Packing for Travel: Lists, Tips and Product Reviews

 

Travel packing can be a headache, but it needn't be.

With the right luggage or backpack, some good purchasing decisions, a bit of planning based on your trip and a good packing list, you can master the art of travel packing and eliminate extra weight and worry.

Whether you're going for a weekend, a week, or a trip around the world, our travel packing section has all the information you need to plan and pack well.

Table of Contents

 

What to Pack for Travel: Packing Lists for Every Kind of Travel

Everyone needs a packing list. And, basically, everyone will have about 80% of the same things on their packing list. The majority of this list is of things that we all need.

We all need tops, pants, shoes... What differs is the fabric, colour and design of what we take. Rugged or high fashion, a pair of pants is still a pair of pants. That's why these packing lists are useful for all travelers.

 

How to Pack a Carry-on in 5 Steps

Traveling with just a carry-on is a bit of an art.

Whether you are a roller or a folder (there are benefits to each method), here are the steps to packing your carry-on for maximum efficiency.

Follow carry-on rules according to your airline and be careful about the weight. Just because you can fit your things into a carry-on suitcase does not mean they will let you on the plane with it.

Finally, be considerate of other passengers and don't hog the overhead space.

 

Travel Gear: Check These 3 Criteria Before You Buy

There is no end to the travel gear one can buy. Here is the checklist against which all gear should be assessed before it is bought.

Once you know how the travel gear stacks up in these three categories, you can evaluate whether it's worth its weight, space and usefulness to purchase.

Read Travel Gear: Essentials for Solo Travelers

 

Travel Clothes that Don't Look Like Travel Clothes

I don't buy travel clothes. I buy travel-friendly clothes.

I buy clothes made of fabrics that are lighter, rinse out and dry quickly and wrinkle less. I also believe that less is more. By buying multi-purpose clothes, fewer items result in outfits for a variety of occasions.

When shopping, look for clothes that are versatile. The right undershirt or camisole can dress up an outfit or add a layer of warmth. I choose to buy one that does both.

For details on how to buy clothes that are also great for travel read How to Plan Your Travel Wardrobe for Comfort and Style

 

Review: Compression Cubes vs Compression Bags for Packing

Both packing cubes and compression bags are great for:

But which is better?

Compression bags may not be as pretty as packing cubes when in your suitcase but they beat their competition in a number of ways. Compression bags:

 

A cube works best as a cube, a bag will become the shape that works best for the space. I don’t always travel with a suitcase, so if I’m using something that isn’t rectangular, it’s nice to have something that can easily maximize the space in any travel bag.

But there are a couple of drawbacks to compression bags that aren’t found in their cubed competition. One, they won’t give you that perfect Instagrammable photo of an organized packing job that would get the approval of Martha Stewart, and two, because you’re now able to compress so much more into a smaller space, you might end up going over your weight limit.

But, if you’re willing to work with those two limitations, you'll find they’re an invaluable packing tool that will change your life!

Below Are All the Posts in our Packing for Travel Category