Packing: No Wrong Way

There are a lot of different ways to pack for a trip. And sometimes the way you pack changes based on length, destination, and mode of transport. You have to find what works for you. Tips are helpful if they make your like easier, but if they cause you to be more anxious about travelling, then leave them behind. I’ll be sharing how I pack and tips I’ve picked up and incorporated.

Travel Tip - Do not underestimate packing cubes.

I wasn’t so sure when packing cubes first started making the rounds. It was another step to add to my packing routine. Then I went to a AAA Travel Day and they had The Packing Lady give a presentation. She said she always packed her underwear in a see through bag or packing cubes when flying, because if TSA has to go through your bag and they are loose that’s someone handling them with gloves that are not changed with every bag they go through. That image convinced me to give them a try.

Now I don’t pack without them. If you are going to a few different places over the course of your trip, they make it easier to find things in your bag. If you are staying in one place, they make it easy to settle into your hotel closet and dresser. I don’t put everything in them. Sometimes jackets and bulkier clothing don’t fit well with your other clothes. I leave them out on their own since they don’t get buried in the bottom of your suitcase as easily.

There are two schools of thought on how to use packing cubes. Packing by type or by outfit. I do a little of both. Anything that is not a main piece of clothing, tights, socks, etc. gets packed together. Then I try to back outfits or groups of outfits together. Pants or skirt with the tops I’ve packed for them. Dresses together with a sweater. If something doesn’t fit rolled up in the cube I fold it on top and see if that works.

Travel Tip - Pack similar color palette clothes

Most of us gravitate to certain colors. We just find them more pleasing than others and/or feel they look better on us. So packing clothes that you can mix and match from the clothes in our closets might not be to difficult. I do admit, thinking about what I’m packing for a trip makes me want to buy something to fill in what I perceive as a whole, even when I probably have something. But that can be part of the fun and anticipation of travelling. Looking forward to wearing our new item in a new place. If you’re packing a pair of pants and a skirt that a new top goes with, there is two wears of your new item already.

I gravitate to wearing dress and jumpsuits over pants. And while it is true that you can pack less if you make your outfits based on pants and skirts, don’t think that you can’t pack efficiently if you’d rather wear more dresses. To do this, I try to take a neutral pair of tights or leggings that will go with each dress I am taking, as well as a coat or sweater that goes. Even if I’m going to be in warm weather, I take a sweater and leggings because sometimes your accommodations are chilly and its more comfortable to have them.

Travel Tip - You don’t have to wear the shirt more than once

When you have a top that goes with the pair of pants you brought and also with your skirt, you don’t have to wear it with each. Sometimes we thought we would like to wear the top with both, but on that day we just aren’t feeling it. You want to be comfortable in what you wear when traveling. I think that is why some people overpack. They want options on the day and are uncertain that they will be comfortable. Packing tops that go with multiple bottoms gives you those multiple options, but that doesn’t mean you have to wear everything the way you thought you would. If its because you don’t want to wear a skirt wear the pants again. Sometimes I turn one of my dresses into a skirt by wearing a shirt over it instead of wearing the skirt I brought.

If these tips were helpful - Great! If not, as long as you aren’t struggling to get your luggage from place to place or running out of room for the souvenirs you want, maybe the way you pack works for you already.