March 11, 2025 • 13 mins
Do you stare at an empty suitcase the night before your trip, or struggle to zip one that's bursting at the seams? The chronic overpacker's dilemma is real, but there's a better way to prepare for your adventures.
After years of streamlining my packing process, I've developed six game-changing strategies that transform chaotic last-minute packing into an organized system anyone can master. Starting your packing process early with a comprehensive checklist prevents both overpacking and forgetting essentials. Understanding your destination's weather and planned activities helps you pack purposefully rather than "just in case."
The heart of my approach is the travel capsule wardrobe—a minimal collection of versatile pieces that create maximum outfit combinations. For my upcoming eight-day Iceland trip, I'm taking just three bottoms, three tops, two pairs of shoes, one jacket, and a multipurpose scarf. Everything mixes and matches, creating a week's worth of looks from surprisingly few items. My space-saving techniques include using packing cubes, rolling clothes instead of folding, and following the golden rule: never pack something you'll only wear or use once.
Whether you're preparing for a weekend getaway or extended journey, these minimalist packing principles deliver freedom from heavy luggage and packing stress. Ready to transform your travel experience? Download my free packing checklist from the show notes and discover how traveling lighter makes your adventures more enjoyable. Remember—nobody notices you're wearing the same sweater twice, but everyone notices when you're struggling with oversized luggage!
PACKING CHECKLIST:
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Here, it is the night before your trip and your
suitcase is empty, or, on theflip side, it is so packed you
can't even zip it up.
Are you a chronic overpacker oryou just throw things in at the
last minute and say, oh, justin case, well, I'm here to help
(00:22):
you learn how to pack light.
So if you're one of thosechronic overpackers or you wait
till last minute, I'm here tohelp.
Welcome to Solo TravelAdventures.
I'm Cheryl Esch, your host andminimalist packer.
Here to the rescue.
So which one are you?
(00:43):
Do you pack light or do youoverpack?
Do you find yourself waitingtill last minute?
Well, these are some tips.
I have six really good tips foryou and some references to some
past episodes, also related toany of your packing needs.
So, also related to any of yourpacking needs.
(01:09):
So listen in First things.
First, do not wait until thelast minute.
This is just a recipe fordisaster, meaning you're going
to overpack.
First of all, is what usuallyhappens.
Or, secondly, you're likelygoing to forget something.
Even though you've packed allthis stuff that is probably 80%
unnecessary, you're going toforget something essential.
(01:31):
Now, certain things that areessential, that don't cost a
whole lot of money.
Maybe you forget yourtoothbrush, which happens a lot.
That's pretty easy to purchaseonce you get to your destination
, but, let's say, you forget topack your swimsuit.
Well, those aren't as easy tofind one.
(01:52):
Maybe, at least for me, that Ilike.
That would fit me, um, ideally,so, um.
Or maybe you have a fair, afavorite pair of shoes that you
forgot to throw in.
So make sure you do not waittill last minute.
As a matter of fact, Irecommend that at least a week
before you start putting itemsaside and make sure you have a
(02:16):
packing checklist.
I know you think you don't needone, but you need one.
Okay, I'm a checklist kind ofperson, but it also.
It helps you not forget thingsthat are essential, and it also
helps you to not over pack.
So start putting your stuffaside.
And this is really crazy, butI'm one month away just about
(02:39):
well, actually five weeks awayfrom going to Iceland, and I've
already, in my mind, startedthinking about what I'm going to
take, thinking about theweather and putting a few things
aside.
One reason is we are startingto get some warmer weather here
and I don't necessarily want topack away all my winter stuff
(03:01):
yet, which I normally would do,because I will need some of it
for my Iceland trip.
So that is why I'm thinkingahead.
And that's the other reason youwant to start early.
You don't want to wait, becausewhat if there is something you
need to get at the store orpurchase that you need for your
trip?
All right, you can't beovernighting from Amazon,
(03:23):
although you might be able to,but if you wait till last minute
, there's less likely a chancethat you're going to get that
item that you need to purchasebefore you leave.
Okay, number two make sure youare checking the weather for
where you're going and considerthe activities you are doing,
because that will help youdetermine what you need to pack.
(03:43):
Okay, my example going toIceland.
I know the weather's going tobe cold, it's April, but it's
still cold.
It's gonna be roughly, they say, between 35 degrees and 45
degrees Fahrenheit, so that'slike two Celsius to seven
Celsius, so that's still prettychilly.
So I'm gonna need some sweaters, right, I'm going to need
(04:06):
layers, warmer clothes, um, andthen for activities, I know that
, for one thing, I'm going tothe blue lagoon, so I am going
to need a swimsuit, and then Iwill be doing some hiking, so I
will need some hiking uh gears,definitely my hiking shoes.
So check the weather to makesure.
(04:28):
And is it going to be rainy?
Make sure you pack thatraincoat.
Okay, number three I like to layout all my items.
I lay them out on the bed,everything that I'm taking and
my suitcase.
I don't put it in the suitcaseyet, but I lay everything out,
all my items, so I can see them.
And that leads into pointnumber four.
(04:51):
I lay it out because all myclothes should be able to mix
and match.
They call this sort of thatcapsule wardrobe idea and I use
it when I pack and do trips.
So every item that I'm takingshirts, bottoms, sweaters
they're going to be able to mixand match with various items.
(05:13):
You can pick a color palettethat you want to stick with.
Maybe you want to do like allblacks and grays, or maybe you
want to do all neutral colors,or maybe you want to do all some
bright colors, or just throw insome bright colors with your
black, making sure everythingdoes mix and match.
Okay, and you do not need a newoutfit for every day.
(05:34):
You can wear things more thanonce.
Trust me, nobody especially ifyou're traveling, nobody is
noticing that you're wearing thesame sweater you wore yesterday
and I I tend to take.
Okay, I'm going to give you anexample.
Okay, so this is my example.
I am going to be actually goneeight days from my Iceland trip.
(05:56):
So here is for eight days, or aone week trip.
Here's what I recommend.
You basically will need threebottoms, whether that's two
pairs of pants, a skirt, threebottoms, three tops, two pairs
of shoes, meaning I'm wearingone pair of shoe and I'm packing
(06:18):
another pair.
Now I also, for this particulartrip and some others that I've
been on, I have also slid inreally cheap flip-flops.
Okay, this is, these are likeat the dollar store kind of
flip-flops, nothing fancy.
I'm taking them on my Icelandtrip because I am going to the
lagoon and I will need some shoelike that.
(06:40):
Okay, otherwise, I always justtake two shoes.
I don't take more than that.
I'm wearing a pair.
I'm wearing my heaviest andbiggest pair of shoes so that my
lighter pair are packed.
I'm wearing my heaviest andbiggest pair of shoes so that my
lighter pair are packed.
Then I have usually a sweateror a sweatshirt or a jacket,
something.
Even if I'm going to warmerweather, I like to have some
(07:01):
sort of whether it's a lightjacket.
Um, for example, when I went toParis, I took a light leather
jacket, right?
Um, I take a large scarf alwayswhen I travel.
It's a nice.
I'll also make sure it matcheseverything that I'm taking so
that it can be either wornfashionably and I say large
(07:22):
scarf because then it could alsobe used as maybe an evening
shawl.
It could be wrapped around mywaist after swimming.
Okay, so that's a universalkind of use of the scarf.
I take pajamas.
Uh, some people just sleep intheir underwear or in their
(07:42):
clothes.
I'm not that person.
I actually like to take somePJs so I'm comfortable overnight
.
Um, some PJs, so I'mcomfortable overnight.
I will take four pairs of socks.
I do take.
I will be taking the samenumber of days of underwear Now,
when I'm extending a tripbeyond a whole week, I take
(08:03):
socks and underwear that areMurano wool that can be easily
washed and re-worn while I'mtraveling, all right.
So that's sort of an idea of my,uh, what I'm packing for my
trip to Iceland for eight days.
Um, I have a flight outfit,meaning that's an outfit I will
fly to, cause I'm going to be inthat outfit a whole day and I'm
(08:24):
also going to use that sameoutfit to fly home in.
Okay, it could be worn again,maybe while I'm on my trip.
It doesn't have to be, but Iget two wears out of that outfit
as well.
So that's an example of what Iwould pack.
So, again, I can lay out myclothes.
I'm going to look at them, makesure they all mix and match and
then make sure I'm not takingexcessive amounts of clothing.
(08:48):
So my three tops, for examplefor Iceland um, are going to be
like long sleeve or sweaters,something warmer, um, on my trip
.
Number five, I recommend usingpacking cubes.
Packing cubes are a great wayto, uh, space save.
There's some that compress evenmore, um, but it also, in my
(09:11):
mind, also helps keep certainthings organized in um, my
suitcase or my backpack,depending on what I'm taking.
You can also save space byrolling your clothes.
Folding actually takes up morespace in your suitcase and
rolling also helps sort ofprevent too many wrinkles from
happening in your clothing.
(09:32):
But I also recommend takingclothes that are not going to
necessarily need an iron or anironing board at the other end.
So something to consider.
And then I highly recommendthat as you look at your clothes
and stuff that is laid out onyour bed, you know, prior to
putting it in your suitcase, seeif there's an item.
(09:52):
This is number six.
Do not pack an item that youwill only use once or wear once.
We want to make sure, as I said,make sure your clothes can mix
and match, even if you decide totake a dress, which I prefer.
If I'm going to take a skirt,I'm going to do a skirt and a
blouse so that I have moreoptions.
However, you can take a dressand know that you know could you
(10:15):
layer it with a sweater, couldyou layer it with that jacket
that you're taking, or use thescarf to dress it up.
Make sure the dress issomething that you know you will
wear more than just on oneoccasion.
So these are some tips for youas you're getting ready to pack
for your next trip and if youare a chronic overpacker.
(10:39):
I hope this helps, but I havesome other past episodes I'm
going to reference.
So if you need some additionalhelp with your packing, episode
91, I talk about this is a goodone to also, if you're flying,
to check to see what in-flightpacking essentials you might
(11:01):
want to have handy, not in yoursuitcase, but more in your
carry-on or accessible quicklyin your carry-on.
So check that episode out.
Episode 80 is some four commonpacking mistakes.
Some of them I highlighted here.
Some of them I highlighted here.
Episode 54 also talks aboutpacking Episode 25.
(11:22):
And then a highly listened toepisode is really early on, my
first year of doing this was howto pack with one carry-on.
That was episode 16.
That similar to what I saidtoday, but today you could apply
(11:44):
today to you know, obviouslyonly have a carry-on to pack and
to take with you.
Instead of checking a bag Now,do check what your airline you
know.
Limitations are as far as sizeof suitcases or carry-ons and
every airline is going to bedifferent, especially if you're
going international.
You want to check that Domesticor US flights.
(12:07):
We tend to be more forgiving inthe size of the suitcases that
can fit in the overhead bins,but I have found that in some
airplanes, in some countries,they are smaller.
They're smaller.
The bins overhead are muchsmaller and so your suitcase has
to fit, your carry on has tofit in that space above.
(12:29):
So things to consider.
I really would love to see allmy overpackers be reformed to
more of your minimalist packing.
There's very little that youneed when you travel, and if you
do forget something, just knowit can be purchased typically
wherever you're going.
So, sisters, get out there andhave that adventure and pack
(12:56):
light.
Oh, and pick up my packingchecklist.
It is a link in the show notes.
Help you along the way, enjoy.
Here, it is the night before your trip and your
suitcase is empty, or, on theflip side, it is so packed you
can't even zip it up.
Are you a chronic overpacker oryou just throw things in at the
last minute and say, oh, justin case, well, I'm here to help
(00:22):
you learn how to pack light.
So if you're one of thosechronic overpackers or you wait
till last minute, I'm here tohelp.
Welcome to Solo TravelAdventures.
I'm Cheryl Esch, your host andminimalist packer.
Here to the rescue.
So which one are you?
(00:43):
Do you pack light or do youoverpack?
Do you find yourself waitingtill last minute?
Well, these are some tips.
I have six really good tips foryou and some references to some
past episodes, also related toany of your packing needs.
So, also related to any of yourpacking needs.
(01:09):
So listen in First things.
First, do not wait until thelast minute.
This is just a recipe fordisaster, meaning you're going
to overpack.
First of all, is what usuallyhappens.
Or, secondly, you're likelygoing to forget something.
Even though you've packed allthis stuff that is probably 80%
unnecessary, you're going toforget something essential.
(01:31):
Now, certain things that areessential, that don't cost a
whole lot of money.
Maybe you forget yourtoothbrush, which happens a lot.
That's pretty easy to purchaseonce you get to your destination
, but, let's say, you forget topack your swimsuit.
Well, those aren't as easy tofind one.
(01:52):
Maybe, at least for me, that Ilike.
That would fit me, um, ideally,so, um.
Or maybe you have a fair, afavorite pair of shoes that you
forgot to throw in.
So make sure you do not waittill last minute.
As a matter of fact, Irecommend that at least a week
before you start putting itemsaside and make sure you have a
(02:16):
packing checklist.
I know you think you don't needone, but you need one.
Okay, I'm a checklist kind ofperson, but it also.
It helps you not forget thingsthat are essential, and it also
helps you to not over pack.
So start putting your stuffaside.
And this is really crazy, butI'm one month away just about
(02:39):
well, actually five weeks awayfrom going to Iceland, and I've
already, in my mind, startedthinking about what I'm going to
take, thinking about theweather and putting a few things
aside.
One reason is we are startingto get some warmer weather here
and I don't necessarily want topack away all my winter stuff
(03:01):
yet, which I normally would do,because I will need some of it
for my Iceland trip.
So that is why I'm thinkingahead.
And that's the other reason youwant to start early.
You don't want to wait, becausewhat if there is something you
need to get at the store orpurchase that you need for your
trip?
All right, you can't beovernighting from Amazon,
(03:23):
although you might be able to,but if you wait till last minute
, there's less likely a chancethat you're going to get that
item that you need to purchasebefore you leave.
Okay, number two make sure youare checking the weather for
where you're going and considerthe activities you are doing,
because that will help youdetermine what you need to pack.
(03:43):
Okay, my example going toIceland.
I know the weather's going tobe cold, it's April, but it's
still cold.
It's gonna be roughly, they say, between 35 degrees and 45
degrees Fahrenheit, so that'slike two Celsius to seven
Celsius, so that's still prettychilly.
So I'm gonna need some sweaters, right, I'm going to need
(04:06):
layers, warmer clothes, um, andthen for activities, I know that
, for one thing, I'm going tothe blue lagoon, so I am going
to need a swimsuit, and then Iwill be doing some hiking, so I
will need some hiking uh gears,definitely my hiking shoes.
So check the weather to makesure.
(04:28):
And is it going to be rainy?
Make sure you pack thatraincoat.
Okay, number three I like to layout all my items.
I lay them out on the bed,everything that I'm taking and
my suitcase.
I don't put it in the suitcaseyet, but I lay everything out,
all my items, so I can see them.
And that leads into pointnumber four.
(04:51):
I lay it out because all myclothes should be able to mix
and match.
They call this sort of thatcapsule wardrobe idea and I use
it when I pack and do trips.
So every item that I'm takingshirts, bottoms, sweaters
they're going to be able to mixand match with various items.
(05:13):
You can pick a color palettethat you want to stick with.
Maybe you want to do like allblacks and grays, or maybe you
want to do all neutral colors,or maybe you want to do all some
bright colors, or just throw insome bright colors with your
black, making sure everythingdoes mix and match.
Okay, and you do not need a newoutfit for every day.
(05:34):
You can wear things more thanonce.
Trust me, nobody especially ifyou're traveling, nobody is
noticing that you're wearing thesame sweater you wore yesterday
and I I tend to take.
Okay, I'm going to give you anexample.
Okay, so this is my example.
I am going to be actually goneeight days from my Iceland trip.
(05:56):
So here is for eight days, or aone week trip.
Here's what I recommend.
You basically will need threebottoms, whether that's two
pairs of pants, a skirt, threebottoms, three tops, two pairs
of shoes, meaning I'm wearingone pair of shoe and I'm packing
(06:18):
another pair.
Now I also, for this particulartrip and some others that I've
been on, I have also slid inreally cheap flip-flops.
Okay, this is, these are likeat the dollar store kind of
flip-flops, nothing fancy.
I'm taking them on my Icelandtrip because I am going to the
lagoon and I will need some shoelike that.
(06:40):
Okay, otherwise, I always justtake two shoes.
I don't take more than that.
I'm wearing a pair.
I'm wearing my heaviest andbiggest pair of shoes so that my
lighter pair are packed.
I'm wearing my heaviest andbiggest pair of shoes so that my
lighter pair are packed.
Then I have usually a sweateror a sweatshirt or a jacket,
something.
Even if I'm going to warmerweather, I like to have some
(07:01):
sort of whether it's a lightjacket.
Um, for example, when I went toParis, I took a light leather
jacket, right?
Um, I take a large scarf alwayswhen I travel.
It's a nice.
I'll also make sure it matcheseverything that I'm taking so
that it can be either wornfashionably and I say large
(07:22):
scarf because then it could alsobe used as maybe an evening
shawl.
It could be wrapped around mywaist after swimming.
Okay, so that's a universalkind of use of the scarf.
I take pajamas.
Uh, some people just sleep intheir underwear or in their
(07:42):
clothes.
I'm not that person.
I actually like to take somePJs so I'm comfortable overnight
.
Um, some PJs, so I'mcomfortable overnight.
I will take four pairs of socks.
I do take.
I will be taking the samenumber of days of underwear Now,
when I'm extending a tripbeyond a whole week, I take
(08:03):
socks and underwear that areMurano wool that can be easily
washed and re-worn while I'mtraveling, all right.
So that's sort of an idea of my,uh, what I'm packing for my
trip to Iceland for eight days.
Um, I have a flight outfit,meaning that's an outfit I will
fly to, cause I'm going to be inthat outfit a whole day and I'm
(08:24):
also going to use that sameoutfit to fly home in.
Okay, it could be worn again,maybe while I'm on my trip.
It doesn't have to be, but Iget two wears out of that outfit
as well.
So that's an example of what Iwould pack.
So, again, I can lay out myclothes.
I'm going to look at them, makesure they all mix and match and
then make sure I'm not takingexcessive amounts of clothing.
(08:48):
So my three tops, for examplefor Iceland um, are going to be
like long sleeve or sweaters,something warmer, um, on my trip
.
Number five, I recommend usingpacking cubes.
Packing cubes are a great wayto, uh, space save.
There's some that compress evenmore, um, but it also, in my
(09:11):
mind, also helps keep certainthings organized in um, my
suitcase or my backpack,depending on what I'm taking.
You can also save space byrolling your clothes.
Folding actually takes up morespace in your suitcase and
rolling also helps sort ofprevent too many wrinkles from
happening in your clothing.
(09:32):
But I also recommend takingclothes that are not going to
necessarily need an iron or anironing board at the other end.
So something to consider.
And then I highly recommendthat as you look at your clothes
and stuff that is laid out onyour bed, you know, prior to
putting it in your suitcase, seeif there's an item.
(09:52):
This is number six.
Do not pack an item that youwill only use once or wear once.
We want to make sure, as I said,make sure your clothes can mix
and match, even if you decide totake a dress, which I prefer.
If I'm going to take a skirt,I'm going to do a skirt and a
blouse so that I have moreoptions.
However, you can take a dressand know that you know could you
(10:15):
layer it with a sweater, couldyou layer it with that jacket
that you're taking, or use thescarf to dress it up.
Make sure the dress issomething that you know you will
wear more than just on oneoccasion.
So these are some tips for youas you're getting ready to pack
for your next trip and if youare a chronic overpacker.
(10:39):
I hope this helps, but I havesome other past episodes I'm
going to reference.
So if you need some additionalhelp with your packing, episode
91, I talk about this is a goodone to also, if you're flying,
to check to see what in-flightpacking essentials you might
(11:01):
want to have handy, not in yoursuitcase, but more in your
carry-on or accessible quicklyin your carry-on.
So check that episode out.
Episode 80 is some four commonpacking mistakes.
Some of them I highlighted here.
Some of them I highlighted here.
Episode 54 also talks aboutpacking Episode 25.
(11:22):
And then a highly listened toepisode is really early on, my
first year of doing this was howto pack with one carry-on.
That was episode 16.
That similar to what I saidtoday, but today you could apply
(11:44):
today to you know, obviouslyonly have a carry-on to pack and
to take with you.
Instead of checking a bag Now,do check what your airline you
know.
Limitations are as far as sizeof suitcases or carry-ons and
every airline is going to bedifferent, especially if you're
going international.
You want to check that Domesticor US flights.
(12:07):
We tend to be more forgiving inthe size of the suitcases that
can fit in the overhead bins,but I have found that in some
airplanes, in some countries,they are smaller.
They're smaller.
The bins overhead are muchsmaller and so your suitcase has
to fit, your carry on has tofit in that space above.
(12:29):
So things to consider.
I really would love to see allmy overpackers be reformed to
more of your minimalist packing.
There's very little that youneed when you travel, and if you
do forget something, just knowit can be purchased typically
wherever you're going.
So, sisters, get out there andhave that adventure and pack
(12:56):
light.
Oh, and pick up my packingchecklist.
It is a link in the show notes.
Help you along the way, enjoy.
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