The scene at the airport check-in counter was not at all pretty. A couple right in front of me was having to pay a hefty fee for extra baggage. The husband gave his wife quite a few dirty looks which indicated that she was the erring one who might have stuffed a lot into the suitcases.
Sincerely feeling for a stranger
I sympathized with the wife for obvious reasons. In the past, I too have been declared guilty of mindless packing for travels. The only difference between us is that I had the wisdom to weigh my luggage at home to avoid the hassles at the airport. I had either adjusted the weight between the suitcases or taken things out in order to not cross the baggage allowance. Hence, I have no history of having to pay a fine.
Many years ago, my packing skills were the talk, or rather the joke, of the family whenever we visited India. B & B ( don’t read it as bed and breakfast, it’s brother and better-half) had lots to complain about while dragging the heavy suitcases up the flight of stairs. One would say that I do not know how to pack wisely, with the other seconding that point of view with full force. With the years passing by, I got better but not perfect!
Ladies, if you overpack, you are not the outliers!
It is perhaps the same story in every family, with of course exceptions here and there. There are studies to back up the fact that women in general are inclined to overpack for their trips.
Research conducted by a travel company Sunshine.co.uk revealed interesting numbers. Of the women surveyed, 72% admitted that they overpacked, 65% disclosed that they had a hard time zipping their suitcases, and 58% said they exceeded the baggage allowance. Ironically, they do not end up using all of the outfits they take, wearing just about 10 of the 19 tops and 8 of the 16 bottoms.
Another survey by Upgraded Points recorded that 80% of women acknowledged that they overpacked while a little less than 50% of men said that they pack “just enough to get by”.
There’s a reason why!
This is not in defense of my female sorority, but I have a few points to make. We have our reasons for filling our travel bags to the brim.
The “what if” psychology rules the female mind. What if the weather is windy? What if I spill something on my dress? What if I do not feel comfy in those pants? These are just a tiny sample of the “what if” questions. We want to be prepared for unknown events and hence end up carrying extras.
Versatility and minimalism are the principles that are often forgotten. We tend to overlook the fact that certain things do not match with all attires. For instance, if there is a very cute top that pairs with just one bottom, what is the use of taking it along? Rather it makes more sense to take stuff that has wider use. Then there is the issue of many women not liking to repeat their clothes while on a vacation, so that inevitably adds up to the total number of clothes that are packed.
And finally, women have a wider array of choices compared to their male counterparts. Variety is the spice of life, and the fashion-conscious female loves to explore these options. To have a prim, complete look, they also want to match footwear and other accessories with their outfits. Then there are toiletries and cosmetics that are thrown in with the rest of the stuff. What better occasion can there be than a trip or a vacation to be at your aesthetic best?
We don’t need a travel expert to say that traveling light makes the journey so much easier, yet the temptation to overpack is a little difficult to resist.
Old habits die hard, or have I changed?
With most companies trying to limit the number of free checked-in baggage items, I was very happy recently when the airlines we were traveling by allowed 2 pieces of luggage per passenger. “Oh that’s great,” I excitedly said. My husband immediately responded in a typical matter-of-fact way: “That does not help us. Even otherwise, aren’t we carrying just one suitcase per person?” His message could not be clearer. I kept quiet. For a change, I allowed my head to rule my heart!
rashmi writes 