New Packing List

Reader “The Foot” has submitted a new packing list for a three day business trip:

Here’s a pack list from a summer business trip.  This was a 3-day, 3-night business trip where business casual attire was acceptable.  Travel was on direct flights, in the summer, from the East Coast to the Mid-West.  The itinerary had me flying early morning and going straight to the office on day one.  The return flight was early morning the fourth day.

This was before I added the Tom Bihn Western Flyer to my quiver, so the only bag carried was the Eagle Creek Dane.  It’s a convertible laptop bag measuring 17” x 12.5” x 6”.  Due to its structure and padded laptop pocket, it’s a tight fit.  I didn’t weigh the bag this time, but from past experience, I’d estimate it was apx. 14lbs.  For business trips, I usually use TB’s Absolute Strap.  I misplaced it prior to packing.  So, I just hand carried, and used the backpack straps on the return trip.

My clothes for this trip were from my standard wardrobe for this sort of thing.  The shirts were J.Crew button-ups (cotton Super 120 or 80) folded in the packing cube.  The creases came out simply by hanging overnight.  The trousers I usually pack shed wrinkles nicely overnight, as well (They’re the Banana Republic Signature line made of fine wool or wool/silk fabrics).  I’ve tried sox from Icebreaker, Smartwool and REI, and have settled on the Smartwool hiking liners.  They are thin black sox that wash and dry in a snap.  They look good in a business casual outfit, and are slightly less refined than something I would wear with a suit.  For briefs I prefer the C9 performance-whatever from Target.  I do think the ExOfficio fabric is great, but the cut is pretty bad for me.  The C9s perform very well and are only slightly less durable.  The REI Power Dry t-shirts have been in my kit for a couple years.  Not only are they a plain white quick dry shirt (difficult to find), but I find them quite comfortable.

I’m a washer.  I don’t have a problem spending a little time each evening washing clothes while on trips like this.  Unless there is an unusual travel requirement, I will carry a max of 3 dress shirts, and have them laundered as needed.  I would send my shirts out at home, as well.  Therefore, I see the premium the hotel charges for laundry as a small upcharge for keeping my bag lighter, smaller, and never out of my sight.  I have tried this with only 2 dress shirts, but the risk of not getting a shirt back in time is too great.  
So, there’s the itinerary, the bag, the clothes, and my thoughts on washing.  Below is the specific packing list for this trip, and it fairly representative of similar trips.  Regardless of length, the packing list would only adjust slightly to accommodate different weather or activities.

-> TECH and OFFICE
iPhone
Earbud headset
Access tokens
Power brick
iPhone cable
Broadband aircard
Computer (HP 2560p, 12.5”)
White board marker
Pen (or two, or three)
Notebook (mini soft cover)
House keys
Etymotic hf3 earphones
iPod Classic
Airplane adapter

-> PERSONAL CARE
Toothbrush
Beard Trimmer (Wahl 9854-600)
Tissues
Deodorant crystal
Nail clippers (small)
Tweezers (small)
Floss
Neosporin
Imodium pills
Benadryl pills
Ibuprofen pills
Tums

-> CLOTHING
Complete List:
Base Layer (2 of each, wash nightly)
    Sox (Smartwool Hiking Liners)
    Briefs (ExOffico or C9)
    Undershirts (white REI Power Dry)
1    T-shirt
1    Polo shirt 
3    Button up shirts
1pr  Chinos
1pr  wool trousers
1pr  Shoes (Loafers)
1    Belt
Rain Jacket (Marmot Aegis)
Running Shorts

I’ve also posted it in our packing list section.

Comments

[Alan B]

"Undershirts (white REI Power Dry)"

Currently on sale at $19.93, instead of the usual $29.50. Too bad they don't offer these in a V-neck as well. So far, the washable T-shirts I have found have not been as comfortable as cotton.

"business casual attire"

Does that include a dark blazer, worn onto the plane? I know that is a tactic preferred by many, and I find a man's suit jacket probably the most problematic item to pack. By contrast, rain jackets are far simpler to get into a small suitcase.

[Frank@OBOW]

He also sent this one for a 10 day leisure trip:

Here's a packing list for a 10-day trip to Brazil. The itinerary included two international overnight flights, two short domestic afternoon flights, and two hotels. The expected temps were lows in the upper 60s and highs in the mid-80s (Fahrenheit). This was a casual trip, with the intention of visiting galleries, museums, and going out for dinner and music. Since there was potential to have cool weather, I planned to buy sandals (Havianas), if needed. As it turns out, neither sandals or sunblock were needed, and I wound up wearing shorts only one day.

On the way there, I was able to fit everything into a Western Flyer, with quite a bit of room to spare. The total weight was 10.2lbs. This is a great bag, and I am very pleased with it. There has been much written about it, so I'll refrain here. On the way home, I hauled some things home for my travel companion (who was going to Southern Brazil while I returned to The States). Carrying this stuff, as well as a newly acquired Pandeiro, meant I had to carry the REI Flash 18 backpack, as well as the WF. The 10” Pandeiro wound up in the large packing cube, with clothing packed in and around it. The Flash 18 served this purpose very well. It was also a satisfactory day bag while in the city, and it takes up very little room when packed in the back of the WF. The Flash 18 worked well for this purpose, but has some limitations. When it is too worn out for these types of trips, it will be replace with the Tom Bihn Packing Cube Backpack.

-> Bags and organizers
REI, Flash 18
Eagle Creek, Sac, Small
Eagle Creek, Sac, X-Small
Ziploc, bag, Sandwich Size
LowePro, firm mini camera case (for iPod and Etymotic earphones)
Tom Bihn, Western Flyer (left the Absolute Strap at home)
Tom Bihn, Western Flyer Packing Cube, Large
Tom Bihn, Cork Org. Pouch, Small
Tom Bihn, Dyneema Org Pouch, Mini
Tom Bihn, Clear Org Pouch, Mini



-> Complete packing list

-> Gadgets
iPhone
Notebook & Pen
iPhone earbuds
Etymotic earphones
iPod
Earphone/Plane plug adapter
Book
2x Type C adapters
House Keys
EDC/spare bag (empty REI Flash 18)

-> Personal Care
Toothbrush
Deodorant crystal
Small nail clippers
Tweezers
Floss
Neosporin ointment
Imodium pills
Benadryl pills
Pill Box
Tissues
Ibuprofen pills
Tums
Dr. Bronners Soap
Tissues
Lens cloth

-> Clothes
2x Walk Shorts
3x T-Shirts
2x polo
3x briefs
3pr sox
2x button-down shirts
1pr running shorts
1pr boardshorts
iPhone cable
iPhone wall wart
mini-to-mini audio cable
sneakers (Vans)
Wind/Rain Jacket (Marmot Aegis)

->Travel Documents
Cards, ID, Cash
copy of passport picture page
copy of passport visa page
spare passport pictures
Passport card
Passport
2x Copies of flights receipt
2x itinerary with addresses and phone numbers
2x emergency contact # lists
2x travel-mates’ itinerary

[Ralph]

That's very good. I assume the first packing list includes clothes worn on the flight, such as the loafers. That is a great light laptop if that is a company laptop.
For the second packing list, if shorts were only worn once, was it a single pair of long pants worn every other day and on the flight?
I'm curious what other bags you use on business trips or maybe it is just the WF.

[Art]

add: sublock/shaving cream/after shave to personal items. ALthough OP probably has a beard since he trims only..

[movers Nebraska]

Thank you so much for this post. It is very coincidental but I have to join this three-day business trip and your list is just a life saver. I actually am not sure of which things to pack and so your post really helps. I hope you help more readers like me. Again, thank you.