Why is it so difficult to pack light for a weekend away?
This a question I’ve wrestled with for years. While I’ve gotten pretty good at packing light for extended trips, I can’t seem to go away for a night or two with fewer than two or three jam-packed bags!
I know that it’s all about planning. For longer trips, I tend to plan out my list and be much more careful about how much I’m bringing. For weekend getaways (especially by car), it’s really easy to pack at the last minute and throw things in, “just in case.” Even though I know where the problem lies, I’ve never taken the time to plan out exactly what I should bring for a short trip.
So on my last trip, a two-day/two-night wine-tasting weekend in Baja California, Mexico, I decided to challenge myself.
What’s the *bare minimum* I need to pack for a weekend away?
I wanted to keep my bag light, but also keep the total number of items down. This was the hardest part for me! I often throw lots of things in that I might possibly want just because they are light or small. This rationale is a slippery slope and always leads to me bringing too much.
I was also curious to know, numerically, how few items I could bring on a short trip. Was it 50? 30? 25? Or less?
I knew if I planned carefully (and wrote down my weekend packing checklist!) I could save a ton of time and stress packing for short trips.
Here’s what I brought…
My Bare Minimum Weekend Packing List
Clothing/Accessories (18 items):
- 3 short-sleeved tops (one dressy)
- 2 bottoms (one casual, one dressy)
- 1 long-sleeved shirt
- 2 pairs of shoes (one casual, one dressy)
- 3 pairs of underwear
- 1 bra
- 1 necklace
- 1 pair of earrings
- Smart phone (with camera)
- Cell phone charger
- Wallet
- Sunglasses
Personal Care (13 items):
- Shampoo
- Face wash
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Deodorant
- Contact Lenses
- Contact lens solution
- Eye glasses
- Sunscreen
- Retainer
- Translucent power
- Lipstick
- Comb/brush
Seasonal/Optional Items (4 items):
- Sun hat
- Swimming suit
- Guidebook
- Passport
TOTAL: 35 ITEMS
How Did It Go?
I wound up packing 35 things. Because this includes all the clothing I wore on Friday (and because it’s summer), it was quite lightweight and took up less than half the space in a standard, school-sized daypack.
While I was a little disappointed the number wasn’t lower, I feel like it was everything I needed to pack comfortably for a weekend away. Of course, I could survive with less (no one needs cosmetics, guidebooks, etc.), but why should I? I wanted to create a list I can use again and again that reflects the way that I travel.
And though it’s less than half of what I often bring for weekend trips, I didn’t really miss anything. There were even a few things I brought that I never wore (e.g. the sun hat and the long-sleeved shirt).
The ONLY TIME I wished I had brought more clothing when it came time to leave Ensenada and pack several glass bottles (local wine, olive oil, and jams) into my backpack for the flight home. We packed all of our clothing together around the bottles to pad them, but it still didn’t seem enough so I worried about the bag the entire trip home. Luckily nothing broke! Obviously, I’m not going to pack extra clothing “just in case” we happen to bring back souvenirs (though a few sheets of bubble wrap is a good idea if you’re going on a culinary trip).
Update: After this trip I bought a set of these wine bottle protectors that I plan to pack the next time I travel to wine country.
THE VERDICT:
I’m sold. I’m using my new weekend packing checklist the next time I go away on a short trip. My days of overpacking are over!
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Cassie, I thought you did pretty good. To me it’s not really the number of things, it’s the weight and space. It sounds like yours was light and easy…so perfect. I do hate not wearing something I packed. I think about that every time I come home, and then sometimes I won’t bring it again.
It’s definitely easier to go lightweight in the summertime, so I had that going for me 🙂
I remember when I stayed in L.A. for 4 days, and I can’t remember the number of items that was packed but the weight was relatively light. But I made it a challenge not to use any traditional luggage, and it was the best thing ever. Carry on and off the air plane was great. The surprising thing was when the of custom agents stopped me when I was coming back to Canada, and asked where the rest of my stuff was.
I’ve always believed in travelling light, but I do understand it sucks when you need to bring back items and the space isn’t there.
Ha, that’s a great achievement! Surprising the customs official! One thing I usually do if I know I’m going to be bringing more things home with me is to pack a lightweight folding backpack or duffel bag so I have that to bring back if I need more space. I’ve heard some travelers will pack old clothing, shoes, and gear they don’t mind leaving at their destination to lighten the load and save space to bring extra things home, but personally, if it’s something I don’t want to wear any longer, I probably don’t want to wear it on vacation! 🙂
Impressive. A single backpack! 🙂 I tend to overpack if I know I won’t be carrying it on my back for a long period of time. Luxury of rental cars and longer Airbnb stays.
Definitely, longer stays and road trips make it easier, but then I still always dread packing back up! We’re prepping for a big trip (I think I told you about it?) next week and I’m trying to go as light as possible there, too. Have you ever published a packing list? I’d love to see what you bring, you’re always so fashionable! 🙂
I am the QUEEN of overpacking, and I find it especially easy to overpack when we have been flying Southwest lately (2 free checked bags!) so I am putting a stop to this next week when we fly to California! I am going to copy your list for reference and tweak it to my needs, but I am excited to see if I can challenge myself to not over pack.
Yay! Good luck, Becki! Let me know how it goes! I’m really sorry I won’t get to see you when you are here 🙁
It’s ok, there will always be a next time! I hope you have fun on your trip! 🙂
Clothing/Accessories (4 items):
Swimsuit (can be used as underwear)
Phone
Charger
Wallet
Personal Care (1 item):
Breath mint
Seasonal/Optional Items (1 item):
Birth Control
Nice! I couldn’t go so light, but that is quite impressive! Thanks for sharing!
Eww just “breath mint” and same swim trunk underwear. Seems like homelessness rather than leisurely travel.
haha, I’m with you–I couldn’t travel that way, but to each their own 🙂
In warmer months or climates I pack at least 1 pair of convertible pants. That way I can zip off a part of the legs and have shorts. I went to Philadelphia for a weekend with only a backpack. Their police officer asked where my suitcase was. I told him it was home so it would be easier for him to inspect my luggage.
This is amazing! Going on a weekend road trip this weekend and wanted to reduce my luggage as much as possible. You’re absolutely right, it is about planning and not going down the “just in case” slippery slope. Were you able to maintain this? Any updates on your packing strategy?