With my departure date coming closer and closer, its time to make choices about what stays and what comes. Here’s the thing: I’m new at this! So I’ve been reading about what a good spread of clothes to keep with you is and what to do about packing clothes, and this is what I’ve decided to start my journey with:
Loungewear
- 14 pairs of underwear
- 5 pairs of socks + 1 pair of wool socks
- 3 swimsuits
- 2 traditional bras + 2 bralettes
- 3 sets of pajamas
- Sports Bra
- Athletic leggings
- Athletic top
Shoes
- Flip-flops
- Chacos
- Hiking boots
- Slippers
- Comfy casual shoes
Tops & Bottoms
- 1 pair of leggings
- 1 pair of denim shorts
- 1 pair of other daytime shorts
- 2 pairs of jeans
- 4 tees
- 2 jumpsuits
- 2 skirts
- 4 tank tops
- 4 dresses
- 2 long-sleeved shirts
Outerwear
- 2 hats
- 1 rain jacket
- 3 pull-overs
- 1 heavy jacket
Now maybe, just maybe, you think my list looks a little different than other ones you’ve seen. Maybe it looks different than what you would expect someone living in a van would wear. That’s fair, except there’s one important thing to remember about me. I hate wearing pants. But Michelle, aren’t you going to be hiking a lot? Of course! But…I prefer to hike in a dress! It’s the lowest maintenance article of clothing and if there is one thing I don’t want to be doing while I’m hiking, it’s pulling at my clothes. Pants falling down? Don’t have to deal with it. Shorts riding up? Also not a problem. Shirt rolling above your backpack? Not me. Belt pinching? Never.
The fact that I’m packing 2 pairs of jeans, 2 pairs of shorts, 1 pair of leggings, and 2 jumpsuits is plenty of leg coverage for me!
Keep in mind, my compression sack that will be holding these clothes easily fits 26 articles of clothing (I testing it) with room to spare. Including the leggings, we’re only at 22! I have a compression sack for socks and underwear, and a third compression sack that will probably hold pajamas and the like.
When it comes right down to it, if I’m anywhere near water (which I hope to be), I’m more than likely living in a swimsuit, anyway!
Then of course, I live in sandals and flip-flops, but I’ll also need something to wear when hiking or in weather, so boots are an essential. That means I don’t really need too many socks. You might think I have too many traditional bras, but I also hate sports bras! So I’m only bringing one to work out in (otherwise, I hike in my underwire). And I think its impossible to have too many underwear. So there’s that!
Do you see anything I’m obviously missing? If so, let me know down below! What do you think the first adjustment I’ll make once I get on the road will be?
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