Inga Carmack

One of my favorite packing tips is to go through my closet and pick out things I never wear. Maybe it's not the best fit, or it's slightly faded, or I just never wear it. I pack these items for my trip, wear them, and leave them behind! This is a quadruple-win situation: I clean out my closet, my bag gets lighter as I go, my disposable items (especially if I'm traveling to a developing country) are treasures to someone else, and I have more room in my bag for purchases...perfect! It's also a good idea to have a printed copy of your driver's license and passport inside your suitcase in case your carry-on is lost or stolen. And for the ultra-scary event like an armed robbery or a fire where a suitcase and carry-on could be lost, stolen, or damaged, I scan my ID, passport, and traveler's checks and e-mail a copy to myself. This way you can go to any computer and print a copy of your documents. I know when people think of travel items they think high-tech and expensive—Kindles and iPods and packing cubes. But I believe one of the best packing products is extremely low-tech and ultracheap: rubber bands! I got a package of large rubber bands for $2, and they are my travel best friends! Not only do they give me 50 percent more room in my roll-aboard suitcase so I don't have to check a bag, BUT they also have many uses while you are on vacation! I have used them to keep chip bags closed, as a makeshift key chain, and to hold together a bag that had a broken zipper. Three cheers for the old-fashioned, low-tech, cheap, and fabulous rubber bands! [PHOTO]

In the past, everytime I traveled I seemed to leave something behind in the hotel room. On my my next stop I would always have to spend time looking for a replacement for the missing item. Not a fun way to enjoy traveling. I learned to make a list and bring along copies for each new location on my travel plan. I tape the list to the back of the hotel-room door upon arrival, and then I check it off before departing for the next city. It is an easy process and has really made my trips more enjoyable. I described it below. Make a list and check it twice Of all the items you packed for your trip Make a copy for each change of location on your travel plan Tape a copy of your list to the inside door of the hotel room Before leaving the room for the final time Check the items off your list Arrive at your next location with everything you brought with you No missing medications, baby binkie, or computer Your next stop on your itinerary will have all the items you need for a fun stay Repeat the process all along the way You will return home with all of your items And memories of a stress-free trip

Upon reading about this challenge, my eyes went wide, my heart started racing, and a huge grin covered my face. Some call me neurotic; some mock me. I've been told I have too much time on my hands. I've even been told by my dear, loving sister that she was going to commit me to the loony bin. But I knew this day of validation would come. The day when I would be privileged to be numbered amongst those who have made the perfectly packed bag their ultimate goal in life. I spend weeks, sometimes months, in advance of a trip putting together and refining my packing list. I will often have a "dry run" packing a week before my trip to ensure everything fits the way I have it planned. My packing lists are divided according to which pocket of the bag that item will be placed in. Often there is color-coding involved to match outfits. Nothing goes into my bag if it isn't going to be worn twice. And if an item is going to be worn twice, it's going to need to mix and match with another item so that I don't wear the same outfit twice. So in order to plan accordingly, I might as well determine what day each piece will be worn. Once you've gone that far, you might as well plan out which days which items will be laundered in order to guarantee that the item has been washed and had time to hang dry (to minimize ironing) before being worn a second time. If you're going to plan out the laundry schedule, that means making sure you wear clothes in the same color group on consecutive days, such as dark shirts and pants the first few days so that there is enough clothing to make a decent size load. These are logical leaps in organization. Most normal people simply don't spend enough time thinking about it to make those leaps. I don't just pack light and smart, I pack stylishly. Some light packers sacrifice fashion over function—not I. When I scrapbook my vacation, I want to look good in my pictures. I search out the right type and style of clothing for the destination and climate, ensuring that it is a fabric that either won't wrinkle or is designed to be wrinkly. I buy the gadgets and gizmos that are created to make the lives of travelers easier. The iPhone is the best thing to ever happen to my packing list. I have sought after the perfect carry-on bag (as I rarely check luggage) that marries capacity, organization, versatility, and style. Now I can write all sorts of prose about my packing methods, but you are intelligent people. You need specific examples to be convinced that I am the clear winner of this challenge. I've packed for a week in Budapest using only a 21-inch rolling bag. I spent a weeklong road trip in Germany (during the winter, mind you) bringing only a carry-on bag. I managed a 10-day Mediterranean cruise taking a large backpack, each day wearing cute skirts, blouses, and espadrilles in perfect European style. The crème de la crème of my examples is my recent humanitarian trip to Ghana, Africa. I packed for the 10-day trip using only a small messenger-style purse and a school-size backpack. I was even prepared for deplorable sleeping conditions and washing my clothes in a plastic bag. However, we stayed in a very delightful location with clean sheets and a washing machine, so I had actually overpacked. My traveling companions had their doubts, but my thorough but smart packing list proved its weight in gold when items only I had brought along were necessary to assist in an emergency surgery. When friends make me the butt of their travel jokes because of my packing passion, I take it like a champ while they laugh. When I pack only what I need, nothing more, nothing less, I am the one who's laughing. The very same people who call my quirky obsession neurotic in advance of a trip together often come groveling, begging to borrow something. As they struggle with large rolling suitcases up and over countless bridges and cobblestoned paths in Venice, I sprint past them with my small backpack. When they realize they forgot Tylenol, I'm the one who is there with two pills and a collapsible canteen of water. And when a nurse needs a headlamp in the jungles of Ghana to save a woman's life, I'm ready to hand her the one in my purse. I pack light, smart, and stylish, and I'm proud of it.

How fortuitous...I am just leaving on a trip to England/Ireland. I consider myself a pretty good packer, so I decided to enter your contest! I have made over 10 overseas trips to over 15 countries with my husband over the past 10 years, and packing light has been a key part in enjoying our travels. Unfortunately, my husband died this past year. I am returning to England and Ireland as we had planned to celebrate what would have been our 40th year of marriage. I will be traveling alone this time, so packing light and wisely is imperative to my plans. I have included photos of my packing and will explain the steps and contents: Photo 1: So far, this contains gloves; a small purse (for evenings); vitamins for 17 days; an alarm clock (1" x 2.5"); a Bible; small gifts for friends; two scarves; snacks to use at my destination; a zip envelope with individual tea bags and instant coffee; a collapsible cup and spoon; a 9" x 7" packing cube with two pairs of leggings, three pairs of socks, three pairs of undies (I hand-wash at hotels), feminine needs, and a compression bandage—if needed for my leg; an umbrella; an extra carrying bag; a full makeup bag (4" x 8" cube); a pouch for emergency medicines (Tums, antibiotic cream, Band-Aids, mole foam padding for sore spots on feet, aspirin); quart-size zipped bag containing liquids for security check; a wool hat and a baseball cap; a collapsible vent hairbrush and a collapsible round hairbrush; jewelry in a pouch; a small soap and a washcloth; Merrell dress sandals and a good pair of walking shoes (these are Naturalizer). I don't like to wear white tennis shoes—they say, "Tourist!". Photo 2: A large packing cube (approximately 13" x 9") is added. It contains a wool turtleneck sweater, six blouses, pajamas, an extra bra, and black dress slacks. Photo 3: Added a pair of jeans and a wool sweater, which can be zipped into a turtleneck. I pack the sweater in a Ziploc bag with the air removed. Photo 4: Inflatable 1st Class Sleeper for comfort on long flights, hairdryer (5" x 2.5"), a large trash bag to cover the suitcase in the event of rain, various sizes of Ziploc bags, and an elastic band to exercise with. Photo 5: Scottevest jacket—I think it has 16 pockets, but it doesn't look bulky when filled! Contains: MP3 player with music and five iPod tours of London downloaded; camera; money (I carry big bills in my money belt); notepad/pen/sticky tags to mark books; Platypus refillable water container; notes for trip (I rip pages out of books to conserve weight/space); maps; sunglasses and bifocals; small flashlight; audible emergency protection device (2.75" x 1.5"); highlighter pen; and itinerary. I love this waterproof jacket! I feel secure as I travel alone. At airport security, I just remove the jacket and pass it through, and the weight of the jacket does not count against my baggage weight! The sleeves zip off to make a vest. I keep my passport in my money belt but have it in my jacket at the airport for easy access. Photo 6: Purse contains: bag with flight needs (hand wipes/facial cleansing towelettes, slippers, medications, deodorant, body powder, earplugs, disposable toothbrushes, lip balm, eye covers); inflatable neck pillow; collapsible tripod for camera; collapsible walking cane (for occasional leg problems); Kleenex; snacks for the flight; reading materials I can throw away after I'm finished; and a container for storing charger cords. Photo 7: All packed up! The suitcase weighed in at 25.5 pounds. Photo 8: Ready to go!!! For the flights I like to wear stretch fleece pants, nonbinding undies, a comfortable blouse (I like the Oakley brand), a sports bra (nonbinding), compression socks, easy-to-remove shoes...and a smile!!!!