How are you at packing?

Regarding packing, I don’t overpack or underpack when it comes to the number of items I take. My problem is that I generally pack too many of one thing and too few of another. I always have enough underwear, but I tend to end up with sweaters I don’t wear because it has been too hot, or too many pairs of jeans. That is more weather-related though, than packing-related.

The type of trip I take varies.

• On the motorbike, I can take very little, but I normally take enough to wear all clean clothes every day, because the trip is seldom longer than a week. I can’t pack dresses or skirts though, as I can only wear them if I change in someone’s bathroom. Otherwise I just wear jeans under my leathers.
• In a quick trip car I can take more because I don’t have to carry anything far, and space is not limited.
• When it comes to trains, planes, and long car trips I end up regretting every single extra thing I packed ‘just in case’. Carrying heavy bags across airports and stations is a pain, as is constant packing and unpacking when you are in a new place every night. I think the worst thing is repacking things over and over on a long trip.
• If I spend a long time with family or friends, then I pack less because I have access to a washing machine. My best friend always loans me some of her amazing clothes when I am there if I am staying with her.
• If I am travelling and staying in a different place every night then I need to factor in that laundry will be a problem. I always take handwashing liquid and wash underwear and light clothes in the basin or bath in the evenings. By morning they are usually dry.
• I also collect gifts from loved ones along the way and that adds to packing. If we are in a car we end up with endless extra bags of laundry and gifts.
• I can sometimes buy things I need at destination but the different seasons and trends in Africa can be problematic. It has happened quite frequently that what I need is out of season or the styles don’t suit me. We are almost never in big cities and the selection in farming towns is quite sparse.

My items at the moment are:

Clothing

• underwear – enough for a change of underwear daily for five days without washing, but I normally wash in the evenings if necessary.
• socks – very few. Because we are flying into summer, I only wear socks for the plane and on colder days. Otherwise it is sandals.  If I need more I can buy some
• 3 dresses – 1 cotton and 2 silk
• 2 skirts – silk
• 3 pairs of jeans. One to wear while flying and two spare
• 1 pair sneakers, 1 pair flip flops
• 5 t shirts (I always buy t shirts at destination) – 2 pink, 2 yellow, one white
• 6 tank tops (I sleep in them and wear them under my t shirts)
• 1 scarf to travel with that doubles as a sarong, blanket, beach blanket
• 1 denim jacket
• Pink cardigan (my dresses are all blue and teal)
• Yellow sweater
• 2 cotton pyjama pants

Toiletries

• medication
• mini sizes of all my favourites, mostly decanted into small bottles
• bite plate
• makeup – none

Other

• laptop
• chargers
• power bank
• planner
• notebook

At destination in Africa I will stock up on my favourite local beauty products. I don’t generally have time or the patience to go clothes shopping, though. The summer sales will be on, the stock will be depleted now that the summer tourists from the north have been and gone. And the styles are often not good for Sweden because the weather never gets that hot here. This time I may be buying a pair of shorts if there are any left, and some new Haiavanas, although last time my size was sold out.

While wandering around the internet the other day I found the packing lists below for serious travelling and multiple seasons. Travel Fashion Girl is a really good site with great tips.