One month into our RTW (round the world) trip I’ve noticed that I haven’t worn or needed some of the things that I’ve brought. Not using what I have brought has sort of annoyed me, because I brought all 25 pounds worth of clothes and more, just for me to not use. Saving space and weight for your next RTW or adventure can be really important, so packing just what you need is crucial. Over packing is a waste of hard work and energy. That’s why I compiled a list of 5 things you shouldn’t bring on your next adventure:
1. You Don’t Need Pajamas
When space and weight matters, then pajamas should be the first to go. You can only use them for one thing: sleeping. Other than that they are pretty much useless. Forget pajama day… I personally wouldn’t wear my pajamas out in public. Just wear a comfy shirt and pants to sleep. That will save you some valuable space.
2. Don’t bring that many Socks
Of course, socks are essential, but I don’t really think that anyone should bring anymore than 3-5 pairs of socks. Socks are really easy to hand wash and they can dry really quickly. Plus I think it is somewhat hygienic for me to wear socks at least twice without having to wash them. I brought around 7 pairs of socks, only to wear 3 pairs. It’s about time for me to offload those nonessentials.
3. Skip the Snacks
This might sound weird, but trust me I’m a normal person. I really like food, but based on my travel experience, snacks aren’t worth taking. I brought 3 large 400-calorie protein bars, a couple of normal granola bars, and a Kashi chocolate square to the airport from my house. We hadn’t even flown off on our first flight of our RTW and my snacks were half gone. I was still in America! The snacks, especially the protein bars, took up a lot of space and weight. I brought them just for me to finish really quickly. You can buy food anywhere. Don’t waste your space on bringing food.
4. Do You Really Need Dress Clothes?
How many times a year would I wear dress pants and a formal shirt? As of one month into my RTW I haven’t worn my formal clothes once. I understand if you are some person who needs to dress formally for work or something that you would have to bring dress clothes, but I rarely have to. Inside my backpack I have one pair of dress pants and 3 semiformal shirts. I think I would have been better off buying those types of clothes in my destination rather than bringing them.
5. Journals are ancient
I brought a travel journal, expecting for me to write in it to document my travels, but instead I’ve been documenting my travels on my blog. Journals are heavy and can be bulky, as an alternative I’ve been journaling in my Google Drive account. I haven’t written with my hand in such a long time that it now feels really weird for me to write. I’ve noticed that I can type a lot faster than I can write. Also spell check is really important for me. So far I’ve only written in my physical journal once.
Hope you enjoyed reading and found my list of things that I wish I hadn’t brought on my RTW helpful.
What are your thoughts? Leave your comment below.
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Liked this post? Check out my next post, The Gear You Need: 5 Essentials for Your RTW
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