My Travel Packing Checklist

I travel a lot. Sometimes for work. Sometimes for pleasure. Between that and my around-the-world trip back in 2006-2007 I have learned a lot about packing. My packing checklist has evolved (and still changes a little from time-to-time) from this experience. Stuff is heavy and checked bags can cost money. I minimize this to make my life on the road as easy as possible.

The List:

Clothes:

• 2 pairs of shorts
• 1 pair of jeans
• 1 nice button-up or polo shirt
• 4-5 t-shirts
• Socks and Underwear (depends on trip length)
• 1 pair of sneakers and 1 pair of flip flops
• 1 light jacket (such as a fleece)
• 1 black belt

I adjust the clothes numbers depending on season and length of travel. Work trips are usually 2-3 days so I bring 2 t-shirts, 1 work shirt, and enough socks and underwear to cover the duration. For travel of 7 days or more I bring the above with 7 underwear and 7 pair of socks.

Higene:

• Toothbrush
• Toothpaste
• Hair brush
• Deodorant
• Floss
• Mouthwash
• Razor w/extra cartridges
• Nail clippers
• Shampoo
• Bar of soap
• Small bottle of lotion
• Shower Towel
• Toiletry bag
• Roll of toilet paper (essential!)
• Trident (for times when I cannot brush teeth)

Utility Items:

• Swiss Army Knife -- so many useful tools in one package!
• First Aid Kit - I bought a small one and overstuffed each item in it
• Meds: Tylenol (pain/headahce), Anti-diarrhea pills, antacids
• Spray sunscreen
• Camera, camera case, camera USB cable, memory cards, mini-tripod
• USB Flash drive for storage
• Netbook laptop (long trips only)
• Backup paper copies of all Credit/ATM cards and Indentification docs
• iPod/iPhone and charger + headphones
• $100 USD emergency cash
• Light snacks for extended travel
• BIC lighter
• Pen & Pencil
• Small notepad
• Small book for reading

This list may seem like a lot but the majority of the items are pretty small and light. When I pack for a month long trip everything I carry weighs around 20-25 pounds total. The majority of these items can be bought at your destination if forgotten. Having less keeps you from taking a long time to pack and wasting energy on moving the heavy bag(s). It also saves time, money, and stress. Pack light and travel happy!