Not many things in this world cause more stress for me than packing. I hate it. It’s tedious, it requires forward planning and always reminds me that I have way too many things, scattered in way too many places. It’s a reminder that I truly am a vagabond. No closet, no apartment, no city to call my own. I own things that are scattered across countries, hiding in borrowed storage places and relative’s garages. This is actually not as glamorous as it may seem. It’s pretty damn annoying.
The irony? Each time I pack, enroute to another new destination, I am overcome with a desire to have a home. HA. Packing for me means moving clothes from one suitcase to another, depending on weather conditions and length of stay at my new destination. How I wish I had a closet to peruse! Even a messy one! And that desire snowballs into a wish to have my own kitchen, my own living room, my own patio where I can barbeque… etc etc.
The result? After two hours of packing, I’ve gone through a multitude of life’s questions in my head and am so exhausted emotionally that I am tired even before the trip has begun.
If only I had some sort of “packing plan”! A list! A routine! Some way to make this process much easier. Tonight, I took careful note of what I’ve learned in the last few years of living out of a suitcase. Below are my tips:
- Ziploc bags are your friend. I met a set of girlfriends traveling around the world during a safari in Africa and they swore that Ziploc bags saved their lives (when the monsoon rains hit during their time in India, nothing in their packs got wet!). Everything should be packed in a clear Ziploc bag. One bag for each of the following (colour coordinated if necessary): undies, socks, tank tops, t shirts, pair of shoes, shower flip flops, dresses, jewelry, toiletries. Not only will it force order and function during the process of packing, this little tip will help a lot when you’re rummaging for that yellow tank top later!
- Do a first round packing, and then halve the load. YOU DO NOT NEED THREE PAIRS OF JEANS on your trip. Trust me. Nor do you need 5 different colours of the same t-shirt. In Italy, I wore 1/4 of the things that I brought but was stuck carrying the whole lot everywhere we went. NOT FUN!
- Get a proper shower caddy. The kind that is labeled “shower caddy” in the travel gear aisle at Target or REI. Preferably one that has a hook you can sling over a shower door. It will make bath time quick and easy, and the material it’s made of will not stink of mildew later. It also makes it easy to pack all toiletry items in ONE PLACE. I like this one from Target.
- Buy a nylon stuff sack. For laundry, wet clothes, muddy shoes. I used to carry extra plastic bags everywhere but they never lasted more than a few days on the road.
- FLIP FLOPS. For showers, for warm nights, for walking around the hotel/hostel/beach.
- For backpacks, purchase one that has a full mouth opening, not just top. This will make sorting much easier. I’ve got this one, by Berghaus. It opens almost like a normal suitcase, which makes it less frustrating to search through.
- Two good pairs of travel underwear are all you need. This summer, I packed 30, yes 30, pairs of undies for a month in Italy. Lacey ones, black ones, red ones, flowery ones, ones with bells (kidding!). STUPID STUPID. Lacey underwear is not meant for hiking, nor 40 degree celsius heat. Today I purchased two pairs of silk, fast-drying undies. Boyshort cut to avoid butt lines. Wear one pair, wash the other – every night. Then switch.
- If you have thick hair, use elastic headbands instead of normal hair ties. They will last, they will hold your hair up and they’re not as easy to lose. I got these at Target (gosh, I love Target!)
- Lastly, when in doubt LEAVE IT BEHIND. You will not need it.
