The Backpack’her’s packing guide: being sensible but staying girly
By Andrea Davoust
Just because you are on the road doesn’t mean you have to turn into an unkempt mess clomping around in hiking boots for the entirety of you trip. Yet there is no way you can lug all your princess make-up and fashionista outfits – you would be staggering under the weight of a refrigerator-size pack. Follow V!VA’s top tips to pack light and still look right.
1/ Tick the list!
If you are a seasoned traveler, you may already have your own. Otherwise, check a few online, they will help you remember the indispensable (copies of your passport, first aid kit, vaccination certificate…) and suggest clever ones you would not have thought of (alarm clock, duct tape…). Check Women on the Road’s: http://www.women-on-the-road.com/travel-packing-list.html. Then adapt the checklist to your destination. Obviously, you won’t need the same accessories to party in Paris as to hike the Himalayas!
Photo by Phineas H.
2/ Bag: Think light. And then lighter.
Unless you are about to sail on the Queen Elizabeth II, forget about the giant steamer trunk. Take a backpack or carry-on suitcase that will not contain more than 15kg of stuff – the limit for your back. Then pare down to the bare necessities! A good rule of thumb is to spread everything you think you need on your bed, then remove half of it. Remember you can always do laundry along the way, use hostel hairdryers, etc. Allow space for the souvenirs you will collect – including locally made t-shirts or earrings.
3/ Clothes: Mix and match!
Nothing worse than being invited to hit a night club and discovering you have nothing to wear but ratty flip-flops and zip-up pants. So yes you need those lil’ strappy sandals. Generally speaking, choose clothes and shoes that can do double-duty. That long-sleeved blouse can save you from mosquitoes in the jungle, or from sun at the beach, and later look classy in a nice restaurant. For more ideas on outfits both cute and sensible, read Why smart backpackers bring their dancing shoes (http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/12/18/why-smart-backpackers-bring-their-dancing-shoes/)
Photo by Jack Kennard
4/ Toiletries: think small!
For just a couple of weeks, you don’t need a family-size bottle of shampoo – just fill a baby bottle. Ditto with toothpaste (the three-quarters squeezed-out tube will do), cotton tips (a handful in a ziplock bag), etc. Or splurge on the travel kits with mini-perfumes and mini-moisturizer available in airport duty-free shops. Help yourself to mini-sewing kits given out in high-end hotels. But do bring adequate supplies of harder-to-find items: prescription drugs, tampons, and condoms (you may not plan to get lucky, but if you do, don’t rely on local brands).
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