Learn to Pack From a Pro: Mastering The Basic Techniques

It's a given.

Do anything long enough, and you realize that building a system around it makes the process that much easier the next time. It's a philosophy that 10Best founder and CEO Brice Bay applies to many scenarios, not least of all packing for a trip. After having left behind necessary clothing, medications, and even business materials one too many times, he determined not only to streamline his efforts but to seek out appropriate tools and bags to make his trips more efficient.

His first goal? To document. Brice's regular practice these days is to write down on an index card the date, destination, and purpose of each trip he takes, both business and pleasure. Then, he charts every item he packs, suits to underwear, cold medicine to cufflinks. Finally, he notes the type of luggage he carries, all for future reference and expediency.

Check out the gallery of Brice's packing tips.

While some folks might raise an eyebrow at such a level of detail, Brice's ability to travel without anxiety and divorced from the tendency to second-guess himself can't be argued with. He can pack quickly, completely, and without excess – all of which contribute to the foremost goal of enjoying the journey. Plus, his library of cards is a great, if unusual, source of memories, jogging his travel recollections with a brief flip-through.

The at-home followup to Brice's pre-trip documentation is to note what he took along but didn't use or could do without, and to chart that information for upcoming trips. He's incredibly deliberate about what he packs and isn't afraid to be ruthless in his editing. Anything expendable is deleted from the luggage, which means Brice earns more flexibility in the face of flight cancellations, quick turnarounds, and connections. It also means he has more room to return with souvenirs for the family.

Of course, paring down can only go so far, so Brice also employs other strategies that complement his fundamentals. He advises, for example, sticking to a basic, monochromatic color palette. Building a travel wardrobe around khaki or charcoal or black necessarily limits the garment choices while ensuring that you always look pulled-together, a win-win outcome. It also expedites getting ready in unfamiliar places and helps camouflage those almost-expected travel mishaps.

When clothes do get dirty, Brice takes full advantage of hotel cleaning services. Even though he packs few things, he always has enough clothes on-hand to bridge the time it takes to have soiled garments returned. All good hotels are attentive to their guests' needs and are practiced in what they offer, so there's no reason not to maximize your own time with their services.

Along the same lines, choosing quality, well-constructed clothes is critical. Brice prefers lightweight wool that wears gracefully and isn't prone to wrinkling. Similarly, opting for fabrics that blend natural fibers with polyester or rayon can also be beneficial since creases shake out of them almost effortlessly. In the right locales, the inherent wrinkles of linen and cotton are also customary and an accepted part of the look.

In underwear and athletic wear, high-performance garments are the way to go. Not only do they breathe and wick away moisture, keeping you reliably comfortable, but they also wash up in the sink in a pinch, meaning that you can rinse out a few things readily and have them dry in a matter of hours. Additionally, these engineered fabrics are incredibly compact; fold them tightly, and they take up hardly any room in your luggage.

Stay Tuned:
In upcoming months, read about the accessories and gadgets that Brice believes are essential to a relaxed, well-equipped trip, and find out what style and brand of luggage he prefers when he's on the road.