Posts Tagged packing checklist
Five Things I Always Pack — Mike Barish
Mike Barish is a freelance travel writer and regular contributor to Gadling. He is a universally respected expert in the SkyMall catalog whose work has appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle, Budget Travel, World Hum and Intelligent Travel. He was also the host of Chevrolet’s Travel Cruze-arati web series. You can always see what Mike’s up to on his own site and on Twitter. Mike is based in New York City where he lives with his fiancée and their two dogs.
1. Merino Wool Underwear
Between sitting on planes for hours, going on hikes and layering various types of clothing to keep the elements at bay, my special areas can get a tad warm. My absolute favorite items for travel are Icebreaker’s Beast 150 Boxer Briefs with Fly. They’re breathable, don’t absorb odor and are phenomenally comfortable. I’m able to pack fewer pairs of underwear because I can wear these several times before they need to be washed and, if I do wash them on the road, they dry quickly. Speaking of which…
2. Liquid Soap
I refuse to spend time at laundromats while traveling. That just seems like lost time. Instead, I wash clothing in the sink at my hotel or, more often than not, the apartment that I’ve rented. Most of the clothing that I pack dries quickly, so sink washing and hang drying is my best strategy for keeping fresh and not wasting time. Dr. Bronner’s Baby Mild Liquid Soap isn’t too abrasive, can be used on clothing as well as body and, most importantly, is unscented.
3. Extra Batteries
Maybe I’m a jerk, but I always giggle when I hear someone moan, “Oh, crap, my camera battery is dead,” while I’m traveling. Whether you’re on a family vacation or searching for Dr. Livingstone, you know you’re going to be taking plenty of pictures. Don’t let an easily remedied issue keep you from capturing your memories. I shoot with a Canon PowerShot S95 and love my off-brand spare battery that actually lasts longer than Canon’s stock battery.
4. Collapsible Backpack
The quickest way to lose or forget your belongings while traveling is to frequently unpack and repack your bags. That’s why the bag that I use on the plane for my headphones, iPad, passport, etc never goes out with me on day trips. Instead, I bring a second, easy-to-pack backpack with me. My favorite is the Patagonia Lightweight Travel Pack. It’s a tad pricey, but it’s far more durable than other travel packs out there, has a few easy to access pockets and packs down to a fantastically convenient size.
5. Baby Powder
I’ll end the same way I started, by discussing my crotch. Whether I’m going someplace hot and humid or ice cold, I always bring some baby powder with me. If you’ve ever gotten a heat rash or – and let’s all behave ourselves now – crotch rot, you know how uncomfortable and trip-ruining it is. Rather than overpay for expensive talcum powders that often come in large bottles, I opt for a simple travel-sized bottle of Johnson’s baby powder or a store brand if they have one.
Curious about what other travelers have on their “Five Things” list? The entire series is here.
Posted by Pam in General Gear, Travel Light on July 1st, 2011
Hilarious, Helpful “Pack ME” Notepad Checklist from LobotoME
I’m a freak about making packing lists before I travel. I’ve got lists stored in my computer for my family’s annual summer trip back East, for beach vacations and for pop-up camping. But my boring columns of “things to bring” in Microsoft Word aren’t nearly as entertaining as this Pack ME notepad from the inspirational and irreverent company, LobotoME. (Any businesss named after a surgical procedure that severs nerves in the brain has got to have a sense of humor.)
LobotoME, a Colorado-based brand, promises to deliver “goods to keep ME sane,” and the line of notepads includes not only Pack ME, but also Feed ME (for meal planning), Help ME (for hubby’s honey-do’s), Sit ME (to leave for house/pet sitters) and Fit ME (to track exercise and healthy eating). The pre-printed 5.5 x 8.5-inch pads (with classy brown headers and pastel accents) come with 50 sheets, and they are printed on white recycled paper (made in the USA).
The Pack ME sheets include checklists for all your “to do” items before you leave (call kennel, turn down heat, forward phone), as well as important reminders for “the people in charge” (bring cell phone charger, insurance cards, hostess gifts, travel alarm). A separate section for “the lil’ people not in charge” includes lists of the kid stuff: snacks, diapers, bibs, plastic bags, toys, DVD player. Finally, the largest section has three columns, where each family member can check off they’ve packed their clothing, toiletries, swim stuff and outdoor clothing/gear.
If I had to change anything about the notepad, I’d make four columns for family members (two grownups, two kids, I think, is typical), but I suppose I could just put checkmarks next to the name of each item I’m supposed to pack, or split one column into two (or larger families can split all three columns to make six).
But it’s hard to find much fault in a product that includes “Breathe…” as one of the things to do before heading out on a trip.
Other LobotoME products include 9×12-inch “Sanity-Inducing Weekly Planners” that retail for $20. The organizational notepads are $10 each and sold on the LobotoME website.
Posted by Kara in Kids and Family on August 7th, 2009
