I like traveling in fall and winter. There is something about getting someplace when the air is just a bit colder, when the streets are a little quieter, and you can stroll all afternoon and find somewhere warm for dinner.
The one thing I do not like about it is packing for it. Warm-weather trips are not too hard to pack for. A few light clothes, shoes, swimwear, and you are almost there. But when the weather is unpredictable, suddenly you are trying to pack coats, sneakers, layers, and everything else into a bag while attempting to convince yourself that yes, you really need four different jumpers for a five-day vacation.
My husband and I have gotten much better at this over the years. We still do not always get it perfectly, but we have clearly moved on from the days of packing for every imaginable circumstance. We try to pack stuff we know we will really wear these days and leave a little room in the bag rather than fill every last inch.
First Things First: What We will Be Doing
Before I put anything in my bag, I thought about what our days are really going to be like. “Are we going to walk around a city all day? Are we planning treks or spending time outside? Are we heading to somewhere good for dinner? Is it going to rain?
This sounds simple, but it is surprisingly easy to pack for a hypothetical trip rather than the one you are actually going on. If we are going to spend most of our journey walking about, comfort is immediately the most important factor. It does not make sense to pack shoes that look beautiful with an outfit if I am going to regret wearing them after an hour.
When I know I will be outside a lot on a vacation, I’d rather have one good pair of Hiking shoes than a bunch of shoes that only go with certain outfits. This is particularly the case in the autumn when you can leave the hotel in sunshine and yet find yourself strolling back in the rain a few hours later.
Layers Are Always Better Than One Huge Jumper
One thing I have learnt about traveling in the colder months is that layers are your greatest friend. It is amazing how much the temperature can vary in only one day. You may leave your hotel in the morning and be freezing, stroll around for two hours and be comfortable, then as soon as the sun goes away be freezing again.
I would like not to pack half my bag with thick knits but to go lighter and make the pieces work together. Usually, I have a lot more choice with a comfy base layer plus a jumper or sweatshirt and a jacket. I have also found that some of my gym clothing works surprisingly well for travel, especially lightweight layers that are comfortable enough for long days of walking.
My husband is more pragmatic about this than I am. If it does not go with multiple other outfits, he usually does not see the value of bringing it. I am progressively starting to have the same mentality!
A basic color pallet helps. If most of your clothes go together, you can make several looks without really carrying too much with you.
Shoes Can Make or Break a Trip
When we are preparing for a vacation where we are going to be doing a lot of exploration, I always put shoes first.
When on the road, we usually walk far more than we think we will. You leave the hotel thinking you are only going for breakfast, then decide to explore a neighborhood, locate a market, go to another site and suddenly you have been on your feet for much of the day. This is why I do not like to travel with new shoes anymore. I want something that I have worn and is comfy.
This is why I do not like to travel with new shoes anymore. I want something that I have worn and is comfy. A comfortable pair of gym trainers can also be useful for city breaks, particularly when I know we will be spending most of the day on our feet.
Also important, if you are planning an outside excursion, is grip and weather resistance. For a city break I usually want something comfortable enough for a whole day of walking but adaptable enough that I don’t feel I need to change shoes before heading someplace for a meal. It’s one of those things where practicality always wins.
Black Friday Is When We Look Forward To Trips To Come
I’ve also been much more intentional about when I buy vacation clothing. I try to look ahead, rather than buying stuff a few days before a vacation because I’ve suddenly realized I’m lacking something. In fact, November is a good month to accomplish this, because we usually have a general concept of the trips and activities we want to do in the next few months.
I have a mental inventory of items that really need to be replaced. Maybe my trainers are past their best, my hubby needs another decent layer or there is something practical we have had our eye on for our next journey.
That’s when black Friday sales/ deals might come in handy. What matters to me is not buying anything just because it has a discount on it. I would rather use the adidas Black Friday time to buy something we already needed instead of having another item sitting unworn in the wardrobe.
It also makes more economical sense when you are planning a few vacations. Travel can get costly very rapidly itself. So, if there are items we are going to need anyhow, I would prefer to acquire them at a better price and retain more of our cash for the real adventure.
Because for me, if we spend a bit less on items we do not actually need, then we have a little more to spend on the vacation itself.
Leave Some Space in the Suitcase
This is still something I am working on. I used to think if there was an empty part of a luggage, I’d forgotten something. Now I view it as a victory.
It is simpler to travel if we provide sufficient room especially when we are transferring from one area to another. It implies we may bring things back without the usual routine of sitting on the luggage while the other person attempts to seal it.
My husband and I do not attempt to replicate anything needlessly, either. Toiletries, chargers and other little travel requirements may really mount up when two individuals pack totally separate. We don’t need two of everything.
Wear the Bulkiest Things on Travel Day
This is one of the easiest packing methods but it makes a significant impact in fall and winter.
If I am packing boots and a jacket and a thicker jumper I generally wear at least part of those things while traveling rather than putting it all into my luggage. My hubby too.
Yes, there are times when we’re at the airport and we’re both wearing jackets we’d really rather not be wearing, but I’d still rather do that than give up half a bag for them. This is very handy when traveling with cabin bags only.
Don’t Pack for Every Possible Emergency
This could be the greatest change to how I pack now. I would wonder, “But what if…?”
What if we end ourselves, all of a sudden, at a fancy place? What if it is a lot colder than predicted? What if I have this extremely specific clothing, I have not worn in 6 months, and I just want to wear it now. Most of such circumstances don’t happen.
Some places do require you to be prepared of course, especially if you are going to a distant location or enjoying outdoor activities. If climbing is actually on the itinerary, for example, then packing proper climbing shoes makes sense, but I would not bring specialist gear for activities we have not actually planned. But on a regular city break if we’ve left anything vital behind, we probably won’t be out of luck.
That probably has taken a few kilos off my baggage over the years alone.
What Actually Goes into Our Bags
Our fall and winter packing these days is very straightforward: comfy shoes, layers, one decent outer jacket, a few mix-and-match pieces and something a little fancier for nights.
Then we adjust according to the destination. “I’d rather have 10 things in my suitcase that I actually like wearing than 25 things “just in case.”
The same is true when we are looking for travel goods. Whether it is updating my adidas sneakers, looking at outdoor clothes, or checking out the Black Friday bargains and offers, I am aiming to get much better at asking one question before I buy anything.
Are we really going to utilize this? If so, that is excellent. If not, It can probably stay in the shop, if I am already attempting to concoct some imaginary future getaway when it would come in helpful.
Travel has taught my husband and I that you actually do not need as much as you think you do. The less we pack, the easier it all is, and the less time we spend worrying about our bags instead of enjoying where we are.