Packing lists

A friend of mine called me the other day and said he just experienced the lost luggage joke. You know, where your checked luggage is sent to nicer places than you were planning to go. 

Well, he had enough and wanted to learn how to live by carry-on alone. “What’s the first step,” he asked.

The first step, I told him, was to start reading this website and Onebag.com. But it’s the second step that really gets you closer to your dream: Make a packing list. 

A good packing list is multi-functional. It will help you visualize what you need, it will help to keep you from forgetting something and it will keep you from going overboard.

I have a generic packing list that I use to start and then add or remove depending on the type of trip I’m taking, where I’m going and the time of year. This list is also constantly updated when I replace one item with another. 

And the list also keep me from buying things I really don’t need. (Well, most of the time.)

I also take a copy of my final packing list on the trip with me. Why? Because it helps me to not forget something in a hotel room.  When packing up, I scan the list and make sure that charger, or small electronic device, or medication, or anything else, isn’t left behind. 

BTW—while packing lists are now available on smartphones and tablets, I stick to an actual piece of paper. I also send a copy to myself via email just in case the first one is lost. 

(This is not the packing list I use….it’s strictly here for adornment purposes.)

(Frank II)

Comments

[Alan B]

"I have a generic packing list that I use to start and then add or remove depending on the type of trip I’m taking, where I’m going and the time of year."

Likely I am NOT the only person who generates these on EXCEL. That allows me to closely calculate the WEIGHT of the total load, since the columns across include the item, typical weight of a single item, number of each, then total weight, and at the bottom of the last column, total weight.

As well, for a different trip with different needs,just copy the list, open up a new "sheet," then alter the list as needed. Since almost every computer comes with either Excel, or a similar spreadsheet, personally I think that special programs are hardly needed. If one wants a copy on a smart phone, either send an E-mail to oneself, with the list as an attachment, take a picture of the printed list, etc.

Regardless, for those whose "Fear of Flying" really reduced to "Fear of Packing," there is nothing like a list to eliminate that issue. Hmm, I wonder if Isadora Wing flies carry-on only these days?

http://www.amazon.com/Erica-Jong/e/B000AP5M76/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0

[Monte L. Steiger]

Funny, I've read some of Jong's works and can't remember her ever mentioning packing lists, or airplanes, for that matter.

[K-eM]

I'm not quite so precise as you all appear to be. I have standard travel items for all trips and then standard travel items for different types of trips. I list it down on paper from memory, lay it all out on the bed, check to be sure, and then put it in the bag. There are exceptions and they have to be handled individually, but it seems to work. Occasionally I'm tempted to change it up a bit and always regret it. I have my standards because they work.

[Andy]

I do about the same, and then I go back to the list and figure out what I ditched, lost, or sent back because no matter how little I take I always end up taking too much. On my last big trip I started with an 8 lb bag and ended with a 6 lb bag.

Here's my generic, all-ecompassing, all season, all places, any length list

http://andymesa.pbworks.com/PackList

And some actual real lists

http://andymesa.pbworks.com/VanPack
http://andymesa.pbworks.com/AYCJPack

[Heather]

Andy, thanks for the lists. Makes me think I need to remove some stuff from mine. 6-8 lbs. = awesome!