My husband and I have started to joke that I am completely obsessed with packing lists. Whether it’s a two-week overseas trip or a 12-hour stopover at my parents’ place, I use them for every overnight journey. You see, I am a former overpacker who, if left to her own selfish devices, would undoubtedly arrive at my destination to discover that I have brought eight blouses that require different bra situations, six pairs of shoes, and one pair of trousers that I haven’t worn in three years. Packing lists are my buddies, and they were the only thing that allowed me to travel this past winter with just personal belongings and no checked or carry-on luggage.
I only recently learned that several airlines now charge extra for carrying a carry-on bag. Out of principle, I refused to make my life simpler by simply paying for carry-on space because I felt that these additional expenditures, on top of the high holiday flight charges, were unacceptable while organizing our Thanksgiving and Christmas travel. As a result of my stubbornness, I had to figure out how to squeeze everything I would need for the entire trip into a little bag that would fit beneath the seat in front of me. If you’re interested in adopting this minimalist travel style, here’s all the information you need.
Step 1: Confirm Your Airline’s Personal Item Requirements
First things first, you should confirm your airline’s baggage size policy because some airlines have more stringent policies than others. Sizes and dimensions ought to be provided on their website, but in general, most people define a personal item as any bag that is less than 18 inches by 14 inches by 8 inches. There are several stylish bags made especially to make your personal belongings as organized as possible, but in the end, I went with my Tracksmith Club duffle, which is 17 by 15.75 inches and holds 33L.(When I travel, I usually choose a “black hole” bag over one with plenty of pockets or partitions.) I was allowed to bring a small crossbody bag and my tiny duffel on flights on Spirit and Delta Airlines, but Norwegian Air was very rigorous about allowing only one personal item per person.
Step 2: Make a General Packing List—with Designated Outfits
I’ve discovered that this is the secret to effective packing in general. In addition to making a list of everything you want to pack, such as toiletries, clothes, medications, books, and entertainment, I prefer to organize my outfits for each day of my trip. In essence, I’m creating a mini-capsule wardrobe by making sure that the majority, if not all, of the clothes, shoes, and accessories I intend to carry may be combined to make the maximum possible combinations of ensembles. Since that is a riddle for Step 3, at this time, just put everything on this general list without worrying about how it will all fit in your bag (spoiler alert: it won’t).
Step 3: Refine Your Packing List to Only the Essentials
You won’t have to worry about forgetting anything important once you’ve made a list of everything you want to bring. I knew my family would have shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, and a hair dryer ready because I was staying with them for my Thanksgiving vacation. I probably could have omitted the moisturizer and face cleanser as well, but I decided to make place for those extra amenities because my skin is really sensitive. Additionally, even though I’ve been known to bring two or even more novels on vacation, I choose to pack just my Kindle because it’s considerably smaller. I also replaced my heavy noise-canceling headphones with simple earbuds, which took up a lot less room but were marginally less successful at drowning out children’s cries.
When it comes to apparel, this is when having a capsule wardrobe approach truly pays off. I’ll give you figures, but they might alter in the end based on the details of your travel and the activities you have scheduled. I brought one pair of slacks, two T-shirts, two sweaters, a dress, two pairs of shoes (a flat and a sneaker), and pajamas for my four-day trip to Nashville.I substituted one set of running gear (shorts, a T-shirt, a long-sleeved layer, and a sports bra) for the dress and flats for a subsequent excursion of the same duration. Wear your bulkiest clothing on the plane, such as boots or sneakers, a coat, and a big sweater. Additionally, be aware that you may most likely do laundry wherever you are going, be it a friend’s house, a boutique hotel, or a popular resort.
The one area on my packing list that I didn’t restrict? Jewels. It doesn’t take up much room, and changing up your necklace or earrings can give your inevitably worn-out ensembles a new look.
Step 4: Pack
The one area on my packing list that I didn’t restrict? Jewels. It takes up very little room, and changing your necklace or earrings can give your inevitably boring ensemble a new look.Avoid rolling all your clothes into tidy cylinders and move away from the packing cubes. Almost all of the clever packing tips you’ve heard in the past are likely to leave valuable gaps that could be filled with a beach suit or another adorable top because you need to make the most of every available space in that particular item. It’s time to take that T-shirt and cram it into the corner as tightly as possible.To fill in every small space, crumple, pack, and layer your clothing however you see fit. (Once you arrive to your destination, you can always steam or iron them.) Additionally, I’ve tucked my little handbag into the stack of clothes to keep it from squishing and used it as a kind of packing cube or toiletry bag for small items I don’t want to get lost in the mix.Your wallet, phone, cash, and passport should all be kept in smaller zipped pockets for quick access. If you intend to carry a laptop, be sure to place it on top so it will be simple to remove when you pass through TSA (some airports may mandate this, others may not).
And voilà! I’ve found that traveling with just a personal item is best saved for occasions when you’ll be gone for no more than four days and have a fairly low-key itinerary. It’s crucial to keep in mind that any extra room you leave in your bag when traveling to your destination will be used to store any mementos you may want to bring back. To get you started on your new minimalist-traveler lifestyle, I’ve included an example packing list for a four-day trip to see relatives below. Good luck!
