Packing

How to Experience Live Life Travel: A Five Part Series
By Sharon Miller

Part Three: The Packing

Packing can be a daunting task, one that most people will put off until the very last minute. Trust me, this is a mistake. Packing well can be the difference between a great trip and one that can only be considered painful. Over-packing is the most common mistake, followed closely by packing the wrong items. With a little planning, however, both of these problems can be avoided all together and your trip will be much more enjoyable.

The first thing to consider is where you are going and the time of year you will be visiting. What is the weather like? Will it be cold or hot? Rainy or dry? These are all things you will need to prepare for. Second, consider what type of activities you will participate in. Swimming, hiking, biking, white water rafting etc. are all activities for which you will need special items.

No matter where you are going and what you are doing, it is always good to bring a few key items.

Fleece/Sweatshirt—even if you are going to a warm climate, it is always best to be prepared for cool weather
Rain Jacket/Umbrella—always bring some sort of rain gear, it is better to be safe than sorry
Jeans—a staple for any backpacker, but it is best to bring no more than 2 pairs, as they can get heavy
Good pair of walking shoes and a comfortable but nice pair of sandals (the sandals can double as going out shoes)
T-shirts and tank tops—both are easily packable/light and can be multifunctional
Bathing Suit—even in the dead of winter you may come upon the opportunity to swim
One pair of pants (not jeans) or shorts
A skirt for ladies and a nice pair of pants for gentlemen—there are times when anything else is unacceptable.
Clothes to sleep in
Undergarments

These are just a few items, along with all of your personal toiletry items that I have found to be useful in the past. Now for the hard part—actually packing.

First, find a large, clean area (a made bed works well) and start laying out everything you think you will need. Stack like with like. Once you are done, take each stack and divide it in half, and put one of the halves away. It seems harsh, but remember, you can always wash your clothes or buy new things if absolutely necessary. Now, start packing.

When packing a backpack, it is important to keep you items organized. Place the heavier items near the bottom, and work up from there. Rolling your clothes, instead of folding them will enable you to fit more inside. Once you have everything packed, put you backpack on and walk around the house. If it feels to heavy it is best to take everything out and discard some items. A bag that is too heavy can destroy a trip.

Part One: The Purpose

Part Two: The People

Part Four: Preparing for Departure

Part Five: Participation