Packing. Doesn’t just the thought of it make you exasperated already?
I don’t know about you but even if it takes me less than an hour to pack for a party of three, packing, perhaps, will remain one of my least favorite things about going on a trip.
Luckily, I’ve learned the art of rolling clothes to save space and avoid messy pull-outs, as well as gotten rid of that rabid habit of stuffing my bag with what-if items (a nasty trait I inherited from the women in the family).
Still, packing is not my best skill, so I asked Pinoy travel bloggers what’s their MO when it comes to packing. Read on as they weigh
in on how to pack light.
 |
| Usually the only bag – if not a 10L rucksack – I bring for a one or two-day trip. Usually. |
James Betia, Journeying James
I always bring my travel neck pillow that converts into a hammock: (www.facebook.com/hammockrepublic) and Kindle paper will slash about a kilo on my backpack.
Aleah Taboclaon, Solitary Wanderer
The
trick to packing light is bringing multipurpose items. If you’re a
female traveler, for example, a sarong is a must. It can serve as your
towel, bed sheet, blanket, and even serve as a dress or skirt, among
many other uses.
Kin Enriquez, Boarding Gate 101
Bring microfiber towels instead of regular ones. They weigh almost next to nothing.
Lauren Gaile, Pandelicious
The
biggest challenge for me would be packing for two seasons. It may be a
frozen hellhole in my departure point and warm and sunny where I’m
going. I try to layer on my clothes (also minimizes the chance of over
baggage fees :P), or bring a lightweight
jacket. My efforts are futile though because I still end up on the
unfashionable and uncomfortable side of the spectrum, so really I’m the
one who needs the tips.
Kimberly Lim, Indie Escape
Bring an empty water bottle and just refill at your destination.
If
you’re a serious camper, you might want to invest in titanium products
(cookset, cutlery, titanium-framed backpack). Lightweight and very
strong metal right there.
Mervz Adventurista, Pinoy Adventurista
I
bring a detergent bar so I could wash my clothes during my travels,
that way I don’t bring too many clothes. I also use dry fit shirts, it’s
lightweight and dries fast.
Christine Fernandez, Jovial Wanderer
I
bring lightweight clothes that do not take a lot of space in my bag. I
like the technical shirts from Salomon. It’s a mountain sports brand
that’s good for both trail running and hiking. It doesn’t wrinkle,easy
to fold, dries easily and it doesn’t smell even if you wear it for more than a day. 🙂 For shorts – I love Lakambini, It’s a local outdoor brand that’s very
durable. I only have one that I’ve been using for more than 5 years, it
has lots of pockets, very comfy and I can wear a girly blouse with it.
Mike Laagan, The Traveling Panda
1) Choose the right bag. 2) Determine which items are necessary. 3) Do your laundry. 4) Bring enough clean underwear. 5) Bring the proper footwear. 6) Use less space when packing. 7) Manage your toiletries. 8) Check the weather and climate conditions. 9) Do not bring all of your gadgets. 10) Pack smart.
Jho Domalaon, Mountains and Beyond
Always on my pack, aside from lightweight dryfit apparel(s), I always
have my packable jacket/rainjacket and pants, very lightweight,
multipurpose and just in case weather like sudden rain or strong wind (happens).
Edmar Guquib, Edmaration
The drill for this is pack multipurpose stuff.
[1]
Use multipurpose stuff like cellphone with a flashlight, GPS, map apps
instead of bringing the cp, flashlight and printed maps altogether.
[2]
Use malong or a big scarf that can be used as pillow (when folded), a
blanket (when it’s cold or inside an AC bus), use to cover/protect skin
from the sun instead of bringing umbrella (when trekking/walking) or
just wrap around your neck and use to cover your nose when dusty.
[3] Bring light clothes that are easy to wash and dry (like sando).
[4]
Use cargo pants with a lot of pockets (preferably with button or
zipper). You can use the pockets to store things like cellphone, wallet,
point and shoot camera, medicines, etc. You can access them anytime you
want. No need to open your backpack. (Doesn’t apply when it’s raining,
but great for summer).”
Sara Osio, Travelosio
Practice trilogy on clothes. Bring three pairs/pieces of each. Wear one, wash one, dry one.
Celine Reyes, Celineism
I rely on my itinerary for packing. I make a table of the day-to-day
activities I plan to do then coordinate my outfits based on them. This
way I’d be able to determine, say, if I could reuse a shirt and bring
just one pair of pants, or just throw in an alampay to spruce up an
outfit for a night out.
Lloyd Salac, The Lost Boy
The
ultimate tip? Discipline yourself to only work around the carry-on
weight and dimensions of your airline. But at the same time, be
realistic–else be hit by exorbitant baggage fees.
Melody Co, Guiltless Getaways
Once
you think you’re done packing, unpack it and pack it again minus the
things you don’t really need and ask yourself, “Am I really going to use
this or am I just bringing it in case of not so emergency
“emergencies”?” Then imagine yourself carrying all that weight without
anyone offering you help and ask yourself where you’re going to put the
stuff you will bring home if your bag is already full. Haha.
Kevin Tsai, The Travel Guy Shops
Wear one pair of jeans and keep tops and a pair of shorts in your hand carry luggage! A good scarf is always handy too!
Dhie Rey, Island Girl Traveller
A
good tip I learnt from a veteran backpacker I met once ….. if it
doesn’t go in the backpack then it doesn’t go. Since then I have one 30L
Backpack. I have my clothes, multipurpose sarong, laptop, small amount
of toiletries and various essential travel gear. Always carry on size.
Bino Chua, I Wander
The
secret is to roll your clothes! My friends are always amazed as to how
I can live on a small backpack for a 10-day trip while they haul their
luggage with them.
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