Routines when you travel a lot

Short answer: Keep a fixed packing list and one set that always stays in your bag. Packing then becomes a check of the list rather than a fresh decision every time, and you forget things far less often.

A fixed list beats memory

The same list every time catches what you usually forget. Write it once, on your phone if you like, and use it before every departure. When something was missing on the last trip, add it. After a few journeys the list covers almost everything, and packing takes only minutes.

Split the list by purpose

A long list is easier to use when it is divided into small groups. Clothes in one, toiletries in another, documents and chargers in a third. You can then take one group at a time and tick it off once it is in the bag. The groups also show quickly what can be left out on a short trip.

Keep a set in the bag all year

Underwear and socks that live in the bag never need packing. They take up almost no room and remove the worst consequence of forgetting something. Put a pair of bamboo boxers and a pair of socks in a small pouch in your travel bag and leave them there. Once used, put a clean set back as soon as you are home.

Pack pieces that do a lot

If you travel often, it pays to pack items that work in several situations. A layer that suits the plane, the hotel lobby and a cool evening saves space. A bamboo sweatshirt for men is one example of a soft layer that is comfortable on a long journey and rolls up small.

Roll rather than fold

Rolled clothes often take less room in a bag than folded ones and crease less. Roll T-shirts and soft tops tightly and lay them in a row at the bottom. Small items such as socks can go inside your shoes. That leaves space for what cannot be rolled and makes it easier to see what you packed.

Wash on the way instead of packing more

A few extra days do not need a few extra kilos. Pack for four to five days, however long the trip, and wash along the way. Many hotels offer a laundry service, and a sink with a little soap handles underwear and socks. Hung up in the evening, thin fabric is usually dry by morning.

Unpack when you get home

The quickest way to be ready for the next trip is to unpack on the day you return. Put worn clothes straight into the laundry basket and put the bag away with the fixed set inside. A half-packed bag left standing around only makes the next round of packing harder.

Keep it simple

The best travel routine is the one you actually use. A list, a fixed set in the bag and a wash on the way is enough for most people. Browsing the most popular items from Copenhagen Bamboo can help you find soft basics that work at home and on the road. Fewer choices make packing easier.

Frequently asked questions

How do you pack faster

With a fixed list. Packing becomes a check instead of a series of decisions, and you forget things less often because the list remembers for you.

What should always be in the bag

A set of underwear and a pair of socks. They take up almost no room and remove the worst consequence of forgetting something in a hurry.

How much should you pack for a long trip

Enough for four to five days, whatever the length of the trip. After that it is quicker to wash on the way than to carry a bigger, heavier bag.