When you’re traveling it is always best to pack as lightly as possible because you never know what you might need to bring back with you. I am an avid biker, and I go to a weekend rally at least four times a year. I made the mistake of going along in the support vehicle only once, since then I have always made sure that I am on the motorcycle!
Another thing I’ve learned is how to pack everything I need for the weekend in a single backpack because on a rally if you don’t have it, you go without. And most of what I’ve learned about packing for rally’s can also be applied to international travel which has come in handy over the years! And if I find that there is something I need to buy to make my traveling a little easier, then I just head on over to Discountrue to search for some coupons for Kohl’s before I do any shopping!
First thing I learned is that rolling works far better than folding. Even though all I need is two pairs of jeans, two shirts and two jerseys along with underwear (which includes leggings and vests in the winter months) and toiletries they can take up a fair amount of space if you’re not careful. Another thing I learned is that packing aids actually do what they are designed to and that investing in something like packing cubes or compression sacs is a VERY good idea!
Everything I pack is dual purpose. I have jerseys with zip off sleeves, my leggings double as sleep wear, a jacket that can be used as a pillow and I make my own soap, shampoo and conditioner that can double as cleaning detergents if I ever need to scrub any of my clothing. I also always carry a rope and a sarong because between the two of them you have literally dozens of items such as a skirt, washing line, rucksack, laundry bag or even a light shade cover.
Traveling on a motorcycle can get chilly even in summer, and so can a plane, so I always wear several layers for at least the traveling part of my trip which cuts down on how much I have to squeeze into my bag. And my last two pieces of advice? Use those little TSA approved bottles for any liquids you need to take with you and make a packing list at least two weeks before you start packing. You will be glad that you had that extra time to plan and refine what exactly ends up in your luggage!
But I almost forgot, remember to enjoy yourself and make as many memories as you can!
