So for our trip to Kenai, Alaska in late August, I’m trying something different: a lean Alaska packing list built around layers, waterproof gear and clothes I’ll actually wear.
I used to have a tendency to pack for imaginary versions of myself.
The woman who goes somewhere nice for dinner every night.
The woman who needs four different pairs of shoes.
The woman who suddenly develops an entirely different personal style upon landing in another state.
The woman who might need a dress. Just in case.
I have never once met this woman on vacation.
This time, I’m packing for the woman who is actually going on this trip.
She will walk. She will hike. She will fish. She will sit around drinking coffee in a matching sweatsuit. She will probably get rained on. She will want to be warm. She will read approximately 400 pages of something while everyone else is doing whatever they’re doing. She might golf.
And every once in a while, she may want to look somewhat presentable at dinner. Read: mascara.
That’s it.
One suitcase. One backpack. No packing for imaginary emergencies.
What to Wear in Alaska in August
From EVERYTHING, and I mean everything I have read, late August in Kenai appears to require one very important skill:
The art of layering.
Not a giant winter coat. Not an entirely separate wardrobe for every possible temperature.
Layers.
So instead of packing a bunch of individual outfits, I’m packing pieces that can basically all be worn together.
My formula:
T-shirt or long sleeve + leggings or outdoor pants + fleece + rain shell.
Cold? Add the puffer.
Warm? Start stripping.
Raining?
Well, apparently I’m in Alaska.
My Alaska Packing List for Late August
Clothes
I’m bringing:
- 3 T-shirts/tanks
- 2 sweatshirts
- 1 wool cardigan
- 1 pair of leggings, 2 pairs of sweats
- 2 pair of comfy/travel pants
- 1 comfy/lounge outfit that will double as pajamas
- More underwear than I need
- Exactly 2 bras
- Regular socks
- A few pairs of wool/hiking socks
That is pretty much the wardrobe.
I’m also giving myself one rule: everything has to work with almost everything else.
If a shirt only works with one particular pair of pants, it has no business coming to Alaska with me.
The Layers
This is where I’m putting most of my packing energy.
I’m bringing:
- A waterproof rain shell
- A lightweight packable puffer vest
- A baseball hat
- A warm stocking hat
- Thin gloves
The goal is to be able to go from chilly morning to warmer afternoon to rain to colder evening without needing an entirely different outfit.
Shoes
Four pairs.
That’s it.
- My favorite slip-on rubber boots
- Walking shoes
- Hiking boots
- White sneaks
Shoes are where luggage goes to die.
I refuse.
Outdoor Gear I’m Packing for Alaska
I am not attempting to transform myself into an Alaskan wilderness survivalist for this trip.
But I am bringing:
- A fanny pack
- Water bottle
- Prescription sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Bear spray
- Swimsuit (you never know where you’ll find a sauna)
- Portable travel charger
What I’m Packing in my Backpack for Alaska
My backpack is basically the things I don’t want separated from me bag.
- Wallet and ID.
- Phone.
- Chargers.
- Headphones.
- Laptop.
- Kindle.
- Snacks.
- Water bottle.
- Medications and vitamins.
- Red lipstick.
- Sunglasses and extra glasses.
- Packable puffer vest.
And one clean pair of underwear and socks.
I have traveled enough to know that luggage can go one direction while you go another, and I would at least like clean underwear while we work through our differences.
Also, the Kindle is non-negotiable.
Frankly, everyone else could stay home before the Kindle does.
Toiletries
I’m trying very hard not to bring my entire bathroom.
The basics:
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- Deodorant
- Moisturizer
- Mascara and lipstick. That’s it.
- Hairbrush and hair ties
- Travel-size shampoo and conditioner
- Medications
- Ibuprofen/Tylenol
- Band-Aids and blister patches
I do not need seventeen serums to visit Alaska. And my hair will be au natural.
We will survive.
What I Am NOT Packing
This might actually be the most important part of the list.
I am not bringing:
Any dressy outfits. I know my audience. And if Alaska requires cocktail attire unexpectedly, I will simply have to disappoint Alaska.
More than three pairs of shoes. Absolutely not.
A giant winter coat. It’s still August.
A pile of sweaters. They take up approximately 94% of a suitcase and somehow I always wear the same one anyway.
An umbrella. Rain shell.
Jeans. Just not necessary for this trip.
Full-size toiletries. I am going away, not relocating.
Anything that only works with one outfit. This is perhaps my new packing philosophy in general.
What Is the Weather Like in Kenai, Alaska in August?
Late August in Kenai can mean cool mornings, mild afternoons, rain and temperatures that change quite a bit throughout the day. Rather than packing for one specific temperature, I’m planning around layers I can add and remove, plus waterproof outerwear and shoes.
Honestly after the scorcher of a summer, I’m not mad about 60s.
The Real Goal: Less Stuff, Less Managing
The older I get, the less interested I am in managing things.
And luggage is just another collection of things to manage.
Things to pack. Things to unpack. Things to find. Things to keep track of. Things to haul through an airport. Things I brought because maybe I would need them.
I want enough.
Enough clothes to be comfortable. Enough layers to stay warm. Enough gear to do the things we want to do.
And then I want to stop thinking about my stuff and go experience Alaska.
Which, now that I think about it, is probably the whole point of packing lean in the first place.
Less stuff. More room for the actual trip.
And When I Get Home…
I’m coming back to this post.
Because packing lists written before trips are really just theories.
I want to know:
What did I actually wear?
What did I never touch?
What did I wish I had?
What earned its place in my suitcase?
And what did I drag approximately 3,000 miles for absolutely no reason?
I’ll report back.
And I have a sneaking suspicion next time I’ll pack even less.
