Packing for the UK

2023-08-29

We recently took a two-week trip to the UK, including London, Edinburgh, and Oxford. This was my first international trip in over ten years, so I want to write down a few lessons learned.

I took two bags: a Timbuk2 bag that converts between a suitcase and a bookbag, and a Tom Binh bag that converts between a shoulder bag and a bookbag. When I have both, the Timbuk2 is the bookbag and the other bag is the shoulder bag. This lets me walk around without rolling anything behind me.

Here's what was initially in the Timbuk2 bag:

24 Clif Builder bars
3 pairs of quick-dry clothes
5" diameter sink stopper
Extra razors
Knit hat
Meditation cushion
Pajamas
Rain pants
Rick Steves clothesline
Rick Steves travel wash
Running stuff:
- 4 Gu gel packets
- Heart rate monitor
- one tube of electrolyte pills
- Pair of running clothes + running shoes
Toiletries bag

Here's what was initially in the Tom Binh bag:

12 Clif Builder bars
Cable bag with:
- EPICKA Universal Travel Adapter: USB-C and USB charging
- Garmin USB-C charger
- USB-C charging cable for phone w/ adapter for micro-USB/Kindle
inflatable neck pillow
Kindle
lozenges, small Advil container, Sudafed
magazine
Nalgene water bottle
noise cancelling headphones
journal
pens
rain jacket
Rick Steves umbrella
Two manila envelopes: "UPCOMING" and "TODAY" for printed out tickets to things
water cover for bag

At the end, here's what changed:

Carrying books and souvenirs
Carrying a second journal
Most of the Clif Builder bars were gone; the remainder were just in the Tom Binh bag
Dr. Bronner's soap for laundry; ran out of Rick Steves travel wash

My other lessons learned for next time are:

Consider not taking headphones
Consider packing enough to do laundry after seven days at a laundromat
Consider taking a USB-A to USB-C adapter to be able to charge when there's a USB-A port, e.g. on the plane
I don't sleep well with a neck pillow
Laundry doesn't dry in Scotland
Sink stopper was useless
Take an ultralight first-aid kit

John Borwick