Travel Tips | How (not) to Pack
I’m still a long ways from mastering the art of packing light, but with each trip I learn a little more. It took a while to accept the fact that I really don’t need to pack a different pair of shoes and jewelry for each outfit along with more outfits than days I’ll be gone “just in case”. Just in case what? Like I wouldn’t have anything to wear? Oh, and that’s not all, I even considered taking along my skinny clothes because I was going to be gone hiking for weeks and figured I’d finally be able to wear them. Yes, it’s true, and now I’m giving packing advice ;). At this point I probably know more about how not to pack, but with each trip my packing skills are improving. What I know for sure – after lugging huge suitcases around Ecuador, Florida, Switzerland, and Ireland – downsizing is the key!
One of the first things I’ve come to realize is to research the weather at my destination. With all the avenues online it’s easy to get at least an idea of what type clothing you’ll need. So why did I take so many t-shirts, sundresses, and shorts to Switzerland & Ireland? Hmmm….
Didn’t use any of these items, but lugged them all over Switzerland and Ireland.
Pack light – can’t say that enough! When we returned from our latest trip we put everything we did not use into a basket and weighed it with a luggage scale. Final results – we carried almost 32 pounds of stuff we never used. Not fun when you’re lugging this extra weight up and down 2-3 flights of stairs every day.
Had I taken time to research the weather in Switzerland and Ireland I would have known it would be cool and rainy – no need for sunscreen, sundresses, shorts, and so many t-shirts. Besides the weather, I still had so many items I did not need – here’s the list:
hairdryer – they’re almost always available and if not I really could get by without one occasionally
hat – I never wear one at home, so what made me think I’d wear one on this trip?
yoga mat – The workshop we attended provided mats
GPS – for some reason it didn’t work in Ireland – need to check out better before next trip
headlamp – It was summer solstice in Ireland and only dark from 11:45 pm until about 4:30 am.
2 pairs of jeans – they’re heavy – only take one favorite pair
extra books
tripod
flash attachment
I have come up with a general packing list that will work for me on most trips with a few changes depending on the weather. In general pack clothes that are versatile (can be dressed up, down, layered, mixed and matched). Think of items that can be layered if you get into cooler weather. Be sure they are lightweight (easy to wash in the sink and dry overnight – no cotton) and wrinkle free. Most important pack outfits that are comfortable and you enjoy wearing – if it’s not one of your favorite shirts – why take it?
My go to list for the next trip:
one pair of jeans (not two)
one pair of hiking pants
one (maybe two) pairs of shorts
3-4 shirts (long & short sleeved) that can be mixed, matched and layered
one sweater
one hoodie or sweatshirt
rain coat – I found a super light jacket on clearance that works great for rain or as a wind/cold buffer
one dress or skirt that can be curled into a tiny ball, shook out and worn
lightweight undies than keep be washed in the sink and hung to dry overnight
one regular and one sports bra
one pair hiking shoes, one pair walking sandals (I love my Chaco Women’s ZX/2 Yampa Sandal), and one pair flip flops
socks – A couple pairs of good hiking socks are worth the extra money. My favorites Smartwool Women’s Ash Heather Monolithand Smartwool Women’s Multi-Sport Mini Crew Teal
pjs or just something comfy to hang out in
Personal Items:
hairbrush
sunscreen, bug spray
contacts & solution, glasses, sunglasses
shampoo, conditioner (or use what’s provided wherever you stay)
lip gloss, lotions, and minimal makeup/skincare products
vitamins, medicines (check to see what shots/mmedicines you might need for the country you are visiting)
notebook & pen
ipad, one book (I stress – only one book!)
First Aid Kit – mole skin, bandaids, antibiotic cream, pain reliever, laxative and anti diarrheal (you never know what you might need)
– perfect for those days when your only option is to wash things out in the sink.
Miscellaneous:
passport (and extra copies)
phone and charger (I put mine on hold for $10 a month and only used it with wifi to make calls on facetime or Skype).
Some items you only need for specific trips might be:
yoga pants & tops
workout clothes
swimsuit & coverups
Universal adapters – the places we stayed in Switzerland and Ireland often had very few to lend out and you don’t want to get caught unable to charge your electronics or run something even more important like a sleep machine!
If you’re going to colder weather, or hiking up to cooler temps you might want to consider:
gloves, scarves, hat (if going to cooler weather)
Roll up coat – I love this one ExOfficio Women’s Storm Logic Jacket, Cigar, Medium. It’s full of pockets inside and out. What I love most is that it is extremely lightweight and will rolls inside itself to make a neck pillow. Wore it a lot in Ecuador!
Being a photographer adds a whole other dimension to what I travel with. I rework the list on each trip, and it will continue to vary depending on the location and what I plan to photograph. Even here, less is more. I lugged a tripod and flash on this trip that did not get used one time. The best way I’ve found to travel pack my equipment is with a camera insert that fits into a great backpack along with my laptop. It’s a little heavy, but most can be removed once I reach my destination and the backpack is perfect for day trips and hikes.
When driving and staying at a different location each night consider packing a “daily bag” of just what you really need to carry in each day and leave the rest in the car (as long as you’re in a safe location).
One item I wish I had taken is my Fitbit. We just got into using this since returning from Ireland. It’s an awesome pedometer, but so much more, keeping us on track for our goal of 10,000 steps per day. It would have been awesome to have this on our trip to see how much we were really walking and hiking (especially in the Swiss Alps) each day. There are a couple of different versions. Mine is in a wristband and will even track my sleep patterns. Check it out here: Fitbit Flex Wireless Activity + Sleep Wristband, Slate
Probably the best packing tip I can give is to use packing cubes. I love, love, love these things! It’s perfect for organizing your suitcase or backpack – almost like having drawers! My favorites are Eagle Creek Travel Gear Pack-It Cube Set
This is what I packed for Ecuador – way too many pants and shirts.
Yes those are my dance shoes – bummed I never got to use them in South America.
My goal for the next trip is to get everything into a normal size rolling suitcase (Not one tipping the scales at 50 pounds) along with a backpack for my laptop and camera. We’ll see how that goes!
A card I picked up in Ireland by Anon Design and Publishing – I can so relate to this shot!
