Have you ever tried throw-away packing

Have You Ever Tried Throw-Away Packing?

27/1/2015

Imagine a suitcase that gets lighter every day.

My perfect travel outfit - just hours before I threw it all away.

I think I look pretty cute here, chasing pigeons outside Athen's Archaeological Museum. It's all thanks to my jaunty outfit - a beaded, embroidered tunic top and wrinkle resistant, slim fit trousers. It was the perfect outfit for traveling in Greece's warm autumn weather. I was comfortable and everything fit well. So why did I throw it away at the end of the day?

Welcome to the world of throw away packing. Your carry on kit is about to get a lot lighter!

I rarely throw away my clothing. My disposable income goes towards - you guessed it -travel! When it comes to clothing I favor quality over quantity and I also try to get said quality at bargain basement prices whenever I can. But like most people, every year I seem to acquire a small pile of items whose life cycle is over - or at least it's over for me. Those items in good condition make their way to our donation pile but the rest are destined to be discarded around the world, thanks to throw away packing.

I plan my carry on pack with precision. Nothing makes the cut without careful consideration. It's not unusual for me to travel for a month with just three pairs of trousers and five shirts - and I always try to under-pack my bag, leaving room for souvenirs. But for those first few days of the trip, before conference papers or bags of coffee claim the space, I have room for my throw away gear.

Pink cardigan, blue pants -their hours are numbered!

That includes stuff like my beaded tunic top in Athens. A broken thread meant half the beads had been lost beyond repair. So it was good for one finale hurrah in front of the good citizens of Athens who would never see me again - but it wasn't salvageable for business meetings or social events at home. It had one proud, final day in the sunshine before getting tossed back at my hotel room. Same with those blue trousers - they looked fine from a distance but up close. those 5 year old stretchy pants were frayed and covered with a thousand tiny broken threads. Bye bye!

Also on the chopping block during my last trip to Europe? A pink cardigan (6 years old) which had been stretched out and had some mysterious micro-holes. There was also a purple tank top that had shrunk in the wash and required a camisole underneath for decency. The camisole went too -it had a pasta sauce stain that was only obscured by the purple tank top! Put it all together and I had a not-horrible ensemble, if only for 24 hours.

Finally, there was a green blouse that always seemed to gap in the wrong places and a pink camisole top that was too translucent for solo wear (both did just fine when layered together for a day at the Acropolis.) Oh, there was also plenty of underwear that had seen better days. And some socks that had just one wear left in 'em. All told, my pack had room for four days worth of throw away outfits and, yes, I really did throw it all away!

Worn for 24 hours of travel -and not a minute more!

Begone green shirt! This is the end!

It all got abandoned in Stockholm

If you have something that's a little bit too loose or just a tiny bit too tight, or something that rides up or bunches up, or always wrinkles, or always needs a second layer, or looks good at a distance, or has a few impossible stains, put it in your throw away packing pile. Throw away packing is also great for people who have a "one in, one out" philosophy to buying new clothing. Toss the old item in your bag, wear it one last time, and throw it away. (If your clothing is still recyclable, send it to the airport or hotel lost & found, where it will eventually find its way to charity. Throw away packing doesn't actually mean everything goes in the garbage - it's just parting ways with you!)

Throw away packing has tons of travel advantages. It's a fun way to send off old favourites with one final hurrah. It's a great way to keep your pack tidy and organized during those first few sleep-zombie jet lag crazy days. It's an easy way to give yourself a little bit of variety in your travel wardrobe (at least at the beginning of your trip.) And at least you're not wearing the identical shirt in EVERY photo you take - there's more than one color going on! And It's awesome to feel like your pack is getting LIGHTER every day you travel.

I'm completely obsessed with packing - maybe a little too obsessed - but I think throw away packing is something everyone can all get behind. It's easy, it's free, and it's fun. What's not to love?

What are you best packing tips and tricks?

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27 Comments

Alouise link

27/1/2015 07:34:23 am

I thought I was the only person who did this. I don't always plan to do throw away packing, but if something breaks, get worn out beyond repair (or stained beyond fixing) on my travels then I'll leave it behind.

My parents went to Iceland last year and did the one in one out thing. Before their trip, they went to a 2nd hand store and bought a couple of sweaters to wear in Iceland. They left the old ones behind and bought a couple of nice new warm knit ones while they were there to bring home.

Vanessa

27/1/2015 08:54:12 am

That's a great way to pack when a few days of specialty gear is required. Why worry and fuss about buying fancy new sweaters before your trip when you can get them in the best possible spot overseas?

Katie link

27/1/2015 11:25:37 pm

That's such a great idea! I always end up getting rid of clothing items during a trip so I might as well take old stuff that's reaching it's best before date! Great tip Vanessa! :D

28/1/2015 01:30:44 am

Doesn't it feel so good just to declutter old stuff out of your life? And if the clothing still is in good shape (just isn't great for you), hostels are the perfect place to discard them. Chances are a roommate will snap it up and, if not, there's always a lost and found bin.

Charles McCool link

28/1/2015 07:05:23 am

I do this almost every trip.

28/1/2015 07:16:16 am

Hurrah - join the team!

Allie link

29/1/2015 01:34:50 am

Yes! Always - when I was packing for my last trip, almost everything in my bag was meant to stay in the country after I was done. The trip being cut short after 6 days meant that this did not happen, but still... the intention was there!

Many Doctors Without Borders staff have also told me that they refer to Old Navy clothing as "mission clothes" - they're cheap, and they last just about 9 months, perfect for most missions!

29/1/2015 02:54:14 am

Poor Old Navy! Little do they suspect they're being used in such a throw-away fashion! But when you consider how beat up your clothing gets with such trips, it's probably best not to invest in more expensive items.

Laurie link

3/2/2015 07:40:53 am

I love this idea. I have done this without planning to, as after three months, many items are ready to be left behind. Old undies and hole ridden socks always on the first leg of travel!

3/2/2015 07:45:23 am

I hear you - it is so satisfying to see those things leave your pack.

Kathryn link

25/2/2015 11:01:03 pm

I would never do it with undies -- because usually they are in the throw out pile because the elastic is gone and would make for an uncomfortable day's travel!

I've done it with runners before though. When they get to the stage of being too worn for safe running but still have some walking milage left in them, I take them on a trip and they don't come back (that sounds kinda ominious).

The hardest part of throwaway travel packing is that you don't have time to find the local charities that would probably appreciate the donations. Maybe not stinky old runner but I've had a few things that were good, just not good for me that have been jettisoned.

26/2/2015 12:47:31 am

I have a GREAT tip for doing throw away packing with old runners and sports gear. Sign up for a local charity walk-a-thon or 5km fun run (most of which have a walking option for the non-runners out there). It's a great way to meet locals, support good causes, get fitness, see the city in a different way. And afterwards you can retrieve your kit from the gear check, change into regular clothing in the change area/bathroom, and donate your used sports clothing and runners to their lost and found. Everything get's washed, of course (often local dry cleaners donate their services) and running shoes are either given to those in need (even if they are no longer supportive enough for running they can still work as regular shoes) or they components of them are broken down for recycling. In bigger races, like half and full marathons, there are volunteers specifically employed with the task of collecting discarded gear from along the race course (ie when runners get too hot they just ditch their sweatshirts by the side of the road) and that gear also gets recycled.

Alex

3/4/2016 08:58:21 pm

I have used this approach to travel on several trips and love it. I purchased a duffel bag style laundry bag from Bed Bath & Beyond to use as disposable luggage as well. It has back straps like a ruck sack but is taller than a normal one. The fabric color is black so it looks like luggage. I only expected the bag to be used once since it only cost $10. But i have used it as checkin luggage as well as carry on and it is holding up well on 4 trips. Consider using this cheap alternative to luggage since you can even donate this item since it is so inexpensive and return with even less luggage!

27/6/2016 12:55:21 pm

That is a great idea. We have a ton of bags that would totally meet this criteria of being used one more time before calling it quits.....

April

21/4/2017 02:33:31 pm

I have been doing this for years. It works for me.

24/4/2017 09:13:21 am

I love hearing from people who are part of this trend!

Lorraine

23/7/2017 12:07:25 pm

I have been doing this for years. I once chucked all my daughters clothes away in Greece. The maid asked if she could have them ,she was delighted. They were just a tad too small for my daughter but ok for the holiday. Now I take note of the bag weigh in and then see how much lighter it is on the way back. I wouldn't advise travelling back without a bag at all though. Airport security might think you are a drug mule.

25/7/2017 10:12:13 am

Lorraine- you've made me laugh because Ryan has said the same thing to me - and he says he has the solution! If customs ever questions why I'm traveling so long with so little luggage or if they ever ask why I've been gone so long and yet am bringing back so few souvenirs, he says I should show them my Pinterest page (which demonstrates my obsessions with all things organization and minimalism) and then offer to reorganize someone's luggage to prove that I'm really just a nut, not a drug mule!

Lorraine Appleton

25/7/2017 12:00:58 pm

Gosh if I did that they would then ask why I am not cutting up my clothes to use for patchwork and rag rugging which is what's on my pinterest pages. Came back off holiday last saturday and Sunday put the washer on zero pants to wash for me and my daughter
and 17 pairs for the hubby. I can't get him to see my way of organising. Glad there are other people out there like me.

Karen

22/1/2018 05:59:11 pm

I brought enough clothes to Africa for my 3 week trip that wasn't my favorites. At the end of the trip I gave all but my underwear to our safari guide for his family. I also asked everyone in our group to save all their shampoos, slippers, sewing kits and stuff and Peter got all those too.

22/1/2018 07:32:01 pm

This is a great idea! I've already started "stockpiling" my less-than-awesome clothing for my next trip. Normally I'd donate it to a charity shop near my home but if I can use it one last time and responsibly pass it on or recycle it on the road, even better.

I really love this especially for the plane when you want to wear something warm but you need lightweight clothing at your destination.

chris link

25/2/2018 09:15:24 pm

I like to do this when I go to Las Vegas when all my clothes become saturated with smoke and I don't want to bring it home. Question, how do you manage to string together enough pieces to make an outfit? Often I will have miscellaneous tops but not always pants, shorts or skirts that fit the one last use criteria but it's all odds and ends of different colors and pieces.

26/2/2018 10:06:31 am

Good question! I definitely have a lot more tops than bottoms. I approach it like I'm wearing my regular travel wardrobe (three bottoms, five tops) and the "throw away" tops are just bonus to the wardrobe. As my travel bottoms are pretty neutral, usually just about any top works.

I do find that sometimes the colors look a unusual when they're all piled together but I usually travel with a dark colored scarf so that helps tone it all down.

Chris

6/3/2018 01:02:10 pm

Do you pack throw away clothing for local weekend trips that may not require travel by plane? Also, for the international trips - we have been seeing on travel websites that they are not encouraging this practice. People in Europe don’t want it?!

6/3/2018 02:09:55 pm

Hi Chris - I think there's a more widespread concern about there just being too much unwanted textiles/ disposable fast fashion in most countries. I'm not sure it's limited to any one country or region. I try to approach it as using the last little bit of wear ability up in a memorable way and then discarding the garments as responsibly as I can (maybe they'll be donated to charity... maybe they get shredded and used for insulation.....). I've never looked at it as "oh, these other people in this other country will really want my cast offs" - for me it's more "I am done with this garment for a number of reasons. I'm going to use it one last time, memorably, and dispose of it as responsibly as I can".

I can't see why you couldn't take this approach for short trips like weekend escapes but for me there's a huge benefit in doing it on longer trips when I'm flying. It is great not to worry about laundry for those first few busy days of a trip and it's nice to see pics of myself wearing a few different colors when I look back at the images from a really long trip.

Margarita Ibbott link

5/4/2018 10:11:57 pm

You never fail to amuse me with your antics... and common sense ideas. Consider it done in Quebec. I'm thinking what I call leave behind as we speak.

10/6/2018 09:52:05 am

Vanessa, just to clarify, you bring the standard 3 pants, 5 shirts on a trip - regular travel clothes in addition to any throw away items? Sounds like your trips can be up to a month, so you end up washing your clothes and bringing those back? You are not packing all throw away clothes only?