Have you ever checked two bags?

I have never packed so much in my life.

If you’ve read any previous posts, you likely know that I’m a big fan of traveling with only a carry-on. It keeps things simple if there are delays, and I can quickly arrive and leave the airport without standing in extra lines. I only check a bag if I’m bringing home wine. Besides my backpacking pack, I don’t even own a large suitcase. 

But this Iceland trip I’m sitting at the gate for is the most gear I’ve ever packed. There are many reasons including the fact that I’m out of practice for big international trips. The more frequently I travel, the more comfortable I am bringing less. But COVID-19 travel changes things. Airport restaurants aren’t open, and it may be harder to find what you need quickly and safely in your destination.

But the biggest reason is that I just need a lot of gear. My travel partner and I are doing a road trip, hiking, boating, swimming, snorkeling, and riding 150 miles on horseback through the highlands. All in addition to the usual urban exploration. The sheer variety means I need to bring more clothing than I usually would, add in no washer and dryer, changing accommodations every night, and getting dirty every day. Plus our lodging for most of it will be primitive at best requiring a sleeping bag and pillow. We’re staying in bunk houses, not tents, but we may not have electricity or running water every night, which means I am bringing my solar charger and food. The horseback riding requires a helmet, a safety vest, and two pairs of boots, none of which is foldable. And in case it wasn’t obvious, Iceland is cold, even in the summer, so I need layers to stay warm. 

I checked two bags, plus I have my carry-on and my personal item. And Delta just cancelled my flight. Wish me luck!

Pack With Me: Camping, Hiking, Backpacking

Camping, hiking, and backpacking can be so much fun, but it’s even better when you have luxury gear and don’t forget the important stuff. Here’s everything I bring with me when I’m camping for more than a couple nights, hiking for more than 5 miles, or backpacking any amount.

Sleeping

• Tent: We have an ultralight two-person we like for backpacking, and a larger 4-person tent for car camping. Good tents usually come with a footprint, but you can use a tarp underneath your tent if necessary. Ideally your tent also has a rain fly just in case it rains in the middle of the night or you expect there to be a lot of dew. (REI)

• Pillow: If we are backpacking we have small inflatable pillows, but if we are car camping, we usually just bring the pillows from our bed at home.

• Sleeping bag: If you are car camping feel free to bring bedding from home. But you’ll have a much better experience with a high quality sleeping bag. We have bags that can keep us warm in 15 degree temperatures. Some people even use a liner inside their bag to stay warm when they need it. When we get too warm during the night we just unzip and stick a leg out. You want one that is somewhat form fitting to your body because any extra space is room for cold air. I got one especially made for women’s shapes and my partner got one made for his height. We love our down sleeping bags so much! (Marmot)

• Sleeping pad: For extra comfort and warmth, you can also use a pad between your sleeping bag and the tent floor. You can get one that folds or rolls up or an inflatable one. (REI)

• Sleeping cot: We recently added cots to our car camping setup. Way better than an air mattress! We don’t bring them for backpacking because they are about as heavy as folding camp chairs. Not ideal when we’re trying to keep our weight to 30 pounds total including water. (REI)

Eating and Drinking

• Bladder: We use both bottles and bladders for our camping trips. We have a water filter if we know there is going to be somewhat potable water nearby like a flowing stream, but we also may just bring in all the water we intend to consume during the trip. Always overestimate what you’ll need. Always.

• Water filter: There are many ways to ensure you are drinking clean water throughout your camping trip. We personally like an easy filter but are exploring other options as well. 

• Paper towels: it’s a little wasteful, but they are an easy option for cleaning up messes on gear to prevent attracting bugs and animals.

• Trash bags: Something you can hang from a clothesline to keep animals away. Remember to Leave No Trace.

• Cookware: Planning out your meals will help you determine what you need to bring as far as cooking utensils, pots and pans, etc. There are specialty camp versions of everything, or you may decide not to bring anything but a mountain pie maker and a cast iron skillet to cook over a fire. Don’t forget marshmallow sticks!

• Serveware: I like reusables but cardboard or bamboo disposables are fine in a pinch. Be sure they don’t have any sort of coating on them if you intend to throw them in the campfire though. 

• Cleaning supplies: I usually use biodegradable soap and paper towels.

• Animal protection: This can be a bear canister, a bag with rope to hang from a tree branch or other option. You don’t want to leave food in a cooler or out in any way.

• Cooler: To keep food and drinks cold. I prefer large ice packs so when they melt my items aren’t floating in water, but ice is always an easy option. I try to keep cheese and other small items in a separate cooler with ice packs and leave the cooler for things like milk and beer since they won’t get soggy.

Wearing

For as much of my clothing as possible, I try to bring natural fibers like wool and cotton. I do also have some more technical clothing as well that helps wick sweat and dew from me.

• Bottoms: I almost never wear jeans because they don’t dry quickly so hiking pants and leggings for me, but some people prefer shorts. I usually bring one per day. I’ve been burned before (falling into the river while kayaking) and have needed more than one outfit in a day, but you can also wear the same thing more than one day. No one cares what you look like while camping. (Prana, Patagonia, Girlfriend Collective)

• Tops: Regardless of the temperature, I always bring tank tops, short sleeves and long sleeves so I can layer as necessary as the temperatures change throughout the day and night. I wear these items over and over unless I sweat excessively. (REI, Patagonia)

• Pajamas: changing into clean pajamas before you slip into your sleeping bag can help keep it clean since it’s so hard to launder.

• Underthings: sports bras, underwear, socks, etc. I bring just a few sports bras and wear them inside out the second time. I always pack more underwear than I need. Fresh underwear is the best feeling when the rest of you feels a little dirty out in the woods somewhere. I usually only bring enough socks for the days I’m hiking. I wear dirty socks inside out with my sandals around the fire in the evenings. (SmartWool)

• Swim suit: I almost always bring it even if there is no pool. You may find a lake, pond or river you just can’t resist.

• Rain gear: It’s important to bring a waterPROOF jacket, not a water RESISTANT one. One with a hood is best. You can also get waterproof pants as well, but it’s not necessary unless you anticipate being wet and cold for a long time like in Iceland or during a winter hike. (Patagonia, Columbia)

• Gloves: Speaking of winter, you may decide to bring warm gloves with you as well. If you’re seeing below 40 degrees, you may also consider a winter coat, scarves, and other accoutrement like crampons.

• Hat: this could be something warm for winter or a baseball cap for warmer weather. I hear bucket hats are in lately, but I just can’t with some 90s trends.

• Hiking shoes or boots: Depending on your needs, you may decide to go with a more lightweight hiking shoe or a more sturdy boot, but both should be waterproof when possible. (Merrell, Ariat)

• Sandals: I like thick velcro ones I can adjust as my feet swell throughout the day. I can use them as water shoes and campfire shoes, and even short, flat hikes in them if I need to. (Teva, Toms are good alternatives if you don’t plan on using them for water)

• Sunglasses: But don’t bring your fancy ones in case they get dirty, broken or lost.

Relaxing

• Hammock: Laying in a hammock is one of the best ways to chill out. Be sure to pack your straps and stand if you don’t anticipate finding good trees for it. (ENO, Kammok)

• Camp chairs: Any folding camp chairs will do, but there are awesome anti-gravity ones that will really enhance your experience.

• Games: I always bring a deck of cards for the size and flexibility, but board games that can be played on a picnic table or that don’t have small pieces that could get lost in the grass or cards that can blow away in the wind are great as well. If you have room in your car, you can also bring yard games like corn hole, bocce, can jam and others.

• Binoculars: If you want to peep some birds or animals from afar, binoculars are a fun addition to your list

• Firewood: Make sure it’s seasoned and dry. You’ll want large logs and small kindling as well as a lighter and paper and cardboard scraps.

Safety

• Sunscreen: Sun protection is no joke. I’m a bit of a crazy person about making sure I apply it thoroughly and reapply regularly. We were just at a cabin with friends and I was the only one who didn’t get burned. I prefer 50 SPF mineral sunscreen in lotion form, but anything is better than nothing. Aerosols and chemical sunscreens aren’t great for the environment (if it doesn’t say mineral on the label, it’s chemical). Many places like Hawaii and Australia are even banning chemical sunscreens because of the damage they can do to reefs and ocean life.

• Bug spray: Even if you don’t think you need it, bring it anyway. You can also bring citronella candles and other bug deterrents but spray is often the easiest and most reliable.

• Whistle: If you get lost or need help, a whistle may be louder and use less energy than your own voice. 

• Emergency blankets: These small foil blankets you often see marathoners wearing after a race can help keep you warm. Hand warmers are also a nice thing to pack if you expect any chilly weather.

• Band aids: My partner loves to prevent blisters with bandages like Moleskin, but band aids are still helpful for small cuts. You should also have an Ace bandage and a healthy first aid kit with a variety of common items like allergy pills, ibuprofen, Tums, and antiseptic.

• Hand sanitizer and soap: We have biodegradable soap we use for everything and washing your hands with soap and water is always the better option, but in a pinch hand sanitizer will do.

• Hand crank radio: I have this hand crank-powered radio and flashlight device that I would use in an emergency, it’s the size of a can of soda and if my phone and headlamp died, I could use it to listen to music and get some light.

• Toilet paper: Just in case your campground runs out in the middle of the night, or if you are primitive camping. You should also consider a portable loo or double doodie bags if you need to pack out your personal waste.

• Jumper cables: And generally a car safety kit. You may need to turn the headlights on for a bit or charge phones so it’s best to not get stranded with a dead battery and no cell service.

• Knife: Many people bring a knife or ax as well for odds and ends set up and firewood management.

Miscellaneous

• Backpack, day pack: Obviously if you’re backpacking you’ll need something to carry everything. You can mostly get away with a 30-40 liter pack for most short trips. But it’s also nice to have a smaller day pack that’s only 10-15 liters for hiking and exploring. (Osprey, Mountain Hardwear)

• Hair ties: no one wants you to accidentally light your hair on fire; pull it back. Rock a braid or top knot.

• Headlamps: It’s nice to have a lantern or flashlight as well, but to keep the number of items we need to bring low, we just bring headlamps. The brightness and angle can be adjusted on the ones we have. (Black Diamond)

• Towel or sarong: We have a small hand town made of microfiber as well as a thin sarong-style blanket we can use as a towel as well. Again, if we are car camping, we just bring beach towels from home.

• Deodorant and other toiletries: I like to keep a fragrance-free set of toiletries for camping and outdoor trips. I’m not bringing perfume to attract bees my way, or anything of the sort. My camping toiletries are bare bones and I may not even bring a hair brush. My fingers work just fine for my hair for the most part. Toothbrush and paste, deodorant, facial cleansing wipes. I like using these wipes just before bed once I’m already in my tent to get all the bug spray and sunscreen off. You may need to bring additional sanitary items if for example you need to stick your dirty fingers in your eyes to remove your contacts. You do you.

• Solar charger: I have a small hand held solar charger for my devices. It’s not a battery so it only charges when it’s in direct bright sunlight, but I can usually make sure all my devices are charged by sunset and make it through the night just fine. Airplane mode helps too if you need it. I also have been bringing a power bank lately for car camping trips. Definitely leaving that heavy item at home for backpacking though.

• Clothesline or rope: to hang food, trash, wet clothes, etc.

• Bags: I bring dry bags to keep wet things separate from dry things, ziplock bags for period products or toilet paper I can’t dispose of immediately, and beeswax and reusable baggies for leftover food and other items I want to keep covered.

• Corkscrew: I will not be caught with a bottle of wine I can’t open. Usually I try to bring only screw tops or other options, but a good one to have just in case. 

• Trekking poles: Great for elevation gain and icy spots along the trails. They can also be used as poles in some tent/tarp combos in a pinch. (Black Diamond)

• Downloaded offline maps: Download offline Google Maps to your phone so even if you don’t have cell service you can still navigate home.

• If you know you’re staying somewhere that is known for having a bunch of bugs, I recommend a mosquito head net. It’s basically a drawstring bag that you can wear over a wide brimmed hat to keep the bugs at least out of your face.

• Duct tape: Because it can fix everything including holes in your tent.

• Cash: Some parks and campgrounds only accept cash. Plus it’s nice to have for emergency vending machines or tipping anyone who assists you during your trip.

I know that’s a lot. I’m happy to help you pack or plan your next camping trip. I promise it’s a blast, even if it’s a little extra work!

This Or That: Backpacks Or Roller Bags

There’s a time and a place for everything. In our This Or That series, we’ll share pros and cons of different choices in travel-related decisions. Today, it’s all about luggage. While I almost never recommend checking your bag, you still have a couple options for that carry-on-sized luggage.

Pros of a roller bag

• Wheels. No need to carry your heavy clothing and shoes when you’re walking on smooth surfaces.

• Hard cases. The hard outer shell of your roller bag can protect fragile belongings from getting squooshed while you’re cramming it in the overhead bin or crushed under other people’s bags in the trunk of your Lyft.

Cons of a roller bag

• Stairs. Even with top and side handles, lugging a roller bag up and down stairs to the subway and along cobblestone streets can be awkward at best.

• Hardware. Unless you have extremely high-end luggage, you may find that the boxing match your bag goes through on a trip may put quite a bit of wear and tear on it. I’ve been on trips when my bag just couldn’t take the hits and the handle busted or a wheel gave out on me. It definitely made for a less than pleasant trip carrying my bag instead of rolling it.

When to use a roller bag: Road trips or any trip when you won’t be walking or taking public transportation much.

Pros of a backpack

• Look Ma! No hands! I love having my hands free to navigate around my vacation. Honestly even a simple task of going through security can be difficult with one hand holding your roller bag handle.

• Sneaky size. I feel like I can get away with a bigger bag in backpack form. Because it’s less rigid and can be molded to fit into the required space, I am able to bring slightly more with me than with a roller bag. Additionally, without the hard inner frame of the wheels and handle, I have more internal space to organize my belongings.

• Weight. Do some comparison on your own, but I often find that empty roller bags weigh more than empty backpacks. There is more flexibility in ultralight travel gear in backpacks than in roller bag.

• Pockets. I usually recommend packing cubes and any extra way to organize my belongings is a pro in my book. 

Cons of a backpack

• Access. Backpacks typically don’t open fully and have a bottom third that doesn’t have open access other that from the top. You can look for backpacks that offer a bottom zipper as well.

• Fit. You need to make sure you backpack fits you properly and that the majority of the weight sits on yours hips rather than your shoulders. 

• Crowds. On a crowded subway, it’s important to not leave your backpack on your shoulders. You must remove it and put it between your legs to be respectful of others on the train.

• Safety. The nature of a backpack is that it’s out of sight so you and your travel buddy need to generally keep an eye on each others’ bags and make sure they are securely zipped to avoid pick-pocketers.

When to use a backpack: Any trip where you’ll be visiting multiple cities or won’t have a car. Hiking.

One last note: I’m always a fan of expandable luggage. You can find great roller bags and backpacks that offer an extra two inches of space that can be zipped away when not needed. Both my roller bag and my backpack have this feature. I use it for packing alcohol and checking my bag on my way home.

Packing: More Than Basics

For experienced travelers, the obvious fold versus roll clothes packing debate is old news. But for those new to longer trips or further distances, here are a few tips to make your next vacation easy and stress-free.

What to Pack

1. Plan out what you pack in advance of the actual packing so you don’t accidentally wear something you want to pack the day before you leave and have to do an emergency load of laundry.

2. Bring only clothing you can wear with every other piece. It’s called a capsule wardrobe and you can apply those same principles to your trip fashion. You can do this by style or by color. I like packing this way so I can mix and match based on how I’m feeling that morning or what our activities will be.

3. For longer trips, don’t forget that you can wash your clothing so you can bring less. If I plan to do laundry while I’m away, I make sure that the lodging about half way through the trip offers a machine or services. If you’re in Europe though, double check if they offer a dryer (most don’t). Even then, plan do wash your clothes a few days before you leave that destination because the dryers really just wring out your clothes instead of actually dry them. You’ll most likely need to let them hang dry before you pack in your suitcase to avoid mildew and wrinkles. Another side note: be sure to check the machine settings before hitting start. Been there, ruined that entire backpack of my favorite clothing…

4. And on that note, don’t bring your favorite clothing. I know we all want to take vacation photos in our favorite outfits, but it’s not always worth the risk of ruining your favorite new shirt. Red skirt washed with my favorite new white shirt means I now have a pink stained shirt hanging in my closet because I can’t bring myself to toss it. Any tips for this situation?

5. Choose fabrics that are wrinkle resistant. Spending time ironing in the morning before heading out to explore San Francisco eats into your vacation time. 

6. Even if you’re skiing in Colorado, it’s a good idea to coordinate your outfits in layers. Weather can be unpredictable outside, but who knows if you’ll be too cold or too hot indoors as well. Packing that bulky sweater may be cute, but sitting by the fire at the ski lodge after sweating down the mountains won’t be.

7. Bring fewer shoes. I know this is a hard one and one most people struggle with it. Unless you have an insanely comfortable pair of heels and have a dinner reservation or plan to go clubbing, leave the pumps at home. For most urban exploring trips you can get away with a pair of comfy flats and a pair of tennis shoes, one of which you can wear, the other you pack. Obviously, if you’re adventuring outdoors, prioritize your Tevas and hiking boots. If you’re going to the beach, bring sandals. Almost anywhere you go, you can probably get away with wearing one pair and packing the other. If you don’t believe me, try it for a short weekend trip and see how truly not painful it is to pack fewer shoes.

8. Opposite of my shoes advice, always bring more underwear than you need. Do I have to explain why?

9. If you’re traveling internationally, you should still bring a blue or black pen for filling out your customs forms. The flight attendants will have a few spares, but it’s best to bring your own.

10. Another item on your list for international travel is an electrical outlet converter for your destination. I like this one on Amazon because it has almost everything you could need and you won’t need to buy or bring more than one. My husband and I actually share just one and coordinate when we each get to charge our electronics.

11. An empty water bottle will help you avoid purchasing disposable water bottles saving you money and the planet. Make sure it fits inside your day bag, whatever that is. My husband liked to keep his water bottle in the mesh pocket on the outside of his backpack until one time when it fell out on a Parisian train station escalator and it hit three people. PARDON!

12. Speaking of your day bag, my recommendation is a crossbody bag. I know this mostly works for women, but it’s truly the best way to protect your belongings while having easy access to them. With a backpack, you have to take it off to pay for your croissant and it protrudes from your back so you can’t have eyes on it at all times. Plus you’ll need to take it off and set it on the floor between your legs on crowded subway cars. Your bag should also have a zipper. When you’re in crowded touristy locations you should keep it zipped with your hand over the zipper too. But safety tips are a whole other post.

13. A little advance research can help you determine if you need to bring toiletries. Does your hotel provide a hair dryer? Don’t bring your own. Do they have a supply of high quality shampoo and conditioner? Don’t bring your own. Even if they don’t, you can usually find a cheap, small bottle of local products to use while you’re there, then you don’t have to carry it with you. I can usually get away with the basics and I don’t wear a ton of makeup to begin with, but pare it down to just the essentials. I also have a mini combo hair straightener and curling iron for trips I where I need to look my best.

14. One last thing not to bring: books, magazines and entertainment. I’m a huge reader and my husband and I love games, but I’m not about to bring all that with me on vacation. Instead, I download books to my Kindle and Audible accounts, and loads of music on my Spotify account. He usually brings his Nintendo Switch so there is plenty of entertainment for us. And then if it’s a long trip with lots of down time, I may bring a very small game like a deck of cards or SET. Bananagrams was a big hit on our cruise a few years ago because I was nervous about wind blowing the cards around on the pool deck.

How to Pack

1. Roll your clothes instead of folding them. I can’t prove anything, but I feel like it enables me to fit more stuff and helps prevent wrinkles.

2. The real MVP here is packing cubes. You can get a set of 6 for $20 on Amazon. Yes, it sounds like you are fitting more stuff in your suitcase in an effort to fit more, but it’s not about fitting more stuff. It’s about organization. Unless you are going to one location and are planning to unpack your belongings into the dresser or wardrobe, your luggage is going to be a mess. There are three ways you can use packing cubes to keep yourself neat: organize by clean and dirty, sort by clothing type (undergarments, shirts, pants, etc.), or pack by full outfits or days. The latter is my preferred for trips where you’ll be changing destinations every couple days because you can pack everything you’ll need for Barcelona in one cube, and everything for London in another without having to unpack and repack your whole backpack. Yes, rolling still works in the packing cubes.

3. The placement of your items in your bag matters too. Regardless of if you’re using a hard-sided rolling suitcase or a hiking backpack, you should pack your heaviest items toward the bottom and closest to your back or the handle side of the suitcase. Lighter stuff goes in the opposite corner. Even if you’re using packing cubes, you can pack smaller items like socks inside shoes and other crannies to fill the otherwise unused space.

4. All of this can help you fit more stuff in a smaller bag, enabling you to be more nimble and quick when moving through the airport or European train stations. I once traveled to Arizona for three nights with just a personal item. We camped, hiked, and rode horses. It’s possible!

5. Do. Not. Check. Your. Bag. (on the way to your destination). I cannot stress this enough. The risk of losing your bag or it not arriving on time, plus the hassle of having to wait for it at baggage claim and then wait in lines for transportation upon arrival is not worth being able to bring more stuff (read: lug more stuff around). Fit it into your carry on and personal item or leave it at home and buy it when you get there. This rule is, however, null and void on your very last flight. I usually load up on alcohol from my destination as my souvenir and pack it inside giant Ziploc bags, then rolled in my thickest clothing. On my first trip to Europe, my husband and I brought home a serious stash of nine bottles, some of which we’re still saving for a special occasion. Not bringing home alcohol? It’s still nice to not carry your bag on your flight home after being exhausted from adventuring.

What you bring with you on your trip can surprisingly impact how much fun you have. Do you have any other tips to share?