Good Things come in Small Packages

Before I had even taken my first flight, my Aunt Babs advised me to never check-in luggage — either pack everything in carry-on or pay to ship your luggage to your destination.  I remember thinking, “there is no way I could fit everything in a carry-on and I am SO not paying to ship my luggage!”  Years later with several international trips under my belt, I can acknowledge my aunt’s wisdom.

Packing light does not require sacrificing comfort or fashion, but it DOES require a lot of thought and investing in some key elements.  There are some great websites and Pinterest feeds out there that offer packing lists specific to your destination.  My particular favorites are Travel Fashion Girl and Her Packing List.  These sites can be very helpful when you want to know what “the locals” wear or when you want suggestions for favorite walking shoes, travel leggings, wrinkle-free dresses, etc.

Regardless of your destination, there are certain items and tips for packing that I ALWAYS use.  Following this process, I am able to fit everything I need into 1 carry-on and 1 personal bag — even for a 17 day trip to Europe!  This process works for Eric as well, despite the fact that men’s clothing is typically larger and more challenging to fit into carry-on.  Here’s how we do it…

THE PROCESS

At least two weeks prior to departure, I start thinking about what I need for the trip.  This way I have time to shop if there’s something missing.  A week before, I start laying everything out on a spare bed or table.  When selecting my clothes, I start from the bottom and work my way up with very specific requirements.

Shoes come first…

We hike on most of our trips, so I typically bring 2 shoes:  hiking boots (which I wear on the plane) and flats (nice enough for restaurants but comfy enough for walking all day).  I LOVE my Ahnu Montara hiking boots — they give me the ankle support I need and have never given me any trouble.  If I have room for a third pair, then I’ll pack some dressy ballet flats.  I cannot stress enough the importance of investing in a great pair of flats — something that:

• has the support you need to walk on hard cobblestone roads all day
• is lightweight and takes up as little space as possible
• is a neutral color that goes with everything you pack (I prefer black or tan)
• is waterproof or won’t be ruined by rain (leather, high quality suede, etc)

For hiking trips in hot weather (like Greece), I leave the boots at home and bring my Teva Verra sandals — my sister and I both have a pair and swear by them!

Then Bottoms…

These are really determined by personal preference and what type of activities we’ll be doing.  Our trips usually involve hiking and sightseeing in cool weather, so I rarely pack shorts.  Here are the pants that I ALWAYS pack:

• skinny jeans (comfy, wear well for days without getting too loose, look good with hiking boots & flats)
• hiking pants (my favorites are Kuhl Trekr and Prana Halle)
• leggings (black or dark navy, good quality that are nice enough for restaurants and won’t stretch out)

Followed by Tops…

This is where my packing can get a little out of hand and I really have to prune down what I want to bring.  I always start out with way too many tops, thinking I’ll need multiple cute outfits that involve fluffy sweaters and puffy vests.  Not gonna happen in a carry-on, so I squash that inner Diva and narrow down to my absolute favorite tops (for both function AND looks).  Hot weather trips mean sleeveless blouses or sundresses.  Cool weather means layering with undershirts, sweaters, 1/2 zip fleece or performance tops, and insulated vests.  Since cooler weather offers a bigger challenging for packing lightly, I’ll share my typical list of tops that will cover 2 weeks of hiking and sightseeing in cooler temps:

• 3 undershirts (moisture-wicking fabric, low neckline; sleeveless for mild temps and silk or merino wool long-sleeve for cold temps)
• 2 or 3 long-sleeve pullovers (moisture-wicking, layer well under vests or jackets; half zip tech-wear for mild temps or fleece for cold temps)
• 2 or 3 sweaters (prefer wool or cashmere because it gives more warmth without being bulky; colors that go with all your pants)
• 2 vests (with pockets that fit my phone; quilted or fleece)

Though it seems overkill to spend $80-100 on underwear, I do recommend investing in at least one merino wool or silk base layer top.  It keeps you warm without overheating, absorbs odor, and packs super light.  I’m happy with my Terramar Thermasilk (which I got on sale on Amazon for $40) — it’s nude and v-neck, so it disappears under any top.

End with Outerwear & Underwear

Please do NOT pay an exorbitant amount for fancy undies (such as “period panties” or “odor absorbing”).  I bought those Thinx panties and still bled through my jeans, thank you very much!  And sure, my odor-absorbing Ex-Officio undies are very nice for hiking, but at $20 a pop they’re not worth the price.  Underwear is easy to wash in a sink, so just make sure they’re comfy, dry quickly and don’t show panty lines.  I usually pack 4 pairs, no matter how long my trip is.  I also use disposable day pads (especially when I’m wearing leggings) — it keeps the undies fresher. 🙂

For outerwear, I always pack a waterproof rain jacket.  I’ve hiked in torrential rain in a Columbia Arcadia with no issues, but the Marmot PreCip is my new favorite because it has a better hood.  Things that matter to me for a good rain jacket are:

• Must say “waterproof” (NOT water-resistant)
• Must have side pockets that I can fit my phone in or rest hands in
• Must have a large, stiff hood that hangs over my face but still allows me to see (if you wear a hat, this isn’t as important)
• Packability (the lighter it is, the less space it takes up in your luggage — paying more $ for this might be worth it)
• Color (I prefer a neutral color that’s not too flashy, something I can wear out to dinner)
• Style (I prefer a longer style that covers my bootie — looks better with leggings)
• Price (There are so many good options out there and it’s fairly easy to find a good one for less than $100 if you shop around, but make sure that price isn’t your top determining factor.  Get what you want, because this jacket should last a long time).

If temps will be less than 50F, then I’ll pack a coat and it’s always a packable down or “puffer” coat. I haven’t found “the perfect” travel coat yet (because I’m too cheap), but my two Columbia synthetic down coats (one with a hood and one without) have both worked well for me.  Look for something with a high down or polyester fill, good pockets, neutral color and a style that works for the outdoors AND cities — then pay the premium if you want something that packs really small but still keeps you warm.  I keep hoping I’ll miraculously find one of these on clearance: Arc’teryx Cerium LT, Patagonia Nano Puff. or Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer.

THE TRICKS

Roll & Compress

Once you’ve determined your clothing, now the fun begins!  The two important tricks for fitting it all into carry-on are: roll and compress.  Rolling your clothes really does save space.  For small items like underwear and socks, use Ziploc bags or packing “cubes” to keep everything organized and compress the air out, or just stuff them in the empty spaces. When it comes to large items like heavy tops and puffer coats, a compression bag is a MUST.  You can find these anywhere, just look for “rolling compression bags” and make sure they’re in sizes Medium and Large and don’t require a vacuum.

Go “Mini”

If you’re like me and have to take a lot of daily medications, pack your daily meds in mini plastic bags (I pay $3 for 100 on Amazon).  It saves on space, keeps them organized, and you can throw them away as you finish each day.  If you’re visiting Europe, you’ll need to bring a washcloth or body puff because most of their hotels and inns don’t provide that.  We like Jonny&Lora Reusable Compressed Towels Tablets because they don’t fall apart like disposable cloths, but there are tons of options online or in camping stores.  For toiletries, I horde cosmetic and hair samples!  If you can get free samples in the disposable bags, those are perfect!  The idea is that you want to return home lighter.  For those toiletries that you will not compromise on (such as your miraculous face lotion), get some empty sample containers and downsize.  Don’t pay extra for “travel size” cosmetics.  When it comes to hair products, THAT is when I feel the sacrifice.  Leaving behind my giant hair brush and hair dryer is hard but necessary.  We almost always stay somewhere with a hair dryer, but there have been times when I went without — which is why I pack a good hair cream and pray for a good hair day.  Ladies with long hair, you have it SOOOO easy!

Leave the Kitchen Sink Behind!

You do NOT have to bring your house with you.  Unless you’re visiting a remote location, there will be grocery and drug stores.  One of my favorite places to shop are drug stores in other countries.  It doesn’t have to be in English for me to know what shampoo to buy, and you’ll discover new and fascinating products!  Same goes for food — we pack what we want for the airport and maybe some trail mix or jerky, but everything else we buy once we get there.  You WILL survive without your favorite breakfast cereal or Oreos, and you’ll better experience your destination by shopping like a local.

Luggage & Necessities

I have two options for luggage, a Kelty Redwing backpack or a standard carry-on rolling suitcase. I bring the backpack if we’ll be carrying our luggage around on uneven streets or using public transit (which has been the case for most of our European trips).  Otherwise, I’ll bring the suitcase.  I always bring a daypack, something just large enough to fit toiletries and what I need for airport and day hikes:

• For hiking: hydration pack, rain jacket, sunglasses, female urinary device (aka pee funnel & liberator of women)
• For airplane: external battery pack, gum, melatonin sleep-aid, noise-cancelling headphones, Germ-x, neck pillow
• If we have room:  e-reader, food (sweetener, trail mix, jerky)

I get a lot of funny looks when people see my neck pillow, but I swear it has the best design (just embrace the fact that you’re snuggling your face in something shaped like…well, you can figure it out…)

And that’s it in a nutshell!  I would love to hear what YOU pack when you travel, so leave me a comment.