(Preface: None of the brands I mention in this blog provide any compensation for me. I am mentioning them because I use these brands and like them)
I am sure the topic on "what to pack" when you travel has been written about to death. There are so many websites with heading such as
The Ultimate Packing List
The Only Travel Packing Checklist You'll Ever need
Ultimate Travel Packing
Smart Packing Tips
What to Pack When Traveling
Never Travel Without These...
Epic Travel Packing List
10 Packing Essentials for Every Trip
and so on...
Now, I've definitely learned from reading through these sites or watching YouTube videos on this topic. But I also know my personality. A couple things I know about myself are:
1) I cannot stand over packing and;
2) I don't like bringing home a large suitcase full of dirty laundry after a vacation.
The last thing I want is to come back from vacation and feel l need to do loads of laundry otherwise I will have nothing to wear. It feels like work! I prefer to come back from a vacation and slowly ease back into things, which includes doing the laundry.
What you pack of course depends on where you are going and the season. However, as a general rule of thumb, here is a list of how I pack, based on my personality.
Pack light
Eliminate cotton clothes as much as possible
Do some laundry while you're on vacation
Pack Light
Even if I have the option of "free" check bags, I do not always do it; especially if I have a connecting flight. I do not want to risk the airline losing my baggage. If you are traveling with family and you have small children, or an infant, this might not be possible. But if that's you, be proactive. If you are proactive, hopefully it will reduce your stress and level of anger when something goes wrong with your luggage. Remember, anything that can go wrong will go wrong. What's proactive? For me, it's putting the most important items in my carry-on, including clothes I need. Maybe paying a bit more for a direct flight to reduce the chance of the airline losing my luggage? And lastly, get travel insurance. Travel insurance won't solve your problems immediately, but hopefully it will provide some relief in case of lost luggage and travel delays.
If I am traveling solo, I would not bring more than the allowed carry-on for the overhead bin and a backpack. If I need to bring my bicycle, I always look at train options first, despite how horrible train travel is in the US. If taking the train is not realistic (which sadly in the US, it usually isn't), I look at airlines that charge a bicycle at the same price as a regular checked bag. Currently, American, Alaska, Delta and United will charge a bicycle at the regular checked baggage fee. Check out this link for bicycle baggage fees.
What if you are traveling to a colder destinations? I would bring outer wear that packs small. One of my favorite jackets for cold weather is the Patagonia Nano Puff. Buying it new can be a bit expensive at $229. You can instead search on Patagonia's Worn Wear site. The Nano Puff is currently $147 on their Worn Wear site as of this writing.
Below is a photo of my Patagonia Nano Puff jacket packed down.
For rainy conditions, I also have a Patagonia Granite Crest Jacket which packs very well. Water resistant and pack-able pants are also a necessity for rainy conditions. Personally, when it comes to rain, I would invest the money and purchase something that works well so you are not miserable. Whether cold or rain, don't forget to layer. Base layers are amazing in keeping you warm and allows you to pack small. A base layer, a moisture wicking shirt, moisture wicking sweatshirt, insulated jacket and windshell jacket can all be packed down to a small size. Socks, pants and undergarments for both men and women also have moisture wicking and quick drying materials which makes cleaning and re-wearing your clothes without the stench and stains much easier.
Pack Clothes Not Made From Cotton
The problem with cotton clothes when you are traveling is cotton absorbs stains and sweat easily. Even if you are visiting a major city like Chicago, if you visit during the summer time when the humidity is high, your cotton shirt is absorbing your sweat. It'll smell afterwards and you won't be able to wear it again unless you are okay walking around with day old sweat smell. If you go back to your hotel at the end of the day, you can wash your cotton shirt in a sink, but cotton also takes too long to dry so it will still be wet or at best damp the next day.
I would pack shirts that are either merino wool or a t-shirt that has vents and can wick moisture. These shirts allows me to wash them in the sink of my hotel and have it ready to go the next day. I happen to have several running t-shirts from my running days, and I usually bring a couple with me because of the Dri-Fit or CoolMax component. Both materials allow the t-shirt to dry quickly after being washed.
The options are almost endless. For men, Fjallraven has a v-neck sweater made mostly from wool for those colder nights. It helps wick moisture away and can be worn for a night on the town. Smartwool also has a sweater for a night out made with a wool blend. Both sweaters allow you to "dress up" a bit and do not make you look like you came straight from the gym.
If you have to wear jeans, I like the DU/ER jeans for both men and women. DU/ER jeans have a blend of spandex, lycra, coolmax and cotton. My DU/ER jeans are stretchier than my "normal" jeans. The material feels thinner (at least the one I have), and it doesn't take up much room in the luggage. The one I have also drys faster than "normal" jeans if I need to wash it.
Do Some Laundry On Vacation
What's great about not bringing cotton clothes on vacation is you can handwash your clothes when you get back to your hotel and it will dry quickly. Also, whenever I travel, I look for hotels or Airbnb's where I can do my laundry. Most hotels will have laundry service. That's not what I want. I want a hotel that has a laundry room. Why do I want a laundry facility? Because it allows me to pack light and wear the same clothes again but clean. As mentioned earlier, I do not like to over pack and end my vacation with a load of dirty laundry.
When you're on vacation, there will always a be a few nights where you're in your hotel room or Airbnb just watching TV. That's the best time to do laundry. If you're like me and occasionally check your work email during vacation, then you can also do a load of laundry.
Hope my suggestions help improve your next travels.
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