Packing tips

How to get the most out of the least amount of cargo room

By Brittney MacDonald, Life and Style Editor

Now, we all know that, though the weekends away are often a blast, preparing for them is frustrating and awful. I mean seriously, what do you bring? You have to have a little of everything in your closet so that you’re prepared for any situation. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve either over-packed, in an effort to be up for any challenged, or under-packed because I tried to narrow it down to the essentials after memories of lugging a giant bag around with me haunted my dreams. A lot of magazines and YouTube videos will tell you to only bring the essentials, but that’s misleading and wrong. After all, this is supposed to be your vacation/weekend away, not boot camp!

The first thing you need to do is pick a time to pack. When you pack can be just as important as what you pack, because you need to be relaxed. Stress packing is a bad idea; you’ll end up over-packing and bringing along things that will force you to question not only your choices in life, but also your sanity. No joke—I once packed a flat iron for a camping trip where I knew we wouldn’t have electricity. Setting aside a good amount of time will ensure that you can logically think about all the things you might need.

Next, you’ll want to consider clothes, because those are kind of important. Plan out and pack an outfit for each day, underwear and accessories included. You won’t necessarily have to wear these outfits—sometimes you just feel like wearing the same thing twice, or wearing things in a different combination than what you considered when you were packing—but having the outfits somewhat planned out will ensure that you have enough clothes. Throw in an extra pair of pants, and an extra skirt or pair of shorts. We live in the Lower Mainland; weather can change at the drop of a hat, not to mention all the other disastrous things that could happen on your journey of fun—busted seams, anyone? Having extra is a good idea, just don’t go overboard.

Lastly, when you pack your toiletries, be frugal. This is when you want to be a little more discerning on what you bring. Bring everything you would use over a three-day period. Even if your trip is longer or shorter than three days, following this rule will ensure you have everything you need, while also saving you some space. Don’t pack things you “might” use, only the things you know you will, and if you’re bringing makeup, don’t take the expensive stuff unless it’s part of your daily/three-day routine. The last thing you want is to lose that new MAC lipstick to the recesses of your rental car!