Before determining what to take, I looked up several ‘What to Pack for Ireland’ articles. The problem I had with most of them was it seemed like they were written by women who were able to withstand cold much easier than I, and also MUCH smaller than I. The trouble with being short and large chested is everything is bulky, especially winter clothes.
But nevertheless, I persisted. I’ve always been the over packer, so I wanted ideas on how to pack less while still being able to be warm. Though I live in New England, I am always cold, so during spring and winter I am constantly wearing fleece-lined tights (or thermals) underneath my jeans and always layering a long sleeve top under a thick sweater.
Knowing that Ireland was similar climate during Spring, I decided I would dress the same there as here. But how to do that, pack less, and still feel like I had enough for the entire trip?
I knew I needed to write out my list so that I didn’t forget something. I started with clothes:
- 3 pairs of Jeans
- 2 Fleece-Lined Tights (footed and footless)
- 2 Fleece-Lined Leggings (for plane travel)
- 4 Long Sleeve Shirts
- 2 Camis (for sleeping)
- 2 Sweaters
- 7 pairs of Panties
- 5 Bras
- 7 pairs of Socks
- 1 Pajama Bottoms (Capris)
- Walking Shoes
- Hiking Shoes
- 1 Belt
- 1 Hat
- 1 Wrap
- 1 Pair of Gloves
- 1 Rain Jacket
-
Umbrella
-
Sunglasses
I had bought packing cubes based on recommendations from all the packing articles. In the end, they just didn’t fit with all the clothes and the other items I needed to put into my Osprey, so I ended up not using them at all.
Next up were toiletries:
- Toothbrush &
Toothpaste - Floss
- Washcloth
- Body & Face Wash
- Shampoo & Conditioner
- Deodorant
- Lotion
- Razor
- Hair Brush & Comb
- Hair Ties
- Make-up & Make-up Remover
- Disinfectant Wipes (for airplane surfaces)
- First Aid Kit (bandaids, ointment packet)
-
Pain Relievers & Sleep Aids (Advil Minis, Advil PM, Aleve)
-
Tums
-
Feminine Hygiene Products
-
Q-tips
All the liquids of course went into a TSA approved clear quart sized bag. I bought the 6pc. Clear Fitted Bag Travel Set from Target because it held everything I wanted it to.
I then determined what I’d need on the plane:
- Earplugs
- Sleep Mask
- Gum (for air pressure relief)
- Portable Chargers for Cellphone
- Homemade cookies from Mom
Not a big list; I’m usually sleeping, listening to music, or watching an inflight movie. I had already decided I wasn’t taking my laptop as I was worried about it getting stolen.
Next I focused on what I’d need during the day and at our accommodations:
- Purse
- Small Travel Bag
- Extra Souvenir Bag
- Dirty Laundry Bag
- Quart Size Ziplocs
- Small Flashlight
- Journal and Pens
And of course, I wanted to take my camera, so I put together the list for it and other electronics:
- Camera & Small Camera Bag
- 2 Camera Batteries & 1 Charger
- 2 SD Cards
- 2 UK Outlet Adapters
- Fitbit Charger
- 3 Cellphone charging cables
- Car Charger
- Power Strip
Finally, I turned to all the important items needed for the trip:
- Wallet
- Driver’s License
- Debit & Credit Cards
- Passport
- Plane Tickets (digital on phone)
- Travel Folder (with digital copies on phone)
- Itinerary
- Copy of Passport
- Driving Directions
- Accommodations Information (addresses, phone numbers)
- Car Rental Reservation Information
- Key Attraction Information
Once the list was put together, I made sure to check things off as I packed them in the bag. I packed all the clothes, toiletries, most of the daytime items, and the important items into the Osprey, while my small travel bag held the airplane items and the electronics. I packed the extra souvenir bag inside the small travel bag, then put everything else inside of it to save space. Worked like a charm.
I finally felt ready to go and while my Osprey was packed full, I felt like I’d be ok for a 15 day trip, knowing we’d have the ability to do laundry while we were there. Now I only had to worry about getting to the airport on time…
