Preparing for a trip brings some people joy and others despair. Packing is a necessary part of travel, but knowing how to pack is a process that one must perfect over time. 

This guide outlines some of the most common types of packers, so look within yourself to find out which packing personality most closely matches yours! 

The Minimalist 

Minimalists are the queens of capsule wardrobes and the kings of color coordination. This packer knows how to make an outfit out of the fewest amount of pieces and uses that to their advantage. 

They can fit days’ worth of outfits into a modestly sized suitcase. They achieve this by rewearing their clothing in new ways, especially through layering, so outerwear is always present in their suitcase. They’re excellent at limiting their shoes to just one pair, but their outfits still look unique, put together, and polished. In other words, they’re a stylish style magician. 

The Overpacker

The exact opposite of The Minimalist, The Overpacker packs as if every trip were a move across the country. 

This packer considers every circumstance and packs accordingly. Will it rain? Doesn’t matter because The Overpacker has both an umbrella and a raincoat. Will they finally hit the hotel gym? Maybe! So they better pack three workout outfits and two pairs of sneakers. 

Daytime outfits, nighttime outfits, and at least three times as much underwear as there are days in the trip are always a must for The Overpacker. The Overpacker has it all, just in case, but usually ends up wearing less than half of it on the trip.

The Carry-On Connoisseur

This packer is the secret master of packing. True Connoisseurs can fit everything they need into a carry-on bag.

This packer is similar to The Minimalist, for it takes a certain amount of restraint to fit everything into a suitcase that is 22 by 14 by 9 inches, but they don’t necessarily pack minimally. They just happen to be superior at fitting everything into one bag, either through packing cubes, mini bags, or expert folding techniques. They don’t have time to check a bag or pay the baggage fees. 

One-bag wonders, right this way! 

The Lack-of-Packer

This packer never packs everything into one bag. Their belongings are packed in a haphazard, spontaneous way. Some items end up in overflow bags or just not in bags at all. Their shoes are thrown in the trunk of the car. Their coats? In a pile on top of the shoes. 

The Lack-of-Packer might seem like they’re all over the place, but they rarely forget to bring anything. The real challenge is finding what they need among the piles of clothing and little baggies of toiletries. 

This packer generally sticks to travel by car, bus, or train, but can occasionally be found at the airport with way more bags than they need.

The Last-Minute Packer

This packer is a risk-taker. The Last-Minute Packer packs, well, last minute. Like a game show contestant rallying against a ticking clock, they work down to the last possible second to gather what they need. They throw random shirts and pants into a suitcase, grab their toothbrush and toothpaste, and run out the door to frantically catch their taxi, bus, or plane. 

This packer is bound to forget something, and usually it’s something major. Bathing suits for a beach trip. A nice outfit for a fancy dinner. Underwear. 

The Last-Minute Packer gambles with quick decisions and a lack of planning. As a result, they often have to shell out a few dollars to buy what was forgotten. While this isn’t necessarily a big problem, it can result in a growing amount of bathing suits subsequently left home every year, only to have more added after the next beach trip.

The Planner

A stark contrast to The Last-Minute Packer, The Planner has everything neatly packed away well in advance of their departure date. 

The Planner makes thorough lists and has everything they could possibly need for a trip due to their organizational prowess. They’re the person one would go to if they needed gum or a Band-Aid or an extra hair tie. The Planner always has entertainment for long flights and car rides. 

They are usually a neat packer, with everything fitting, perfectly folded, in their organized suitcase. Common nicknames for The Planner include “Superwoman” and “lifesaver.” 

The Overthinker

This packer is stressed out before the trip even begins. Traits of The Overthinker include indecisiveness, anxiousness, and, naturally, overthinking. They are also a thoughtful consultant to struggling packers who need help considering all their options. 

A decision of whether to pack both a light and heavy sweater or to just bring a medium-weight jacket racks The Overthinker’s brain for days before leaving. Clothing will find itself in and out of packing piles multiple times before actually getting packed.

They never have to worry about spending money to buy something they’ve forgotten because by the time they depart, everything has already been remembered and packed. 

The Overthinker can eventually end up becoming The Overpacker or The Minimalist, but the journey to get there is a sliding scale of indecision. 

The Not-the-Packer

Finally, there is The Not-the-Packer. This person is ultimately not the packer for their trip. They assume someone else will pack for them, whether that be their significant other, their mother, their assistant, or anyone else responsible in their life. 

This person generally does not stress about traveling because everything falls into place for them. Most children fall into this category before they discover what kind of packer they will be. However, some live as a Not-the-Packer for their entire lives. 

Each of these packing personalities comes with its own pros and cons, and no person is confined to a single packing technique. If you find yourself overlapping with several packing personas, try to pick and choose the most positive traits from each. Knowing a little more information about how you prepare will help next time you have to pack for a trip.