So I’ve been mulling over the old travel memories lately while staring out my window looking for inspiration. A series of memories in Japan sprung to mind and I can’t shake them. They’re bittersweet memories in that at the time I was incredibly uncomfortable but now I find immense value in the experience of it – lugging my bloody backpack through busy train stations, airports and bus depots. I’m sure anyone who has travelled knows this pain and it literally is a pain for me. My left shoulder becomes utterly excruciating after heaving and hoiking my gear about. So it lead me to this question and my topic for today’s post: What the hell do you pack in your travel bags?
It can be anything along the lines of:
Items you can’t live without
Items of pure luxury that you know you don’t need, but will inevitably take anyway. Items for survival or safety.
Items of comfort
Items for utility.
Do you travel light or are you an overpacker?
Do you typically underpack and buy as you go?
Do you have a small or large backpack – do you fill them?
How much is too much?
How little is too little?
Any neat tips or tricks you want to share? (My back would appreciate it)
Anything else that springs to mind that can fit into this category!
I’d love this to be a community question similar to my “Cheap Travel” or “The Writing Process…You and I” post where you the dear readers add to the comments and tell me all about what it is you take with you on your adventures. Who knows, it may save me from a painful shoulder and the bemused glances of thousands of Japanese residents as I drag my weighty 70L bag around.
Have at it!
Here are my answers:
Since Japan I’ve opted to try to always travel light. As light as possible in fact.
I recently bought a lightweight umbrella, a few travel cubes, toiletries pack and travel towel, a smaller (30L) backpack to replace my 70L. I think I’ll try cut down on excessive clothing and rely on washing frequently as I go. I’ve found winter gear to be the biggest pest in terms of space and the downside for me is a lot of the places I want to visit are cold.
I’m sure I can come up with a few more as this goes along
Hope to hear from you soon 😛
Mistakes & Adventures 
thermal underthings and a light, waterproof outer are better than heavies. Replace the brolly with a hat (that can be rolled and slid onto an attachment on the outside of the pack). You don’t need more than 2 of anything. Really. there’s two of us, and we carry everything in one pack. One. If your clothes can’t be rolled into tight little things – you don’t need them. Toiletries – one bag the size of a pack of ciggies – yes, it can be done. Consider what people used to carry in their ‘swags’ during the depression. Take everything you think you ‘need’ and reconsider if it’s a ‘want’.
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I love that tip “If your clothes can’t be rolled into tight little things – you don’t need them”. Brilliant 🙂
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something else important – if you like to smell nice just take a small bottle of distilled essence (something you like, of course – I like wild rose mixed with geranium) and use that on a cloth to ‘finish’ your drying (with a chamois, rather than a towel, cos it takes up so much less space).
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I’m a big advocate of the capsule wardrobe.
I’ve traveled for 3-1/2 weeks with nothing but a carry-on. I swear by tightly rolling clothes, using packing cubes, and doing laundry on the road. A friend told me home rentals via places like VRBO, etc. are better than hotels because you get free washer & dryer privileges rather than scouting out a laundromat. In between laundromat visits, I packed a poly mailer to line the wastebasket and would do the wash in that (easier and contains water better than doing it in the sink!). Hangers (I packed inflatable travel hangers) are better than a travel clothesline strung over the tub because stuff dries faster on a hanger.
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This is wonderful – I do need to start looking into what is best for washing on the road. Thank you 🙂
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I just travelled for ten days with only a daysack. Two shirts, underpants x 2, socks 2 pairs, tiny towel (unused to my annoyance as all AirBnBs gave towels), tiny solid alum crystal deodorant, mini toothpaste & brush, super lightweight running shorts and t-shirt used as PJs in hostels etc, jeans, a linen jacket, lightweight waterproof shell, super-skinny down gilet (Japanese, from Muji – if I were going to Japan I’d take literally nothing and buy everything there). Easy to wash stuff as you go, I don’t even carry soap or detergent, just blag handfuls of liquid soap from washrooms for body, hair and socks 😉 Good trip!
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Makes things so much easier doesn’t it? Japan is fantastic for all your needs on the go. I learnt that lesson as well haha
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Great tips from you & other readers!
What brands do you prefer for the backpacks? I’m researching these days for an upcoming trip, my husband & I will be on the road for a while, so all recommendations are welcome 😉
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I personally don’t own one but I’ve heard nothing but amazing things about Osprey
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Oh yeah? Me too. All the blogs & vlogs are talking about Osprey bags. Gotta check it out. Thanks for replying 🤗
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No worries 🙂
I wish when I began I bought an Osprey haha
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When I pack for a week I end up taking enough clothes and other stuff for 2 weeks or more. I go to a smaller suitcase but still take a lot of stuff.
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