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I hate packing..any pro tips?

CSpan

CSpan

Brilliant_Rock
Joined
Mar 7, 2016
Messages
1,388
I do it a lot. I always over pack. I always freak out that I'm under packing. Usually I know I can do laundry but not this trip, sigh

My friend travels to like 4 different climates over the course of 1 trip and takes one tiny bag. WTF?

I also am stuck packing for DH so that is an adventure. He always wants extra shoes, which take up space and weigh a ton. And now he has made me paranoid my feet will get cold so I am taking 2 pairs. Ugh.

What are your efficiency tips?
 
Roll your clothes. Takes up a lot less space and you can pack more. :mrgreen: I prefer to be over packed rather than under packed!
 
i watched an airlines employee pack the other day
Smalls got rolled up and tucked into shoes
Don't forget a bag (maybe a pillow case) for the dirty washing as plastic bags are no longer common in lots of places
have a woundetful time
 
That's a fab Facebook group for packing - Fashion Travel Girls! I've learned tons on how to pack smarter.

I hope that I'm an efficient packer. I limit my shoes to two pairs (one on my feet, one in my bag) because they take up a lot of space/weight, and build my travel wardrobe around what I can wear with those shoes. Jeans are heavy, so this year I've made an effort to steer my pant purchases towards lighter options that are more packable. I've also learned that I really don't need to bring as much toiletry items with me. I decant them into smaller containers (even smaller than 100 mL), even if they are going into a checked bag. And packing cubes are awesome for keeping organized! But I've made a few errors lately - one trip I forgot to pack any pairs of underwear (thank goodness my husband was arriving the next day!), and this summer I flew to NYC and forgot to pack more bras! Ugh.
 
Slick1 said:
Roll your clothes. Takes up a lot less space and you can pack more. :mrgreen: I prefer to be over packed rather than under packed!
Click to expand...
yep
and dont forget some ribbon to gently tie up stuff that wants to unroll.
Round cord will wrinkle but flat ribbon wont much at all.

I would also sometimes roll up underclothes/shirt/shorts/socks in one roll put the socks flat and so they end up in the middle of the roll.
Tie with ribbon and when going to change just grab the bundle.
Doesn't work was well with most pants so roll them separate.
 
Packing cells, I am a convert ever since a friend informed me about them.
And roll your clothes.

DK :))
 
I can’t help at all with the over-packing I’m afraid - my methodology is to pretty much pack everything I own and then remove items until I can physically lift my case. I hate being caught short!

My one and only helpful packing tip is to have packing lists for different types of holidays, then it’s just a case of ticking everything off and I know I won’t forget anything. So I have a list of what I need for a summer/beach holiday and a separate winter holiday packing list, plus I used to have a separate list for the kids when they were younger and needed items that an adult wouldn’t. My ‘hard copy’ lists are kept in a folder with my important paperwork so I never lose them. It takes the stress out of packing as I know I’ll never forget contact lenses, driving licence or anything else that would be hard/impossible to purchase whilst away.

What I keep meaning to do is keep track, clothes-wise, of what I actually wear on holiday, to try to get the overpacking under control. If I know for instance that I only cycled 4 evening skirts last year, I’d hopefully then only pack 5 this year. That’s the plan anyway, although it’s stayed firmly theoretical so far! My capsule wardrobe curating skills clearly need improvement...
 
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We travel a lot, so I’m often packing.

Put the clothes you’re thinking of taking out on the bed, then look to see if there’s anything you don’t really need, and take it off the bed. When I’m ready to pack, I use the roll up vacuum bags (like PackMate). Not only does it condense everything in size, but it also allows you to pack in cells if you’re doing a multi stop trip. That way you don’t have to unpack everything to get at the clothes you need for each stop, just take out the bag, and then put the dirty clothes back in when you’re finished, and they’re not in contact with your clean clothes. The other thing I’ve done when we’ve done multi stop trips, is to only pack 3 coloured clothes, grey, white and black, so everything went with everything else.

I always take a vacuum sealed bag in my carry on with clean underwear, a couple of clean tops, so if my luggage doesn’t turn up, I’ve got something to wear for a couple of days until it does.
 
I am the opposite generally. I under pack. When I spent 3 months in Europe I took one suitcase. And it was plenty. Even when we used to go on road trips and we had the car and I could pack anything I still tended to pack light. I want to be free and unencumbered and enjoy the trip without worrying about all the "stuff" so my philosophy is to pack light. I take 2 pairs of shoes to alternate for comfort reasons and I layer so I am prepared for heat or cold. Being either hot or cold is not pleasant so I always prepared for a change in weather.

And as @Slick1 wisely wrote roll your clothes. An added bonus is bringing clothes that resist wrinkles because who wants to worry about ironing on vacation?


rolltosavespace.gif

And the most important piece of advice? Enjoy your trip!

enjoyvacation.gif
 
One way to reduce the need to pack so much is to holiday at nudist resorts ;) :lol:
 
Do you have a small dairy like a moleskin pocket journal? Write a packing list based on basics (stuff you'll take no matter where you're going even if this means you're a little vague I.e. write 'shoes' instead of specific type). Then as your walking arround the house over a few days before departure -- like when you're waiting for a taxi to arrive or you're coffee to brew -- just tick items off with a pencil as you pack them. You can erase the markings later and start again next time your travelling.). You can even make the list a little over complete. If you dont need something on a given trip you just strike it out immediately when you start packing.

I also had an excel list over the last 2 years. Which made things easier as I pack for my little baby girl as well as myself and it was always a nightmare (with stuff like frozen breast milk and fridge to go ice bricks being last minute stuffed in there to avoid complete thawing, as I was waiting for the taxi and wrangling a screaming baby.). Now I just find it is easier to write it in the moleskin, as I can start and stop the packing adhocly without making it a major exercise of opening up excel. I think I've done this more than 10 times in the last couple of years so and it still is a bit hit and miss but it's generally ok.
 
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I have a packing list that I adhere to. My biggest problem comes in when I have to travel when its cold/snowy elsewhere and its not like that here (I'll have this issue in December...lol). typically I wear things that I can always wear again at least one other time and that cuts back on the amount of stuff I bring. My work travel gets a little nutty because of the amount of electronics I have to bring with me.
 
I always over pack. My husband makes fun of me for it but we always have what we need on trips so he's reaping those rewards. :lol: At this point, I don't even try to pack light...I'm just not capable of it. I seriously pack up half the bathroom. :shifty:

I started using packing cubes and they make a huge difference. There was a part of me that thought these would be a total waste of time and space but I was so wrong. They're great! They keep all of our cloths tidy and compressed. Plus, they are big space savers in the luggage. Here are the ones we bought.

https://www.amazon.com/Shacke-Pak-P...&keywords=packing+cubes&qid=1574688838&sr=8-9

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06ZYT2V3X/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
 
I travel a ton - regularly for work, hopefully-more-regularly-moving-forward for fun. I used to be a serial overpacker. Now I feel like I've failed if I bring anything back unused :lol:

The luggage itself is probably the most important thing for me. I don't ever want to worry about zippers breaking or seams bursting or handles locking up or wheels cracking. I've had really good luck with TravelPro's Crew line (soft shell for carry-on, hard for checked luggage) - they're sturdy, light, and don't break the bank.

Everything into ziplock bags! Clothes, toiletries. They're cheap, shapeable (they'll fit into the handle channels in the bottom of your suitcase), disposable packing cubes... that you can poach when something leaks (something always leaks). I've also got washable shoe bags for shoes - some companies have extended sizes for men. Mine look like this (not this brand) - keys are "washable" and "zippered":
https://smile.amazon.com/MISSLO-Portable-Travel-Zipper-Closure/dp/B01H1WKTR8?sa-no-redirect=1&th=1

Buy travel sizes of whatever you can, even if you're checking bags. Yes, it costs more, but the extra space (and weight!) those full-sized soaps, shampoos, toothpastes, deodorants, cans, sprays, lotions, etc. take up really adds up. Travel-sized pots and tubs and tins of makeup. You can use a curling iron to both curl and straighten. A good small hairdryer (most are dreadful - you want one that's got the wattage to dry by blowing, not by heating). I've got two of these:
https://smile.amazon.com/BaByliss-BABNT053T-Titanium-Travel-Dryer/dp/B0041QZOF0?sa-no-redirect=1

Medications... prescription drugs should stay in their labelled containers. I've been asked about mine and it's just much easier when the drug matches the label which declares them to be prescribed to you. For other stuff I use these (smaller or bigger depending on length of trip):
https://smile.amazon.com/Travel-Pill-Organizer-Medicine-Dispenser/dp/B07L8HJD3D?sa-no-redirect=1
https://smile.amazon.com/VTAR-Porta...izer-Container/dp/B074QN3XYW?sa-no-redirect=1
I've always got acetaminophen, ibuprofen, naproxen sodium, Benadryl, imodium, pepto chewables, Tums, and Excedrin on me. And bandaids. Tons of bandaids.

For longer trips (a week or more) I like to take a tiny bit of powdered laundry detergent. Great for when you need an extra swimsuit, or more socks, or a sports bra - small quick-drying clothes that you can wash when you take your shower and hang in the closet to dry.

I don't skimp on shoes. Spare hiking/running shoes, spare dress shoes, flip flops. One rainy day, one misstep down a long cobblestone path can make shoes unwearable for extended amounts of time, and comfortable shoes usually aren't the sort of thing you can just buy on demand! Don't skimp on shoes.

Get short, sturdy cords and reuse them as much as possible. A single lightning cable, a single micro USB cable, a single USB-C cable - most devices can share cords, and you can chain devices (charge your phone from the computer, for example). Take your own extension cable, you never know when your hotel will have only one plug accessible.
https://smile.amazon.com/GE-Designer-Extension-Grounded-45190/dp/B07P889FHQ?sa-no-redirect=1

I really dislike rolling clothes - I always wrinkle even wrinkle-resistent materials! So I just fold. If I'm careful to limit what clothes I take, I find that how I take them makes little difference. The ziplock bags keep everything clean and orderly.

Pillow cases. Some people take a full set of sheets... I don't unless I think the destination might warrant it (ex. We took sheets to Costa Rica, where we stayed in some out-of-the-way B&Bs), but I always take my own pillow cases.

Suitcase ties or covers. I've never had to deal with a suitcase ripping and I'd like to keep it that way. These are cheap and for me usually last ten or so trips:
https://smile.amazon.com/Luggage-Protector-Suitcase-Cover-Travel/dp/B074137TDZ?sa-no-redirect=1

I'm a fanatic about luggage trackers and the Gego is my absolute favourite. I've got four:
https://www.gego.io/?gclid=CjwKCAiA...F30blVMkoORFgUu6ylQZyWsQ_c8ekOaxoCcGcQAvD_BwE
They work. They'll tell you where your checked luggage is within half an hour. They're safe to check or carry on. The battery lasts forever (a single charge takes 3-4 days to drain on "flight mode 1", which is the most resource-demanding). You buy the device and then there's a service fee, which you can cancel and renew at any time, so if you travel infrequently you can just pay for a month here and there.

My list of Don't Takes... If I feel like I might "need a spare" of anything that isn't clothing, I've learnt to just buy a single version that's better or bigger. No spare electronics, no spare writing implements, no spare notebooks, no spare toothpaste. With regard to clothing - if it can't be mixed with at least two other articles or I don't have a specific reason to build an outfit around it, it isn't coming. If I'm travelling with the other half we'll take a spare T shirt in his size so it works for either of us.
 
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I plan outfits, and test them in front of the mirror so that I know I will love them. For multiple climates, I plan for layering. Cashmere kind of always works. And I only pack things I love. After having children, I kind of figured that less is more. A black dress that is easy to rinse out if I have to is perfect for all occasions lol. And no more volume dresses or skirts. Only nice, clean and simple clothes for long trips. And if I miss something terribly, I have always been able to purchase what I need locally. A girl can never have too many excuses for a little shopping lol.
 
@yssie like you I also take pillow cases. Its a must for me. (also part of my packing lists!) If I stay in a hotel its usually one of those condo like hotels that have laundry rooms and kitchens. I pay a bit more but, I like to shop for my own food instead of eating out so much when I work, plus, I don't have to take full wardrobes.

when I go overseas, I take lots of double duty travel clothes that can withstand being left in a suitcase for long amount of time + wash up quickly. I think it was REI where I got the quick dry travel undies. When I went to Ecuador I took a full size suitcase knowing I would bring a ton of stuff back (I did....lol) so sometimes its just worth having a bigger suitcase regardless.
 
I pack older underwear and socks and toss them after each wear. That then frees up space for souvenirs.
 
i use ziplock bags for underwear and socks. Packing cubes are quite nice. I like to have my things organized into the packing cubes which makes it very easy to find in the suitcase. And I try to pack simple, easy to wear clothing.
 
I"m a notoriously light packer.

I choose pieces that can be layered. Often I"ll pack sundresses (for warmer days) and leggings (to wear under if I"m cold) and then a sweater or two. The dresses and leggings often take up less space than pants and tops, and I can reuse basic black leggings with all of my dresses and they wash/dry fast! So usually it ends up being something like 6 dresses, 2 pairs of black leggings to cover me for a week.

Shoes: sneakers that I wear, and then walking sandals or hiking shoes depending on the vacation destination. Sometimes a pair of flats for "nice" events.
Toiletries: 3 oz shampoo, 3 oz conditioner, 3 oz sunblock, deodorant,and very minimal make up (eyeliner, brow pencil, lipgloss). Hair brush, razor. That's pretty much it. No hair tools. Really no corded things in general when I travel.

I remind myself that if some unforeseen event happens where I need a specific outfit, I can always buy something there and count it as my souvenir!

I did 3 weeks in europe with a book bag! Bought 2-3 dresses while there, gave me an excuse to check out thrift shops in those cities which I likely would not have otherwise done! (I try to buy thrift items for climate change as well as wallet reasons).

I never pack food or snacks, don't see the point since the reason I'm going is to experience what's there. I know people who do though and it ends up taking a decent amount of room. Sometimes I"ll put a protein bar in my bag for emergencies.

I never pack my laptop. I'm on vacation dammit! And these days my phone can do almost all the things I would need, and worst case scenario I find an internet cafe or a hotel business center.


I keep a Note on my phone of a "Ultimate packing list" and edit it for each trip. Also while on trips if I realize I forgot something I really wish I had, I add it to the Note for next time!
 
Could you travel without a purse? I’m trying to get down to one carry on and one personal item (plus my cpap) and I’m struggling. I have to pack a clear purse for the hockey game. Would you use a see through purse while on vacation? On one hand, it might deter theft???

The personal item is a lo and sons tote bag. But the other purse is a theft proof one with a water bottle pocket etc.
 
If I take a purse, I usually pack it into my carry-on or checked bag, and carry my passport, travel wallet, etc. in a secure pocket (after airport security) or in my personal item.

I often don't even take a purse. I'll tuck my credit cards/money for the day into various inside pockets of my coat or whatever, and carry around a canvas bag (like a reuseable shopping bag) to hold a bottle of water, sunscreen, book, etc. This is actually my favourite scenario!
 
I usually pack an extra bag whenever I travel so that I have the option to switch into a new one when traveling to different places. Also, I have watched a couple of youtube tutorials regarding the folding of clothes so that it won't occupy too much space.
 
I tried to under-pack one time and found I was missing a bunch of stuff!! So now, I over-pack! haha

But ditto the above tips...very helpful.
 
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