Packing for one night

[avedwards]

I often visit my mol from Friday to Saturday. Most of the journey is by train, but a considerable amount is on foot. As I come straight from school I have to wear my navy suit (my uniform). I have no problem taking my hat as I can wear that whilst travelling. I always wonder what else to take though.

I just wonder what's the best way of approaching light packing when one wants to dress smartly? Take a spare suit or just a spare pair of trousers or maybe only a spare shirt?

 

[Methuselah]

Good morning.

You could keep a spare shirt & pair of trousers at her place?

Future trips would only require minimal packing.

 

[adamjaskie]

Could you change it up by wearing the jacket separately? Treat it as a sport coat and wear it with cords and an open-collar patterned button-down. Dresses things down for the weekend, whilst remaining "smart". It also will change it up quite a bit; someone you saw on Friday might not notice you're wearing the same jacket. Easier to pack than a spare suit, too.

I'm an American, so I don't have any experience riding trains (they're... well, not worth using where I live; cheaper and faster to drive). I'm not sure what the best way to carry along a spare shirt would be. I've not had much luck packing shirts and having them stay wrinkle-free. When I visit the parents or the girlfriend, I usually just keep shirts on hangers and hang them up in the car.

 

[Wally_Hood]

Ahhh, "dress smartly..." Not only is it grammatically sound (the suffix -ly converts the adjective into an adverb), but does it not conjure up in our mind some one garbed with attention to style, not just wearing clothes?

 

[John in Covina]

One thing is to put together a toiletries kit, a bag for toothbrush, tooth paste hair care items, comb or brush, deoderant, the type of things you use in the bathroom plus a sewing kit.

Often there are travel size versions available of these items.

Add breath mints, medication, ibuprofen, antiacids, wet-naps and a light-stick in case of emergency. I can get by shaving the night before and not need to bring a shaving kit for an overnite stay.

I usually bring a change of clothes and some extras in case of an accident such as food spills. I will throw in some casual clothes for lounging, a bathing suit and sandals in the summer in case there is a pool available.

Often I include an area guide book for suggestions as to dining or excursions.

I still laugh over a 2 night trip to the Edgewater hotel and casino in Laughlin, Nevada. When I got there I found I forgot all my underwear. We swung over to a Kmart on the Arizona side of the Colorado River and picked up a pack of Hanes briefs! Plus a visit while there to several antique stores was a fun diversion and less expensive than gambling.

 

[avedwards]

Thanks for the advice so far. John, I'm afraid you're list is too long for me - I don't need a bathing suit or clothes for lounging. However I do have a small bag for toiletries.

What I did yesterday was wear my blue suit with white shirt (school uniform regulations) and a grey tie. I took a pair of grey flannels for today along with a spare shirt which was just stuffed in as I've got used to folds when travelling. The only other thing I carried was my pyjamas (I can't stand sleeping in clothes or without anything), my hat and my coat which I wore travelling meaning they didn't burden me. Since I dislike rucksacks I use a black leather bad with a shoulder strap which is comfortable for walking in and small enough not to be too bulky.

 

[avedwards]

Could you change it up by wearing the jacket separately? Treat it as a sport coat and wear it with cords and an open-collar patterned button-down. Dresses things down for the weekend, whilst remaining "smart". It also will change it up quite a bit; someone you saw on Friday might not notice you're wearing the same jacket. Easier to pack than a spare suit, too.

I'm an American, so I don't have any experience riding trains (they're... well, not worth using where I live; cheaper and faster to drive). I'm not sure what the best way to carry along a spare shirt would be. I've not had much luck packing shirts and having them stay wrinkle-free. When I visit the parents or the girlfriend, I usually just keep shirts on hangers and hang them up in the car.

I have to live with creases unfortunately and as I can't yet drive so my only option is train or a nearer girlfriend; I prefer the former. I don't like to dress down too much though. My smart is always a jacket (not necessarily a suit) and tie. I did do what you suggested by having no spare suit though and just a spare pair of trousers. No one would have noticed my jacket anyway as I wore my coat over it all the time whilst travelling.

 

[Barrelhouse]

What I did yesterday was wear my blue suit with white shirt (school uniform regulations) and a grey tie. I took a pair of grey flannels for today along with a spare shirt....

Add a spare shirt and set of underclothes and I think you have it covered. The suit coat and flannels will be excellent for day wear and you can slip back into the suit pants if you go out for a more formal evening.

Be religious about hanging everything up on a proper hanger when its not on you and you can minimize the wrinkles. Also a little steam will make minor wrinkles fall out.

Happy weekend!

 

[Edward]

Thanks for the advice so far. John, I'm afraid you're list is too long for me - I don't need a bathing suit or clothes for lounging. However I do have a small bag for toiletries.

What I did yesterday was wear my blue suit with white shirt (school uniform regulations) and a grey tie. I took a pair of grey flannels for today along with a spare shirt which was just stuffed in as I've got used to folds when travelling. The only other thing I carried was my pyjamas (I can't stand sleeping in clothes or without anything), my hat and my coat which I wore travelling meaning they didn't burden me. Since I dislike rucksacks I use a black leather bad with a shoulder strap which is comfortable for walking in and small enough not to be too bulky.

Good approach. That's what I do when needs absolutely must I travel light (by preference, I'll have at least four changes of clothes and three pairs of shoes for a weekend... lol ). My current overnight bags are from www.theleatherbriefcase.co.uk . I have noe each of the Medium and Large Gladstone bags:

Mine are in the rich, reddish cognac colour. The medium is perfect for cabin baggage if you are flying anywhere; with care, you can fit a surprising amount into the large one, more than enough for the average weekend away. Alas, they don't do a version of this large enough for much longer; before Christmas, I'm going to have to replace my last suitcase with something new (needs to be at least 36" x 18" x 18" minimum). I did buy an old German military kit bag (the type with the zip up the side) - great bag, but its lack of any solid body (heavy duty canvas only) means that it does not hold its shape - not ideal for air travel when not packed full.

I might suggest it is worth having a change of shoes with you if you are likely to be doing anything where they'll end up mucky or are likely to get wet. Otherwise, though, the real secret to packing light is learning to leave out those half dozen extra "just in case" things - as John's story about the underwear attests, it's rare you'll end up going anywhere where, at a push, you can't pick up something locally that will do.

 

[avedwards]

Well since I'm only away for a single night, only spare underwear, shirt and trousers are needed. The only walking I do is along roads, so my black Oxfords do nicely (despite needing replacement due to leather peeling on the left toe). I like those bags, but I prefer my bag as it has a shoulder strap which makes walking long distances more comfortable (otherwise I'd use an attache case). Mine's more rectangular as well, though still relatively vintage looking (not sure about exact age but it could be 10-20 years).

I just think that I don't need to pack more than I would at home. And at home I have only two pairs of shoes (black and beige suede) so I hardly need both. I don't need more than a spare shirt really as I often wear the same jacket on consecutive days.

 

[Edward]

Packing light is a good skill to have. The bags I posted do have a shoulder strap, btw - I use them a lot.

 

[DeaconKC]

Lots of good advice and thought here. Perhaps consider watching for a good deal on a slightly larger bag that would allow you 2 pants and shirts. It never hurts to have that extra bit of insurance.

 

[adamjaskie]

I'm in a similar situation, as my girlfriend lives 45 minutes away (by car, so I have plenty of room to pack). I generally plan for one night, but it often ends up being two so yes, that extra insurance is nice. Of course, with two shirts, maybe a spare tie, you could wear your suit again on Sunday. I'd want to bring along another jacket if I were doing that, though.

I tend to dress way down on Fridays and on the weekends, so I'll typically be wearing khakis and a sport coat with open-collar button-down at work on Friday, and pack a pair of jeans or cords tossed over a single hanger with two shirts and my A2 on it, roll the whole thing up around some socks and underware, and strap it shut with a belt. That plus my toilet kit and I'm all set.