The part of travel that you dislike most is packing? Then let me help you overcome that. I will not be able to work some magic that your bags will pack themselves (bummer). I will, however, help you bring some sense and order into packing.
There are different styles of packing. From fitting as many things into one bag as possible and maximizing space to packing smartly and helping yourself find items easily during your trip.
Today we will focus on the latter packing style. We will not go into detail about what you should pack for your campervan road trip but rather how you should pack.
Follow these 15 steps to learn the art of packing for road trips:
1. Packing is like a mix of a mindmap and a puzzle. Start off by getting yourself the best overview possible by laying out everything you need/want to pack on the floor or your bed.
2. Organize your things by category, so it doesn't seem like your cupboard exploded onto the floor, but that you have bundles of clothes, accessories, toiletries, shoes, etc.
3. Each item and bundle that you look at should have a purpose. Picture yourself in or with the item on the activity you are planning to use it for.
4. You are not able to come up with that mental image for a few things. Then that is your cue to put it back to where it came from and not take it with you.
5. When you travel with a travel buddy, and you happen to be packing together, do steps 1-4 for both of you at the same time. I recommend mixing your clothes into both bags that you are taking and not have separate bags. Should one of your bags be delayed or even get lost, this tactic will make your life a lot easier in the destination.
6. Think about the outfit you want to switch in after landing or on your first day and take it out from your bundle so you don't pack it accidentally in the middle of it all.
7. You are done with the preparation now, and it is time actually to pack. Start with one bag and place it somewhere elevated next to your clothes map. This is just a small detail; however, your back will thank you later for it.
8. Start filling your soft travel bag with the items you will use last or at least in the second half of your trip. Let's say you will start your road trip in a cooler place than you will end in (e.g., starting in Melbourne and ending in Brisbane, Australia in spring or fall). Pack that bikini, the shorts, and the super-light t-shirts first. For more details on why we recommend traveling with a soft luggage bag for a campervan road trip, check out our post on 'Best Luggage For A Road Trip In A Small Campervan'.
9. Add layer by layer, always traveling backward on your planned itinerary in your mind.
10. Try to avoid any holes in your layers by fitting the pieces like a puzzle. No matter how good you packed, you will always have a hole or two. Don't use small filling pieces like underwear or socks in this case. (This would be the tactic for fitting in as much as possible) Instead, take a tank top or something similar and roll it up to fit into the hole. What also works great to fill gaps is to use the hoodie of a hoodie.
11. For small things that you will regularly need, like socks and underwear, designate one area of the bag/bags, so you can basically grab them blindly. For me, it is always the corners of the bags. One corner for half of my underwear in each bag, one corner for half of Jen's underwear in each bag, and one corner for half of our socks in each bag. Trust me, there is nothing more annoying and frustrating to scrabble about for your fresh underwear in the dark.
12. Designate the end of your bag (the side with the roles) for your toiletry bag. Do not place it on the other side of the bag, as it usually tends to be a bit heavier than your clothes and thus would only squoosh your clothes once you elevate it to get going.
13. Place the extra shoes/hiking boots that you will not be traveling with at last into your bags, together with the outfit for the first day. Once you are the new (temporary) owner of your new home on wheels, take out those boots and place them in a designated area in the camper. It is a lot easier to live out of a bag without a bulky object on top or in between.
14. We recommend to pack one set of an outfit into your hand luggage, again just to be somewhat prepared, should your bag(s) not make it. This could be that same outfit you selected in step 6.
15. Repeat the same order for your other bag and voilà! you should be all packed up and now have a sense of what clothes to find where. When your bag is not entirely full, and there is some room, don't forget to tie the inside luggage straps to keep everything in place.
Pro tips:
- Use the outside compartments of your bag for things you need to access regularly and easily, such as your flip-flops, snacks, your first-aid kit, etc.
- Should your soft bag have two different big compartments, use it to structure your things even more. We use the lower compartment for outdoor/active clothes only and the top compartment for regular urban garments. That way, we eliminate any searching while on the road.
- Mark your bag somehow. Whether it is a colorful strap, you wrap around it or a distinctive luggage tag as an eye-catcher. Jen had to learn that one the hard way. Just having a very colorful bag (in her case, it was a red suitcase) does not make it stand out enough. It is pretty painful discovering that you took the wrong bag (or realizing that someone else took yours), when you have already arrived home or picked up your van. Jen's suitcase has ever since become very unique by a spray-painted anchor 😉.
What to bring on your campervan road trip?
This is an essential question, as space is very limited in a small campervan. Consider the following:
- what kind and how many clothes and shoes - city or outdoor, warm or cold, a little bit of everything?
- what type of camping gear - what is included, what do I need to bring? Take a look at our gear and check with your rental company, what is included.
- what kind of toiletries - not just personal, but also for dishwashing, etc.
- what type of tech gadgets - how does electricity work? These are our tech gadgets and we mostly use a USB converter while driving.
- what to bring from home and what to buy locally - single-use vs. multiple uses.
We recommend a mixture of outdoor and urban clothes. Ask yourself how active you will be and depending on that shift to more outdoor or more urban pieces. Also, keep in mind the weather conditions to pack your clothes accordingly.
Next to some hiking shoes/boots, it is wise to bring some light running shoes or trainers for the campgrounds and quick stops along the road and never forget your flip-flops (or similar) for showering. For hygienic reasons, we strongly suggest never shower barefoot in public showers.
Should you love campfires as much as we do, take an extra hoody or fleece with you and make it your campfire fleece. Believe me, it will smell like it 😉.
Check out our article 'What to Pack for Your Next Active Campervan Trip' for more details.
As for the campervan, check the FAQs and confirmation of your rental company. You will most likely have some gear included. Then think about what is missing and what makes sense to bring from home or buy locally.
Do you have any further tips you would like to share with us? Please comment below, we would love to hear from you.
