I’m pretty sure we all get a bit ridiculously needy when we pack. “I’m staying for a week so I’m going to need seven shirts, seven pairs of shorts, fourteen pairs of underwear, and seven pairs of socks because even though it’s summer and I’m wearing flip flops every day you never know when you’re going to need socks! And also I need fifteen hundred bandaids in case I get 1500 paper cuts…” is what I’m thinking when I pack even though in a normal week at home I probably only wear five shirts regularly and I haven’t used a band-aid in five months. We all need to cut down on our packing, so here are ten things that you definitely do not need to pack.*
* Please note that this article does not apply to business trips or fashion bloggers
1. A hair dryer
Put the hair dryer back into your bathroom Donald Trump. It’s a phenomenal waste of space. Most hotels have hair dryers, and your hair can air dry anyway. Actually, it’s healthier for your hair to air dry. And if you’re screaming about how your hair will look horrible, relax! I’m sure you look gorgeous anyway.
2. Three pairs of sunglasses
Unless your outfit revolves around you wearing all three at the same time, you definitely do not need more than one pair, no matter how long you’re staying in a vacation spot. Unless you’re a fashion blogger promoting three different brands of sunglasses, but I’m assuming you’re not.
3. Paper guidebooks
You might as well hold up a flashing neon sign that says I’M NOT FROM HERE. Not that there’s anything wrong with being a tourist, but you are inviting people to rob you. Not to mention, why bring a hard copy of this info when you can store it all on a thin gadget instead? Be it your phone, your iPad, your kindle, there is a better way.
4. Actually, just any book
Books are heavy, clunky, inconvenient, and are you really going to read Pride and Prejudice while you’re on vacation? The answer is no and you know it. Unless you have a report due as soon as you get back (if you do, I’m so sorry), leave the books at home.
5. Zippered convertible pants
You know what I’m talking about. Those pants with zippers halfway down so you can unzip the bottom and transform them into shorts. Not only are you not going to use them, they literally incite terror in the hearts of small children. Please just don’t.
6. Expensive jewelry
Not only is jewelry completely unnecessary, you’re way more likely to get robbed while wearing expensive jewelry because then everyone can tell that you’ve got the $$. Leave it at home where it’s safe.
7. An iPod
Seriously, no one uses iPods anymore. Put the music on your smartphone (if you don’t have a smartphone I don’t know how you’re alive? Do you know who Beyonce is? Do you know what year it is? Seriously how?)
8. An entire box of band-aids
Let’s be real, you’re probably not even going to use one band-aid, much less the entire box. Take out maybe five and tuck them into your bag. This way you don’t have to carry that entire box around but if you do get cut, you have a solution.
9. Full-size toiletries
You may think you’re being sneaky, but you are not going to be able to get this through security, and then you’re going to end up as that person that everyone in line hates and also you’ll have to throw away that premium quality shampoo you just bought. Bring travel sized toiletries, and if you run out, it’s not like you can’t buy more wherever you end up!
10. A fanny pack
You may think it’s the solution to all of your travel baggage problems. You may think it’s a genius little accessory, with the perfect amount of room to store things while being completely out of the way. I hate to break it to you, but you’re mistaken.
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Got any more to add to the list? Comment below!
