Packing in a Personal Item

Packing in a Personal Item is one of the tricks to keeping costs low. Do not waste your personal item on a fanny pack or purse, and yes they do count against you. More and more airlines have been adding fees for carry-on’s so making your trip needs fit in a personal item is the best key to cutting the cost. Fitting everything you need for a long weekend, or all the way up to a week in a personal item takes both prioritization and the gear to make you successful. Over the years we have found the best way to get around these fees.

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Three Major Tips for Packing in a Personal Item

1. Pack using the best backpack you can find
2. Roll your clothes it takes up so much less space
3. Don’t waste the space you have with a purse or fanny pack

The first tip is to find the best backpack possible. I have tried many different options, and this zip open backpack is by far the best. It gives you plenty of room for all your stuff, while still being very accessible during the trip. This backpack also comes with packing cubes. You can fit a whole week in this backpack, and easily 15 days of underwear (which honestly after our mishap in Colorado I recommend always bringing…)

Packing Cubes

Packing cubes, if I had known that these worked so well I would’ve converted to using them so long ago! I thought, how could adding more to my carry-on make it take up less space? The compression in these cubes actually does take up less space! I also, use them to separate the clean and the dirty clothes through the trip, how great is that?!

First Aid Kit

First Aid Kit, I know this seems unnecessary but trust me, even if you don’t think you need it, having easy access to bandaids and pain relief will come in handy. It doesn’t ever hurt to have, and your group will thank you, when you don’t have to buy $5 band-aids from the hotel gift shop.

Beef up your first-aid kit with some pain relief, immodium and tums. Travel can sometimes equal stomach issues, and you don’t want to have to find a pharmacy in a foreign city, with an upset stomach. On that note, check the local recommendations for how you can help minimize your risks. I will always regret the fresh salad I ate in the Cuban countryside… the rest of the tour was driven by bathroom breaks. 🙁

Along the first-aid kit lines, if you are traveling it is likely you will be in motion, and if you are anything like me you can get motion sickness. At a minimum you should add Dramamine to your bag, if you are taking a rocky bus or jockey rickshaw, the medicine will keep you at a minimum from feeling nauseous, and possibly being sick. If the motion sickness is more serious, like mine is, you may need a more serious method of keeping it at bay. This watch type product, really helps with the nausea and may help to keep your trip from becoming a really unhappy experience.

Travel Journal

Keeping an amazing record of your trip will be a memory that you will always cherish, I recommend finding a journal that inspires you to write. You are going to be tired by the end of the day, but finding a journal that inspires you to write is key to keeping it going.

Snacks

Snackos are key to minimizing hangry moments and helping your crew be successful on the road. After years, of travel and Whole30 months, I have found the perfect packable snack that helps keep me from taking out my hangry on others. Epic Bars are Whole30 compliant, which means no added sugar, gluten free, dairy free, and still somehow yummy. Sorry, its a jerky so not vegan but other than that, buy the box and thank me later. Also, put them in the front pocket of your carry-on and pull them out to a small bin when you go through security, they almost always trigger a review and it will save time to have them pulled out already.

Always Bring your Water Bottle

Packable water bottle, not only does this help save the earth by minimizing the number of plastic bottles you use, but it also saves so much money on water bottles especially at airports. Make sure it is empty when you go through security, and you can fill it on the other side. Most airports have installed water bottle filling stations, and that makes life easy, but because this water bottle bends you can also use it to fill up regular water fountains.

Along the same lines is a reusable straw, so many places are banning straws, and some drinks just need one. This straw has a keychain attached so you can easily put it on the outside of your day pack.

Rain, Rain, Go Away

Ok, this one is gonna seem lame, but it is super small and will save you so much money and frustration if the rain comes pouring down. It’s a poncho, I know I know, but hear me out, it will cover you and your pack, folds up and you won’t even remember it is in your bag until you need it. Thank me when everything you own is dry, and your crew is completely damp!

Entertainment Required…

Next up, its for the good of everyone… UNO and a deck of cards. The amount of times you will pull these out will amaze you, delayed plane, got to the airport way to early, just need a low brain power activity to keep occupied. Want to cause a war between family members, make the Uno game draw until you can play! Insert evil laugh here.

Does anyone else feel a bit parched?

These two are good to have on hand, lip balm and hand lotion. Airplanes can be super dry and so can desert, and high altitude locations. The moisturizer will seriously come in handy, and keep you from getting too dried out. Make sure to hydrate to help minimize, but having the products in your bag will always be welcome.

The most massively useful thing?

Always, always, always bring a towel, Hitchiker’s Guide to The Galaxy told us “it is the most massively useful thing” and honestly he got it spot on. A quick dry towel will come in handy in so many situations, at the beach, hiking, swimming, waterfalls, messes and drying off if you leave you handy dandy poncho at the hotel.

Finally, a collapsible day pack, it will enable you to take a small bag when exploring and not having to unpack your whole bag. It also is light and east to take with you anywhere, you may want a waterproof one if it seems appropriate.

Tropical Locations

If you are going any place tropical, you should bring water shoes. I know I know, you are thinking water shoes are superfolous, but trust me when you get to hiking the waterfall, walking on shell covered beaches, or going boating you will need them and then you will have an epic pair.

Sun-Shirts are my favorite invention, you can just wear a lightweight quick dry shirt, and not have to put sunscreen on those spots? Super win! There are tons of options out there, just make sure whatever shirt you go with it has SPF 50+, anything less and it wont provide the sun protection you need.

Cover-ups for the pool and beach are super versatile, and handy if you go from the beach/pool right to grabbing some food. Make sure you get one that covers enough to be acceptable (enough) in public.

Camping/ Hiking Locations

Ensuring you have enough water for your hiking trips is so important and is not just nice, it is a safety concern. Hydration Packs are great, they are backpacks that hold the water you need for a trip and distribute the weight so it doesn’t become a burden. Keeping enough clean drinkable water on hand can be critical to having a great safe trip.

Breathable, athletic socks that are good for hiking are key to minimizing blisters, and keeping your feet clean and dry. The worst thing you could do on a long hike is wear socks that don’t breath and it impacts the health of your feet.

Hiking shoes are critical to success, when you are out on the trails you need shoes that grip, breath and are comfortable. If you are hiking for miles, you should break the shoes in before you go. I recommend 1-2 miles a day until you have them broken into your exact fit.

I really hope this list really helps you and your crew have the best experience possible, and make the most of the time you have. Making memories happen and spending quality time with your friends will make experiences > things. Whatever Packs Your Bag!

So many places, so little time! You probably are ready for your next adventure!