About Beth
I am a freelance writer, based in Pittsburgh, PA, specializing in science and technical topics. Yes, I am available for new writing projects! How I pack for any length trip
(Update: fixed the broken link. You can click on the picture now.)
These are the contents of my traveling bag. I decided to post the list after reading How to travel the world in 10 pounds or less. I weighed my bag - 10 pounds exactly, including my six-pound laptop.
I've developed this packing list/system in the past few years, basically ever since my whirlwind wedding tour (wedding in Pittsburgh, stopover in Baltimore, honeymoon in Iceland) for which I lugged a small but totally unmanageable amount of baggage. Also, I've flown through Philly a few times for conferences. Nobody but suckers checks luggage if they're flying through Philly.
I took inspiration from OneBag.com and now never bring more than I can carry.
Bags of christmas gifts aside, everything I travel with fits in a single messenger bag, so I never have to check luggage. I don't even use the overhead compartment - my bag fits under the seat.
There are two secrets to make this easy and painless:
1. keep a travel toiletry kit always packed and ready to go. (it's on the far right of this photo). Get the tiniest clear cosmetic bag you can find, and pack it with the tiniest toiletries - shampoo, deodorant, toothbrush, etc.
The tiny bottles will last through a weekend trip, or on a longer trip, they will tide you over until you find a place to buy larger bottles of shampoo and things.
2. bring a laundry bag (a plastic grocery bag will do) and only pack two outfits. Take time to make sure you have an outfit for every occasion you'll encounter. It's best if your tops and bottoms are all mix-and-match.
Two outfits for 1-2 people (or three outfits, if you do laundry in your pajamas) fills up one small load in a laundromat or a friend's washer. If you're away from laundry machines, wash your clothes in the bathroom sink each night (and in this case, pack or buy some detergent and a clothesline). See onebag.com for more info on the wash-as-you-go tactic.
Click the photo for details on each item.
These are the contents of my traveling bag. I decided to post the list after reading How to travel the world in 10 pounds or less. I weighed my bag - 10 pounds exactly, including my six-pound laptop.
I've developed this packing list/system in the past few years, basically ever since my whirlwind wedding tour (wedding in Pittsburgh, stopover in Baltimore, honeymoon in Iceland) for which I lugged a small but totally unmanageable amount of baggage. Also, I've flown through Philly a few times for conferences. Nobody but suckers checks luggage if they're flying through Philly.
I took inspiration from OneBag.com and now never bring more than I can carry.
Bags of christmas gifts aside, everything I travel with fits in a single messenger bag, so I never have to check luggage. I don't even use the overhead compartment - my bag fits under the seat.
There are two secrets to make this easy and painless:
1. keep a travel toiletry kit always packed and ready to go. (it's on the far right of this photo). Get the tiniest clear cosmetic bag you can find, and pack it with the tiniest toiletries - shampoo, deodorant, toothbrush, etc.
The tiny bottles will last through a weekend trip, or on a longer trip, they will tide you over until you find a place to buy larger bottles of shampoo and things.
2. bring a laundry bag (a plastic grocery bag will do) and only pack two outfits. Take time to make sure you have an outfit for every occasion you'll encounter. It's best if your tops and bottoms are all mix-and-match.
Two outfits for 1-2 people (or three outfits, if you do laundry in your pajamas) fills up one small load in a laundromat or a friend's washer. If you're away from laundry machines, wash your clothes in the bathroom sink each night (and in this case, pack or buy some detergent and a clothesline). See onebag.com for more info on the wash-as-you-go tactic.
To rest of the world by Beth on
2008-01-01.