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Travel writers give great advice. We just don’t follow it.
I’m packing for an overnight work trip in Brisbane. The weather forecast says it will be 30 degrees. But the plane is always freezing. Solution? Pack a puffer jacket.
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I’m heading to Tasmania in the winter. The forecast shows I can expect tops of 12 degrees during the day. But my hotel has a heated pool. Solution? Swimmers, thongs, hat, sunscreen and dress to put over my swimmers when I get out of the pool.
It’s summer in Sydney and I’m heading to Melbourne for Christmas. It’s going to be about 20 degrees cooler there, the equivalent of winter at home. I can’t remember what I wore this winter past, but I seem to recall layers. And ugg boots. And Dr Martens boots. So I pack all these, along with all my summer stuff, because we all know what they say about Melbourne weather and there being four seasons in one day.
The moral of the story? I can’t pack light to save myself.
“But you’re a travel writer.” my sister says to me. “You should be the best at packing.”
Nope, I am actually the worst at packing. And heading off into unknown territory with an itinerary of activities that put me outside of my comfort zone (hello: cold-water kayaking, sleeping in a motorhome, watching a Tahitian pendulum canoe race from a fishing boat in the rough South Pacific seas) is not making things easier.
When I am allowed to take 23 kilograms of check-in luggage on a flight, I pack 22 kilograms of check-in luggage (giving me some room for movement or souvenirs). It doesn’t matter if I’m only going away for four nights – more luggage gives me more choices. And packing “just in case” items – what I call the bits and pieces that I pack in the slim chance that a specific scenario will present itself – helps me rest easy at night. Specifically, the night before the flight. Because invariably, when I arrive at my destination, I only wear a quarter of what I have packed, and berate myself for packing such a heavy bag that I then have to lug around.
I have been known to chuck an extra pair of undies into my bag right before heading out the door.
I have been known to chuck an extra pair of undies into my bag right before heading out the door. It stops the little lady on my shoulder shouting, “What if you get caught in the rain? What if you sit on a wet seat? What if a war breaks out and you can’t get home as expected and need to spend another week at your destination? Well, at least that’ll be one less pair of underpants you’ll have to worry about.
I know, my anxiety is probably the main issue here, not my inability to pack sparingly. But I just figure, if I have room for an umbrella plus a raincoat, why not have both?
I know what you’re thinking. This woman needs a smaller bag! And I have purchased a small, carry-on-sized suitcase specifically to make me pack less. However, I ended up choosing the largest of the small carry-on cases, and when I pack it to the hilt, it’s too heavy for carry-on, so it has become a small case that I now have to check-in for overnight trips – and surely that defeats the purpose?
The only defense I can summon is this. When I am flying domestic, and everyone else is trying to shove their carry-on suitcases into limited overhead bin space, I don’t have to bother, because I have already checked mine in.
The flight attendants are probably thanking me for not adding to the limited overhead bin space problem; the person sitting next to me could be thanking me for leaving more room for them; and my anxiety is definitely thanking me knowing I have all those “just in case” items.
My only issue now is, my back is hurting because of all the things I’ve packed into my carry-on backpack so I can cover all my bases on the plane. Puffer jacket? Check. Spare pair of undies and socks on long-haul? Check. Two books in case I suddenly become a speed reader? Yep.
When will this end?
Probably never. But at least I’ll be prepared.
Do you have a tip for packing light? Share it with me at editor@exploretravel.com.au
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