Packing Gear
Here is the gear that we use most often when we travel. We also have a basic carry-on suitcase and a large suitcase that needs to be checked when we fly (so we rarely use it, even for road trips). I hope these suggestions will help you choose the best bags for your family adventures.
We recently bought three of these backpacks (for Allyson, Averhy, and Eden) and Sky used one on a few recent trips to Utah, Wisconsin, and Colorado. They are AWESOME and will now be our go-to bags for all our travel. The bag opens like a suitcase, has lots of handy sections inside and out, and is expandable if we need to add space for souvenirs. It has handles on the top and side, so if you prefer to stow the shoulder straps and carry it like a briefcase that’s easy to do. When it’s not expanded, it meets airline requirements for a carry-on and will fit under the seat in front of you. Bonus… there is a removable toiletry bag too!
This backpack is the only reason I didn’t buy four of the Weekender bags. We fondly refer to this bag as “Sky’s Magic Backpack” because it seems to never run out of room! It is made of durable material, with a large inner compartment that has a divider for shoes. The small exterior pocket is perfect for passports, the large exterior pocket fits snacks and a hard headphone case, and there’s a tablet pocket on the back. Overall, it’s smaller than the Weekender, but fits best in an overhead bin because of the shape.
On trips where we use the “one backpack per person + one carryon suitcase” rule, my camera backpack is the one I carry, usually filled with all of our electronics. I have an older version of the one pictured here, but it’s still holding up great after 10 years. I like the variety of pockets and the removable padded inserts, so I can divide up my gear as needed.
This is a great backpack when you want something a little smaller than the Motherlode, and was one of our primary backpacks until recently. Allyson carried this backpack when we hiked the Grand Canyon, and it has a removable hydration flask.
This backpack is slightly smaller than the Helena, but it still has a fair amount of space. Averhy carried this one when we hiked the Grand Canyon, and we often use it for overnight trips. It also comes with a removable hydration flask.
One of the keys to traveling with one bag per person is using a compression packing system. These compression packing cubes are one way to do that, and the two smaller cubes fit nicely into the Weekender backpack. There are a lot of options out there (Eagle Creek is another quality company) and I’m always on the lookout for better compression packing options. I usually use packing cubes for items that we wear more than once: jeans, long-sleeve shirts, and shorts.
It might sound silly, but gallon Ziploc bags are my favorite compression packing system! I typically use one bag per day, which will hold 4 underwear, 4 pairs of ankle socks, and 4 tshirts. I roll up the items tightly, fill the bag, then sit on it to get all the air out before zipping it closed. Then at the end of the day, the dirty clothes go back in the Ziploc bag and don’t stink up the rest of the suitcase. If your family wears larger sizes you might need two bags per day - or you could use a larger size of Ziploc bag. Bonus tip: use a sharpie to label the bags so you know which one is for what day.
We have had this item for 20 years, and it still works as well as it did on day one! The folder comes with a guide for folding dress shirts or pants, and they stack up perfectly until you fold up the “envelope”. This folder fits in the Weekender easily, and even fits in our girls’ school backpacks. It’s perfect for packing items you don’t want to roll up.
We have used a variety of other backpacks and suitcases over the years, but these are the main things we use for packing now. In some of our travel posts, I’ll describe the other bags we’ve used and the reasons why. Do you have specific packing questions I can answer here? Send me a message!