Checklist before a trip

Short answer: Check the weather, check the baggage rules, pack a set in your hand luggage, and lay out your travel clothes the evening before. Four points that cover both the trip and the travel day itself. The rest falls into place more easily once they are done.

Check the weather at your destination

The weather there decides what comes along. Look at the forecast for the whole stay, not just the day you arrive, and note how much it changes between day and evening. A warm place can have cool evenings, and a cool place can have warm days. Pack for what you will meet, not for the weather when you leave.

Check the baggage rules

How much can you bring, and what can go in your hand luggage. Rules differ between airlines and between ticket types. Check weight and size before you pack, so you do not have to repack at the airport. If there is a limit on hand luggage, you know how much room is left for the spare set.

Lay out your travel clothes

Travel days often start early, with little energy for choices. Lay out the clothes you will travel in the evening before, and check they are clean and dry. Choose something comfortable to sit in for many hours. A soft inner layer that does not rub makes a real difference on a long journey. See bamboo tank top for men.

A set in your hand luggage

If the suitcase goes missing, a single set saves the first day. Luggage can be delayed or end up in the wrong place, and getting it back can take time. A set of underwear, a pair of socks and a T-shirt take very little room. That way you have something clean while you wait. See bamboo socks.

A layer you can take off on the way

Planes and airports change temperature several times a day. It is often warm in the queue and cool on board, and the weather at arrival can be completely different. A layer that goes on and off easily helps. It can also work as a pillow or blanket if you want to sleep. See bamboo sweat for men and women.

Think about your feet

On a travel day you often sit still for hours and then walk a long way through an airport. Choose shoes that are easy to take off and put on at security, and socks without thin spots. A spare pair of socks in your hand luggage feels good after a long flight.

Keep your papers in one place

Passport, tickets and bookings need to be easy to find. Keep them in one fixed place, such as an inside pocket, and check the evening before that everything is there. Then you do not have to search with a queue behind you. The same goes for chargers and anything you need during the trip.

Pack the evening before

Decisions made at five in the morning are rarely the best ones. Finish packing the evening before and put the suitcase by the door. In the morning you just put on the clothes laid out and take the suitcase. It gives a calmer start, and you forget less when you are not in a hurry.

Frequently asked questions

What should you check before a trip

The weather at your destination, the baggage rules, a set in your hand luggage, and that your travel clothes are ready the evening before. Then both trip and travel day are covered.

What should you travel in

Something you can take off and put on. The temperature changes between the journey, the airport and the plane several times a day, so layers work better.

Why pack the evening before

Because travel days often start early. Decisions made at five in the morning are rarely the best, and it is easy to forget something in a rush.