Packing is probably a lot of people's least exciting part of travel. I know plenty of people who straight-up say they hate packing, which is funny, because I love packing and hate unpacking. You can't just not pack for a trip, unless you have someone who will do it for you. Believe me, if I could figure out how to make a living from packing strangers' suitcases, I would totally do it. For now, I have to settle for telling people how to do it instead.
There are a lot of ways to become adept at packing, but most people don't have the patience for it and also don't want to do any of the things I explain help to pack lighter and save money. I'm not going to spend $30+ each way for my clothes to go on the plane and maybe arrive at my same destination. I like knowing where all my things are and not having to wait around at the carousel for it to *hopefully* come off the plane. I want to take my stuff and get right to my vacation. No stress.
I'm a small person, so I am not bringing a bag that I could ride in and definitely not one I can't pick up. If I travel alone, I usually only bring along a bag that fits under the seat, because I'm short and have anxiety about getting my bag in the overhead. You don't have to be like me, but you can pack better by avoiding these 3 things:
1. You didn't make a packing list
When you don't make a packing list, you have no clear vision of what your travel wardrobe is going to look like. It leaves you open to overpacking and taking too many things, most of which won't go together, and then you end up either struggling with a heavy bag or paying to check it. Worst case, you have to do both. Make a packing list and make sure every top you bring goes with every bottom. I promise this works even for business trips. Black pants go a long way on almost every trip, unless you're going to the beach.
2. You brought too many shoes
I love shoes. I have a whole closet full of them. Do they all go on vacation with me? They do not. I bring one pair of walking shoes, like sneakers, and a nicer pair of walking shoes to go to dinner or somewhere dressy, like a pair of ballet flats, mary janes, sandals, or a short packable boot.
If you're going to the beach or the pool, throw in a pair of flip flops, but that's it. I wear my sneakers on the plane and pack the others and I have never been upset to only have 2 options, even when it rained so hard I had to go back to my room and change into my second pair and leave the first to dry out.
3. You took the wrong bag
The right bag is essential. If you know that you're an overpacker, choose a smaller bag and pack for that one. Don't just assume you'll pack less in a larger bag, because you won't. I need to downsize to pack less and I bet you do, too. For a long time I either packed in a full-size roller bag or a backpack or both. I still take a backpack, because I like it for my laptop and snacks, but I've now gone to a smaller roller bag for when I travel alone or we are going on a short trip.
The more you practice packing, the easier it gets to take fewer things and choose the right bag for you. I have a lot of bags, because I'm a firm believer that certain trips call for certain bags, but even if you just invest in one good main bag and a personal item size bag, that's perfect. Figure out what you want from a bag (organization, pockets, 4 wheels, convertibility) and choose one based on those criteria. It's better than if you just buy one randomly based on price or because it looks good on the outside.
Now you have a good foundation for your packing and can start becoming more of a packing pro that can focus on downsizing your wardrobe and toiletry bag and using packing cubes (or not). Spending the time to really research how you want to travel and with what, you'll be happier to start packing for every trip.
What are your favorite travel brands for bags or clothes or shoes?
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