How to pack a backpack in 30 minutes

Have you ever been presented with a trip on the fly, with only 30 minutes to pack your bag? It doesn’t happen often, but hopefully someday you will have the opportunity to go on a trip that quickly. It makes you pack only the things you absolutely need, and allows you to see you don’t really need all the stuff that we so often shove in our backpack or suitcase. Here is how I pack my backpack in just 30 minutes (or less!):

Bring Only the Essentials

Underwear X 7

Socks X 3

Shorts/Jeans/Leggings X 2 (pick your favorite)

Dresses X 1

T-shirts X 5

Long sleeve top X 1

Hoodie/fleece X 1

Flip-flops X 1

Sneakers / hiking shoes X 1

Toiletries (including toothbrush, toothpaste, hair brush, body wash, etc.)

Done! That is it. Keep it simple.

Create Stacks of Categories

Once you are sure you have all the essentials set, pile everything on your bed or on the floor. Then, create a stack for each of category of clothes, separating pants, skirts/dresses and shirts. This will ensure you have everything you need, before your start putting it in your backpack. Things can get lost in the bottom of your backpack, so make sure you know exactly what you have, and put them together in categories for easy rummaging through your pack later.

Now, Bag It!

This is a game changer and the best trick I have ever learned for traveling with only a backpack. Once you have everything set into categories, start rolling it. Then, put your items in gallon Ziploc-type bags per category. For example, keep all t-shirts in one bag, all tanks in one bag, all underwear in one bag, etc. So later, you can just grab the baggie of shirts when you need it, and socks when you need it, and so on. Jeans and other large items may not fit in the bags, but that’s ok. Those are normally big enough to feel in your pack anyway. This will save you a ton of space, as well as keep everything really organized.

Next Time…

Keep a travel drawer/bag/bin/etc. It helps keep everything you need, including your toiletries and necessary travel stuff, all in one place. This area should include your passport, travel adapters, all of those travel-sized toiletries, and travel pillows. Plus, those specific clothing items you only wear when you’re traveling… you know the ones. It makes it so much easier to grab everything on the fly.

Now GO!

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