Cathy is typically a throw it in the bag and go type packer, who can pack in 10 minutes (as long as laundry is clean) before walking out the door. Wanda can pull a bag together quickly too!
So, you may be asking "why?" is a "Test Packing" exercise necessary? Well, you see, first of all, the girls are really jazzed up about the trip and can hardly think of little else. Secondly, the girls travel light, packing only in a carry on bag and personal "item" so they can avoid the hassle of checked luggage and they can keep a guarded eye on their camera gear and are assured of having clothes when they arrive in Italy, which is important.
They both know that a ten minute packing frenzy prior to getting on a plane to fly overseas just isn't a good idea. With all of the electronic gadgets, iPad, iPhones, Netbooks, Cameras (yes plural, gotta have a backup plan), adapters, power strips, etc. that the girls have, it is important to make sure everything fits and that they can manage the combined weight of the bag and "personal item" for those hikes through airports as well as hoisting the bag in and out of the overhead bins. Oh, and once the girls arrive in Italy, there are hills and cobblestones and lots of stairs....sounds like a workout video doesn't it? Don't worry about it! They will be having so much fun, they will hardly notice!
Here's a photo of Cathy's stuff to be packed all spread out on the spare bed. The list is pretty lengthy....3 black pairs of pants, 1 pair of jeans, 1 pair black knit capri pants, 1 sleeveless top, 3 short sleeved tops, 1 top with 3/4 sleeves, a travel knit jacket, PJ's, undies, netbook, camera bag with gear, bag of cords, bag for non liquid cosmetics, meds, etc., 1 pair of sandals, 1 microfiber day pack (mini backpack), travel umbrella, mini flashlight, power strip, power adapters, curling iron, hairbrush, small purse, passport, Euros, maps....did she miss anything? Yes, but those items will be worn - a pair of knit pants, t-shirt and long sleeve knit hoodie type jacket and a lightweight raincoat with a hood.
One of the space saving techniques Cathy uses is to put several smaller items into a plastic zipper top bag, zip it nearly closed and then roll the bag from the bottom, squishing out the air and then zip it the rest of the way. Then unroll and you have a nice flat package to lay into the larger bag. Bulkier items can be rolled tightly for packing.
Another trick is to put heavier items, like shoes in the bottom of the bag (based on how you will carry the bag). Electronics should be packed where they can be easily accessed for those airport security searches everyone is so fond of. Be sure to keep those well away from your quart bag of liquids to avoid any unfortunate disasters!
The amount of clothing can be reduced by focusing on a single simple color scheme and layers. Use knits as much as possible and if you can splurge for some of the comfy travel knit separates, do it, they will save you space and add flexibility to your travel wardrobe and they dry quickly with a quick hand wash in the sink.
Psst....here's another tip Cathy has for you. If you have some ratty old underwear lurking in your bureau drawer that you really need to get rid of.... pack them and throw them away as you go. You'll finally get rid of them and gain a little extra space for those souvenirs you want to bring home. And speaking of souvenirs, if you feel like you are going to maybe need to check a bag for your return trip, pack a canvas bag or microfiber bag, or buy an inexpensive bag once you are there, just remember any liquids have to be safely packed in checked luggage, you can't carry those on the plane!
Here's the result of Cathy's test pack. The small purse on top of the blue bag will easily slide inside to comply with the airline 2 item rules (carry on and one personal item) and can be removed as needed once on board.
Cathy recently purchased this bag and it has some nifty features. The bag can be carried by using the traditional side or top handle or....here is the sweet part.... it can be worn as a backpack using the nifty straps that are stored away. The bag has cinch straps on each side to compress the bag further (which Cathy didn't do for the test pack exercise). The bag also expands further with a hidden zipper for those special things she wants to bring home!
Last but not least, Cathy put on the pack to make sure the weight was distributed properly and was manageable. The total weight of the bag and camera gear that she will be carrying is 34 pounds!
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