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When I enlisted in the military, I didn’t give much thought to the packing list for boot camp or field exercises, nor did I realize how this would affect my packing skills today. Here are some tips that have proven useful to me over the years, which you don’t have to do a single push-up to discover. Keep reading to find out the five things the military has taught me about packing!

Packing Tips: Five Things The Military has Taught Me

Written By: Ange Wu

Make (and use) a list

You could quite easily compare the rudimentary packing list to what’s suggested to parents for summer camp – the minimum amount of t-shirts, running shorts, socks, underwear, swimmers, a torch, etc.

Having a list ensures that your basics are prioritized, and controls the temptation to pack duplicate or unnecessary items.

The easy thing about the military is that there are no choices about what to wear – but if you consider designing a travel capsule wardrobe for yourself, you’ll find that several key pieces will naturally become your ‘uniform’.

For an easy to use packing list, take a look at this printable pad with sheets you can tear out for every trip. (Or download a free version you can print at home by signing up to TFG’s newsletter!)

Pack high quality items

There’s nothing worse than being out field and miles away from a shopping centre when your cheap gear starts to wear out or break on you!

If you’re going to all the trouble of whittling everything to the bare essentials, make sure they’re going to last the whole trip. Do some test runs of new equipment, put fresh batteries into your gadgets, and hand wash your clothes to see how long they take to dry, and whether they’ll survive.

Keep your gear in order

Secure your valuables at all times, and even if you have your accommodation to yourself, try not to unpack everything everywhere. If your room already looks like a bombing range, it could be more tempting for a roommate or housekeeper to go through your stuff.

Sure, you won’t have to get into full battle rattle at 2am, but you never know what might happen. You don’t have to lay out the next day’s clothes before you go to sleep, but it’s handy to know where your wallet, a torch, and shoes are if there’s an unexpected fire drill.

Check out ranger rolling/folding on YouTube. These video tutorials are a wonderful way to keep your travel (and at-home!) items neatly bundled, which helps you stay organized and use less space in your bags.

Take a look at my video tutorial on how to maximize limited packing space with packing cubes!

Buy things that are light as possible

The weight difference between a steel and titanium spork might not bother you over a few days, but when it comes to an extra pair of flats, or a couple of tops and a just-in-case jacket, the weight adds up.

Even if you’re not pack marching for hours without a rest, no matter what your fitness is, it’s a nicer journey with less dead weight!

It’s usually long-term backpackers and those on trekking holidays that will consider the payload of each item in their bag. Even if you have rolling luggage, there are still times when you’ll have to lift it – make sure that everything you’re taking is really worth its weight.

If you’re camping, keep an eye out for ultra-light items like these: 2lb tent, featherlight sleeping bag, silk sleeping liner (I also use this liner for regular travel! Find out why.)

Prepare for the (realistic) worst

Odds are that despite taking all the right precautions, you may find yourself in an unfortunate situation. The wheel on your suitcase might break. Your checked baggage could go missing at the start of a long-term trip. Bags can get stolen. Credit cards might stop working. You might not have a contingency plan for absolutely every disaster, but you should be aware of what you could do if things go wrong when you’re far from home.

The PG version of a common military saying is this: Prior Preparation Prevents Poor Performance. It’s simply a lot easier to react to a bad situation if you’ve considered it beforehand.

Hopefully if you keep this advice in mind, you’ll become a lighter and more conscientious traveler in the future. Happy packing!

 Do you have any packing tips that you want to share with us? Comment below!

For more packing tips, please read:

• Car Camping Checklist
• How to Choose travel Clothing
• Backpacking Tips for Female Travelers: Packing Essentials

Hope you found these packing tips useful. Please share this post with your friends on Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest. Thanks for reading!

Author Bio: Ange Wu is a full-time cook and part-time packing nerd, who loves hunting down the tastiest street food and local eats wherever she travels. Read more of her thoughts on travel at See What We Did There and follow her on Instagram and Twitter.