If you’re the kind of person who leaves packing until the last minute, throwing everything in a bag, then don’t worry. You’re not alone.
However, this last-minute scramble to get everything together induces unnecessary stress, and leaving important things behind in the rush to get out the door isn’t the best way to begin your adventure.
I know, because that’s been me. That’s why I’ve teamed up with the luggage experts over at Cotopaxi to discover three ways to nail packing before your next adventure.
Method 1: The clean and tidy
For some people, organisational skills come naturally. Others might need a helping hand to bring order to their piles of gear.
That’s why packing cubes are a great idea, so you can keep your underwear separate from your toothbrush, and easily access what you need without having to rummage through everything else out first.
Even better, you could get a bag like Cotopaxi’s Allpa 35L Travel Pack, which has separate compartments that function like built-in packing cubes.
The multiple zippered internal pockets help you keep your gear organised, and it also features a suitcase-style wraparound zipper, so you can easily access everything in your bag right when you need it.
Plus, it’s perfectly sized to fit as carry-on luggage on airplanes, so you can avoid paying excess luggage fees and not worry about losing your bag either.
Method 2: The duffel rustler
Maybe you’re happy with your laissez-faire approach to packing, or perhaps you’ve got a large amount of gear to carry such as helmets and harnesses.
In this case, a duffel bag can be perfect, whether you’re off for a weekend of climbing or spending a month riding trains in Europe.
However, you’ll still want to make sure you’ve got everything you need.
That’s why creating a list, gathering up your gear before you go, and laying it all out on the floor is the best way to make sure you’ve the right gear.
Plus, you can then pack it all at once so you can optimise your bag’s storage capacity and check if there’s anything missing or superfluous before you go.
For trips with lots of gear, a duffel bag like Cotopaxi Allpa 70L is ideal. It’s got enough space for a full set of climbing kit, clothes, and multiple pairs of shoes with room to spare, plus it’s got heaps of pockets to keep your gear organised so it doesn’t end up in one big pile.
It’s even got removable backpack straps which makes carrying it a breeze, whether you’re roaming the streets of a new city or hiking into basecamp.
Method 3: The all-in
Some adventures don’t require too much planning, and all you need to do is grab your gear and go. That’s why it’s handy to have a dedicated bag with your essentials in it, ready to go at a moment’s notice.
The Allpa 30L Gear Hauler Tote from Cotopaxi is the perfect bag to have stashed in your car or at home. You can leave your boots, water bottles, daypack, and maps in it for a spontaneous day hike, or you could throw a towel and spare clothes in there and be ready to swim in case you find yourself driving past a pristine mountain lake.
The advantage of a structured tote like this is that you don’t have to think too much about what to take and how to pack it.
It’s a happy-go-lucky kind of bag that you won’t believe how versatile and useful it is until you have one.
Explore the Cotopaxi range
Adventures come in all shapes and sizes, and so do the bags you need to carry them out.
That’s why Cotopaxi creates unique bags that are cleverly designed to help make packing for your next trip easier. Whether you’re going for a weekend away or a months-long backpacking trip, there’s a Cotopaxi bag for you.
Find out more over on the Cotopaxi website here.