Packing lists

A21-003 – The Packing List

The ‘art’ of list writing or To list or not to list,

  • Do you list ?
  • Do you write it down ?
  • Do you plan ?

I have discussed before the planning dilemma in [A14-001] now I am going to talk about the PACKING LIST.  But don’t worry, this is only about a special type of list, the Packing List.

Talk a bit about list philosophy and whether you are a list-er or not

Just like a planner, there are list makers and no list makers.  And the importance of you list is directly related to how difficult it would be to buy whatever you have forgotten.  I met a guy who had left his jeans behind at a hotel, no worries you think, just go buy another pair, but try get a pair of jeans in Peru when you are over six feet tall !  or a battery of an unusual size !

All packed and ready to go

My mother had a list, written on both sides of the piece of cardboard that a man’s new shirt is folded around.  She was a great mountain camper and traveler so the list needed two sides.  One for a short break, a long weekend while the other side was for a week away in the mountains where there were no shops.  So her list covered everything from matches for the fire to a tent.

I have a packing list.  Initially I wrote a list for each trip, then I realised that not much changes, so the list is a more permanent structure.  It is now written in an A4 bound note book, where I have used all but the last 10 pages or so.

  • insert cover pic

The lists are well spread out and in topics so that I can write notes without obscuring the main structure.  The lists that I have scanned below are quite new, after our last big trip they had got a bit too scribbled on and there where changes to philosophy and changes to the toys as well.  The pages are in no particular order, just how I felt as I wrote.

First page – Electronic

Here are all the electric toys.  I have found that these constitute far too much weight in my luggage – the signs of the modern traveller.  Because of the massive volume of pictures I take together with the paranoia of losing them I double back up.  Bear in mind that this is a list for the most that I need, I don’t take all this on all trips.  I will not take an external hard drive nor a computer for a short trip for example.  All my cables are labelled and it took me a while to learn that some are interchangeable.  I take the shortest cables to keep the weight down.  This is still an on-going list, I have just added something while I write. Insert scan

Second Page – Camera

Have you ever been somewhere and found that you forgot a critical cable ?  If you are not into photography, this will not be at all relevant, and if you are a serious photographer, then you will have your own list and collection of tools/toys.  As with electronics – varies with situation.  If I use only one camera then I take one lens that covers a range of situation.  I generally only take a ‘big’ lens (=very heavy) if I am travelling by car and have two camera bodies.

Third page – Electronics Extras

All those other little extras, Kindle, phone etc and their associated paraphernalia

Fourth Page – Micro first aid travel kit.

Micro – because there are shops and pharmacies all over the world.  All one needs is something to tide you over until then.  This list covered what I take as a first source.  The ‘thrush tube’ is the one off treatment, saves going to a strange pharmacy and explaining the prob – and thrush is prone to hit while travelling sweatily.  Many things here are very personal choices.  This is a list of what we regularly find we need and use.

  • Antihistamines
  • Tweezers
  • Anti-itch cream
  • Difflam
  • Fiber Pills
  • Calming meds
  • Micropore

Firth Page – Toilet Bag

Different people – different things.My greatest newest love – Lush’s bar shampoo in a tin.  No messy bottles, no leaks, and lasts for ages

insert pic of bar and tin

Thinkgs I have learnt

Toothbrush must have a cover

  • Toothbrush must have a cover
  • Pads, micro panty liners – for those loooong days
  • Emery board – sorely missed if you get a rough nael and have nothing to file it smooth wioth
  • Nutrix is a very thick moisturising cream by Lancome, good for a dry skin, dont buy specially, but any good quality thick moisturizer will do after a long hot and dry day.

Sixth page – Hand luggage

This is a general list that covers flights and trains and anytime you don’t have access to everything, but predominantly a flight hand luggage bag.

Seventh Page – Aha Clothes

You see the word ‘throw away’ – wot ?  Through the year I put in a box all my clothes that have one or two more wears left.  I then wear them and throw them out as I go.  We often catch a late afternoon train to Sydney, takes 5 hrs.  So on go the throw away clothes.  We leave them in or next to the bin at our first nights stay.  Now we have one less lot of dirty clothes in the bag.  Usually take 2 or three sets of throwaways, depending on space and destination, more likely to be old underwear ….

Now with my packing list I feel nice and secure ….

I am trying to think what I have forgotten and regretted in the past.  And remembering old conversations with friends when asked them what they did not use and what they should have brought.

Need to consider that even when travelling to a hot hot country, aeroplanes may be cold.  A rain jacket is always needed, but be happy if never used.  One friend said her whole flight was ruined as she had no emery board and an annoying nail. 

What have you forgotten or did not think to bring along ?

Aby’s three rules of packing

  • All clothes the same colour, that way you can put them all in a dubious washing machind and not have all the colours muxed together
  • Think of the photos, do not wear a bright ornage shirt
  • and ???