Holiday packing

This is me unusually organised. But look at the size of the suitcase!

There was an article in the Daily Telegraph yesterday which struck a cord with me – and annoyed me in equal measure.

According to research the average woman overpacks a suitcase by 26 items. It seems we, as a gender, use just half of the things we take with us on holiday, the rest being ‘just in case’ items. (The Daily Telegraph Saturday 9 July 2011)

If you’ve read my previous posts on this blog, you’ll know I’m always struggling to know what to pack, whether I’m going for a short city break, for a skiing holiday or even just for holiday ‘at home’ in Åland.

But, why on earth would anyone wish to know this about women’s packing habits? The survey was carried out by a internet comparison website, so I guess there was a commercial reason for it, but it’s not exactly a surprise is it? Every woman who’s ever been faced with the task of filling a stupidly small suitcase with all the items she thinks she’ll need during a week or two in a strange location knows that it’s almost impossible to know what to take and what to leave behind. Ideally I’d like to pack my whole bedroom, rather than having to make a decision ahead of time on my outfits.

Also, is it just women who overpack? Are we still so divided by gender? The article didn’t mention how men pack. In our household certainly there is a huge difference – the Englishman and Son regularly underpack, forgetting to take essentials like underpants (happened last holiday), or shampoo, and then borrow these items from Daughter and me. (No, not the undies). This being so, I’m not sure why it offends me to read that women’s packing habits have been singled out. Perhaps it was the tone of the article, making us seem simple and stupid by carrying articles in our suitcases that we don’t ever use. There was also a comment to say how 50% of women find it difficult to stay within the designated luggage limits.

I cannot but help to believe that a lot of money was paid and many productive working hours spent on a useless survey which produced a most predictable result.