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Packing for a trip can be overwhelming, to say the least. Trying to imagine everything you’ll need when you arrive at your destination is difficult, and while it might be easy to remember things like contact lenses and phone chargers, planning the outfits you’ll wear all week can be a true struggle. If that sounds like you, try using a 5-4-3-2-1 packing method to simplify things the next time you go away.
What is the 5-4-3-2-1 packing method?
The 5-4-3-2-1 packing method is supposed to eliminate the need for pondering your outfits and looks on vacation, but what you actually pack depends on who you ask. Luggage purveyor Carl Friedrik, for instance, suggests following this model for a week-long trip:
Five shirts
Four pants or shorts
Three accessories (like hats or sunglasses)
Two pairs of shoes (one comfy and one for going out)
One swimsuit
Over at Apartment Therapy, however, they believe in a framework like this:
Five tops
Four bottoms
Three dresses or rompers and three pairs of shoes
Two swimsuits and two bags
One of each kind of accessory
So the idea varies from person to person and situation to situation. Personally, when I’m going on vacation, I pack a swimsuit for every day I’ll be there. If I were the kind of person who, say, hiked or did outdoor activities on vacation, I’d need more tops and shorts, but fewer accessories.
How to make your perfect 5-4-3-2-1 packing list
The goal here isn’t to stick to the exact same plan as someone else, but to think about what you have planned for the trip and how you can minimize what you pack. Jot down all the activities you have on your itinerary. If you have three fancy dinners, you’ll need three nice outfits, but if you have three days of sightseeing, you’ll need three comfortable and functional ones.
Prioritize packing the highest number of things related to what you’ll do the most of. There’s your
Use the 5-4-3-2-1 Method to Pack for Summer Travel
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