Packing for New Zealand in December, 2017!
This is the fifth post in a 6-part series about trip planning. If this is the first time you're seeing this post, I recommend you start here! For an overview of the complete series, please visit the Trip Planning 101 page.
What do you think of when you hear "packing list"? Does it invoke stress or a feeling of control? How often do you leave something important behind? When traveling with friends, do you try to coordinate so everyone can pack as lightly as possible? In this post I'll share my approach to packing, which involves a simple spreadsheet and step-by-step process for filling it in.
What do you think of when you hear "packing list"? Does it invoke stress or a feeling of control? How often do you leave something important behind? When traveling with friends, do you try to coordinate so everyone can pack as lightly as possible? In this post I'll share my approach to packing, which involves a simple spreadsheet and step-by-step process for filling it in.
Packing stresses me out. I tend to imagine every scenario of what-could-go-wrong on a trip, and the items I might need to address them. That's why I prefer to turn off my brain and use my established packing list, which I've been adding to since the first primitive version in 2010. It contains pretty much everything I've ever packed for a trip, so I don't have to worry that I'm forgetting something.
How to use the packing list
At the bottom of this post is an example of the packing list spreadsheet. It's what you would expect: a list of items, and a column where you can mark whether or not it's packed. Each traveler has their own column. Below are the steps I take to complete the packing list. I've added some very approximate times when I usually take these steps. Steps 1-3 happen earlier, to make sure I have time to buy/borrow/find any items I may not already have in house. I don't physically pack anything until the days before the trip.
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Decide which activities you will be doing (T-1 month, or earlier). This will be done in the process of making your itinerary. Your itinerary doesn't have to be 100% planned before you start thinking about the packing list, but it's helpful to know whether you will need e.g. camping, kayaking, hiking, biking, and/or backpacking equipment.
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Screen your packing list (T-1 month, or earlier). Before you even think about physically packing anything, take 15 minutes to screen your packing list. This involves running through the list and marking each potential item as either will pack, will not bring, or unsure. Each of these categories has its own symbol in the spreadsheet - see the key. The colors will automatically update based on the symbol you enter. In the "Notes" column, add comments or messages to your fellow travelers like:
- Nena needs to buy
- Buy upon arrival (e.g. cooking fuel)
- Borrow from so-and-so
- Nena can share (e.g. cooking equipment, tent...)
- XX, can you bring this?
- Checked bag only (e.g. pocket knife)
- Add to the packing list (T-2 weeks, or earlier). The list that I've developed is specific for me, and may not encompass everything you'll want to bring. Based your planned activities and preferences, you may need to add a new section or additional items under the existing sections. If you add new sections, please share and I'll add them to the master template!
- Make a clothing scarecrow (T-2 days, or earlier). I always find packing clothes to be the hardest part. If I don't do this in a structured way, I keep throwing extra layers into my bag - just in case! Instead, I make a clothing scarecrow! What is that? It's a helpful way to visualize all clothing. Below is a photo of an example from a previous trip. As we all know, layering is the key to staying warm, dry, and packing light. Start by laying your outermost layer on the ground (e.g. your raincoat/winter jacket and rain pants/snow pants on bottom). Continue by placing the next biggest layer on top, in reverse order of how you would wear them. On top should be thin layers that would directly contact your skin.
- Start physically packing (T-2 days, or earlier). As you go through the list, change the symbols to reflect the status of each item (X = packed). DO NOT mark something as packed unless it is in your bag. That's how I avoid forgetting anything. On the morning of your departure, scroll through the list one last time and mark any red boxes that remain - your toothbrush, phone charger, passport, etc!
Packing for Nepal in December 2010. Example of a clothing person!
How to use the packing list with a group
The steps outlined above are relevant for individual or group travelers. The list is particularly helpful for groups because you can see what everyone else is planning to bring (or not bring). You can leave each other reminders/notes like those mentioned in Step 2, above. By thinking about my packing list early and collaborating with my travel buddies, I'm usually able to bring fewer items than if I pack at the last minute.
Learning from your packing lists (optional)
An added bonus of keeping a digital packing list is that you can easily return to it later. After returning from a trip (especially big trips), I sometimes review what I packed and add notes about things I didn't use, or should have brought. That helps my the next time. For example, I recently lugged a pair of heavy sandals around New Zealand and never wore them - we always wore either hiking boots, light sneakers, or flip flops. I won't be making that mistake again!
Example of the packing list template:
Embedded below is an example of the packing list spreadsheet partly filled in for an upcoming kayaking trip to Greece. We've partly made it through step 3 so far.
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