Packing Archives - OCD travel

Packing

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19 Jun 2014

Packing Tip — Use a laptop sleeve for wrinkle-free clothes.

If you’re traveling for just a few days, consider using a laptop bag as your luggage.

The sleeve area keeps clothes secure and wrinkle-free.

I tried this on a recent two-nighter, for which I needed nice slacks. They arrived perfect and I didn’t even need to iron.

In some cases you might end up with creases where the folds are, but in this case it was fine.

I always love to find new packing hacks. Do you have any? Please share!
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30 May 2014

International Travel – You Might Have to Carry More Cash Than You Think
There’s plenty of advice online about how to carry money — credit card versus ATM card versus traveler’s checks versus cash. That’s not what this is about.

I’m going to assume that no matter what, you’ll be carrying some cash. And if you’re going to another country, you’ll be changing at least some of that cash into the local currency.

Now, I’m someone who packs meticulously (as I’m sure you’ve noticed by now). Everything has its place — my passport, my dollar bills, my malaria pills, whatever. Places are assigned before I ever leave home, and I don’t leave home with extra space just waiting to be filled. Every bit of space is maximized and efficient. And I tend to get a little smug about it. (Who me?)

So I was totally unprepared for the Malawi Kwacha.

When I traveled to Malawi in 2010, the exchange rate was roughly 150 Kwacha to 1 U.S. Dollar. When we first arrived in the country, I wanted to change $300. I handed over three thin and crisp $100 bills, which of course had fit nicely in the slot of my money pouch — the place I’d designated for dollar bills.

What I got in return was this pile of cash.

My pathetic little money pouch was no match.

Throughout the trip I had bills stuffed in so many different pockets and zippered compartments of my luggage and day pack I could never really get a feel for how much money I had on me at any given time.

Lesson learned.
- Do some exchange rate math before you leave home.
- Leave some space for a pile of cash.
How do you carry money? And what do you do with a stack of bills when you’re traveling and trying NOT to look like you’re carrying a stack of bills?
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13 May 2014

Baggage Fees Are Out of Control – so pack light!
Yet another reason to travel as light as possible. See this article from last Sunday’s Los Angeles Times travel section (click the link above).

I haven’t personally experienced the checked bag fees, since I usually go carry-on-only. BUT… according to the reporter, Tom Parsons, even carry-on travelers might have to make some changes:

“Airlines may start counting a purse and a laptop bag as two items and ban one of those, so consider when you’re packing whether you can combine the two into one bag.”

Here are some tips for traveling light:
- Wear your heaviest shoes on the plane.
- Resist the temptation to pack just-in-case items. You can always buy it if you need it, but you probably won’t even need it.
- Don’t keep adding items to your bag just because there’s still space. Many of the fees are based on bag weight.
- Leave bulky sweaters at home and pack layers (unless you’re going to the snow).
- Leave as many grooming products at home as you can. Your face/hair/whatever will survive.
- Take items that serve double-duty — a sarong that can function as a light wrap, picnic blanket or makeshift towel as needed.
- Consider doing laundry on the road, so you can bring fewer pieces of clothing.
Doing laundry in El Salvador.

There are about a hundred other tips and tricks. I can’t tell anymore if these are obvious to everyone or only obvious to nerdy travelers like me who like to spend time thinking about this stuff. 🙂

In either case, enjoy! And please share your own tips here in the comments.
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24 Apr 2014

Ok, even I’ll admit it can be hard to pack light when preparing to camp in the cold (and possible rain!).
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6 Mar 2013

Should You Buy ‘Travel Clothes’?
I have a love-hate relationship with travel clothes.

See if you can find the hidden tourist in this photo.

The hate:
- They look dorky (see photo as exhibit A).
- They scream “TOURIST!”
- They’re expensive.
- If you don’t wear them at home, they get limited use.
The love:
- They’re light-weight.
- They dry fast.
- They (mostly) don’t wrinkle.
- They come with lots of pockets.
So, should you splurge?

My opinion: only on a few key items.

I keep:
- one pair of pants (that zip off to become capris),
- one white long-sleeve UPF 40 shirt,
- and a UPF 30 hat.
The shirt and hat are good for keeping off the sun (it’s cooler – temperature-wise – to cover your skin rather than wear a tank top). Plus, when you’re traveling at different latitudes than you’re used to, you’ll be amazed how fast you burn.

Both of those items come in handy even when I’m not traveling. I sometimes use the shirt as a light cover when the sun is beating down, when walking around town or hiking here in Southern California.

For other items in the travel wardrobe, I go cheap.

For a light jacket I have a white exercise zip-up (polyester/spandex mix) that I bought at Target. It packs light, doesn’t wrinkle and dries fast.

I also have a t-shirt from Target that wicks moisture from the body – again, dries fast and was much cheaper than a “travel” shirt.

I supplement those items with articles from my normal wardrobe – a few cotton t-shirts, a pair of sturdy khakis, etc. I don’t need my entire travel wardrobe to be quick-drying – just a few items so I can wash them as I go and always have a clean option on the horizon (this is partly psychological… don’t underestimate the joy of a clean shirt on the road).

Aside from the items specific to travel, I do tend to buy things from REI simply because I like them – so I have some hoodies that are made for outdoor activity. But that’s only because I am magnetically drawn to hoodies and seem to be subconsciously cultivating a master collection. They’re not necessarily for travel (even if that’s how I originally justified the purchase).

What about you? Do you buy “travel clothes”?
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22 Jan 2013

The Non-Liquid Experiment
I like to travel carry-on only, and that became more difficult with TSA’s liquid limitations.

So, for my trip to Malawi in 2010, I tried alternate versions of products that typically come as liquids:
- Shampoo
- Sunscreen
- Insect repellant
- Hand sanitizer
- Laundry detergent
(The joke was on me, because one of the airlines made me check my bag anyway. And then they lost it. But that’s another story. They did find it a day later, so I can’t complain too much.)

The verdict? The wipe-on sunscreen and insect repellant were hits. The hand wipes, likewise.

The shampoo and laundry detergent — awful. My hair never got clean, and I’ve got greasy-head-look in all of my pictures.

Live and learn. I still go carry-on, I just try to ration my liquids as much as possible.

Do you have any tips for reducing liquids when you travel? Please share!
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30 Jun 2012

Eight people, one van, two weeks.

Traveling light is not just more convenient for you, it’s more convenient for the others who might be sharing your transportation. And it’s especially convenient for the gracious soul whose job it is to pack the van.

Thank you, Luzu! Our faithful guide and friend in Malawi.
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30 Jun 2012

Meet the ‘go-light’ guru

If ever there were a niche that I wish I’d thought of earlier, it’s the one found here: www.onebag.com.

One of my favorite websites on packing light.

I love that site.

I’m jealous that someone else thought of it first.

So, hats off to Doug Dyment, “the go-light guru.”

I discovered his site years ago, and have been obsessed ever since.

(Case in point, I just got sidetracked and read – for the 87^th time – the section on choosing the right bag, and once again printed out the one-page packing list and highlighted items that I need to replace in my always-ready-to-travel-but-don’t-do-it-enough kit.)

I am fascinated with efficient packing. As a kid I was in awe of soldiers because they carried everything they needed on their body – every essential tucked into a perfectly placed pocket.

Those who’ve traveled with me (or simply know me) have heard me rhapsodize on the beauty of carry-on-only travel. Now that the airlines are charging for checked bags, I see that many more people are – perhaps reluctantly – discovering the joys of traveling light.

Anyway, for tips, packing lists and just plain good sense, visit www.onebag.com.

And no, I am not getting anything for this endorsement beyond the hope that a larger audience will help Doug keep his site running so I can continue to stalk it.
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