Tricks for Packing Light: 2001
Share your creative tricks to fit your world into a small bag for a European trip.
coordinate fewer colors for less washing
If traveling with a partner, try to coordinate colors with them, if you plan to do any laundromat washing-you'll want to wash undies and socks since you'll be there anyway and I find my husband's white underwear and tee shirts make a small load since I never wear white when traveling. So he brings bright colored jockeys and we have ONE full load instead of two half loads-saving time and money.
Lori <email>
Palo Alto, Ca USA 12/30/01
A little dab'll do ya
For taking small amounts of creams or ointments, I use an old contact-lens case. Some of them can be cut down the middle with a heavy scissor, if you only need one compartment. Use the ones with the screw-on lids; they seal much better than the snap-closed lids. If you don't wear contacts, ask a friend who does if he has an old case lying around (then run it through the dishwasher to sanitize it).
pam h <email>
Austin , TX USA 12/11/01
Packing lightly for university stays
Response to Samantha, FL, USA, posted 12/09 — I have been studying in the United Kingdom (London) since August. Winter has just set in in late November, but it will probably be chilly at least at night for some time to come. Even though you'll be staying over here for quite some time, you can still pack as lightly as you would for a two-week trip. London is not as fashionable as Paris or Milan, so you'll see people on the street wearing business suits sporting briefcases and next to them young people in jeans and T-shirts. Wear neutral, dark colors, specifically black, and wear items that match several things. A nice black sweater looks good with most things. I have a basic black all leather jacket that I can wear to the theatre or to Rugby matches. Bring one or two nice outfits, but wear things you would normally wear to class for every-day wear. Also, if you're going to be travelling, bring insulated underwear that fits comfortably under trousers. They're warm and light-weight. As for shoes, if you wear black clothes, black shoes will do, too. And bring old clothes you can throw out after a while; you'll want to shop in Europe and won't want to lug a lot of things around. Bring a hat or a scarf, especially if you have long hair, as it is windy and very wet. Don't bring an umbrella; buy one when you get here. They're everywhere and cheap. Most health products are available in the UK (except Noxema products, you won't find those ANYWHERE).
Melissa Geneva Baggett <email>
London, UK 12/11/01
Packing light
When I want to pack small amounts of gooey stuff I lay out a small piece of Saran wrap, put a dab of the stuff in the middle, and loosely wrap it up. I then lay out a piece of 2 inch wide scotch tape, place the goop packet in the middle and enclose it like a ravioli. Write the contents on the tape in magic marker and you're in business. I use these for SMALL dabs of stuff you want to have along but don't want to carry jars or tubes of (shoe polish, 'just-in-case' stuff, medical creams). My little kit is the size of a pack of matches.
John Davis <email>
Levering, Mi USA 12/04/01
I generally pack mostly black. However, when travelling to warm climates you must consider that black can get hot! Nothing will make you grouchier than wearing a black top in hot weather. If you're a woman, do yourself a favor: buy those inexpensive men's short sleeve v-neck undershirts by Hanes. They are dirt cheap and come in 3 packs. Not only that, but they are 100% cotton and a very thin fabric so they weigh nothing and take up no room — you will not regret it.
I also recommend a pair of black capri pants in warmer weather. If you're like me, I don't like shorts, and capris are very popular in Europe anyway. Don't get your entire wardrobe from one of the travel stores. Get a few staples from those types of stores, then add to them. Also, one of the best things I ever bought in my life was the "Warm-Up" jacket from LL Bean. It's got a nylon shell and fleece lining and is very lightweight. It's got an inside security pocket. Another thing I take is a black merino wool twinset. I got mine from J. Crew. It wasn't cheap, but wonderfully soft and lightweight. It's perfect for any climate, cold or hot, and the shell is sleeveless.
As far as underwear goes, I wouldn't be caught dead wearing old, torn underwear that you dispose of along the way! Yuck! No European woman would EVER do this! Victoria's Secret's Body by Victoria underwear come in all styles (briefs, bikini's, thongs) and are made of tactel nylon microfiber and are absolutely great! They dry real fast, too. They're lightweight and take up little room. The Body By Victoria bras are of the same fabric and very comfortable.
Finally, Express makes black pants that are virtually indestructible, and don't wrinkle at all. They're the ones that are 95% polyester and they're nice and warm also. They come in bootcut or straight leg in every length and are only about $30! Let me tell you, I've worn these for days on end without a wrinkle.
USA 12/04/01
You really CAN pack light!!!
Thanks for everyone's help on this board in planning my packing! We just got back from 8 days in London and Paris and I was so happy with how our packing worked! We each had a large daypack, 2,500 cubic inches or so. Including what we wore on the plane, we each had 2 prs pants, 2 sweaters, 4 shirts for wearing under sweaters and for sleeping, 4 pairs socks, 4 pairs underwear and one pair of shoes. I had a polar fleece pullover and lightweight hooded jacket and husband had a hooded jacket with a removable liner. We used the 2 1/2 gallon ziplocks to compress our clothes — worked great! Washed socks, underwear and shirts nightly; took our pants to a laundry once halfway, so we ended up wearing each pair 3 times. Took small sized toiletries, and stopped in Boots pharmacy to restock, which was fun anyway. I also bought a packable duffle bag from Campmor, which folds into a 4x5" square. On the flight home, we put all of our dirty clothes in that and checked it, so our backpacks would be lighter. We had no trouble running through airports, manouvering through the subways, walking from train stations to our hotels — we never had to take a taxi. It was the most freeing feeling to pack like that — it's changed me!!! Best of luck!
Betsy <email>
Huntsville, AL USA 11/29/01
Pack the Same but Smart
I just got back from Italy and I will tell ya, PACK BLACK. I was there backpacking for 3 weeks and wore, with the exception of two cream colored shirts, all black. All my clothes were of different matierials that were formal, casual, easy to wash and ALL comfortable and breathable. I am a big fan of cotton and synthetic sport fabrics.
Nike/Reebok has wonderful black pants and tops that take virtually no room and all in the latest styles. I had a good variety of styles that all matched with the light colors and they wash well too. I brought 2 pants, 1 skirt, and one pair of shorts and 4 tops. I only wore half of what I brought and the rest was dead weight.
Some women will agree with me and some might not but I only took 3 pairs of underwear and washed them out every night. It is not much but you really dont need all the clothes you think you need. Besides, the worst that could happen is that you would have to buy a couple of articles of clothing while on your trip.
Jenny Shin <email>
Eugene, OR USA 11/20/01
Packing Light
Here is the best tip I can give on packing. Layout all the clothes you plan on taking on your bed. Now pack only half of those clothes or until you fill ONE bag. I found it is easier to wash than carry multiple bags. This assumes you will be mobile on your trip and moving between cities often. Next piece of advice take twice as much money!
Schoenung <email>
Cincinnati, OH USA 11/12/01
Travel Clothes - Women
If you are looking for a pair of travel pants that are not only affordable, but also long enough, try Dickies brand for women. They're a 60/40 poly-cotton blend and come in 3 different styles and colors. And - get ready — they have 3 different lengths. I washed these in the sink, hung them up dripping wet in the shower and they were dry the next morning. Granted, they'll never look as spiffy as freshly starched Dockers but you'll still look pesentable. And they're affordable. The pants from Magellans and Travelsmith are soooooo expensive and way too short. I know I look like a tourist, which is OK, but I don't want to look like a dork with pants that are too short !! They were about $30 on their web site, but I bought mine locally for $18 each. I had to go a store that supplies clothing to the restaurant trade.
I've also had good luck with inexpensive polo shirts from Wal-Mart. I think they were the Bobbie Brooks brand and couldn't have been more than $10 each. Also a poly/cotton blend - washed and dripped dry very well.
Also try Wal-Mart if you're looking for broom stick skirts. I can't see a difference from an inexpensive one a I bought there vs. another I bought from a department store.
Deborah G <email>
San Antonio, TX USA 11/03/01
Backpack
A simple Jansport backpack is the coolest thing to have on your trip. I pack mine flat inside my carry-on sized suitcase, fill it with a tiny collapseable umbrella, a 99 cent emergency poncho from K Mart, a corkscrew, a small knife for cheese, guidebook, sweater, and some other tools. Whether I'm on Capri climbing the cliffs, or in Paris shopping and need some extra space, my small backpack is where it's at. At the end of my trip, I move all the breakables into my hardside bag, and stuff the backpack with dirty clothes and check it. This thing has been to Europe with me a dozen times at least, and I wouldn't do without it.
joe santa maria <email>
Stratford, nj USA 10/26/01
Some ideas for packing light
I spent 5 months traveling through France and Italy with only one suitcase. Here are some ideas:
REI makes some great soft-sided bags that can be used either as suitcases or backpacks. The one I bought had a detachable day pack. This bag was simply incredible.
Large sized ziplock freezer baggies with a zipper are good for packing just about evrything, except they do fall apart after a couple of months
Roll on Cutters mosquito repellant and Neutrogena sunscreen are very compact, won't leak and are odorless. The Cutters was absolutely required for summer in Florence.
The best pants that I ever bought for this trip were a linen-polysester blend. I found them at a resale shop. They are dressy and hardly show wrinkles.
As we say in San Diego, dress in layers, and using colors that are interchangeable, especially khaki, white, black and blue.
Phil Leventhal <email>
San Diego, CA USA 10/24/01
Lesson from Teens
My husband and I traveled with our children, daughter-14 and son-12, all over Europe during the month of August this year. We all carried our own "light" backpacks. I learned every trick in the book (or written here); I packed black, planned to toss, used travel size everything, zip locks, the works. However, I had to wait until I was there to learn the most valuable lesson which my daughter taught me while we traveled. She packed only 2 outfits that mixed with each other for 4 total. Her plan was to buy as we traveled.
Out of 26 travel days, we only "shopped" 2 days. But along the way, there was always something to purchase that was not only a great souvenir of our trip, but was something great for school clothes that nobody else had in the States. The trip was not focused around shopping AT ALL. We were there to SEE Europe, and we did!
P.S. Don't sweat the laundry issue, wait until everything is dirty, then drop your clothes at a full service washing place and go see the sights. It may cost a little more, but how often are you in Europe? Don't miss a day of sights to do your wash. With a family of four, this was the only way to go!
Krista <email>
Seattle, WA USA 10/18/01
Wardrobe Minimalization
After spending years packing like I was going to be gone for 3 months, I finally found the solution on my recent trip to Tuscany. Black. I bring everything black...1 skirt, 1 tank top,1 sweater, 1 long sundress, 1 pair of shoes, one purse, long pants, bathing suit and a couple bright tees and tank tops to change the look. Nothing showed the dirt, it always looked as dressy as needed and I didn't need shoes to match every outfit! I also pack one extra canvas duffle in my suitcase to bring home non-breakable souvenirs and use the end-of-the-trip dirty clothes as packing material.
Laurie <email>
Lanark, IL USA 10/17/01
Packmates are not just large ziplocks
Packmates Packmates Packmates! We were able to compress all of our clothing flat and small. Saved us a ton of backpack space and was easier to work with. Plus, it was easier to gauge the overall weight. GREAT STUFF!
Brian Weston <email>
Raleigh, NC USA 09/26/01
17 days in Germany, France and Italy with a backpack and being a woman...I rolled everything and put a rubber band around each item of clothing, this kept things neat and unwrinkled. Brought my underwear in a zip lock and two spare zip locks for dirty or wet clothes. I brought 3 pairs of shorts a pair of dark drawstring linen pants and a pair of cropped khaki's. To mix and match I was able to roll 13 light tank tops and summer shirts so I would feel like I had a variety. Women's tops roll up into next to nothing. Brought my birkenstock's and 2 bikini's and I was set. Oh ya, don't bother with a hair dryer, you're in Europe... enjoy the travelling not the fussing. 2/3rds of our accomodations had hair dryers anyway if you really wanted one.
kristy Kraus
Minneapolis, MN USA 09/03/01
One of things that I have found to lighten my pack are using those keychain photos in a plastic case,they can be opened and put your name in it showing on one side with your photo showing on the other. Another is to take your deodorant out of its case and put it in a zip baggie.This saves a little. If you have something that you must take that uses batteries, then get the lithium ones,they cost a bit more but are lighter.
J STEPHENSON <email>
chula vista, ca USA 08/25/01
For those women who feel naked without make-up but don't want to lug around all the bulky tubes and bottles, I have a suggestion. When department stores have a buy one, get a travel set free sale (like Estee Lauder, Lancome, etc.), jump on those. They have matched make-up in tiny bottles, and often mini versions of perfumes, lotions, or facial products. I got a small compact of two eye shadows and a blusher (less than an inch long, about 2/3 inch across) and it lasted me about 3 months. In the same kit was a matching lipstick, tiny mascara, 1/2 ounce of a nice facial moisturizer with sunscreen, and a little perfume. These are perfect for packing light and give you just enough matching make-up so you don't need so much stuff. Similarly, you can get mini versions of eyeliner and lipliner from a Mary Kay sales person (buy something too :) as they have little versions as samples.
Jessica Horsman
CA USA 08/20/01
One thing that kept my 30lb suitcase organized was a tip that I read here. I had never heard of "Packing Cubes", and someone posted that clear, plastic bags, the kind that blankets come packaged in, work just as well. I had a wardrobe of cotton, stretchy clothes that I knew would roll well, so I rolled them up and layered them into the zippered bags, placing the clothes to be used last on the bottom. This worked great-it kept my clothes from moving around in the suitcase, and my outfits were already picked out. I had a heavy suitcase, but a well organized one! And don't forget a washcloth or two. I didn't see one in any of the hotels that we stayed at.
Beryl E. Mahl <email>
New Orleans, La USA 08/16/01
Ziploc bags hold all my lingerie, swimsuit, bathbag items, rolled-up long dresses and extras for whatever comes up. Wash & quik-dry clothing, a few solid color tees to go with slacks & shorts, durable thin socks, anorak, lite sweater. Voila!! Done. Tiny jars of peanut butter are always stowed so we can have a quick snack on bread. Our sons appreciate that when we can't find anything they like. Granola bars also.
Cynthia <email>
Richards Landing, Ontario Canada 08/16/01
This is for the ladies...
If you don't mind the "wastefulness" of it, buy the inexpensive Hanes Her Way underwear ($5-6 per 3 pack) so you can wear-n-toss. No washing out underwear, no repacking the worn ones, lightens the load as you go. An alternative or supplement to this idea is taking thong underwear. But you have to buy the right kind; buy Victoria Secret's V-String they're comfortable enough to convert even the most loyal cotton underwear wearer. Advantages: dry quickly after washing, no pantylines (for the fashion conscious), take up very little space packing, no need to worry about "adjusting" your underwear after sitting on the plane/train/bus. Disadvantage: just a bit pricier than the Hanes Her Way (look for their sales). I did the combo packing last year and it was great!
K.M.
Tx USA 08/13/01
I've been to England twice and found that they have most everything you need. But however, I go to my local grocery store and buy the tiny size/travel size of everything i need. Also check out your local dollar stores, they have everything for traveling(ie shampoo,toothbrushes,etc..)I also pack a small umbrella, and always a rain coat. Which always come in handy. And always bring a spare pair of shoes,they come in handy for giving your feet a rest. I always bring the plastic bags from the grocery store to pack dirty clothes etc..in. Plus the help keep things neat and dry. thanks for reading and keep on traveling. :)
John <email>
Washington, , DC USA 08/12/01
I've only been to Europe twice but I've found that bringing shoes, soap, your shampoo and conditioner and any other health products can be avoided, so you won't have a bulky and uncomfortable bag. You can basically find soap, shampoo & anything else like your deoderant and toothpaste in almost any city in Europe!
As far as shoes, Europe has the most stylish clothes and shoes in the world. So you can be stylish and just treat yourself to a new pair of European shoes! Plus it doubles as a souvenier! Also, by not packing all that stuff you bring your luggage weight down at least another 3 lbs!
But I bet all of you are wondering, What about the trip home? Well you could give away the stuff you brought to a charity or to anyone who wants them - or bring an expandable carry-on. This is probably the best way to travel- because as Rick says- "You give yourself an excuse to go shopping in a Bavarian grocery mart so you can buy something you think is toothpaste". And to offer another pro for this method - with the American dollar being so strong, it's basically cheaper to buy all the stuff there!
Candi <email>
Jackson, WI USA 08/07/01
We'd suggest you read: How to Travel Out of A Carry-On Bag For a Month http://www.thetravelzine.com/friend.htm. Remember: Less is More
Linda and Don
USA 08/06/01
What I do is pack 3 days worth of clothes then wash midweek. That gives me a full week of clothes with little to pack. Instead of bringing shampoo, I find rubbing soap on your head does a great job, so leave that bulky bottle of shampoo at home. Also, every laundromat has a machine to buy small boxes of soap.
DeWayne K. Surbaugh <email>
Topeka, KS USA 08/05/01
Here's a tip for packing light and safe. Empty your wallet of everything you're not going to use on vacation. i.e. Library card, gas cards, apointment cards, business cards, pictures.... It won't make you any lighter, but if you lose your wallet, you'll be a little happier.
Brad G. <email>
Orange County, CA USA 08/04/01
For packing cheap as well as light, check out a local "Dollar Store", "Dollar Tree" etc. I just found a compact book light, miniature tubes of sunblock lip balm and suction cup/hooks. They also had flat fold umbrellas and numerous other items, for $1.00 a package. I'll be checking back there weekly until we leave. Ciao!
Kate Trabue <email>
Eureka, CA USA 08/03/01
I used Rick/Steves' packing suggestion list and did GREAT!!! I honestly was the lightest packer I ran into...I took a 48day solo trip. I highly recommend it...
Justin, <email>
St.Louis, MO USA 07/27/01
A trick that works well for me is I pack everything in my Mountain Smith backpack, using Eagle creek packits. I pack the pack in a big duffle which stores in the top of the pack while in Europe and gives me a really large bag for taking food and treats home. Very easy to carry around the country.
John <email>
Oviedo,, FL USA 07/21/01
One of the most useful articles to pack is a rayon sarong. Takes hardly any room. It can be used as a sheet sack in a hostel, an emergency pillowcase, a blanket,a towel, a beach wrap-around, crossed in front and tied behind the neck it is a dress,wrapped at the waist it's a skirt, it's a shawl when visiting churches. Rayon washes easily and wrinkles hang out. I discovered the usefulness on a tough African safari and now travel nowhere without one - even cospolitan northern Italy.
Andrea Granahan <email>
Bodega, CA, USA 07/19/01
Photographer's vest. Even if you're not a photog. Has a zillion pockets, including pockets inside pockets, and inside the back where no pickpocket can reach. I use it to store maps, documents, cash, etc. each in their own location. I was worried about looking too much like a tourist at first, but quickly discovered lots of europeans wearing them.
michael <email>
costa mesa, ca USA 07/18/01
This is a tip I got from this board but I haven't seen it mentioned recently. To deal with paperwork take the kind of "pencil holder" with a zipper that is meant to go into a 3-ring notebook. They have different colored backs and see-thru fronts. I use one for each country (if it's green it must be Switzerland!). Going in I have maps, reservation faxes, etc. Coming home I collect business cards, postcards, hotel brochures, maps, etc. More durable than ziplocks, perfect size, well worth their space in the bag.
susan
seattle, wa USA 07/13/01
I recently returned from a three-week trip to Europe. This is what I thought worked well and what I wished I would have done: * I found an old towel, washcloth and sheet at home and ripped them in half. Before we left for home, I left them behind. This helped leave room for souvenirs. If women are not sure if they will use a swimsuit or not, take an old one. Mine is probably somewhere in Amsterdam right now. My bag was lighter when I left!
I would not recommend taking your worst clothes though, because you want to be comfortable and look respectable. * Zip lock bags are a must! Label them on the outside and it will make things easy. * Take flip-flops for gross shower floors. They're worth it. *Pack black. It goes with anything and does not show dirt. *My daybag was an Exhilaration purse/bag from Target, $13. It was the perfect size, I could sling it over my shoulder, and it had several compartments. *Don't make a huge issue of packing and how much your bag weighs. We hit five countries in three weeks, but once we got to a city, our bags never left the room. It's not fun lugging them around on trains and to the airport, but you just have to suck it up sometimes and endure it.
Definitely don't go overboard, but a few small essentials you have with you will make you happier in the long run. A .5 oz. bottle of perfume you can stuff in a sock is not going to break your back, and it will be nice to spritz on after sitting on a train for 12 hours. If you need to bring a nail clipper or tweezers, bring them! It's not worth worrying about it. *With the exception of a few things such as a moneybelt, locks, etc., don't get trapped into buying "Europe Travel Musts," especially if you're only going for a week or so. Use what is comfortable for you.
Jamie <email>
Green Bay, WI USA 07/11/01
Here's what I take: 2 pr lightweight convertable pants, 2 CoolMax lightweight t-shirts, 1 ultra lightweight fleece jacket, 4 pr CoolMax socks, 4 pr boxer briefs, 1 pr shoes (Montrail), 1 pr cheap sandals, a bunch of ziplocks, 1 travel bar soap, 1 travel bottle shampoo, maps/info torn from Rick's books, moneybelt, couple little packets of Woolite, 1 packtowel, 1 pocket first-aid kit, camera/film, journal/pen. All thrown in my Northface pack TOTAL WEIGHT: under 18 lbs.
Brian Weston <email>
Raleigh, NC USA 07/11/01
I am leaving in August for my 21st trip to Europe. Each time I try something different in trying to pack light, but this time will be my lightest yet! My friend and I have decided: no umbrella (if it rains, we'll buy one — -they're on the streets for $3), no cosmetic bag (they weigh too much), will simply take the few cosmetics in the trusty plastic zip bag. No flashlite, no laundry soap (we'll use shampoo), no jewelry, absolutely NO dressy clothes (if they won't let us in dressed casually, we'll eat somewhere else).Our bags are wheeled, but have no frame(it weighs too much). Since we travel by train, only, light packing is a luxury!
Peg <email>
Malvern, USA 07/10/01
iI don't know if it helped me pack lightly, but the Packing Cubes definitely kept me from shoving stuff into every cranny of my bag before I left. I gave myself only the space in two full cubes and a half cube to pack everything (including extra books, sleepsack, toiletries). If it didn't fit, it didn't go. During the trip i never had to re-roll a thing that wasn't just in the washer, and everything was accessible. I left the crannies to the good stuff...souvenirs!
krissy
USA 07/10/01
I really don't understand why more women don't travel in dresses — casual,loose, mid-calf length dresses. They're so comfortable and cool to sleep en route, and don't cling to the body like slacks or t-shirts (as worn with skirts), so they need little laundering. My wardrobe (including what I wear to travel) usually consists of two print dresses in subdued colors, one black dress, and a black unconstructed jacket or sweater to wear with all three dresses. The black dress can be dressed up with jewelry and a scarf for evening wear. If I think I'll be going into the mountains where it's cooler, I generally pack one pair of slacks and one top, as well. And I can always take the time to find one extra top over there if I really need it.
Jo
USA 07/06/01
I pack lighter than 99% of most travelers. Here is my packing list:
1 polyester mesh t-shirt, 1 long-sleeve polyester mesh shirt, 1 pair of shorts, 1 pair of underwear, 1 pair of socks, shaving kit, toothbrush, sunblock, camera, a map, copied sections of Rick Steves' guidebook, small flashlight, and laundry detergent, all packed in a small $19 daypack. Total weight of pack: 4 pounds. What else do you really need? I wear long pants that convert to shorts, a polyester mesh polo shirt, a lightweight hat, and walking shoes with polyester mesh socks.
William Kelly <email>
Tucson, AZ USA 06/18/01
Instead of a Pack-It cube, I used a small duffel bag that fit in my main carry-on. Put pants on bottom, then shirts on top; packed full, it keeps items from shifting/wrinkling, just like the Pack-It cubes. Put the rest of your items (underwear, toiletries, etc) into stuff sacks. The advantage of the small duffel is that except for boarding the plane, you have 2 bags, and halve/distribute the weight if you take the duffel out at all other times.
Andy <email>
Arlington, VA USA 05/01/01
I just returned from a trip to Paris. I used the great tips found on here to keep down to a single carry-on-size bag (20x14x7). I used Eagle Creek Pack-It cubes — one cube and two half cubes were a perfect fit for one layer, leaving room for one Pack-It folder and the miscellaneous items which didn't go in cubes. They worked very well and I set the cubes (with items still in them) in the closet in my hotel room to store the items in. I was a bit skeptical in advance but I'm sold on the cubes after one trip.
Diana
USA 04/27/01
I have always read with interest about the "disposable" method of traveling, i.e. bring your worst clothes and discard along the way. However, in terms of packing light, it seems to me that this is tremendously inefficient.
I generally travel with two bottoms, two tops and a dress, which leaves me plenty of room to buy souvenirs and have an acceptable amount of room for things that are important to me: journal, watercolor set, etc. I try to bring my best clothes traveling, so that I can feel elegant and relaxed and travel lightly. After all, I'm the one who has to lug the stuff! Dragging old jeans around the continent, while it certainly seems to work for many people, is too heavy for me.
Madison, WI USA 04/26/01
My travel wardrobe consists of seven pieces, plus a scarf. That includes what I wear on the plane. That's one loose dress and one jumper (both in black print fabrics that don't show dirt), one pair of black slacks, and two tops that can be worn with the slacks and jumper. A basic, fluid black dress, a scarf (for a dressier look), and black unconstructed jacket round out my travel wardrobe. This gives me five outfits, and I'm very comfortable. The dresses and jumper stay fresher much longer than slacks, since they don't cling to any part of my body. I take a tee and gym shorts to sleep in, so I don't have to bother with a robe. Two pairs of comfortable shoes — one closed-toe and one sandal.
I just purchased the En Route Travel Wear packing cubes, since they are VERY light.
For pampering, I indulge in body lotion, cologne, powder, bath gel, etc. all in a lovely, light fragrance. After traveling for hours, I feel like a queen when I finally find a shower.
Since I'm never "carrying" more than five pieces of clothes, my sleepwear, 3 pairs of undies and an extra bra, weightwise I can afford to carry a little steamer so my clothes look great.
Jo
Sugar Land, TX USA 04/25/01
Years ago my husband came up with a creative way to pack...he took his oldest, yet still acceptable clothes, and disposed of them along the way. As he continued to leave his clothing in hotel rooms, the extra space in the suitcase allowed me to purchase collectibles. I've now learned the same trick and enjoy souvenirs from many countries. Although Rick is not a proponent of shopping, this allows women their given right...shopping!
Lora <email>
San Diego, CA USA 04/23/01
I use both the Eagle Creek envelopes and the L.L.Bean cubes. They hold a lot, keep things relatively wrinkle-free, and compact to save space. You can put a week's worth of shirts or T's in the envelopes and keep them neat.
When I am done packing there is nothing loose in the suitcase, so digging around for that pair of socks does not mean your whole wardrobe for the trip is trashed. It's just a matter of finding the right cube and putting the other back.
I've used ziplock bags, too. I did once go on a trip where I packed each day's clothing in a separate ziplock and it worked well. It just took a lot longer to pack. But you can fit more in each cube, so you end up with fewer pieces to deal with.
Wahington, DC USA 04/12/01
I have the medium-size LLBean packing cubes for clothes and they're wonderful. (I also got one of the small cubes for medicines, etc.) I wasn't too sure at first because when they arrive they look like limp, useless containers. But I practiced packing for our trip and discovered that I can fit 4 pairs of slacks and 7 blouses/tops in one cube. The second cube held a blazer, vest, pair of p.j.s , bulky sweater, 4 pairs of underwear and socks, and a lightweight windbreaker.
When you zip them shut they compact everything and you will be amazed how much they hold. And since everything fits tightly, wrinkling is reduced. I cut a piece of cardboard the size of the cube and used it as a folding board for tops so they fit perfectly. Then I left it on top of the stack to be used to put between tops when I need to get one out without messing up the whole pile. Also, since the cubes come in different colors, you can color-code your family's items.
D. Schenk <email>
USA 04/10/01
Regarding "Back Door Cruising," just relax and follow Rick's advice: "Pack light, pack light, pack light!"
Last year we added Back Door travel to both ends of a 12-day Mediterranean cruise. There were only 2 formal nights on our 12-day cruise.
I began with Rick's packing list and added a classic tropical-weight navy blazer that I wore on the plane. In my Back Door Bag, I added 3 silk pocket squares and 3 ties, including a bow tie for formal nights. My ration of pants included a pair of chinos that I wore for travel, touring and casual nights; and a pair of medium gray pants for formal and informal nights. They are made of a tencel/dacron mix and supposed to be machine washable.
For shirts, I took 1 white golf shirt and 3 oxford button downs: white for formal nights and 2 blues for everything else.
For shoes, I wore black walking shoes with plain toes (ECCO). They were great ashore even on rough ground in places like Pompeii but were still presentable on formal nights. I also packed a pair of Magellan's "Ultra Soles" - non-slip soles, about 1/8 inches thick with a mesh top; they take up no space but serve as slippers and shower shoes. Holland America defines formal as "tuxedo or business suit suggested; jacket and tie required." Business suits seem to outnumber tuxedoes. A tuxedo is nice but too much bother for limited use - particularly with all the accessories. Even the time we were invited to sit at the Captain's table, I was perfectly comfortable and at ease in a blazer with a white shirt and a good-looking tie.
Regarding shoes and pants, remember that you are basically invisible below the waist unless you wear something clearly inappropriate such as torn jeans or white sneakers.
There were 5 informal nights: "jacket required; tie optional." Most men wear ties. Even if you rent a tuxedo, you will still need a jacket for informal nights and for a few selected places ashore; e.g. the Casino at Monte Carlo.
I see some ladies have already responded and I agree with their advice: black slacks, white slacks and a few tops, including one with sequins for formal night. And, she can wear one of your shirts with the black slacks for touring. Happy travels!
Don
FL USA 04/02/01
To cruisers: it's often possible to rent formal wear aboard ship. That's one way to dress formally without having to haul the clothes along to wherever else you're going.
We just got back from a 14-day cruise; one long black matte jersey tank dress plus a couple of shawls and black ballet flats saw me through 3 formal nights. On casual and informal nights, any skirt or pants with a nice tunic or blouse works; I wore black Birkenstocks for everything except the formal dinners. My husband took a suit and a sports coat, but just a navy sports coat and nice pants and a tie would work for both formal and informal nights.
Also, many ships offer casual alternative dining on formal nights, for folks who don't want to deal with tuxedoes and sequins.
Bev
Shelby Twp., MI USA 04/02/01
Men, especially: pack a pair of zip-off pants. The legs zip off and they turn into shorts, and you can stuff the legs in the cargo pockets on the sides. This way you can ramble on down Borgo Pio in Rome and be comfortably cool, but stop for thirty seconds in front of Saint Peter's and fall within the dress code. They are a must for summer travel, especially in Italy and Greece.
Adam <email>
Chicago, IL USA 03/29/01
Just got back from a short trip and had a chance to see how wonderful space bags are! I didn't use them on the way to our destination but just packed a few for the trip back. When there was no more room for souvenirs, I took out the travel space bags. I was able to condense 3 sweatshirts with one bag and all of my laundry with the other. It was unbelieveable the space I was able to make! (Be sure to get the travel space bags, not the others that require a vacuum. See www.spacebag.com or 1-800-469-9044)
Dotty Schenk <email>
USA 03/23/01
I believe the trick is not what you pack but how you pack. Fold pants lengthwise and stack. Lay them into your open suitcase lengthwise (yes, they will hang over quite a bit). Then stack longsleeved shirts and sweater(s) in the suitcase, on top of the pants. If you have shirts or skirts that wrinkle easily, spread them on top of the shirt stacks. Then fold the ends of the pants that are sticking outover the stacked shirts. This pants trick saves tons of space and prevents wrinkles.
I also recommend the Samsonite suitcases that, with the pull of a zipper, grow 3 or 4 inches. This is great when coming back from a vacation: more room for souvenirs!
MN USA 03/21/01
Over the past two years I turned "practicing packing light" into a hobby! I hand-washed items of clothing, just to see how long it would take them to dry. I began to accumulate a few travel accessories that were recommended here on these boards — and as we made short trips here in the US, I began testing out the different strategies.
I can't recommend this highly enough. Just because you're going in your car for a couple of days and have lots of room in the trunk, doesn't mean you have to toss in all those "just-in-case" items. I began cutting my list of necessities ruthlessly, and was surprised how much "lighter" and "freer" I felt, even on short trips.
Rick, I can't thank you enough for providing this board, which is where I got most of the tips that proved helpful. It's here that I first read about microfiber undies, Coolmax, Patagonia and North Face, and strategies for layering. It was here that I learned about Eagle Creek travel accessories, and after hesitating and worrying that they were just gimmicks, finally decided to try them — and am glad I did.
Our winning combinaton: We each have a Back Door bag. For each bag, we have an 18" Eagle Creek Pack-It Folder (it really does work — it keeps clothes from sliding all around and expanding and taking up too much room, not to mention getting wrinkled) and an Eagle Creek half-cube (you'd be amazed how much tightly-rolled underwear you can pack into a half cube), and a toiletry organizer bag.
That's it. Those four items provide the "bones" of our packing, and then we wedge the other things we need around them. It is amazing how light, yet efficiently, we can pack. This time, we had no problem carrying our bags on the Tube, on the plane, or on the streets of London.
One more tip — and this may sound obvious, but believe me, it actually makes a lot of difference. Pack everything the same way, every time. First, you will become more and more efficient at fitting everything in quickly. Second, it will be easy to spot if something is missing, because you're used to seeing it a certain way. And finally, it does no good to find an arrangement where everything fits, if you just toss stuff around in a hurry, get it all in a jumble, and then start complaining because there's not enough room any more!
So whether your trip is next month, next year, or sometime in the distant future, start practicing. It's fun, it makes you feel like you're moving closer to your next trip, even when you're stuck at home, and when it's time to actually pack and go — you'll be ready in lightning speed!
Patricia Burroughs <email>
Dallas, TX USA 03/11/01
There seems to be lots of discussion and agonizing over what to pack (umbrellas vs. raincoats, old vs. new underwear, packing cubes vs. vacuumed zip-locs). Just relax and remember there's only one essential thing to bring, and that's your neck pouch or money belt containing your passport, tickets, money and credit cards. Anything else can easily be bought in Europe (well...with the exception of prescription medicines). The bottom line: without the luggage, the trip can go on. Without the neck pouch or money belt, you can forget it!
A.Aubert
LA USA 02/02/01
I vacuum-pack my clothes. Packed thus an item of clothing takes up to 75% less space, which allows you to take more with you and still carry it on the plane. As I hate doing laundry, I take enough to last two weeks (my trip length) without washing. I discard everything that gets ripe (except pants), which gives room for souvenirs, and an excuse to buy some new clothes along the way, or when you get home. A 30-35lb bag doesn't bother me in the least.
Jeff Kline <email>
Idaho, ID USA 01/21/01
I just spent two weeks in France and Switzerland with one small rolling backpack. Landsend.com has a wonderful rolling backpack for about $150, which is much cheaper than Eagle Creek, and is just as well made. It is quite comfortable to wear as a backpack, and rolls really well on skate wheels when pulled.
Silk long underwear (landsend.com) is a MUST. Use them under your dayclothes for warmth; sleep in them at night. They wash by hand easily, and dry quickly.
Because it was winter, I took a pair of (stretch) jeans and wore them while traveling.
Two lightweight fleece pullovers from www.travelsmith.com (invaluable clothing source), and a ComfortMax turtleneck (coolmax for winter) were my only shirts. Also got a pair of black lightweight fleece slacks from Travelsmith that were my backup pants, usable for more dressy situations and quite warm.
A fleece zipfront jacket and a Goretex raincoat that folded into a pocket were my other necessities, along with fleece gloves, polartec socks and stocking cap.
I found that several layers of light clothing were very warm and comfortable and much easier to pack than bulky clothes and jackets. Polartec washes by hand and dries almost instantly; the socks were wonderful.
I purchased an umbrella in France for about $4 and left it behind when I came home.
I took one pretty scarf to tie on over my black fleece slacks and black fleece pullover, and then I was dressed for dinner! Amazing what a single nice scarf can do to make your outfit look more formal.
Be sure to take a small, folded bag in which you can carry your treasures home.
My other invaluable item was an Eagle Creek Sidekick bag, a purse-size bag that is switched from shoulder bag to waist pack. This bag was big enough for my passport, tickets, money, cosmetics, gloves, guidebook, disposable camera, and still function as a waist pack. If you have a bad neck, as I do, it is unvaluable to get this load off your shoulder/neck!
Ginger McIntosh <email>
San Francisco, CA USA 01/20/01
Packing a backpack is a little practice and a little art. First, I would strongly recommend the use of a packing "envelope" (like the ones made by Eagle Creek). The medium size fits the Rick Steves bag very well. Fold all the clothing in this bag and tie it down well. This should be most of the weight in the bag and it is secured along the long line of the backpack. The rest of the items - socks, underwear, etc. should be packed in ziploc bags (or equivalent) and then wedged around the packing envelope. This should hold everything in place. We use a RS bag and a similar Eagle Creek "envelope" with great success and no shifting problems.
Frank P <email>
Littleton, CO USA 01/19/01
Take Rick's advice! We travel with one backpack each and one day bag. If it doesn't fit it doesn't go. If we put on the backpacks and they are too heavy, we take something out. We saw numerous miserable people dragging several bags from train stations to hotels, especially in Venice.
Each time we travel we take less and less. Bring clothes that you can layer and a jacket that acts as a raincoat and keeps you warm. We take 3-4 days of clothes and plan a laundry stop. We have never had difficulties doing laundry and have met some nice people who have come up and asked if they could help us. Every place we have done laundry is next to a cafe and bar so we have a drink and write postcards.
Starr and David <email>
Highlands Ranch, CO USA 01/15/01
I have found that saving samples that I receive through the mail or from family works great for packing light in the toiletries department. The samples like shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, mouthwash, Tylenol, etc. come in small sealed envelopes with enough for one use. They are very flat and you can pack several rather than taking a bulky bottle.
I have a brother and a sister in college and each year some company makes these little boxes to pass out to students which contain multiple product samples (some even contain small sticks of deodorant that can last a few days). My brother and sister go on the rampage for us, collecting all of the unwanted samples from their friends.
luv2go <email>
AR USA 01/09/01
A lot of your weight is your suitcase/rucksack and all those organizers people sell you. You know, the ones that give you perfectly square shirts, and zippered organizers for your maps. Not to mention bathroom organizers which are bulky and hefty. If you don't believe me, take your bag and put in all those empty organizers. Now weigh it. You may find that 10 pounds (or more!) of the weight you are carrying around is all this expensive stuff. Even on wheels, this can be a lot to drag up hill.
Take ziplock bags and ditty bags if you must - at least they don't weigh a lot. Last year I learned a lesson: I foolishly wasted a lot of energy dragging around a lot of expensive organizers.
Dodie <email>
USA 01/09/01