As much as I love traveling, packing had never been my favorite thing to do. Even if I have a packing list I’ve referred to since my first solo trip, I could never be done in a few minutes. I would procrastinate and finally end up sleepless the night before my trip. It’s really bad if it’s a scuba trip with early dives scheduled the next day.
The thing is I’m not a very organized person and I struggle to carry minimal items. I used to just pile everything on top of each other when I pack. So needless to say, it was chaos every time I needed to take something out. I was very enlightened a few years ago when a travel mate taught me to organize my stuff using plastic bags. Shirts in one bag, bottoms in another, and so on. Wow, that was definitely a light bulb moment for me.
Packing had become easier since but surely plastic bag has its limitation, specially if one has bad memory and can’t remember which color plastic holds which item. That’s why I didn’t waste time when I first learned of mesh type packing cubes revolutionized by Eagle Creek. It remains one of my best travel companion keeping everything in order and even packing has become easier. So even if I procrastinate and start late, I can do it faster.
How about you? I know there are those people who love packing and do it way ahead of time. Please share your tried and tested solution and have a chance to win one Eagle Creek Organized Traveler Cube Set still courtesy of our favorite store R.O.X. Philippines.
Eagle Creek Organized Traveler Cube Set:
- Pack-It™ Cube
- Pack-It™ Half-Cube
- Pack-It™ Quarter-Cube
THE CONTEST is CLOSED!
Wanderlass Adventure Partners Contest Series, Part 2 is open to ALL CITIZEN OF THE WORLD (terms & conditions apply, please read The Fine Print* below). This is part of a 3 contest series, each of which will run for one week. The mechanics and prizes will be different every time and I can promise you that it gets better every week.
Part 2 – The Packing Solution
Contest Period: March 10 – 16, 2011
Mechanics:
- Participant should be facebook follower of both Wanderlass and R.O.X. pages to be eligible.
- Simply give your personal packing solution by commenting on this post. And there you have an entry.
- A person can comment unlimited number of times, but only one entry will be considered per day.
- A person can have up to 7 entries by the end of the contest period. More comments, more chances.
- Winner will be randomly selected using List Randomizer from www.random.org
Winning:
- The winner will be notified by email and given instructions on how to claim the prize, so be sure to provide a valid one when leaving comments. The winner is then given 7 days to respond to this email.
- Announcement will also be made on this website, wanderlass facebook page, and R.O.X. facebook page the following day.
THE FINE PRINT:
All information detailing how to enter the competition forms part of the terms and conditions. It is a condition of entry that all rules and results are accepted as final and that the participant agrees to abide by the rules. Submission of entries will be taken as acceptance of these terms and conditions.
*In the event that contest winner resides outside of the Philippines, the cost of shipping is to be shouldered by the winner. Depending on the country of residence, it should be about $5-8. If the winner forfeit the prize or failed to respond within 7 days, the prize will carry-over to the next contest.
Plastic bags! Lots of them! I re-use the plastic bags I get from the groceries and organize my pack through that. All underwear in one bag, all tops in one bag, all bottoms in one bag, and everything else in between. I also pack extra plastic bags just in case. This has worked out very well for me.
Personal Packing Solution
1. Pack one room at a time, labeling each box with a description of its contents and its destination (e.g., kitchen, bathroom). Be as specific as you can; it will make unpacking that much easier.
2. Keep the weight of your boxes reasonable. If possible, put heavy items in small boxes to make them easier to carry.
3. Don’t apply tape directly to polished or painted wood finishes. Removing the tape could ruin the surface.
4. Double-box fragile items and add plenty of cushioning.
Thats it!
I pack my things in this scenario:
1) Segregation of clothes with gadgets, perfumes with the shoes etc..
2) I make sure that I arranged them based on when I will be using it.
3) I make sure I have extra plastic/luggage for my wet garments (in the event of an beach getaway)
4) I separate my shoes and slippers.
5) Packing OTC medicines is a must. (for emergency cases).
6) I do it one day before the travel.
I know it’s convenient, but the environmentalist in me cringes reading how many people use zip-lock bags to pack! Kudos to you cloth people! :) I personally try to limit my zip-locks to just hold liquids. I’ll sometimes use a large plastic bag or cloth bag to separate out more delicate items, like my puffy jacket that I wouldn’t want to accidentally rip on something.
But my own packing tip – more applicable for guys than girls – is to stuff things into your shoes. Some might contest that one doesn’t NEED a second pair of shoes, but if you ARE bringing more than one pair, they make great sock-holders!
I love packing! I think it appeals to my OC-ness :p
First off, I make a list of all the things I need. Ziplocs are my best friend (I practically have them in all sizes). I segregate my stuff in categories – tops, bottoms, undies, etc. Because I’m OC, I always make sure to bring an extra set of clothes, just in case :) Rolling is a great way to save space. I also have travel-sized items for most of my toiletries to avoid unnecessary load. Small items usually get packed in groups inside smaller pouches/bags, as well. Don’t forget a plastic bag or 2 for dirty clothes and whatnot. I literally check off each item as soon as they’re packed :)
Good for you loving packing!
I start packing by a short “ritual”. A process that envisions my entire journey in the destination. After I have imagined myself in context of where to go and what to wear, I list down all the stuff needed to bring in a piece of paper and slowly complete the list.
Packing has been more exciting and easier when I had my first Quarter-cube traveling bag.
I was able to put in my clothing for two-week stay which consists of 2 pants, 5 shirts, 2 long sleeves, and a jacket. =) Packing would not be as exciting if not with such traveling pouch bag.
Packing, for me, is already part of my journey so I make it a point to enjoy it.
Here’s how I do it:
1. Lay all my clothes and stuff on the bed.
2. Group them according to use. For clothes, I group them per outfit, per day (or destination).
3. Put each outfit group in one ziplock. Squeeze all air out before closing.
4. Put chargers of all gadgets (cellphone, camera, laptop) in one ziplock.
5. Put the essentials in an easy to reach pocket — medicine, alcohol, flashlight.
Make sure to travel light, enjoy! :)
I love packing my things. I travel light most of the time. I advise everyone to invest with quick absorbent towel that cost around Php 500 to 1000 instead of bringing those bulky towel that consumes lot of spaces.
And never forget to bring pain killers like ointment and paracetamol. Especially when you will be doing a long walk.
I consider the amount of stuff I need to pack and the condition of these stuff as I get there. It is a hard balance because if I pack too much, my things may get damaged but if I do not bring enough I run the risk of not bringing everything I need.
I Make sure to use a bag that is roomy and comfortable to carry on your shoulder. A bag with lots of compartments and pockets are a must for packing and holiday travel.