The words “packing light” can be taken to a variety of extremes. We have all met at least one intense minimalist. I have no problem with minimalists, but I myself am a realist and I know for a fact that I need more than 3 pairs of underwear. I’m not a heavy packer either, it’s a tricky balance, one that takes several trips to even come close to perfecting. I’m not going to bother giving you a suggested packing list, because everyone is different and there is no “perfect list”. I can, however, offer some tips that make your packing a little less chaotic.
1. Pick your toiletries wisely – Maybe you have super sensitive skin and can’t use just any face wash, or perhaps you are crazy picky about your toothpaste, no matter what it is, it may be worth packing. On the other hand, you certainly do not need to bring an arsenal of beauty products or top of the line soap. For most trips, the generic brands will due and you can stock up along the way. However, know your limits. I personally opt to bring my own face lotion for my sensitive skin so I won’t spend the whole trip feeling like my face is cracking and making me look like a monster. Don’t get too prissy, but don’t deprive yourself of things you really need.
2. Check the weather – Obviously, the climate of your destination has to play into your packing. Packing light is easier in warm climates, but it’s not impossible for cold climates. If you’re in a warm climate you can manage with just a few shorts/skirts, t-shirts and maybe some outdoors and night life clothes. If you’re going to be in a cold climate, pack layers and plan on using the same jacket for the whole trip.
3. Forget about options – Remember, you are rarely going to be seeing the same people for more than a couple days, so who cares if you repeat a shirt 3 times in a week? You can easily get away with 4-10 outfits, depending on the length of the trip. Just make sure you have appropriate clothes for each occasion you will encounter such as hiking, nightlife and just walking around the city.
4. Find your essentials – Everyone is different, but we all have things that make traveling better. I personally will not get on a bus or plane without my inflatable neck pillow. It just makes my long rides so much easier. We have to make sacrifices, but everyone should have a few staples such as a versatile jacket, super comfortable shoes that can be casual or dressy, or whatever it is that makes your traveling easier. Just do not get too liberal with the term “essential”.
5. Learn from each trip you take – When you return home, take a good look at the contents of your bag and think about how often you used each item. If something hardly left your bag, leave it behind on your next trip. Eventually, you’ll have a much better idea of what you need and what you can live without.
Like I said, there is no perfect way to pack, but I can tell you right now that following someone else’s packing list is likely to leave you full of regret. Decide what you think you cannot live without, then take a few more things out. Usually shoes and clothes are the things were over-pack, so give yourself a break with the ibuprofen that takes up almost no room and ditch a couple t-shirts you can live without.
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Great post!
I left Seattle in February and spent the first 7 weeks in India and the past 7 weeks tooling around the UK, Germany, Switzerland, and Croatia. Two things that I’ve learned on this trip:
1) Clothing made from light-weight merino wool (I purchase all of my stuff from Icebreaker) performs exceeding well, a hundred times better than cotton. I know, people think of wool as hot and itchy, but Icebreaker’s stuff is amazing (sorry, I know that word get used a lot!). I’ve basically been wearing the same shirt and 3 pairs of underwear everyday for the past 4 months. They don’t feel/smell dirty (wool has some sort of anti-microbial property), they wick moister when I perspire, and they dry very quickly, which means I can wash them at night and wear them the next day. I know the idea of wearing a pair of underwear for more than one day goes against everything we’ve been taught, but I highly recommend Icebreaker’s underwear for folks on a long trip — you’ll be surprised how well it performs and how quickly you become comfortable with the idea!
2) About toiletries — I’ve been a little surprised how many ‘beauty’ tasks I’ve been able to eliminate. Basically, all I do in the morning is floss and brush my teeth. I no longer shave (instead I brought along a small beard trimmer), worry about my hair (I found that my hair actually isn’t a wreak in the morning now that I’ve stopped using product), nor put on face moisturizer (which for the most part works out because of the climates I’ve been in).
I guess my larger point, is that I’m able to do just as well with a lot less — certainly less clothing and perhaps a little less ‘beautification’!
Brad Benner recently posted..India by train – a comprehensive how-to guide
A friend of mine used to work an at all natural store that sold a ice break clothing. It was pricey but well worth it, it lasts a lot longer than a 5 dollar t-shirt and they are more comfortable as well.
Rease recently posted..Taxi Nazi- No Taxi For You!
кульно…
I’m not a heavy packer either, it’s a tricky balance, one that takes several trips to even come close to perfecting…..
Your tips will make me think long and hard on what I view as my essentials…..we are going on a trail run backpacking trip to the US to learn a few things before committing to a AWT and I’m already having sleepless nights on what to pack. We mostly take roadtrips around Europe which makes packing easy…just through everything in the boot you think may come in handy….so not true for a backpack!
Travel 2 T.A.S.T.E. recently posted..Fit enough for hiking in the United States National Parks
Great tips, and I couldn’t agree more. I live in solid color V-necks with cardigans and patterned scarves–so many variations with very few pieces! After backpacking through Europe with a ziploc bag of toiletries and a ziploc bag of makeup, I learned what’s truly needed!
i usually end up wearing only 3 outfits on a week trip. not sure how that always happens.
CanCan recently posted..Kid-Made Gifts For Mom- Red Toolbox Carpentry Tools
I’ve found that packing light in clothing, toiletries etc is getting easier each trip. But packing light on electronics is a challenge – I won’t travel without my DSLR & I sometimes need my laptop too – that adds a lot to a bag.
Vanessa recently posted..Review – Menda Ultimate Travel Sports towels
Echo what Vanessa said. I can get by for a week or two with just a few shirts, underwear, swimming trunks, and sweat pants. But then we have to make room for netbooks, cell phones, digital cameras and all the accompanying power cords, battery chargers, etc., etc.
For our next trip, thinking to leave the netbooks at home and just bring cell phones and one point-and-shoot digital camera.
I’ve also learned that there ARE clothes in other countries, if you end up somewhere cold they’ll be selling sweaters and jackets and rarely for prices more than you would pay at home.
ayngelina recently posted..Where have all the hippies gone
Great points. Generally speaking, when traveling to and through 1st and 2nd world countries you can find everything you want – it may just be called something else. So for London, I take very little compared to what I pack for Cambodia.
Staying with friends? They probably have toothpaste, towels, etc… and if you feel that’s imposing – buy their groceries one day while there. Beats holding up security lines or lugging excess bottles and such.
Most feminine hygiene manufacturers now make compact sized tampons in the full range of absorbancy that work well and save space.
Travel with sneakers/tennis shoes/trainers? Check out Nike’s “Free” line. Priced under $60 – 100 US, the pair weighs a couple of OUNCES, can FOLD w/out damage and feel like you’re wearing slippers.
I often travel with a towel. Check out Eagle Creek travel towels. Similar to a chamois – they’re super lightweight, dry quickly and don’t take up more room than one of my shirts.
I opt to leave hair dryers, flat irons, nail polish, etc… behind. If truly needed (wedding, etc…) I use a local salon. If you’re so far out there is no salon… you don’t “truly need” those items.
Gifts for poor children; FEED and CLOTHE them. They don’t need nail polish, earrings, and trinkets. They need to eat. Don’t pack-in clothing, support the local economy – chances are clothing is made and sold at your destination. Nail polish doesn’t ease hunger pains.
Acceleratedstall recently posted..Midnight Babysitter
All great tips Rease (and even better that you kept it generic rather than some silly “list” that’s necessarily unique to only you.)
That said though, I do think “minimalist” is the goal here, for it seems most folks err on the opposite side when it comes to packing, and thus there’s little danger they’ll actually take too little.
Seriously – whether you’re going to be on the lam for 2 weeks or two years, you can never pack too light (actually your packing needs for either scenario are about the same.) And yes, it’s a skill that’s surely learned over many trips (upon returning home to find that much of the “stuff” you packed you never/seldom even used.)
I especially like your line about: “Just do not get too liberal with the term ‘essential.’” Indeed, everybody has a handful of unique “essentials”. For me (happily) one of my essentials is both bitty and light: earplugs (handy for all sorts of situations – from sleeping on the plane to blotting out late night parties in the hostel, to dawn calls to prayer, barking dogs and crowing roosters!) And (perhaps surprisingly) my best “essential” packing tip: silk long underwear. Yup, even the Sahara can get chilly at night (not to mention overnight a/c buses, etc.)
In short, you’ll be amazed at how much more enjoyable your travels will be if you seriously “weigh” (both figuratively and literally!) each and every item before you toss into that pack.
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