Packing It All In

FROM 5 BEDROOMS TO 2 SUITCASES

I’ve been thinking a lot about the number one question that we get asked, what do you take with you when you packed for long term travel.  The truth is, we aren’t 20 something and we enjoy a bit of creature comforts, so we each carry a backpack and a carry-on sized suitcase. 

For those that can travel with what they fit in a 60+/- liter backpack, more power to you.  Ugggh, I just can’t do that.  When I see folks with their large backpacks in the airport or train station, they often have another small backpack that they are wearing on the front and the thought of carrying all that weight on my body at 50+ just doesn’t appeal to me. 

 I suppose I could fit my small suitcase and small backpack contents into a large backpack, but as someone who occasionally likes backpacking, I don’t always want to carry my stuff on my back.  If the situation ever occurs that the small suitcases, we travel with, are too much we would reevaluate at that time. 

BUT WHAT ABOUT MY…..

I recently had an occasion to spend time with someone traveling with a very large suitcase.  This type of suitcase requires checking at the airport and worrying about whether your large bag will weigh less than the 50 pounds allowed by most airlines (without paying overweight bag fees).  Another challenge with a very large bag is that there is not always going to be someone to carry it for you, so be prepared to traverse stairs and small spaces with your giant bag.  Also, keep in mind that in many countries your place to stay may be a walk up or have a very tiny elevator (lift).

Inquiring minds want to know:  Why do people insist on carrying the very large suitcase?  The most common reasons I hear is that they want all their full-sized grooming products and want lots of clothing and shoe options.  I will share with you later in this post how I handle the personal grooming products.  I have a friend who even travels with her coffee and creamer in that large suitcase.  For some folks the security of having all their stuff makes travel more comfortable and I say travel the way you prefer.  Our way isn’t necessarily the correct way, it just happens to be what works for us and makes travel easy.  We are always learning from others and our own experience how to travel more efficiently and hope that this list does the same for someone else.

We each have made some different choices in what we carry, but this list is a good start

BAGS

Her suitcase: American Tourister – 22” hard sided case with spinner wheels.  I suggest a vivid color or patterned bag with a sticker or crazy luggage tag to let your suitcase stand out if you must check it.  I personally almost never check my bags, mostly because I am not very patient when it comes to waiting for bags at the airport.  We both use packing cubes and roll our clothes for packing. 

His suitcase: Travelpro 21” carry on with spinner wheels – this suitcase weighs a bit more, but he prefers the fact that both sides have zippered compartment divider panels.

Her backpack: Checkmate backpack – My backpack was a promo travel backpack that Douglas got from his company, but it has all the features I was looking for: multiple compartments, an easy access computer storage area, side pockets deep enough for my water bottle and most important to me a strap to attach my pack to my suitcase handle for running through airports or train stations. 

His backpack: Osprey 30 Porter – this pack allows all the flexibility of a full feature backpack with the easy of a duffel or soft sided suitcase and has plenty of room for both computers and work devices that he must carry when we travel.  It also has a large easy to pack section with full zipper for long weekend trips when only this pack is needed. 

I also carry a purse – which is usually a travel purse I have one by Baggallini and a Travelon, but I often will switch out to a cute purse for a while, if it fits in my backpack when going through the airport. 

Clothing – The best advice I can offer is pack light and only pack one week worth of clothes, wear things twice (or more) and plan to do some laundry.  A simple color palette allows you to mix and match. 

I personally prefer to not take jeans as they are bulky, but if you want to take a pair of jeans – wear them on the plane and you won’t have to pack all that bulk. 

SHIRTS

5 casual shirts

2 dress shirts

1 long sleeve dry shirt – for hiking or layering

1 dress during warm seasons

PANTS

2 stretch harem pants (because they are comfy and light and oh yes, comfy)

5 lightweight walking pants – I currently have 2 pair of Powersoft pants from Old Navy, and a stretch pair of walking pants from Columbia and 2 other wrinkle free pants I love

1 pair of yoga pants or leggings

Shorts – change out 2 pants for shorts in summer

WARM LAYERS

A hoodie or cardigan

1 Columbia Raincoat – could be an umbrella instead

Warm jacket for winter travel only

UNDERWEAR / SWIMWEAR

7-10 underwear and socks

2 bras (just in case)

1 swimsuit – I take it during all seasons as I don’t want to miss an opportunity to jump in a hot tub.

Seasonally I switch out some pants for shorts, casual shirts for tanks, add in gloves and a heavier coat.  I do have an amazing 3 season travel coat with lots of pockets for safety.

Keep in mind that heading out and buying clothing that you might need while traveling can be fun and add some variety to your wardrobe. We both love to see clothing styles in other countries. 

Toiletries

I switched to shampoo and conditioner in a bar form, so I don’t have to worry about fitting liquid in my one carry-on quart sized bag.

Toothbrush and charger (yep, we both travel with our Sonicare toothbrushes)

Travel size toothpaste and floss

Deodorant – travel size

Bar soap – hotel size

Razor and one refill blade

Daily wear contacts and eye drops

I wear a tinted moisturizer with sunscreen and no other makeup so this one is easy for me but if you are a makeup wearer you may want to look for smaller versions of your daily makeup

Tweezers, clippers, nail file

Hairbrush

And great refillable travel perfume/cologne bottles – which hold 15-20 sprays of scent

Small vials for lotions etc. – I only take what I think I will need during my trip or even the first few days if I will be gone long enough to warrant buying something when I arrive

Menstrual supplies – I only take a day or two worth as I can run to the store to get what I need

Medications I count out for the number of days I will be traveling plus a couple just in case and place in a plastic bag.

I also take a small bag with a couple of doses of cold medicine, stomach, and pain meds – just enough to hold us over until we can get to a store

For the last year we have also traveled with a covid test in our bags (just in case)

Shoes – one pair of black sneakers, a pair of sandals for summer or a pair of boots for winter, and a pair of Slippers or house shoes – I prefer Crocs women’s flip flop sandals (these are super lightweight and have been a lifesaver for me with plantar fasciitis)

Exercise – I currently carry a yoga pad cover which allows me to do yoga or stretch on hotel floors without being grossed out, plus it can get tossed in the laundry! I also keep a set of lightweight resistance bands and a yoga strap in my suitcase.  Altogether this is my gym on the go  

Technology – laptop, charger, a power brick, Kindle Paperwhite, noise canceling wireless headphones, cameraOther – the other odds and ends that I happen to travel with:

Hat (I take a soft sided brimmed running hat for planned bad hair days or hiking)

A pair of pajamas

Water bottle – I suggest a bottle with a water filter if you are going somewhere with questionable water or if you are picky about the taste of your water like me

Dryer sheets and one load of laundry soap (I always keep a couple of loose used dryer sheets in my suitcase to keep things smelling nice).  Having recently used them, I highly recommend laundry soap sheets as they take up no space and are far better for the environment than single use plastic jugs. 

Notebook and pen

Sleep mask and travel pillow – these may just get left behind at some point as I can’t really sleep sitting up on planes anyway

Ear plugs

Scarf / Sarong – there are a ton of videos on YouTube with ideas how to use this versatile piece of cloth

Reusable shopping bag – I love the Loqi bag my sister-in-law got me when we sold our home! Thanks sis. 

FINALLY

The long and short of it is that packing is very personal.  If you are planning to live out of bag for a few weeks or months on end, give yourself the freedom to change your stuff until it feels like it fits your lifestyle.  Don’t pack for every single “what-if” scenario that could possibly come up.