Least you’ve ever packed for a trip

It’s so damned hard to do.

What would it be like? Beyond stupid.

I'm a light packer and I always bring toiletries. Leaving out toiletries is not "packing light." That's just stupid.

People tend to pack too many clothes. That's where you can cut back.

Maybe if you were going to a cheap, sunny place likeSE Asia:

In college, friends and I went backpacking through Europe over 5 weeks. All I took was an oversized backpack.

I hated having to wash my clothes in hotel sinks.

A woman on my team way way overpacks even for when we have to travel 2 nights somewhere for work.

She always has her three bags with her

Weighing by baggage at check in is my worst nightmare.

I’m an overpacker, but one time I was able to fit everything for a 3-week Balkan vacation in one US size carryon bag. That’s when I learned the European carryon size is smaller, which kind of defeated the purpose…since I ended up having to check the bag each flight.

I usually overpack clothes. I'm off for 14 nights in Spain/France next week and am taking only 1 rolling carryon this time. I'll have a washer in an Airbnb midtrip, so am planning on washing clothes (and hanging on a rack). 2 pants, 4 shirts, 6 underwear/socks, 1 sweater, 1 rain coat, 1 overcoat. And 1 Ziploc of travel size toiletries.

A packing tip that’s never failed me- lay out everything you think you’ll need for your trip, spread it out on the bed, and then ruthlessly cut it in half. Trust me, you won’t miss the extra stuff.

Another tip - pack darker-colored clothes. They travel better since stains, spills, and wrinkles are less noticeable.

It is a good thing I dislike traveling as I cannot help myself with packing. I know I am being ridiculous!

I took frequent 4-5 day trips to places like Tokyo and Hong Kong. (Usually 2 business days to get there, 2 days of meetings, and 1 day travel back.) My meetings always required a coat and tie as the business culture there is a bit more traditional. Over the years I found I could get by with a small duffel bag (rather than a wheeled carry-on) with a nice leather backpack doubling as briefcase. A dark blue wool blazer over good quality dark jeans sufficed for meetings. (In business settings no one pays attention to what men wear - women have it much harder.) I packed 2 different ties with 2 white dress shirts, dress shoes, and wore the blazer on flights. In winter I wore the blazer over a cashmere sweater and used a scarf. The hotels I stayed in always supplied shampoo, shaving cream, disposable razor, toothbrush, etc. so all I brought was a sample size container of moisturizer and deodorant.

I am picky about my toiletries, so i pack my own.

R13 - Amen. Anyone over 30 needs more than bar soap and shampoo to get themselves together. I'm used to my daily routine - even going without one part of it can be distracting and noticeable.

I always pack 1 or 2 pair of underwear more than what I need, and over half the time I've used them. Good jeans have several days of wear and can still look good.

What amazes me is that people don't roll up their socks and underwear into the openings of their shoes. It saves so much space.

For longer trips, the packing cubes are a life-saver. You wouldn't think so, but they save so much room and then you have the zip bags for the dirty clothes to separate from the rest.

i commuted to chicago from philly this year. flew in the morning, returned in the evening. might as well have chopped down whole forests with that day.

I carried a backpack

R15 - why not just stay Mon thru Wed nights? Getting to and from two airports every day (particularly Chicago) would drive me insane. I know there are trains, but it's a LONG train ride to downtown. Philly's airport is a bit of a journey, but better than Chicago.

Why??

I've learned to take a carry-on size wheeled suitcase and, if it's winter or a long trip, a bag that can be shoved under the seat. Doesn't matter if it's a weekend or a month plus, that's what I take. I haven't used the old, larger size bags in years, except to stow blankets or seasonal things in the closet.

I live in Europe so it's never difficult to find a laundry place where I could do a wash and dry load in a hour; and if it's a short-term apartment rental, it's sure to have a washer/dryer. Depending on where I'm going I'll try to be clever and leave space to buy a new jacket or shoes or done thing I need. And if I buy something big on the trip, I either ship it by a courier service or buy a cheap bag and pay an extra bag fee.

I always overpack, if anything.

I use packing cubes. They’re ok. I’m flying tonight and my carry on looks a little lumpy but it works. I also try to stay somewhere with laundry facilities and bring a couple laundry sheets with me. Ordinarily they’re useless but these clothes will just need a refresh.

My main problem is the giant work laptop they gave me. I asked for something smaller and got a shrug. The case just makes it worse.

Like R17, i leave a little space for purchases.

I always make sure my AirB&B has a washing machine ((even hotels have them now). If so, I only pack for 3-4 days and can go 2 weeks

R20 - Amen - I also like to wash my clothes before I return home.

I pack a Patagonia MLC backpack bag (maximum carryon size) and a day pack for the electronics. I've gone for as long as a month with these, including business trips. There is no reason to carry more. And unless you have a bad bag, no reason to have a wheelie, which are just annoying to other people.

I travel relatively frequently, so my travel bag is always ready with its own toiletries and clothes.

After missing too many flights standing in line to check my bags, I have converted completely to carry on packing. Whatever I can fit in there is all I take

I’ve travelled quite a bit to over 90 countries for all kinds of trips for work and pleasure. The answer is ‘it depends’. It depends where you’re going, the weather, the activities you want to do, the duration, the ease and cost of laundry services, if you have to carry your luggage, if you have to make tight connections, etc.

The only time I pack very light now is with business on a tight schedule where I don’t want to check luggage or on some kind of group tour that restricts luggage size. For the latter, I’ll just use technical quick drying travel clothes that can be washed in a sink. Of course, it’s the kind of trip doesn’t matter what you look like. By contrast, having an extra smart evening outfit opens more things to do especially in a big city, so it’s worth packing heavier for that kind of trip.

The thing I’ve learnt to always travel with is my ‘mini pharmacy’ with meds, first aid and essential personal toiletries. You don’t want to track down these kinds of things on a trip. Never assume what you can easily find when abroad. Even something as basic as Ibuprofen is regulated in some places. This has saved me big time for all kinds of things from stomach bugs, unexpected allergies to blisters.

[quote]Have you ever done this?

Since no one's yet answered the OP's question: yes, I've done it, but under duress and I would NOT attempt it a second time.

A few years back I overslept before a flight out of town because I was a fucking idiot and forgot to set my alarm. I woke up with just under an hour left before my flight, and I hadn't packed a fucking thing. I already knew two things, however: it was the last available flight of the day (and week), and my ONLY chance of making it was leaving almost literally on the spot: I was out the door in under 10 minutes. I took nothing but my normal backpack I use for work, and all it had in it was my laptop and various chargers & whatnot.

It rapidly proved disastrous. I'd checked the weather a few days before leaving, but not the same day as my flight: if so, I would've likely seen that an unexpected cold front was coming through and dropping the 72º temps I'd packed for down into the upper 40s. Instead of a sunny and unusually warm April in NYC, I got the more "traditional" one. Since I refuse to pay $100 for a fucking one-way Uber trip, I took the SkyTrain to Jamaica Station for the LIRR train into the city, and froze my ass off thanks to the cold combined with oh-so-awesome wind & rain. Since it was April, I knew finding anything at all appropriate for cold weather would be a challenge, but I lucked out and found something not entirely hideous at Century 21 for closeout pricing.

I used to be a frequent business traveller like R12, albeit not to Asia, so I was already well-aware that I could pick up travel sizes of any given toiletry. OTOH I always forget something when either packing or shopping, and in this case it hadn't occurred to me that I might hook up and be in need of lube, but that's exactly what happened. (Since I wasn't going back out in that awful weather, we had to settle for mutual BJs.)

Just pack your toiletries. Who wants to spend an hour or three on holiday shopping for toothpaste and deodorant?!

I like to shop while on trips due to my living in the hinterlands (not many goid brick and mortar stores reasonably nearby). So, i try to leave space in my suitcase for shopping.

I went in a backpacking European trip with a friend. He packed 34 t-shirts.

The least? Just a bag with my laptop.

When I worked in the entertainment industry, I got into the habit of shipping my clothes and accessories ahead of time via FedEx to whatever hotel I was staying at. The studio I worked for didn’t care about those little FedEx “infractions” back then, and I loved the convenience. My carry-on was always just my laptop bag and a few toiletries, leaving me free from the usual baggage hassle. It was a smooth, effortless way to travel, one of those luxuries that made everything feel just a little bit easier.

At one point, I even took it a step further and started doing the same on vacation. I once shipped three large boxes via FedEx from LA to Fire Island for a summer. I called ahead to the ferry operators, who had this service where they’d take FedEx packages from the ferry and deliver them directly to my summer rental. It was a small detail, but one of those luxuries you don’t know exists until you experience it.

Some good suggestions on here. I would add that I always use zip lock baggies for my hair pomade or gel and such, just a dab will travel flat. I also pack Pepto Bismol tablets whenever I travel. I can usually get by with just one pair of shoes, but carry removeable insoles so they're always fresh.

I've had to go to Europe on a couple hour's notice a number of times (and I mean between putting the phone down and the plane taking off), and since I knew exactly what I needed, it was a run around and cram everything in. After you've packed a suitcase umpteen times, if you're still standing around like a moron wondering what to pack, you need to give it up.

This is off the subject (sort of), but a relative could get a call in the middle of the night, get dressed, grab a pre-packed case, and head right out the door. Plane waiting on the tarmac and the engines at temperature when he got there (the pilot lived minutes from the airport). Always had a pre-packed case with, I can't remember, 3 or 4 days worth of clothes. The 'standby' case would be emptied every so many weeks and refreshed.

I have a packing list.

Two pair of underwear and socks, one dress shirt, and sweats. Wore a suit on the plane. Five day trip (two in the air), bought toiletries when at Walmart when I arrived.

I did a five day Florida trip with just a personal item bag, flying on Spirit. I packed everything light, like the shortest shorts and the sheerest shirts and underwear.

Packing light is easier if you own clothes that travel well. These are basic shirts and trousers in synthetic sports fabric that wick moisture, breathe, wash and dry quickly and no wrinkles. Bring one pair of trousers and a proper shirt that you can press, for the times you have to present well. It's not as fun as having trunks of fine clothes and equipment for every occasion, like in the olden days. But it is a relief, and easy.

I am an overpacker and as much as I’ve tried I can’t seem to break the habit.

I’m sitting an airport gate waiting to board a plane right now. When I got out of the taxi the driver asked if my luggage was packed with books or a dead body.

I read that Helen Mirren says when she's going to a major city she only takes underwear and shoes. She buys all her clothes the first day at a second-hand store. She has them laundered and returned before she leaves. Doesn't have to be to the same shop, obviously. She prefers the slight cost to carting a lot of luggage about, and says it adds to the sense of adventure to have all new clothes for each trip.

I assume this doesn't include red carpet or PR clothes, but she probably arranges for them to be supplied in the city she's going to as well.

What a clever scheme if it works for her, R38. My only reservation is that second-hand shops are very unreliable for me. It takes a lot of visits to turn up a single thing I might want to buy. And I would want any second-hand clothes washed *before* wearing them. Even the best shops of the type can have that musty clothing smell.

A better plan for me if I am going to a city with shops I particularly like, I pack extra lightly on the prospect of buying some new things early in in the visit.

I’ve learned to follow the advice of a good friend who packs amazingly tight for combined business/fun trips. He travels in a dark suit with a knit weave that doesn’t wrinkle.

He agrees with putting rolled socks, belt and travel size deodorant into his packed, non-business, shoes.

Also, he packs enough disposable, black, one size larger (Cotton), underpants to last the entire trip (in addition to a pair or two of his “best” for special occasions). Disposables take up a less space than regular underwear; don’t have to be washed (duh); and gradually free up space in his small bag for a gift or souvenir.

Beyond one white shirt and a thin, black, cashmere sweater, plus a few colored tees, all other clothes are in two colors (for me, complimentary blues and brown).

Along with minimal toiletries and two pairs of pants, it all fits into his smaller European sized carry on.

He’s 5’ 6”. I’m taller, but can get the same to fit into a 22” carry on without expanding. Good for two weeks.

Banana Republic used to have a nice line of travel clothing (I think it was called Heritage, plus it had a bunch of stretch Japanese-cloth jeans). I haven’t been to the store in a long while so don’t know if it’s still there.

Also, I keep seeing ads that clothes made from wool, especially alpaca, are good for travel because they don’t retain small and stains. Any truth to that?

Merino wool, usually, R41. You can wear multiple times without it becoming odorous, and it's a good weight that can work in heat or cold. It's wrinkle resistant, and the small stains that might mark a cotton shirt don't seem to happen (but I've worn only in a very deep blue color.). They are good for travel, take up little space and can be worn many times and are classic/versatile. The shortcoming is that they are a little delicate and eventually lose shape -- whereas a very good cotton t-shirt can keep it's shape for years.

And R41, I have thin alpaca sweaters that are great for travel, worn over a t-shirt. They last a reasonably long time with care, but I can't speak to t-shirts other than that they would be soft as fuck.

Does wool itch?

I've never done it. And I never used everything I pack.

When I had my kid, the nurses took a picture of me with my bag because it was so small. This is the same bag I use for trips. I never find myself needing anything and it gives me an excuse to buy something and support the local economy I'm visiting. Wrinkle free fabrics and lots of underwear and socks are all you need. My makeup bag is pared down to 7 items and my hair is wash and go. I don't use a purse either. Pockets for life.

[quote]Does wool itch?

Not at all, R34, and I'm a little special about itchy clothes and get rid of them fast

I always use a carry-on rolling backpack, even on 6 week trips. If you need to walk on rough ground you can just unzip the shoulder straps. If it's been a hot day of touristing I'll just walk straight into the shower and shampoo my clothes standing under the water, Then I'll wring them out, roll them up in a dry towel and hang them on coat hangers to dry.