Okay so last month I finally booked that India trip I’d been dreaming about forever. But man, packing stress hit me hard – everyone kept saying “take everything!” and all those YouTube videos showed giant suitcases being dragged through markets. Nope, not this time.
Why I Rebelled Against Heavy Bags
Remembered my Thailand trip where I packed like a donkey carrying bricks. Spent two hours digging for sunscreen while tuk-tuk drivers laughed at my 100-liter backpack. Swore never again. For India I set rules: everything must fit in one 30L backpack and leave room for souvenirs.
My Pre-Trip Purge Method
Laid everything on my bed that I “might need.” Looked like a small mountain. Then did three rounds of cuts:
- Round 1: Dumped extra shoes (“but these heels would look cute at Taj Mahal!” – be real Karen, you’ll wear sandals daily)
- Round 2: Removed duplicate clothes (two quick-dry tees instead of five cotton ones that’d rot in humidity)
- Round 3: Ditched tech junk (iPad? No. Kindle? Yes. That clunky DSLR? Phone camera it is.)
What Actually Made The Cut
Here’s what survived and earned its spot:
- Clothes: Three merino wool shirts (stayed fresh forever), two elephant pants bought locally for ₹200, one scarf multi-tasking as blanket/sun shade/church cover
- Gear: Mini medical kit with anti-diarrhea pills (used them day 3), foldable water bottle (reusable steel one – saved buying hundreds of plastic bottles)
- Weirdest MVP: Ziplock bags. Stored wet clothes, protected electronics from dust storms, even held chai when cups leaked
Real World Test In Chaos
Got my backpack through Delhi’s insane metro crowds without smacking anyone. That alone felt like a win. When my flight got cancelled and I needed to sprint between terminals? Glanced pityingly at people dragging rollers on broken pavements while I jogged hands-free.
What I’d Change Next Time
Regret bringing heavy jeans – wore them once in 3 weeks. Should’ve packed that portable clothesline instead. Surprisingly missed: cheap dry shampoo for days without reliable hot water. Would trade those extra socks for it.
The magic moment? Seeing couples hauling four suitcases into tiny rickshaws while I tipped my driver extra cause my bag took zero space. Moral: Pack like you’ll be carrying it through a monsoon on a jam-packed train. Cause you probably will.