A fixed packing list you can reuse

Short answer: Write the list once and use it every time. It takes twenty minutes to make and saves half an hour per trip for the rest of your life.

Why a fixed list works

Without a list you start from scratch every time and forget something. With a list you simply work through it. It is the one thing that turns packing into a ten minute job rather than an hour.

Build the list in categories

Clothes, toiletries, electronics and papers. Under clothes write numbers rather than garments, meaning seven sets of underwear rather than their names. See bamboo underwear for men.

Correct the list after each trip

If you came home with something unused, cross it out. If something was missing, add it. After three trips the list is accurate. See bamboo t-shirts for men and bamboo nightwear for men.

Frequently asked questions

Should you keep several lists

Two is enough: one for a weekend and one for a week. Everything else scales from those.

Where should the list live

On your phone, so it is always at hand when you pack.

What do people forget most often

A charger, an extra pair of socks and something to wash with.