I Admit It - I'm An Overpacker!

[easyas123]

Chronic overpacker here - I wish I knew the magic to packing light, I never use or wear half of what I schlep to wherever it is I'm going. We are going to Europe in November for 12 days and I'm limiting myself to 3 pairs of shoes, including the pair I wear over. That's my mantra at the moment "3 pairs of shoes, no more 3 pairs of shoes, no more". And I'm working on limiting the clothes. I've got to fly to FL on Saturday for 3 nights and even though we get 2 free bags I'm challenging myself to just pack a carry on and that's that. Baby steps!

 

[Sinder]

OP You are not alone. I went away this weekend, I packed like I was going to be stranded alone somewhere for a month

 

[NotUrsula]

There are 2 items that are key to cross-seasonal travel, IMO. A lightweight fleece top, such as a half-zip or jacket, and a windbreaker with a hood. Combined, those 2 can take you all the way down to near-freezing weather, but singly they can handle everything from a misty beach to a windy day in the 50's, and if you use a compression bag to pack them, take up almost no room at all. (Athletic gloves are also useful if you get cold hands easily, as is a pair of very thin silk longjohns to keep legs warm under lightweight pants, but you only need those if you are headed to serious cold weather.)

Wear your bulky shoes on the plane (hopefully you have TSA Pre so you don't have to remove them for airport security) and bring one extra pair of shoes for when the sneakers won't do.

I never bring jeans when traveling; too heavy and they don't dry fast enough. I've invested in a couple of pairs of tactical pants (got mine at Academy Sports) that dry quickly, and roll up with tabs at the ankles if it's warmer or I need to keep my ankles dry. I also usually bring skorts instead of shorts; they can be dressed up a bit if need be.

If you really need a blow-drier and space is tight, get a compact version to use for travel.

One of the best tricks for cutting down on what you pack is to take out everything you WANT to take and lay it out on your bed until it's all there, then put half of it back before packing your bag. It's really easy to duplicate items when they are already hidden in your bag.

PS: If you're of heavier build, your baggage will be heavier; just logical. When garments are larger, they include more fabric and they naturally weigh more. The weight of baggage will increase unless you either choose to pack fewer garments, or invest in lighter-weight technical-fabric clothing for travel. Back before the airlines changed the bag-weight rules, I used to be able to pack one 32" suitcase for 4 people for 10 days in N. Europe in the Spring, when it's still pretty cold. Of course, at the time, our children were actually little children (including a baby), and DH and I each weighed 20 lbs. less. These days, now that everyone has reached full adult size, I can't manage it in less than 2 (completely full and packed to 48 lbs.) large cases, 29" each.

 

[VandVsmama]

And it is tops on my list of things that bother me most about myself!

Going out to see my son next week. He lives in San Diego. Weather here on the east coast has been in the upper 80s/90s. Weather in SD, is cool. I don't really have "in between" clothes as it seems we go from winter to hot summer here in about a week's time. I'm also struggling with the various things we are going to do that seem to all require unique clothing: going to the various dog beaches everyday, doing some nicer dining, helping him move, and rounding it up at the end is a 2 night stay in Disneyland. I've got ankle length chinos (2) with nicer shirts for dining, quick dry shorts for the beach, swimsuit/coverup for the pool, some longer shorts for Disney. Then reading that it gets "cool" in SD and DL so do I need a jacket? Not sure I even have one!

Then there's the shoe issue. I had foot surgery last year (reconstruction) so for the most part, I need to wear my Brooks Ghosts with orthotics, but not at dinner with my nicer clothes, not on the beach, etc. I feel like I'm looking at 3 sets of shoes at least, two of them fairly heavy.

I then feel like I need to bring my blow dryer. Ugh. My experiences at hotels with blow dryers is they don't really dry my hair, if they're even working. I have a shortish haircut but hair is thick and needs some good power to dry.

So I've been staring at this stack of "stuff" all weekend and I'm just mad at myself.

Do any of you have the same affliction? Able to cure it? Any tips. I haven't gotten better with packing cubes. Didn't decrease my stuff but made packing/unpacking easier.

Some overall tips to consider:

• limit yourself to 5 days' worth of clothes. Bring a couple of laundry pods from home and wash clothes if they're too dirty to rewear. Bring enough undies for entire trip, unless you're staying for 2 weeks, in which case just bring 1 week's worth of undies and do laundry.
• Wear heaviest shoes on plane.
• If your blow dryer from home is an absolute must, then bring it in carry on luggage.
• Remind yourself that you're not going to Outer Mongolia. You're just going to southern CA. Everything available at home is available there, too.
• Bring ONE dressier outfit. ONE.
• Limit yourself to 2 pairs of "quick dry shorts for the beach." These can double up as "help son with his move shorts."
• Limit yourself to 2 pairs of "longer shorts for Disney."
• No more than 3 pairs of shoes total.
• ONE light sweatshirt. JUST ONE.
• Don't tell yourself "I better bring this, too, just in case."
• Leave room in your suitcase for Disneyland souvenirs.

Honestly, you could absolutely get all of this into a roll-aboard carry-on suitcase AND still have room for Disneyland souvenirs to bring home.

 

[Christine]

Thanks for all the tips so far. Just went out and bought myself a blow dryer that's much smaller/lighter than what I have. It won't be as fabulous but it'll do. Working on getting all the clothes laid out to see where I am. I might have to forgo some items like quick dry shorts. I have a few pair that I always take to Disney but I lost 15 lbs and they don't fit. Good/bad problem to have!

 

[Christine]

How long will you be going?

I tend to double up on bottoms and layering tanks but have separate shirts for everyday.

When we were down in Orlando earlier this month this was my clothes for 12 days but the big caveat for me is that almost all of them would be theme park ones so doubling it up was not done very much just due to the nature of being in the theme parks so much (aka sweaty-ickiness and there wasn't much time at all for washing machines)

View attachment 673002

Teal bags are compression cubes, blue are normal packing cubes.

I wore my leggings twice (on the flight down and on the flight back). I brought a packable rain jacket, a slightly thicker jacket meant for the planes because I tend to get cold in airports and on planes and then a lighter tied cardigan-ish jacket (that I wore on my birthday after changing out of my plane clothes, had it not been on my birthday I wouldn't have packed that or the skirt I ended up packing to wear too). It was overpacking but I typically bring a few extra outfits just in case I either change my mind, a stain happens, or the weather shifts enough. If this wasn't a theme park trip I would have cut down significantly on the different bottoms. Being down for a wedding I had a dress (although it was easy to pack) but then I brought a shawl due to the time of day the wedding one and that shawl took up some room.


If I was in your situation I would just double up so have bottoms that you wear more than once for instance. I echo the question of the washer and dryer. You could totally save space if things like underwear and any socks you may wear could be washed and the shirt(s) you wear to help move (which could also be worn for the dog park a day or two) along with the bottoms could also be washed.

For the nicer dining how many times will that be done? If it's just 2 I would only pack 1 chino.

I'm not sure you can compromise on the shoes if they are needed due to your foot surgery.

We also fly SWA yes having 2 checked bags per person is nice but making sure you can actually navigate that is another thing. We don't treat checked bags as a license to bring more stuff unless it's a long trip, for the most part the checked luggage helps in the liquids department so we don't have to try and consolidate down to the quart sized bag. I weighed my checked luggage (just did one and it was the middle sized luggage) and it was 38 lbs. I did have a carry on which was the smallest wheeled luggage although I don't know how much that weighed I was able to easily pick it up and put it in the overhead bin.

How long? Tuesday to Tuesday, but the travel days actually end up being somewhat full days for me as I arrive in San Deigo at 8:30AM and on my departure day, I'll probably do some Disney in the morning, maybe, then we drive back to San Diego to get on a 4:30 PM flight. I'm planning on that same all black Lululemon jogger/long sleeve shirt combo for my travel days, but will have to wear other clothes on those days because those travel clothes aren't really great for what I'm going to be doing on those days.

 

[dez1978]

Lord, I feel this is my soul. I am a serious over packer. Just got back Saturday from a week long trip. 3 days at universal and 3 at the beach. No chance to to laundry, so I'd packed about 8 outfits for everyone bc hot and sweaty sucks. 2 adults, 2 kids, had one full size suitcase that was exactly 50 lbs and then we all had a carry on. Granted my kids carry ons mostly consisted of their blanket and stuffed animal they just can't sleep without. And I really felt like I tried really hard to not overpack. There was only 1 outfit each that never was worn, and I prob could have done with one less pair of shoes for my kids each. They both wore their tennis shoes on the plane then I packed crocs and sandals for each of them. Prob could have left the sandals at home and just let them wear crocs to the beach, but it wouldn't have made much difference. I probably take too many shoes for myself and toiletries. I had 3 pairs plus my tennis shoes that I wore on the plane lol. I just hate not being prepared for all the things. Our next trip is going to be in a 1 bdrm at Riviera so we'll have laundry in room and that'll be a ton easier.

 

[Christine]

Lord, I feel this is my soul. I am a serious over packer. Just got back Saturday from a week long trip. 3 days at universal and 3 at the beach. No chance to to laundry, so I'd packed about 8 outfits for everyone bc hot and sweaty sucks. 2 adults, 2 kids, had one full size suitcase that was exactly 50 lbs and then we all had a carry on. Granted my kids carry ons mostly consisted of their blanket and stuffed animal they just can't sleep without. And I really felt like I tried really hard to not overpack. There was only 1 outfit each that never was worn, and I prob could have done with one less pair of shoes for my kids each. They both wore their tennis shoes on the plane then I packed crocs and sandals for each of them. Prob could have left the sandals at home and just let them wear crocs to the beach, but it wouldn't have made much difference. I probably take too many shoes for myself and toiletries. I had 3 pairs plus my tennis shoes that I wore on the plane lol. I just hate not being prepared for all the things. Our next trip is going to be in a 1 bdrm at Riviera so we'll have laundry in room and that'll be a ton easier.

Actually, I think you did great!! When I traveled with 2 adults, 2 children, honestly, we would have one HUGE suitcase and then some smaller ones (bigger than carryon). I guess I just like choices! But as I said upthread, the stress of managing all the stuff in a hotel room gets to me.

 

[VandVsmama]

How long? Tuesday to Tuesday, but the travel days actually end up being somewhat full days for me as I arrive in San Deigo at 8:30AM and on my departure day, I'll probably do some Disney in the morning, maybe, then we drive back to San Diego to get on a 4:30 PM flight. I'm planning on that same all black Lululemon jogger/long sleeve shirt combo for my travel days, but will have to wear other clothes on those days because those travel clothes aren't really great for what I'm going to be doing on those days.

Ok, so you'll be there a week.

Something to consider re: your drive from Anaheim to San Diego airport on your departure day...plan on 2 hours of drive time from DL-->San Diego (should take you ~ 1.5 hr, but you need to factor in some wiggle room just in case). Add in arriving to airport 2 hr beforehand, that means you leave Anaheim no later than 12:30 pm. You should plan on walking out of the DL main gate at noon so you can get to your car and all that.

 

[china mom]

Then there's the shoe issue. I had foot surgery last year (reconstruction) so for the most part, I need to wear my Brooks Ghosts with orthotics, but not at dinner with my nicer clothes, not on the beach, etc. I feel like I'm looking at 3 sets of shoes at least, two of them fairly heavy.

I am envious that you can wear shoes. I have had both feet rebuilt ((and, I also refer to them as bionic) They left my feet so misshapen (and oddly, tall) that literally, the only shoe I can wear is a sneaker with orthotics. Being only able to wear one type of shoe, does solve the shoe problem, though.

DH was a good packer for a while but something snapped. When we packed for our four night Disney cruise, he packed 12 t-shirts because "he didn't know what he would be in the mood to wear". They were all black, grey or dark green with no graphics so basically, almost identical.

 

[Christine]

Ok, so you'll be there a week.

Something to consider re: your drive from Anaheim to San Diego airport on your departure day...plan on 2 hours of drive time from DL-->San Diego (should take you ~ 1.5 hr, but you need to factor in some wiggle room just in case). Add in arriving to airport 2 hr beforehand, that means you leave Anaheim no later than 12:30 pm. You should plan on walking out of the DL main gate at noon so you can get to your car and all that.

Yeah, that's why I can't decide if I want to try a park until about 11AM or not. I have a day left on a military ticket to do it (or it just goes to waste unless I get back there). OR...I could just hang out at the hotel and take advantage of my club level room with lounge! Guess I'll see how much we get done on the 1.5 days preceeding that.

 

[Mrs.AMC]

I am too but not ashamed
I do not want to pick a week’s worth of outfits that far in advance and give myself no choices to swap out if I change my mind
The idea of traveling without options is a true nightmare
So no matter how many days I’m gone I have at least a spare outfit

 

[Christine]

I am envious that you can wear shoes. I have had both feet rebuilt ((and, I also refer to them as bionic) They left my feet so misshapen (and oddly, tall) that literally, the only shoe I can wear is a sneaker with orthotics. Being only able to wear one type of shoe, does solve the shoe problem, though.

DH was a good packer for a while but something snapped. When we packed for our four night Disney cruise, he packed 12 t-shirts because "he didn't know what he would be in the mood to wear". They were all black, grey or dark green with no graphics so basically, almost identical.

So funny about your husband. I was just looking at all my stuff a few minutes ago and thought "hmmmm....I could probably take my FIVE black t-shirts...they are so small and won't take up much room." I like each one of them for different reasons!!

Now, off topic, with the feet. Did your doctor build too high of an arch? One of my "buddies" on the Facebook group I'm on with this surgery is having that issue. I'm pretty good in any shoe but the outer side of my foot now has peroneal tendon strain so I have to be REALLY careful on what I wear. This weekend I was testing out some new, supportive sandals in the house and somehow my peroneal tendon got strained so I'm thinking I need to stick mostly with the sneakers and orthotics for 90% of my trip. I can get by with something lesser for dinner out. Oddly, I am able to wear a low, block heel to work and that doesn't bother me. But I am not packing those.

 

[VandVsmama]

Yeah, that's why I can't decide if I want to try a park until about 11AM or not. I have a day left on a military ticket to do it (or it just goes to waste unless I get back there). OR...I could just hang out at the hotel and take advantage of my club level room with lounge! Guess I'll see how much we get done on the 1.5 days preceeding that.

Well, you’ll need a park reservation so if I were you, I’d book the park reservation for your departure day anyway and decide the morning of. If you’re there at rope drop, you can get a lot done by noon.

 

[china mom]

Now, off topic, with the feet. Did your doctor build too high of an arch?

My arch isn't all that high but the top of my foot is and it makes it impossible to fit into anything. I tried ballet flats but they made my foot look like this


My right foot was done in summer of 2020 but still swells and even looks swollen on my "good days". The toes on my left foot look like they are doing the Vulcan greeting
But, at least I can walk. You have heard the saying "Once I felt bad that I had no shoes until I saw a man who had no feet" I'm just glad I have feet.

 

[Christine]

Well, you’ll need a park reservation so if I were you, I’d book the park reservation for your departure day anyway and decide the morning of. If you’re there at rope drop, you can get a lot done by noon.

Oh I've got that already--just don't know if I'm using it.

 

[LoveSpringsteen]

I can totally relate to this post. I just went away for one night last week and packed like I would be gone for a week. I also like my own hairdryer as I also have thick hair, but I have a travel one that I pack.

Have fun on your trip @Christine !

 

[mrodgers]

I over pack, but I don't travel by air, nor am I talking travel by car. I thought I'd be able to stop somewhere and pick up food and I could cook dinner over the fire every night so I hauled all my kitchen equipment plus a small but heavy cast iron pan for 11 nights on the bicycle. I didn't dig any of it out to cook once the whole trip.

 

[Travel60]

Reformed overpacker here. After many trips where I realized I never wore half the stuff I took, I decided I didn't want to mess with it again.

My "secret" now is capsule wardrobes around a tight color theme with tops and bottoms in solid colors so everything can go with everything else.

We are doing three back2back European cruises (3 different lines) in June/July. 44 days. First cruise - moderate temps, second - hot, hot, and third - quite chilly. Some excursions have lots of walking/hiking/biking, some are dinner in a castle. I'm doing a black and white capsule with hot pink and royal blue pops. Five pair pants in black or white - various lengths and dressiness. 4-5 sleveless tops in black, white, blue, pink. 2 long sleeve T-shirts (black/white). Black long sweater, white longish sweater. A couple of dressier white blouses and (breaking my rule) one black and white dotted dressier blouse. A white gauzy dress and a black long dress that can be dressed up or down. A couple of scarves incorporating the colors and one hot pink pashmina. For our cold days, I have a pink sweatshirt and a midweight black rain jacket. Will just layer up. Black walking shoes, bone walkable flats, sneakers, nude heels.

It's sort of fun to see how minimal I can go.

 

[JLTraveling]

Reformed overpacker here. After many trips where I realized I never wore half the stuff I took, I decided I didn't want to mess with it again.

My "secret" now is capsule wardrobes around a tight color theme with tops and bottoms in solid colors so everything can go with everything else.

We are doing three back2back European cruises (3 different lines) in June/July. 44 days. First cruise - moderate temps, second - hot, hot, and third - quite chilly. Some excursions have lots of walking/hiking/biking, some are dinner in a castle. I'm doing a black and white capsule with hot pink and royal blue pops. Five pair pants in black or white - various lengths and dressiness. 4-5 sleveless tops in black, white, blue, pink. 2 long sleeve T-shirts (black/white). Black long sweater, white longish sweater. A couple of dressier white blouses and (breaking my rule) one black and white dotted dressier blouse. A white gauzy dress and a black long dress that can be dressed up or down. A couple of scarves incorporating the colors and one hot pink pashmina. For our cold days, I have a pink sweatshirt and a midweight black rain jacket. Will just layer up. Black walking shoes, bone walkable flats, sneakers, nude heels.

It's sort of fun to see how minimal I can go.

Wow. I'm minimal myself, but that is a truly impressive packing list! I hadn't heard of capsule wardrobes before, but it makes perfect sense. Looking forward to trying it myself!