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I’d better pack a dozen more socks and 5 more T-shirts. Oh, and let’s not forget about the 10 books that I’ll totally have time to read on the plane. Odds are, we’ve all overpacked for a trip at one point or another. It’s hilarious how many things we bring ‘just in case’ we need them, even though we’d be perfectly fine without them.
Bored Panda has collected the wittiest tweets that capture the essence of what our minds are like when they’re full of the desire to overpack (a bit like when a hamster wants to stuff its cheeks with every bit of food it finds). So scroll down, enjoy, and upvote the tweets that you relate to the most. Be sure to share the weirdest things you packed on your trip, too.
Bored Panda wanted to learn more about overpacking, so we reached out to professional organizer Janine Adams who is the creator of Peace of Mind Organizing. Scroll down for our interview with her.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Dragonfruit'nrollerskates 5 years ago
But what if you pack dressy things and everyone there is in sweats? What if you pack sweats and everyone else looks fab? Who cares if your going to Alaska? Bring a bathing suit.... I brought three suitcases on my last trip. Help me.
Biljana Malesevic 5 years ago
yes, and also pack some if it suddenly gets really cold in the middle of July at hottest vacation spot at the beach.
SirPatTheCat 5 years ago
If you have that many clothes just bring a week's worth and wash it
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#2
Raine Soo 5 years ago
I tend to fall asleep, whether traveling by plane, train, or automobile.
Carole Reid 5 years ago
As long as you are not in the cockpit, engine or behind the wheel, it's all good.
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Mark Adkins 5 years ago
That's always my plan too- travel, hospital stays, whatever- load up the cloud and phone with movies, games, books, etc.
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Naima Ivansdóttir 5 years ago
i can't even make it to the take off awake. i have no idea why i keep packing books, sketchbooks, pens and magazines in my hand luggage every time.
#3
Cass 5 years ago
The bus driver every time I get on the bus: "What you got in the suitcase? Bricks?" Me: "Yeah, I don't trust there will be a house where I'm going so I'm bringing my own." He laughs and I buy my ticket. Every time for the last 10 years.
Ann Abdelzaher 5 years ago
LOL you should see my husband's packing light versus mine. I use a standard carry-on size suitcase and a backpack for a week and if I let him he would just use his computer back but usually uses a half-size carry on
"I think a lot of people overpack out of fear. They’re afraid they’re going to need an article of clothing and regret not having brought it. Fear of regret is a big motivator that affects a lot of people. I think some people overpack just because they’re indecisive. It’s easier to throw items into a suitcase than it is to make choices about what to bring," Janine told us about why some people might overpack.
She added that she isn't sure that everyone is naturally inclined to overpack. "I don’t overpack, for example, because I learned early on that having a heavy suitcase makes traveling much less enjoyable. So I think it depends on people’s priorities. I’m motivated by ease. But someone who is motivated by fear of regret might naturally overpack," she pointed out.
#4
SirPatTheCat 5 years ago
Or you put it on and realize the reason you never wore it was something annoying like the neckline tended to shift around too low (meaning you were constantly adjusting it all day), or the armpit area was just a little too tight, or the shorts were just a little too short for your liking
#5
#6
Ekaterina Sidyakova 5 years ago
I think it's cute and he wanted it to be perfect and wanted to make sure you have everything!
Éva Nemes 5 years ago
We was 3 years ago three weeks in USA - we living in Switzerland - and we visited Key West too... Inception: "The weather will so good (35-38 °C), we don't need jacket or something warmer outfit". Reality: On the 2. day came a cold-front with stranger wind and rain, and the temperature was the next 3 day max 15 °C. Since that day I leave never im home my jacket.
Perfumista Perfumista 5 years ago
Packed them, or wore them to and from the airport where you live and shoved them in a case when you got to the airport?
SoozeeQ 5 years ago
@Perfumista, isn't that the other way around? Pack them in the suitcase = which weighs too much at the airport = wear all the clothes on the flight. ;oP
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Susann Campbell 5 years ago
Something tells me that he took the wrong plane to Alaska once and he is making sure he will be warm if it happens again.
Hannah Marshall 5 years ago
My friend packed a hoodie for Turkey, where the average temperature for the week was 30-something degrees Celsius.
We also wanted to find out the best way to control our urge to overpack. Janine, who is a great advocate of packing light, encourages people to control this urge by doing a bit of planning beforehand.
"I think one way to do that is take a little time to plan what you’re going to wear. Think about creating outfits that reuse articles of clothing (and shoes). I even make a list of what I plan to wear every day so I don’t have to make a decision every morning of my trip. If you know that you’ll have enough to wear, then it’s easier to resist the urge to overpack," Janine explained.
"It takes more planning to pack light. But the extra time spent figuring out what you’ll wear results in saved time and energy when you don’t have to lug a heavy suitcase around."
#7
tuzdayschild 5 years ago
I understand the 3 books for the plane. Everyone knows, the faster you go the faster you read.
Martz Migraña 5 years ago
I learnt the hard way. On my first trip I just packed one book, just for read on both plane rides (away and return), and I ended it up awaiting for boarding on the away fly🤦 Had to buy a couple second hand books for the return fly 😂
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Karin Lange 5 years ago
Once i packed 3 Books for a 3 days trip. I had to buy a new one in the evening of the first day. I had finished all of them during the bus drive to the ferry.
#8
Tambot 5 years ago
Spoken like a true Mom! It comes from having kids, especially when they are toddlers or babies, it's a necessity to being Extra, EXTRA changes of everything.
My O My 5 years ago
As a mom of two, you always have to account the necessity of having extra changes for yourself due to spillings the kids make when sitting on your lap
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Misstaken138 5 years ago
I think you're smart to overpack for your kids. There's been days my kids have had 5 outfit changes because kids are just a giant magnet for dirt and spilled foods or drinks. Lol
Corey Smith 5 years ago
I do this when my daughter visits her grandparents. They live 12 miles from us.
b l a n c 5 years ago
there was this one time my mom was bitching at how i and my brother and dad forgot to pack a few things, and then later that night she realized she forgot to pack pajama's
#9
Misstaken138 5 years ago
It's the one time you don't bring it, that the hotel won't have one. Lol
troufaki13 5 years ago
The hair dryers in the hotels aren't usually very good. They're a little better than having someone blowing on your hair with their own breath.
Capermom 5 years ago
I totally agree..! Usually they're quite small...and pretty useless.
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Niamh Gallagher Kerr 5 years ago
I've made the mistake once of not bringing my own hairdryer and checked into the hotel to find a thing that was less use than my husband blowing on my hair. Needless to say I went out with damp hair.
Thalia Lovering 5 years ago
That thing that most hotels call a hair dryer can't blow a single candle on a birthday cupcake.
HigherthantheSky 5 years ago
Is no one going to mention that she played the main character in the movie "Matilda"!?
Tina Harbour 5 years ago
The hotels have them,but 99% of the time they're horribly weak and loud,so I take my blowdryer.EVERYTIME.
Professional organizer Janine points out that there are plenty of benefits to packing light. The first obvious pro is that, well, your suitcase is lighter. So it’ll be easier to lug about. (Unless you want your case to be heavy so that carrying it doubles as exercise. In that case—don’t let us stop you.)
Secondly, the fewer clothes you pack, the easier it’ll be to dress. Choosing from just two outfits is far easier than if you drag your entire wardrobe to the seaside. Third of all, the less you pack, the less you’ll have to unpack. And we all know how much unpacking is bogus. So much so that some of us (not pointing any fingers) might avoid doing it for a week after we get back from a trip. You can check out some more of Janine's tips for packing light right here.
#12
Eddie Maurer 5 years ago
I'd love this at a music festival- especially when it rains, I can fit a few fellow dead heads under it and rage!
Hannah Marshall 5 years ago
How come her arms are ghostly white but her shoulders and neck and face look tanned...?
Meanwhile, HuffPost stresses that the reason some of us might be packing too many things in our luggage is that we’re preparing for a whole bunch of worst-case scenarios. We want to be prepared for every single eventuality so much, we end up over-stressing.
But here’s the magical tip that will make you relax: if you find out that you absolutely need something on your trip and you haven’t packed it, you can always buy it at your destination. Whether it’s a jacket or a toothbrush.
#13
Spikey Bunny 5 years ago
Don't most rehabs teach you how to socialize while newly sober? I think I could imagine a reason for a dress in the case.
#14
chi-wei shen 5 years ago
He also might need an additional suitcase to bring that stuff back home.
Valerie G. 5 years ago
I used to pack one suitcase inside a larger one, the second was for new purchases, laundry, gifts for the kids, etc.
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Big Blue Cat 5 years ago
10 days in Miami & Caribbean cruise. Overpack heavily. Shop like crazy in Miami & islands. Buy extra suitcase to bring back everything. Dream holiday Jan 2020!
SoozeeQ 5 years ago
Looks like you just got your Dream Cruise in, before COVID struck!
Load More Replies... #15
Something that I’m personally guilty of is bringing way too many books whenever I go out of town. So this little hint from Elite Daily is all for me but might work for you, too, if you’re as much a Ravenclaw as I am—use technology to your advantage.
Instead of bringing a stack of books, get the e-book versions and maybe bring just one light book for the pleasant feeling of flipping real pages. So the next time I’m on holiday, I’ll do my best not to overpack. No promises, though! Airport bookshops are always hard to resist.
#16
AJu 5 years ago
My current favourite bra, fancy bra, just-in-case bra, oh-look-I-forgot-I-had-this-bra...
David Martin 5 years ago
Am I the only one who read this and thought "One bra, Two bra, Red bra, Blue bra"? *waits* ...Just me? Cool
Ellen Daniels 5 years ago
Camping: Hikers, flip-flops, water shoes, slip-ons for car, slip-ons for camp, walkers for town. It rains a lot.... Note: all the "camp" shoes have to be carried 1/4 mile up a mountain...
Cami Potter 5 years ago
you never know when you might end up running a marathon in Amsterdam in January
#17
MrOwlAteMyMetalWorm. 5 years ago
This gives me severe paranoia. I am not thankful for that but thanks.
Sarah Stalder 5 years ago
Not gonna lie, I have a lot of questions about your screen name
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NanZ 5 years ago
So sorry that happened to you! Years ago my mom and I flew to Minnesota to go to the Mayo Clinic. She was stressed out already and then our luggage didn't arrive until three days after we did.
Spikey Bunny 5 years ago
That's an awful time to lose your luggage!!! I hope whoever was sick got better!
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Lonnie Facchina 5 years ago
What is it about Venice? My SIL told me to line up at the lost luggage counter while my husband lined up at the luggage carousel. I felt stupid so didn't and ended up about 10th in line... two hours later we left without luggage.
Ann Abdelzaher 5 years ago
I never travel with checked bags. On the way to a location only carry-on. Best record... packing for 2 weeks (3 countries 5 cities) with one carry-on and a backpack...
Julie C Rose 5 years ago
I don’t see a point in this “you’d think this might have cured me” talk. You either want to change how you pack or you don’t want to change it. If you really want to change it, go ahead and change it. If you don’t want to change it, keep doing it unapologetically because you’re not hurting others by doing so.
#18
Ann Abdelzaher 5 years ago
same I used to take no less than 6 paperbacks on a week long trip and they were never enough... but a kindle is a godsend
#19
Connie Martin 5 years ago
The SHOES are my problem. Men don't understand why you can't take just two pairs of shoes on vacation.
Lauren Caswell 5 years ago
Still got tags on...why is it new? You gotta wash new stuff b4 u wear it
Cathelijne van Weelden 5 years ago
No, no... no wash before you wear it! new clothing is is the best before you have ever washed it. It has a special finish that protects it from dirt and it will not smell dirty for a longer period of time. Plus the colours are still in the best shape!!!
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#20
Karin Lange 5 years ago
once i overpacked my suitcase for a 2 week trip on a freight ship. I wasn't even able to lift it from the floor. Oh boy.
Abigail Coty 3 years ago
I had to sit on my friend’s suitcase for her multiple times (on separate occasions) to help her close it.
I love Hermione 5 years ago
taye! you over pack? *me thinking back to his divorce with Idina* *whispers* is that why?
#21
#22
Perfumista Perfumista 5 years ago
Wow! I have never packed a kettle, tea, or sugar. Closest I've come to a mug is a collapsable cup.
Karin Lange 5 years ago
if the hotel doesn't offer a kettle on the room i will try to bring one with me also! I also love my hot water bottle in the night, at least when i stay some where with a colder climate.
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Robbiemay Johnson 5 years ago
I was in New York in February. Got to the hotel then had to go out and purchase a kettle, coffee, sugar, tea ... there was nothing in the room. Next time i am definitely packing all of these items lol ...
#23
#24
Madison Feehan 5 years ago
Yes, I'm moving from this location, to another, and then back again.
Valerie G. 5 years ago
When we actually moving, we arrived at our destination with hubby, me and three kids, nine suitcases and a frozen salmon. We knew our moving van wasn't going to arrive for three weeks.
#25
Batwench 5 years ago
And always pack extra icase you are delayed on the return for some reason.
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#26
Ellen Daniels 5 years ago
My camping first-aid kit (not including resusitation bag): Approx. 60 different medications & items packed into multi-stage plastic [toy car] case. And the snakebite kit, of course.
Jane Petersen 5 years ago
We are the survivors when c**p hits the fan! "Why yes, I do have that random thing that will save our lives..."
#27
#28
Misstaken138 5 years ago
When I was around 7 years old my family went on a week long camping trip. Mom packed my suitcase, but I needed more room for all my books so I took all my clothes out and replaced them with books. My mom and dad couldn't do anything but laugh.
Anonymous Panda 5 years ago (edited)
Once when I was like 5 I packed my own suitcase for the first time. I decided I needed a toy in case i got bored. Instead bringing one of my doll or books or action figures, I brought a hammer. A plastic fake hammer, but still hammer. I packed it like as we were leaving so my mom had already gone through my bag. It didn't come out of my suitcase once during the trip. But on the way home, airport security got suspicious so we were held up until they realized it was a plastic toy.
#29
SirPatTheCat 5 years ago
Ok but the swimsuits just in case is actually important though. You never know the sadness of not bringing a swimsuit because it's going to be an average of 5°F and then the hotel has an indoor pool. Especially when your family can swim because they're boys and can just wear their quick-dry shorts...
#30
SirPatTheCat 5 years ago (edited)
It's good that all the young children on this website could never figure it out, not even if they really wanted to and did something crazy like look at it, and see that the darkest parts still look like letters
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#32
#40
Aunt Messy 5 years ago
That's what Kindle is for. In fact, you could buy the kindle and stock it for less money than you spend on that dozen books.
#46
#58
#59
tuzdayschild 5 years ago
For a two week vacation I pack enough underwear for six months. I'm not sure what shenanigans I think my butt will be getting in to. But whatever it may be, I'll be prepared.
Cathelijne van Weelden 5 years ago
Oooo, I keep a list! And during holiday or at the end of the holiday, I write down what I didn't use and don't have to pack anymore. Tip for choosing clothing: try on everything you want to pack so you do not pack clothes that don't fit.
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What do you think ?
varwenea 5 years ago
I am the complete opposite of all these folks! I pack a 20" luggage and a backpack for up to a two weeks trip and have traveled the world. I even bring souvenirs home. I bring the absolute minimum so I can shop!
Spikey Bunny 5 years ago
I've reported HND like 20 times... What wrong with @boredpanda ? Why don't you get rid of them????
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Tor Rolf Strøm 5 years ago
Oh I've done me some ridiculous packing too sometimes.. well I MIGHT need this, and I MIGHT need this.. and what if that happens, I'll have to have this!.. and this, and this, and this.. so dumb
Connie Martin 5 years ago
I still remember a birthday trip my then-husband and I took for a 4-day trip on a riverboat. All the clothes I packed (most were new) turned out to be perfect for the weather conditions, I felt comfortable and chic in them, I had the perfect shoes for each outfit, and I wore ALL of what I brought ONCE. In one small suitcase. The planets were aligned then; never before or since. Sigh
NWB 5 years ago
We must all pack enough underwear as though we, as adults are going to p**s and s**t ourselves and least 3 times a day.
Lsai Aeon 5 years ago
on the hairdryer. Ever get cold in your hotel room when everyone else is hot and sweltering? You know what's portable, personal, and blows warm/hot air? I actually figured this out in college when my roommates would crank the ac all the way down and I was turning blue. get comfy, pull knees up and shirt over knees, turn hairdryer on low and put it under shirt tent. NICE and TOASTY warm!
Spikey Bunny 5 years ago
I'm one of those who needs it to feel like Antartica! It makes packing complicated because I always feel hot and sweaty, especially when I'm nervous, or in a rush - it's gross! You can always get warm with a blanket or sweater, but you can only take off so-much before you get a ticket for indecent exposure. You would hate to share a room with me.
Load More Replies... AzKhaleesi 5 years ago
This is like a friggin omen! I s**t you not, my birthday was 12 days ago and my in laws bought me my first brand new set of luggage in my entire adult life..... BECAUSE we are leaving on a family trip to NY in two weeks from now. I am meeting my bf's family there for the first time (we've been together for 4 years the day we leave and I haven't been able to meet them in person and he says we can't get married until I meet the granparents *swoon) I KNOW I over pack especially in this situation because every friggin day there will be a "first impression" day. I have also gained weight thanks to a recent surgery / injury and have like NOTHING that is flattering. I'm so screwed.....
Spikey Bunny 5 years ago
You're going to have a great trip! Just try to relax. Congratulations!
Load More Replies... varwenea 5 years ago
I am the complete opposite of all these folks! I pack a 20" luggage and a backpack for up to a two weeks trip and have traveled the world. I even bring souvenirs home. I bring the absolute minimum so I can shop!
Spikey Bunny 5 years ago
I've reported HND like 20 times... What wrong with @boredpanda ? Why don't you get rid of them????
Load More Replies... Tor Rolf Strøm 5 years ago
Oh I've done me some ridiculous packing too sometimes.. well I MIGHT need this, and I MIGHT need this.. and what if that happens, I'll have to have this!.. and this, and this, and this.. so dumb
Connie Martin 5 years ago
I still remember a birthday trip my then-husband and I took for a 4-day trip on a riverboat. All the clothes I packed (most were new) turned out to be perfect for the weather conditions, I felt comfortable and chic in them, I had the perfect shoes for each outfit, and I wore ALL of what I brought ONCE. In one small suitcase. The planets were aligned then; never before or since. Sigh
NWB 5 years ago
We must all pack enough underwear as though we, as adults are going to p**s and s**t ourselves and least 3 times a day.
Lsai Aeon 5 years ago
on the hairdryer. Ever get cold in your hotel room when everyone else is hot and sweltering? You know what's portable, personal, and blows warm/hot air? I actually figured this out in college when my roommates would crank the ac all the way down and I was turning blue. get comfy, pull knees up and shirt over knees, turn hairdryer on low and put it under shirt tent. NICE and TOASTY warm!
Spikey Bunny 5 years ago
I'm one of those who needs it to feel like Antartica! It makes packing complicated because I always feel hot and sweaty, especially when I'm nervous, or in a rush - it's gross! You can always get warm with a blanket or sweater, but you can only take off so-much before you get a ticket for indecent exposure. You would hate to share a room with me.
Load More Replies... AzKhaleesi 5 years ago
This is like a friggin omen! I s**t you not, my birthday was 12 days ago and my in laws bought me my first brand new set of luggage in my entire adult life..... BECAUSE we are leaving on a family trip to NY in two weeks from now. I am meeting my bf's family there for the first time (we've been together for 4 years the day we leave and I haven't been able to meet them in person and he says we can't get married until I meet the granparents *swoon) I KNOW I over pack especially in this situation because every friggin day there will be a "first impression" day. I have also gained weight thanks to a recent surgery / injury and have like NOTHING that is flattering. I'm so screwed.....
Spikey Bunny 5 years ago
You're going to have a great trip! Just try to relax. Congratulations!
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