I believe there are two kinds of travelers in the world… those who pack light and those who wish they had! And so I always try to advise people to pack as little and as lightly as possible based on a minimalist philosophy, using a systematic approach, and a well thought out packing list.
The basics
Find an empty 2×2 space in your house and spread out everything you think you might need. Then pick up each item and ask yourself, “Do I really need this? Will I actually use it enough to justify carrying it around for the whole duration of the trip?”
With each item you intend to bring, always try to visualize how to make it smaller, like getting travel-size toothpaste instead of the family size, a foldable backpack, a compact micro-fiber towel, and photocopying certain pages from the guidebook instead of bringing the whole thing.
Always check the weather forecast of the countries you’re visiting and plan accordingly. How much and what you pack depends on the time of year, the duration of the trip and the climate of your travel destination.
When packing your gear, try as much as possible to pack items that can simultaneously cover several occasions or events and pick clothes that coordinate well together, based on colors.
The list
This is what I usually pack for an average trip (keep in mind that I’m a guy so this should be slightly tweaked for females, cross dressers and whatnot 🙂
A pair of hiking shoes (or whatever footwear you can comfortably walk in for long hours)
-Flip flops
-Sunglasses
-One pair of Pants
-One pair of jeans
-Seven t-shirts
-One Shirt (for that swanky restaurant or unexpected date)
-Ten pairs of socks and underwear, since most of the time I do laundry once every ten days.
-Swim suit (you never know when things might turn wet n’ wild!)
-One light jacket (which I carry with me wherever I go regardless of the weather conditions, and since temperatures in some airports are downright excruciating unless you’re a polar Bear).
-Thermal wear and jacket as well as a rain poncho if it’s very cold and raining/snowing.
-Scarf or neck warmer
-Layover and waiting time entertainment, such as a book and a movie downloaded on my laptop or pad
-A universal plug adapter
-Cell phone, headphones, and camera (with accessories and chargers of course)
-Medicine Pack containing any prescription meds, pain killers, stomach/nausea relief, and bug bite cream etc…
-Toiletries and sun protection
-Electric shaver
-Guidebooks and maps
-Photocopies of important travel documents such as passport, visas and travel insurance
-Compact backpack or any travel bag for daily use (used basically to carry food, water and a hat or beany)
The philosophy in a nutshell
Pack everything you think you might possibly need… then get rid of half of it! At the end of the day travelling is about detaching from the norms of your daily life and being light and free.
Just like everything else in life, with travel packing you also need to set limits, so whether you’re traveling for 2 weeks or three months, pack exactly the same, don’t just keep adding stuff for every extra day you’re spending abroad, and remember that if you end up needing anything extra… you can always buy it!!
*As featured on Breadonbutter
