How not to over pack...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Eh, I embrace it. I overpack and IDGAF. As long as my bag isn't overweight, I don't care. I like options. Travel how you wish, you don't have to please those 'carry on only' folks.

Same.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Eh, I embrace it. I overpack and IDGAF. As long as my bag isn't overweight, I don't care. I like options. Travel how you wish, you don't have to please those 'carry on only' folks.

Same.

That’s fine! I don’t want to lug all that around or unpack it on the back end. To each his own. (DP.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have unmedicated ADHD and anxiety... and am a minimalist packer! Packed a 6 week trip to Iceland and France into a carry-on hiking backpack once, since I knew I had laundry facilities at destination. The hardest thing to pack was hiking shoes - I wore them on the flight.

The difference is that you've never felt pressure to pack less. I hate lugging suitcases and bags, so I make the effort to fit everything into a carry-on.

Your packing will depend on whether you want to launder stuff at destination. Don't bring extras of anything.

g

Could you post your packing list? I would love to copy it! Not the OP but also planning a trip including hiking.

Sure. This was for a summer in Paris with Embassy meeting, dinner with boss, and hiking in cooler conditions in Iceland and the Alps. Everything was rolled up for minimal wrinkling.

1. Embassy outfit, including fancy flats. Heels took up too much space. Re-wore for dinner with boss. Got a haircut in Paris, which turned out so much nicer than the ones I get here - and it was cheaper!
2. Hiking: Lightweight fleece and waterproof shell bought for the occasion. 1 pair lightweight hiking pants, 1 pair capri pants, 3 long-sleeved tops. I wore the boots, hiking pants, one top and fleece on the plane.
3. Daily wear for Paris: loafers, linen pants, skirt, 3 short sleeved tops.
4. A couple of bras and a handful of panties. Couple of hiking socks, handful of thin shoe liners for my loafers. One pair pyjamas.
5. Lightweight sun hat.
6. Minimal toiletries, because we bought some there.
7. Laundry detergent in a mini travel bottle, because I'm allergic to a lot of detergent so prefer to use my own.
8. Phone, charger, passport, medication, mini first aid kit, etc.

We went as a family, and everyone had the same set-up in their backpacks. Did laundry every 3 days. If you want to pack a carry-on with that kind of stuff, the first obstacle is weight, not volume. Everything needs to be lightweight and you can't bring large bottles of stuff. Shoes are a problem.

[Anonymous]

I struggle with trip/packing "anxiety" the closer I get the less I can make good packing decisions.

SO I start by creating a list that includes how long I'm going for, and activities I think I will participate in, things I need to bring (wallet, glasses etc), things I might want to purchase for the trip. I also have some standard lists for beach trips, skiing, camping etc.

From there, I toss things I think I want to bring in a collection spot in my house - anything. A week before the trip - I go through the pile of things and start trying things on. I do it in front of a mirror and I take pictures. If the outfit doesn't work, I don't feel comfortable it it, the colors are off or won't go with anything thing else I like I take it out of play. I go back to my original list and see if there are things I need to fill in.

Next step is trial packing - I pick my smallest suitcase, and I pack what I think I'm bringing. If it doesn't fit - I don't allow myself to go up to the next size suitcase - I start reducing what I'm bringing. Unless there is a special occasion I bring no more than 3 shoes - wear one on the plane (heaviest pair), pack 1 or two.

I create a digital folder on my phone of the final outfits that I am packing - then low and behold next trip I go on that is similar in nature - I look back at the photos to see what I brought - this helps me reduce my packing anxiety.

[Anonymous]

Do laundry. Seriously, that's how we get away with two suitcases for a family of 4. And we still overpack!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have unmedicated ADHD and anxiety... and am a minimalist packer! Packed a 6 week trip to Iceland and France into a carry-on hiking backpack once, since I knew I had laundry facilities at destination. The hardest thing to pack was hiking shoes - I wore them on the flight.

The difference is that you've never felt pressure to pack less. I hate lugging suitcases and bags, so I make the effort to fit everything into a carry-on.

Your packing will depend on whether you want to launder stuff at destination. Don't bring extras of anything.

What backpack did you use? And did you use it for a hiking backpack? When we hike we want a waterbottle, raincoat, etc with us - I have a few collapsible backpacks - we use for day trips but have a trip coming up next year that needs a really good day backpack (the right shoulder pads, waistbelt combination). The backpack I normally travel with is NOT a backpack for hiking - while the hiking backpack is not a great travel backpack - I know subtle differences - I don't want two "backpacks" -but its where you can pack things (I like a good water bottle holder for a hiking, the size and location of compartments are different for different uses)

[Anonymous]

Can you wash out in the sink and hang to dry? Let's say you're staying at the same hotel. Clothes you wash on Day 1 will certainly be ready to wear by Day 3. So, minimally, you could take clothes needed for 3 days. Everything gets washed on a rotation and worn again. Add in what you might wear rarely - a warmer shirt & jacket.

[Anonymous]

This is easy! 1) investigate where you can do laundry halfway through. 2) plan each outfit for first half so you don’t bring anything unnecessary and then use compression cubes.

[Anonymous]

Pack for one week. Plan to do laundry once while there.

[Anonymous]

Pack for no more than one week. Everyone I know who packs simply uses a packing list.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have unmedicated ADHD and anxiety... and am a minimalist packer! Packed a 6 week trip to Iceland and France into a carry-on hiking backpack once, since I knew I had laundry facilities at destination. The hardest thing to pack was hiking shoes - I wore them on the flight.

The difference is that you've never felt pressure to pack less. I hate lugging suitcases and bags, so I make the effort to fit everything into a carry-on.

Your packing will depend on whether you want to launder stuff at destination. Don't bring extras of anything.

What backpack did you use? And did you use it for a hiking backpack? When we hike we want a waterbottle, raincoat, etc with us - I have a few collapsible backpacks - we use for day trips but have a trip coming up next year that needs a really good day backpack (the right shoulder pads, waistbelt combination). The backpack I normally travel with is NOT a backpack for hiking - while the hiking backpack is not a great travel backpack - I know subtle differences - I don't want two "backpacks" -but its where you can pack things (I like a good water bottle holder for a hiking, the size and location of compartments are different for different uses)

It was a hiking backpack, with chest and waist strap, really useful internal and external compartments, water bottle net, etc, which has now been stolen by my college freshman. Doubt I'll ever see it again . My husband had the same one in a different color, and the kids, at the time, had slightly smaller packs. We always tie the straps close to the pack to get on the plane, otherwise they catch on everything. Packed to the gills, it's larger than carry-on capacity, and not the right shape, so I pack it in a certain way to make it fit carry-on regulations and not draw attention. As I said before, we hit the weight limit before hitting the volume limit. The fleece and raincoat were specifically chosen for being lightweight and not bulky.

[Anonymous]

Carry on girl here. My goal is to be wearing the only clean clothes left on the trip home.

[Anonymous]

DH so overpacks. He learned. On a Europe trip his heavy suitcase made him so tired and it was only the beginning of the trip, he mailed half his stuff home.

[Anonymous]

A 2-week trip is really a 1 week of packed clothing with a laundry break at the halfway mark. Depending on your accommodations you could be lucky and have a place with a washing machine, if not plan for washing clothes in the room, finding a laundromat, or see what the cost is for hotel laundry. A few years ago we were in Sweden they don't have many laundromats - but they do have very reasonable priced pick-up and wash/dry services. You do have to plan - if you need a day or two for things to be washed and dried, or returned to you. We have also started using clothes that wash and dry quickly and don't take up much space. When it comes to the mechanics of packing - using a travel capsule wardrobe helps. You don't need as many pieces to be able to manage a variety of different scenarios. There will always be a few items that I can't leave home without - but for the most part - if you truly need something you forgot or left behind you can buy it wherever you are going.

A trip to Hawaii is pretty straight forward, bathing suits, sandals, skirts/dresses for dinner, hiking shoes, rain coat, and underwear. There you go. Done.