life-saver was carrying pocket-sized tissue with me EVERYWHERE, because NO ONE supplies their bathrooms with toilet paper there (Except in private bathrooms and hotels, of course). Bring over-the-counter medicines with you (tylenol, advil, etc) because they’re not readily available in some areas.
OH…bring deodorant with antiperspirant (if you use antiperspirant). Most other countries won’t sell it because antiperspirant has aluminum in it and/or they think it’s “unnatural” to not perspire.
Packing-wise, I’d have to say the rolling method saved my life. I creates so much space and sort of makes a cushion for your souvenirs too. (Plus you can roll them up in clothes if you have to). If you’re staying in nicer hotels, you can even forgo bringing shampoo, conditioner, lotion, soap, and even sometimes mouthwash. That REALLY saved me. I don’t really care when it comes to brand names, so using hotel soaps and such doesn’t really bother me. That’s a personal preference, but if you know you’re going to be in a hotel, leave them at home!!! You’ll be thankful when things don’t explode all over your stuff! AND speaking of exploding items: DOUBLE BAG EVERYTHING!!!!! Especially perfume!!!! Planes’ altitude will make things expand (especially the thinner the liquid is, for some reason) and even if they are screw-on lids. LEAVE PENS AT HOME!!!!! You can deal with only pencils for a plane trip, and you don’t want to open your purse only to find out you’ve ruined it with ink. (<——happened!!!!)
I would have to recommend bringing a couple week’s worth of socks & underwear as well. You never know when you will get to wash your clothes.
If you’re going on a very long trip & might not have access to a washing machine, you can purchase some little travel-sized dry detergents in a box, (or the liquid ones come in little packets too) and you can do “tub laundry”. Also, a friend on my trip had a great camping clothesline that was made of twisted elastic with two suction cups on either end so you could stick it on a window and dry your socks/underwear on it if you had to do laundry.
That’s probably my biggest recommendation: go check out a camping store! You will be SO happy you did!!!! They have all sorts of compact stuff that you wouldn’t think about, but they come in mighty handy when you are traveling quite a lot like I was. The smaller and lighter things are, the better.
To sum it all up, Bring:
Applicator-Free tampons
Antiperspirant/Deoderant
OTC medicines (cough syrup, tylenol, advil)
Travel-sized detergents
Plastic baggies (for packing liquids)
Pocket-sized tissues (ALWAYS!!!!!)
Extra socks & underwear (trust me on this one)
Leave at home:
Pens/markers (anything with ink)
Shampoo/conditioner
Lotion
Perfumes (if you can)
I guess that’s all I have to recommend for now. Happy packing and safe travels!
Thanks, i enjoyed this. It reminds me of my times at the airport.
yea i do have some expert advice since i am an arab and go to my country alot. its a 14 hour flight from new york to jorden then another 4 hour flight from jordan to yemen when i go there. if u have almost the same long trip take some clothes for the hotel if ur going to one. you dont wanna wear dirty clothes. DO YOU? pack only the things u need no junk. believe me these days u dont need nothing only some things to survive and i think ur gunna make it.
HAVE A GOOD TRIP!
I think you should pack all of your necessities, meaning things you need and have to bring along with you. Remember when your packing to think, ‘Am I going to use this?’
Also, there are suitcases that you can buy that have multiple compartments and pockets, which will make it easier to carry around your luggage. You won’t need five heavy suitcases. You’ll be able to fit all your stuff in maybe one or two.
I hope I helped!
Dress casual in tee’s and shorts or jeans. When packing, roll your clothes tightly like a fruit roll up (or taquito). That should make more space in your luggage. It works for me.
Dont worry about carring to much, it is better to only what you need like cloths or medicce. Besides you only get to live once in your life, might as well enjoy your vacation and not worry to much about suitcases.
always bring a umbrella, extra batteries, and a lint roller
alot of people forget those
Thanks for all the help you did!Also thank you for the answers you gave me!
Once, I thought I had over packed for a 2 night, 3 day trip… The truth is, I under packed! It sucked, so make sure you always bring extra clothes.
Why don’t you plan out what you’re going to wear from day to day and just pack that? Also, you can roll your clothes in such a way that they won’t wrinkle as bad. Have a nice trip!
salutari
I just came back from a 16 day trip of Europe with one suitcase jam packed and interesting trips from the airports/train stations to my hostel.
I ended up spending money on taxis to get my stuff around which got a little spendy after awhile.
My advice to you: focus mainly on clothes, toiletries, necessary stuff like guidebooks, journals, etc. and then your necessary electronics like cell phone and iPod.
I have travelled 3 times overseas and always throw stuff out. It depends on how important money is to you. If you can buy it over there, do it! Try to stick with a backpack (the hiking ones) instead of a suitcase just for carrying purposes.
GOOD LUCK and SAFE TRAVELS!!!
-Sandra
pack any thing you want
Besides the clothes on your back, you should only need to pack three things:
1. A camera
2. A rain poncho
3. A water bottle
It may sound crazy, but i’ve spent weeks at a time in foreign countries with only these items.
Someone I know once told me that her best solution is to bring mostly your “old” and tatty underwear and then just throw it out after you wear it. I thought that was a great idea, and c’mon, you know we all have a few pairs of those things. So, unless it’s a romantic voyage where undergarments are important, I thought this was a great tip!
Otherwise, I bring a few different sized ziplock plastic bags and an empty backpack that would suffice as a carry on in case I buy a lot of souvenirs.
I have a travel list, which stays in my suitcase, with the minimum needed (items from toothbrush to charger to underwear).
for short trips of up to three/four days there’s only what I can put in my carry on with my laptop and come under the weight limit.
For long trips I pack for a one week trip, on the basis that you have enough clothes to rotate through washing and drying, with one semi formal wear if it is holiday packing. One never knows.
I travel frequently and one thing that I do that makes packing easy is to keep my toiletry bag always packed. It only gets packed once…the first time. That means everything from toothpaste to razors. Nothing ever is forgotten.
As for clothes, think of where you are going and what you will be doing. Mix and match clothing is good, but prepare for unplanned changes. That means if you are gone for 4 days, pack for 5 days. This includes clothing for “accidents” as they do occur.
For shoes, take what will be comfortable and the amount that you will need. Do not pack new shoes as you will be courting trouble if they become uncomfortable. If flying, wear comfortable shoes with velcro fasteners. You never can tell which airport security will have you take your shoes off. Some airports like Reno have no seating to put your shoes back on.
Finally your luggage. After spending the night in an airport due to a cancelled connecting flight, I changed completly over to rolling luggage with expanding zippers, including my carry on. Luggage that links together is best. Do not overpack your bags when leaving as you know you WILL be bringing more back with you. Also pack an empty bag or back pack for the extra items that may be fragile or too valuable to check in. The Riviera in Las Vegas gave me the perfect bag for this and I don’t go anywhere without it.
Hope that this helps.
My tips (that have helped in my experience):
-Unless you’re going to a very hot place without AC or you just sweat a lot, you do not need a new shirt for each day. You can hang a shirt on a hanger once you get to the hotel and let it air out.
-Instead of packing a separate semi-formal outfit, I just dress more nicely the entire time I travel. Not formal, but nicer than jeans and a t-shirt. Same with shoes, I make sure that my walking shoes also look nice, and then I can get by with one pair.
-Underwear made from nylon can be washed in a sink and dry very quickly, especially if the hotel has a radiator.
-Women: if you need to bring a pair of heeled shoes, or just want to, always make sure you have a pair of flats. I learned that the hard way after a trip to Paris where I only brought the shoes I was wearing, which had heels. They are very comfortable and not very high, but even a heel that feels comfy in your every-day life is not one you want to wear walking around a big city for a week.
-Jewelry: I bring one inexpensive but nice looking set (ring, necklace, earrings). I don’t need anything more, and I wouldn’t bring my nice jewelry (it may get lost).
I would take slightly less stuff, especially clothes, and buy when your out there. That way you will only purchase extra clothes etc, if you really need them
I am going on a trip with my dog this week. We leave Thursday and will be gone ten days total, including four days of driving. I always pack a first-aid kit for him. You can get pretty small ones at Walmart but they have all you need. I bring his leashes, bed, food, treats and his medication. For myself I start with my meds and toiletries. If I forget my prescription it’s bad news (I take it for thyroid). I actually write down the clothes I wear the days leading up to my trip. So since I’m going to be gone ten days I am keeping track of which shirts, pants, etc., I wear the ten days before my trip and pack that many pants, shirts, etc., in the appropriate style. This way I know what I’ve been wearing lately and how much I really wear opposed to how much I think I might need. I also remember how long it takes me to get through a bar of soap, bottle of shampoo, etc., so I don’t buy a ton of little travel shampoos and end up not needing them. This helps me avoid over-packing. Since I’m driving I keep my essential snacks that I normally eat, trail mix and unsweetened iced tea. I don’t usually eat anymore variety than that so I don’t need to bring more.
hey you can go to wall mart and ask if the have a lugage wieght and it really nice cuz then you dont over pack.if its no at wall amrt go to target.=) hope it helps
Tube socks – even if you don’t wear them – great for wrapping a bottle of wine in – and then put it in a plastic bag.
Don’t forget to pack sweatshirts and cardigans incase you get cold, even if you are going somewhere warm, the a.c. might be cranked up. Especially if your going on a cruise the deck is very chilly breezy at times. So…just dress in layers.
I’m an avid traveler and usually do so with a backpack that meets overhead bin restrictions. My advice is simple. Choose two colors that go together and only bring outfits that can be interchanged. Also, just about any civilized country you go to will have a laundry. Fluff and fold costs a wee bit extra, but worth it. Most hostels will do laundry very inexpensively. I find what takes more space, is outer wear if you’re going to change climates. I’ve invested in excellent rain gear and and overcoat that have zip out linings so I can wear layers. Also, if you’re hiking, or backpacking, make sure the hostel or hotel has free luggage storage to keep your things there while you’re away. Hope this helps. Jen
— Gallon-size zip-lock baggies function like small dresser drawers for clean underwear.
— Bring five or six plastic bags for shoes, dirty laundry, wet clothes, etc.
— Never say never. After you wear something, fold it nicely, even underwear, as you may have to wear it once or twice more than you’d planned to.
— Save up some clothes with small tears or stains for their “last trip ever”. You can discard them along the way, to make room for your purchases.
— Denim jeans take up a lot of room in your bag. Wear them, if you need them.
— You can minimize wrinkles on your larger garments by interfolding them, so that each one cushions the other one’s folds.
— You can magically create a little more space at the top edge of your roller suitcase by closing it and tapping it down. That’ll make enough room for your hairbrush or a pair of slippers.
— Pack your disposable paperbooks at the bottom edge of your roller suitcase, to protect the rest of the contents.
— The federal travel authorities at airports insist on your limiting liquid, cream, and gel toiletries in your carry-on to what will fit into one one-quart transparent zip-lock baggie. You should pack that where it’s readily accessible if they ask to see it.
— Things I found rather useful: My own brand of shampoo, in a miniature bottle. Flushable baby wipes. A few extra wire hangers. A tiny sewing kit (without scissors). Tweezers. Foam-backed nail file. Money belt. Moccasin-style shoes.
— Things I could have left home: Extra nightgown. Robe (used a jumper dress or raincoat instead). Light-colored slacks. Jewelry, except a modest watch and plain wedding ring.
1. We find it very helpful to take our own portable GPS to every trip where we have to rent a car. This save us not only about $15/day but also time as we can save all the addresses (business, siteseeing/shopping, friends/family) with phone numbers ahead of time.
If you travel and drive often e.g. for business, and have the subscription for traffic services etc. on the GPS, it can come especially handy.
Just make a separate pouch to store the GPS, its chord and other attachments and remember to take everything back home
2. If you travel often then first, it pays to invest in good luggage for your travel needs – international/local, long/short, business/vacation, alone/with family etc. Recently, I had a harrowing experience where I put my wallet in one of the pockets of my new fancy piece of luaggage and I thought the wallet was stolen.
After spending two hours looking for it, I called to cancel my credit cards. Only to find the wallet at the end of my 4 day trip, sitting at the deep bottom of a pocket with mesh on the top and fabric at the bottom.
Then, once you have your good luggage, as much as possible always pack things in same place everytime you travel, (lesson learned: my wallet should have been in my pocket not in the luggage pocket) It will save you a lot of precious travel time and anxiety of looking for them in unfamiliar pocket spaces.
3. Traveling is always drying to my skin and constipating to my stomach. I make sure I take vaseline, laxative and eat lots of salads/veggies in buffets whenever I can find.
Hope this was helpful.
There is nothing wrong with overpacking. Better be prepared than not.
I’d rather have more clothes as opposed to not enough. Hmm? Hmm???? Am I right or am I right!
A huge fan of the “rolling clothes” WITH RUBBERBAND (Huge tip), I kept all my clothes like that even while at home!! I actually just stopped recently keeping all my clothes and rubberbanded AT HOME, but will likely do that on a trip.
My biggest problem is the “what if the opportunity arises for xyz?” and xyz could be “wearing a suit”, looking sharp, that random sporting event that pops up, using a laptop need (bring laptop yeah/nae?)
I think one of the most outrageous “OVERPACKING” trips was a trip to santa barbara I took to see afriend, not knowing if i’d stay a night or a week, and knowing that we talked about surf I brought something like
a laptop and bag
a surfboard
wetsuit
suitcase with week’s worth of clothes
swim bag and suit
formal dress clothes (collared shirts, ties (hanign in car))
Guess what, I didn’t even stay ONE night, I drove back that same day. -_- LMAO!!!
This was great advice
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Hi Mike..
The reality is that we all overpack…
We’re all thinking in the back of our minds, what if I need to be more formal ? What if something get’s soiled ?
Put that out of your mind..
If you really want to pack light, just pack the stuff you you wear every day…Your favorite Ts…That couple pair of jeans that fit perfect…
In an actual emergency, there’s always a laundrymat down the street..
In packing, just realize that less is more…You know what you need and that in a pinch you’ll figure it out…
Just take a step back, realize what you’ll actually “need”, and go from there.. >>
Conclusively, even when I went to hawaii I was lugging aorund an entire extra suitcase I didn’t need (I would’ve been fine with just a backpack). My best packing job was when I lived in the yucatan in mexico. WHY was the packing so good? Because it was a highly specific trip and we needed highly specific things (gators, bug repellant, jungle clothes) living in tent. So It was all laid out checklisted and whatnot.
I think the BIGGEST problem of packing is simply not enough planning. When I’ve overpacked it’s been because I always throw in at the last minute…”oh dang I might need that..couldn’t hurt to add that one other thing!” (repeat a dozen times with 12 other things!) And THEN the problem with “last minute chuckins” is that you don’t have a cognizance of what you’re bringing and a part of your brain knows you have this amorphorous blob of stuff you’re hauling around and it truly DOES drain the vacation, the actual travel experience.
You’re traveling to see/experience a different place (and time? ooo dr. who lol
). Clumping up your travel with excess belongings seriously obscures and creates interference with connecting with the travel! In other words you aren’t really traveling if you bring ALL your stuff you need, may need, and may/not need for xyz random occasion “if it arises”. In many cases, I think if you travel and realize you forgot something but will have to make do without it, you’re 50,000 times better off on the other extreme of having brought something that you realize you won’t use!! 
. I think the best illustration of bringing “too much stuff” is picturing a travel carrying a 4 suitcases, clothes, various odd-sized items all infront of him so he can’t even see what’s infront of him. THAT is the gross exaggeration of what we’re like when we overpack. We can’t see and sensually experience the environment we’re in. As a result, a lot of the value and peace of travel is burdened and hazy or partially lost. So I guess the bottom line with this fact is bringing less leaves more cognitive room for savoring the experience of actually traveling!
So I think the good rule of thumbs are:
); bring the bare bones minimum of what you’ll need so the purpose of travel is most rich and alive.
1. Overplan the packing. Checklist it. Stick to the list, so you have cognizance of what you’re bringing and don’t fall into the “ambiguous amorphorous blog of stuff” that you’d haul around.
2. You’re traveling to see/experience a different place (and time? ooo dr. who lol
3. Bringing less leaves more cognitive room for savoring the experience of actually traveling!
Hi guys,
Find a gud article on the same topics. check
http://mastii-kustii-femina.blogspot.com/2008/01/art-of-packing-suitcase.html
hi mike i will just like you to know making trip is not moving house so when you want to travell always make sure you consider the climate at that time and also know the time you are to spent in the place inorder to know how to make your suit case.thanks for understanding
I guess you could call me a nerd, but I alway type a list of itmes I will need by day. Then I have a misc. catagory for daily items such as toothbrush, shampoo, hairbrush etc. When I finish with my list I print 2-4 copies, depending on if I am flying or drying. 1 for at home to pack with. 1 for once I get where if i was flying to do a double check to see if anything is missing from my checked lugage. 1 for when I get ready to repack to make sure I have everything – I add to the list as I buy things. and the last one is for if I was flying home to make sure everything I packed made it home with me. I make sure to put the check off list in my carry on if I fly so I know I will have it when I get where I’m going.
how is the airplanes staying in the sky now
I have found that a good way no overpack is to buy a hiking backpack. You can only put so much in them, but should still have all you need. REI has one that allows you to fold all the straps in which airlines like.
One pair of pajamas
enough undergarments for a week
three pairs of pants or shorts (by the end of the week people won’t remember what pants you wore three days ago)
four or five shirts to provide variety and allows for special occasions or whatever
slacks or a skirt if there is a possibility of anything nice (bring something versatile)
toiletries (toothpaste, toothbrush, loofah (dries quickly), towel)
febreeze is good for “desmelling” clothes in a pinch
regular shoes and walking shoes, and any special shoes you have to have
sunscreen and bug spray
a small container of powered laundry detergent for hand washing (maybe a laundry cord if you want)
spray dewrinkler
zip loc bags are handy for compressing and organizing things like dirty underclothes from clean…
I survived a month overseas quite fine with about this much, so it should be pretty much you would need for a long trip, short ones would need even less
I have found that the multi-duty bars of soap save space and money. They wash body, hair AND lightly soiled clothes and all you’re packing is a bar smaller than a hockey puck! My favorite is any of the LUSH brand bars.
You know, funnily enough, I recently read an article about packing light (while I was on a plane, coincidentally)…extremely light. The author suggested layering clothing to wear on the plane/in the car and bringing a tote bag with underwear, toiletries, and your wallet. This involves a lot of clothes-washing, but sounds like a really….carefree way to travel!
I lay t-shirts and underwear flat on top of eachother and then roll pants up. Takes up way less space.
always over pack because you never will kno what wil happen so always have extra clothes just in case so never say you’ll never not over pack ever again because it is very important to pack extra clothes
hey i like how ppl aks u stuff lol i just wnated to say hi lol
I like to bring baby wipes whenever I go on a trip. Good for wiping hands, good for a shower substitute in really hot weather, good for wiping public toilets before you sit down (if necessary).
I have a goal to bring three outfits and two pairs of shoes on any trip, with the idea I can always find a laundry or buy clothes if needed. Sometimes I forget my own rule. I always pack a big black garbage bag for laundry.
Sometimes if you pack your top item just a little bit damp and you have folded your clothes very neatly it actually helps smooth out wrinkles.
Awesome! It’s totally true. I think that it’s better if you pack as light as you can so you won’t lose anything and so you’ll be comfortable.