Packing with No Wrinkles???

[Mass Tim]

In addition to packing a separate package for a single day, I've found that using spacebags to store certain items gives a little bit more room so other clothes don't have to be packed as tightly. The secret is to not take more with you now that more room is available. I usually have more of a problem with creases. Maybe I should try rolling!

Mark - I used to allocate about the same time, but as of April, I'm allocating more. Because the one time you think you have everything and then, getting out of that first shower, realize you forgot to bring clean underwear, you'll remember it.

[Robert Schaller]

I'm one of the thorough planning types -- I make a list of exactly what I'll need ahead of time, and pack from it, checking things off as I put them in the duffel.

I also have had to buy underwear and socks before while on the road -- plus occasionally, things like swim suits, jackets, rain gear, etc. Devoting 10 minutes to thinking about it and making a list mostly prevents these little problems. I still always forget the sunblock though -- and I have now accumulated 36,456 bottles of the stuff from having to buy it each time while on the road! Coppertone is so appreciative they actually send me a dividend check each year...

Anyway, packing from a list assists in keeping my bag weight to a minimum as well -- I plan carefully so I don't take too much.

[Mark Sedenquist]

I'm one of the thorough planning types -- I make a list of exactly what I'll need ahead of time, and pack from it, checking things off as I put them in the duffel.

Yes, but can you do this and still follow the strict parameters of the 20-hour roadtrip?

I still always forget the sunblock though -- and I have now accumulated 36,456 bottles of the stuff from having to buy it each time while on the road! Coppertone is so appreciative they actually send me a dividend check each year...

That is pretty funny.

Anyway, packing from a list assists in keeping my bag weight to a minimum as well -- I plan carefully so I don't take too much.

It is all relative I guess -- I rarely take too much personal gear -- but I always pack contingency clothes and rescue gear in the roadtrip packs that are ALWAYS in the vehicles. So, I must have used a list at once in my roadtripping career, but I can't remember...

[Robert Schaller]

Yes, but can you do this and still follow the strict parameters of the 20-hour roadtrip?

Well, for the 20 Hour variety, I pretty much jump on the bike or in the truck and go -- I keep those more "spontaneous," since I can go without almost ANYTHING for 20 hours...

It is all relative I guess -- I rarely take too much personal gear -- but I always pack contingency clothes and rescue gear in the roadtrip packs that are ALWAYS in the vehicles. So, I must have used a list at once in my roadtripping career, but I can't remember...

I do that with my camping gear -- it is all permanently boxed in storage containers -- so I don't have to gather up specific single items each time. The only problem with this is the consumables -- I don't always remember to replenish things as I run out (dish soap, paper towels, propane canisters, lantern mantels, etc).

[Quebec Gen]

I also use the rolling method + the hang-near-the-shower. I did try the plastic bag method, but only for some clothes and it worked pretty well. However, I'm far too lazy to even think about doing this for all of my clothes because, of course, as a typical girl my bags are often overpacked...I tend to get more reasonnable now (ahem...).

Organizing small packs of clothes with underwear in it is a great idea but I'm just too lazy to do that as well.:o) Anyway as soon as I open my bag to get something, it gets all messed up so it wouldn't work for me I guess. If I weren't that distracted I'd probably use Mark's method, but I'd be the type of person who forgets to bring a bikini and sun lotion on a trip to the beach...:o)

Gen

[RoadTripper Brad]

Why are you all worried about wrinkles? Chances are, unless you are the "Uber Sightseer" and stop every 10-15 minutes to look at another tree/cactus/chipmunk-like-thingy-dodging-cars... you are going to be spending most of the time either driving, or in places where no one really cares if your t-shirt is a wee-bit wrinkly (becasue theirs is too).
Personally, even with stuffing space bags full and having clothes come out of them looking like a raised-relief map... the wrinkles (most, anyway) smoothe out on their own in an hour or two from use.

But, I do fall on Bob's pattern of "intensive" packing. I usually make 4 or 5 check-lists. One for the car itself (checking lights, fluids, tires, etc.) and the rest for odds and ends, and I make sure I have all of my items "staged" before they actually get into the car (i.e. using a garage or living room and piling all items up there so you can get a visual of what all you have (or don't) and adjust accordingly. I do this the night before.
And depending on what kind of trip I am taking (pleasure or moving), I can adjust how I am going to pack my soon-to-be-wrinkly clothes (just a duffel/suitcase/backpack or spacebags/travel-spacebags (the ones that don't need a vaccum).
I do try and take one shirt and set it aside, usually on a hanger haning on a a hanger hook in the back seat... just incase I absolutely must have a "pressed" shirt. But, of course, I don't take my work clothes on road trips... just jeans and shorts, and plenty of t-shirts.
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Happy Trails!
-Brad M.

[Mark Sedenquist]

Why are you all worried about wrinkles? Chances are, unless you are the "Uber Sightseer" and stop every 10-15 minutes to look at another tree/cactus/chipmunk-like-thingy-dodging-cars... you are going to be spending most of the time either driving, or in places where no one really cares if your t-shirt is a wee-bit wrinkly (because theirs is too).

Another approach could be similar to mine -- we are roadtrip pros and part of the job is looking professional at all times. It would be rare to see us looking very rumpled on the road. Muddy, -- yep that is possible if we've just completed a self-extraction, but wrinkled -- never gonna happen. It is all about whatever enables the traveler to feel good.

I make sure I have all of my items "staged" before they actually get into the car (i.e. using a garage or living room and piling all items up there so you can get a visual of what all you have (or don't) and adjust accordingly. I do this the night before.

Wow -- I am not sure I have ever spent that much time getting ready -- except for a recent road trip to northern Thailand -- I did use a list and even a trial packing excercise. But in North America -- if I forget something -- I figure that is just part of the fun.

Mark

[RoadTripper Brad]

Wow -- I am not sure I have ever spent that much time getting ready -- except for a recent road trip to northern Thailand -- I did use a list and even a trial packing excercise. But in North America -- if I forget something -- I figure that is just part of the fun.

Mark

Yeah... thats what happens when 90% of your roadtrips are one-way trips. Leaving something behind can cost... alot. My family (two generations of doing one-way-perminate roadtrips) have sort of perfected the whole pre-packing for moving thing.

Once I get a new(er, or just running) car I do want to start some leasure trips around AZ... where I don't have to worry about forgetting anything... because replacing it is just a swipe of the debit card away.

That reminds me... if anyone has a car in the PHX area that runs and is in pretty-good shape... let me know. Valley Metro is getting really old really quickly.

Brad

[Mass Tim]

Funny about that "female overpacking" - my girlfriend has a detailed list of everything we take for gear, and we do stage items occasionally. Over the years I have managed to make many of these things easier to pack, no matter what vehicle we happen to take. The net result of this is, she finds something new to take with us (usually just more clothes). The list barely fits on one page of paper. It used to fit on 3/4 page. I have tried (in vain) to take some things off of that list...

[PNW Judy]

That is easy treat clothes like fresh food and purchase new every day. (not on my budget -- mind you -- but it would work).

Ewwwww...shopping is a chore. Part of the wonder of roadtrips is getting away from chores. I think I'd rather be wrinkly. :-)