Thinking Travel

Jan 14, 2008

5 Easy Ways to Simplify Packing

The first time I went abroad I packed 22 pairs of shoes, my entire key chain collection, and a 12 inch inflatble palm tree.

Caveats:

My age = 16
I was moving to Germany for an entire year.
My exchange program suggested bringing a few things from home to decorate my new bedroom.

Well, the key chain sparked conversations with new friends (e.g. What the heck is this and why did you bring it to Germany?), and the palm tree livened up my new bedroom. But I quickly regretted the 44 shoes that screamed “YES, I’M AMERICAN!” (Sidenote: For the majority of the year, 42 of these shoes resided in the far reaches of my Kleiderschrank and didn’t see the light of day until I packed for my return to the US.)

I’ve learned a thing or two about packing since then.

Mostly that you really don’t need all that you think you’ll need.

Right now I’m packing for a 10-day trip to Costa Rica. Here are 5 easy things I do to simplify packing, and thus traveling:

Ditch the checked luggage. Go carry-on! While you’re at it, ditch the suitcase too. Buy a travel backpack and be hyper-selective about the clothes you bring. Make sure everything matches everything.
Use packing cubes. Eagle Creek offers cloth zippered cubes, folders, and sacs in a variety of colors for about $10 a pop. The folders keep shirts and pants fairly wrinkle free. Use the cubes to sort socks, t-shirts, and the like. Throw the cubes in your pack and you’re organized. Cheap-o version: Ziplock freezer bags.
Jewelry: maximize by minimizing. When I travel for fun I bring one pair of earrings and buy rings, necklaces, and earrings along the way as souvenirs. When I travel for work I often bring one silver chain and several pendants – saves space and avoids tangled necklaces.
Use hair elastics to wrangle cords. Digital camera. iPod. Laptop. Cell phone. Cords, cords, cords. I used to stuff all of my cables and various cords in a backpack pocket. But then they’d get all tangled up and I’d get annoyed. I have several thick black “ouchless” hair elastics so I’ve started using them to bind my cords. It’s so simple. Why didn’t I think of this sooner?
Tear up your guidebook. Unless you’re actually going to visit every city highlighted in your guidebook, there’s absolutely no reason to lug the entire thing around. Rip out the pages you really need, staple them together, and leave the rest at home.