Trip packing strategies

[Wines Not Whines]

How do you pack for a trip when you plan to exercise (in a way that gets you very sweaty) during the trip? I feel like I can never pack “light,” because I need 2 outfits and 2 pairs of shoes for almost every day. I have my running clothes and then my regular clothes. I sweat a lot, especially during the summer, so re-wearing my running clothes isn’t an option. I do laundry during a longer trip if I can, but sometimes it’s not really an option. Is there a strategy I’m missing, or does everyone else have this problem?

[sadlebred]

I pack a bigger suitcase. I'm not kidding. I deal with the giant suitcase....or a huge duffle.

[coconutbug]

I find it hard to pack lightly also. If I'm really trying to save on room, I'll pack 2-3 workout outfits, handwash them in the sink as needed, and hang them up to dry in the bathroom.

[laterz]

I'm a 'bring everything and the kitchen sink' packer, but if i know checking a bag is going to be a PITA, I'll rewear workout clothes. Gross? Not grosser then when I finish a workout. In my defense, I will hang them to "air out" in the hotel.

[Wines Not Whines]

Aug 9, 2022 14:42:15 GMT -5 sadlebred said:

I pack a bigger suitcase. I'm not kidding. I deal with the giant suitcase....or a huge duffle.

This is what I usually do, but I keep seeing articles about packing for a 2-week trip with only a carry-on bag. But the advice about what to pack never includes workout clothes or gear!

[bee20]

I do 2 week business trips with a combo of professional and workout clothes in a carryon. My advice is:
-Bring one set of workout clothes, all quick-dry. Plan to wash them in the sink and hang dry after you shower.
-For the running shoes, those should be what you wear on the plane, pack smaller professional flats that are comfortable enough for walking around town in the evenings.
-For trips where I can't handwash due to the schedule I'll rewear. It doesn't really feel gross until after the 3rd workout for me, and I am pretty sweaty.
-You didn't ask, but I need to do exercises and stretching after running, they make cork massage balls that are lightweight for travel, that combined with some stretch bands is enough for me.

[wanderingback]

Maybe it’s gross to some, but I def re-wear my work out clothes on vacation, shrug. If needed will rinse in the sink. Otherwise I just hang to dry. Usually I run outside so I don’t really care if they smell a bit.

I typically can’t fit my running shoes in my carry-on so I just tie them to the handle of my hard case carry on or the strap of my back pack. Either way, they still fit in the overhead bin if I’m flying.

[lilypad1126]

Packing in a carry on when I also need running gear is the bane of my existence. If it’s for personal travel, I just check a bag if I’m going to work out while on vacay. I prefer not to work out on vacation if I can avoid it/I’m not training for anything. I mean, I’ll walk or hike but I prefer to have run-free vacations.

I travel a lot for work and so I do sometimes run while on a work trip. Like this week, I’m gone Sunday to Wednesday. I only needed running clothes for 2 of those days, but also I needed running shoes, plus work shoes and work clothes and some other random work stuff I couldn’t ship ahead. Packing cubes are key to keep me organized, packing all in one color scheme so 1 pair of work shoes are enough! Packing the smallest work shoes I have (and I wear a size 11 so it’s not easy), packing lots of lightweight dresses, and having a good “personal item” in addition to the carry on suitcase, are key. And the only reason I was so determined to make this work is because I’m flying between locations and will have to take my suitcase to the job site with me, so no way was I was lugging a big suitcase.

My biggest annoyance with it is that no matter how I dry out my running clothes, they make my suitcase smell eventually. Blech.

I have a male colleague who is 6’7 and manages to pack a backpack and small duffel for A WEEK of work travel. I am in awe of his packing skills. And he brings at least 1 sport coat, multiple button down shirts, work shoes, etc.

[minzy]

If it’s a plane trip, I wear the running shoes so they don’t hog so much space in the suitcase. If it’s a car trip I usually have a separate reusable shopping bag of just shoes. I have a friend who is a Disney consultant and she recommends gallon size ziplock bags for daily outfits (works better for kids with smaller clothes) but sometimes I do it too and it also helps me not forget some whole category like underwear or socks. If we can’t do a bigger load of laundry on the trip, my husband and I usually switch from two clean suitcases to one still wearable and one dirty at some point along the way. I try to remember a plastic bag for the dirty stuff or use the hotel’s to stay more organized and control the smell. The contents of the dirty one go straight into the wash when we get home. Bless the people who can rewear workout clothes unwashed, I am not one of them, but my husband is, and the result is that I can sometimes put a few extra things of mine in his luggage, so that helps too.

[breezy8407]

So, for work trips I am usually only gone 4 days at most. It depends on the site I am going to and the type of work I am doing if I am going to workout. Typically I plan rest days around those trips because I usually don't have time since my site visits are very full days and are exhausting. Lately, I've been trying to get up early and at least run on the hotel treadmill if possible. Its only been 2 of those 4 days, so I just bring two outfits. I sweat a ton, so I don't like re-wearing stuff. For shoes, I pack my running shoes in my carryon and a pair of sandals. (Also, the hotel I've been staying at on this project has laundry but I haven't used it)

For longer trips, I pack a bag and just bring what I think I am going to use. I'm a fan of packing cubes. The last week long trip we went on, our place had a washer and dryer, so I was able to back less.

[wawa]

If I'm flying it's carry on or bust. I almost never check a bag. If we're driving I just embrace the giant duffle and pack the kitchen sink.

my pile of clothes looks ridiculous sometimes when i pack for working out the whole time (it gets really silly if I bring a bike...) but I don't love re-wearing dirty workout clothes, so if I'm flying I usually just skimp in the regular clothes to get around it. Washing in the sink is a good workaround through, but I've had a few times where stuff just WONT' dry so I only plan for that if I must.

It's a lot easier in the summer, but if it's a work trip or something where I need to look nice my go-to is simple wrinkle free dresses that pack down to basically nothing and a pair of rothy's or flat sandals and then I have more room for other gear.  And those I will re-wear. I almost never pack jeans, they take up too much space. I'll wear a pair for a travel day if I'm going to want them, and then just re-wear as needed.  Similarly if i need a blazer or sweatshirt I wear it while traveling. And running shoes also get worn on planes.  

[MrsE]

I am team carry on - even for longer (2 week international trips) and also team laundry. If it’s longer than 4 days, I’ll typically do laundry. I try and save room by stuffing socks into my workout shoes, and bringing only whicking material (usually Athleta) workout clothes that I can air dry and rewear if I’m in a pinch (although it usually isn’t necessary).

I also stick with one color scheme for the rest of my clothing - usually black (so black shoes, purse, etc.) but sometimes brown to limit the overall number of shoes and accessories. I use packing cubes too and try to wear the larger/ heavier items in layers while on the plane (blazer, cardigan, or denim jacket, that kind of thing). Good luck!

[osulori]

I've been lucky so far in that any longer trips I've taken have had onsite laundry which helps a ton, plus I've been the only one getting up early to work out so if my clothes are stinky I'm the only one that knows it If laundry or wearing stinky clothes wasn't an option I'd hand wash in the sink and hang to dry. For our Myrtle Beach trip back in June I packed 4-5 pairs of running shorts and tanks but I would wear them to/from the beach and chasing kids around too (dual uses for the win!) which helped the space situation. In general though I'm a serious overpacker so my bag was still crammed full!

[brooke77]

I cannot rewear tanks or sports bras. Too sweaty. I can usually wear shorts twice. If space is a concern, I usually plan on less workouts that week 😬

[doctoranda]

I bring 2 shorts and 2 tops for running and wash them in the sink. The fabric dries really fast so nbd. I only bring 1 pair of running shoes. I pack my socks inside of the shoes. I usually also make sure the colors all match like someone above mentioned.

[dearprudence]

Aug 9, 2022 17:58:20 GMT -5 wanderingback said:

Maybe it’s gross to some, but I def re-wear my work out clothes on vacation, shrug. If needed will rinse in the sink. Otherwise I just hang to dry. Usually I run outside so I don’t really care if they smell a bit.

This is what I do - I workout/run in the morning, then hang or layout my workout clothes until the next morning.

[cuadrado]

I bring some LLL on the go tops. They are easy to dress up, and I will wear them once casually and then use them as a workout top afterwards.