How to Pack the Perfect Summer Weekend Bag

Summer is officially HERE and that means it’s time to start making some epic adventure plans, so pack a bag and get going, even if it’s just for the weekend! Whether you find an awesome last minute flight deal, or just want to road trip out to something local, you definitely deserve a summer getaway to relax, restore, and most importantly, explore!

The key to the perfect weekend, is packing the perfect summer weekend bag, which means it has to be light, cute, functional, and of course, inclusive of all of the essentials!

I don’t mean to brag, but if anyone knows anything about packing right (and light), I’m definitely one of them! I just got back from traveling all month in Asia with only one carry-on, and came back to the U.S. with just enough time to re-pack a weekend bag, and head off again to Florida to take my mom on a super late Mother’s Day vacation to Sanibel Island!

So here’s what I packed in my weekend bag, all of which proved to be more than enough for my little vacation!

1. A Carry-All Weekend Bag

My weekend bag of choice is a large canvas weekender by Lo & Sons called the Catalina Deluxe. I love it because it’s extremely roomy, comfortable to wear, and of course looks great with any travel outfit. I also really like the canvas material that it’s made out of because it’s extremely sturdy, which, let’s be serious, I definitely need. Since it’s so roomy, and can fit so much inside of it, it also comes with a removable, padded messenger strap, in case it gets heavy.

One special function of the Catalina Deluxe bag that stood out as remarkably useful, was the separate zippered area on the bottom with a padded insert tray that was perfect to put my sandy shoes or clothes in, or to keep my bulkier travel items so they don’t take up space! Pockets, compartments, and space are what’s key to packing the perfect weekend bag, so instead of just telling you what to pack, I’ll also say where and how to pack it too!

2. One Outfit Per Day

It’s so easy to overpack for a trip, but just remember that accessories can make an outfit, and that you probably won’t wear everything! Packing light can save you a lot of time and stress, so to do that just remember that you really only need one outfit per day.

I personally love rompers, jumpers, and maxi dresses because they make less items to pack, and of course, are really cute. They’re also super versatile, so you can wear them during the day, or at night! When packing clothes for a weekend bag, try lay everything as flat as possible rather than folding, and then roll them up so they fit nicely in the corner of your weekend bag! A little tip is to tie a small waist belt around the roll to keep it tidy, and also to keep track of where you put your belt!

3. Not So Much Hair Stuff

I used to be extremely guilty of trying to pack way more hair products than I’d ever need in my weekend bag, but now I hardly use anything besides a brush. Will you be staying in a hotel? If so, you really don’t need to bring anything, unless you have a styling product you can’t leave home without. Also keep in mind that if your flying with a weekend bag as your carry-on, you can only take one plastic bag of three ounce liquids!

4. Natural Sunscreen and Bug Spray

The last thing you need during a weekend getaway is a sunburn and bug bites! But you also don’t need to be using products that are harmful for your skin and the environment! I learned about using natural sunscreen and bug spray when I was asked to shower off any non-natural skin products before going in the cenotes in Mexico, because they contain chemicals that can bleach the natural habitat.

But, although they’re much better for you and the environment, they can still tend to be a bit messy, which is why the separate bottom portion of the Catalina bag is a perfect place to put them!

5. An Absorbent Travel Towel

Beach towels are never convenient to pack. They’re bulky, and they’re really easy to forget. But, it’s also not convenient to be soaking wet and cold with no towel! An absorbent travel towel can work wonders for you, and I highly recommend one for your weekend bag. They’re typically made of microfiber, which absorbs water ASAP, and they’re super thin so you can just fold it up and throw it in your weekend bag!

Here’s an extra little travel tip: these towels can also be used to quickly dry clothes and swimwear by rolling them up in it, and since it’s microfiber, it makes for a great camera and phone lens cleaner as well!

6. A Back-up Dry Bag

Just in case your weekend adventures take you to somewhere where you’ll be playing in water (and let’s hope they do!), it’s always a good idea to bring along a dry bag. What is a dry bag, you ask? Well…as the name implies, it’s a bag that keeps your stuff dry. I’ve lost way too many iPhone’s to water damage to not travel without one, and they roll up pretty flat so you can easily just pack it in your weekend bag!

7. Cameras and Gear

Don’t just toss your random lipgloss, pens, and receipts into the inside pockets of your weekend bag! Use them as an organizational tool! In my Lo & Son’s Catalina Deluxe weekend bag there are three inside pockets and two outside pockets, and all of them have a specific use, according to me. The large interior pocket is designated for my cameras; a GoPro 4 Black and GoPro Session, along with their corresponding chargers. This not only provides easy access to them when I spot a must-photo-spot, but it keeps them clean and safe from scratches!

I use my iPhone for random photos and of course, Snapchat and Instagram, so the pockets on the outside of my Catalina bag are perfect for easy access to my phone, yet offer security since they zipper.

8. Healthy Snacks and Hydration

Not only am I a picky eater, but I’m a vegetarian AND a budget traveler, AND I’m extremely prone to being hangry. If you don’t already know the wonders of having granola bars or instant oatmeal while you travel, you must try it ASAP! One of the other pockets in my Catalina weekend bag is literally designated for snacks only.

Eating one granola bar in the morning or in between meals will not only keep you from being an evil hangry monster, but also keep your metabolism pumping, and your energy thriving throughout your trip!

I don’t really like sounding like your mom or doctor, but hydration is also super important to think about when you travel, and pack! When a bag has somewhere to keep a water bottle, it makes it that much more easy to remember to bring one! I use the bottom compartment of my Catalina bag to store my water bottle, it keeps it from rolling over, spilling, and getting too hot in the sun!

9. The Important Stuff

Alright. Let’s talk about the important stuff you need when you travel, but constantly worry you’ll forget. Before I go anywhere, I always think to myself, “Keys, wallet, phone”, and always make sure to keep them in the same pockets of my weekend bag so I don’t freak out when I need one of them. I cannot stress enough how useful it is to make a habit of designating each of the pockets of your bag, so that you don’t have to dig around, or freak out, when you think you can’t find something.

My wallet lives inside of the big interior pocket with the zipper, along with my cameras. It’s the most secure pocket, so all of my most important things go inside of it (besides my phone). I’ve actually seriously considered labeling the pockets of my bag before, mostly because I just have way too much lipgloss, but if there’s one pocket to remember, make it the big one with the zipper.

10. The Little Things

Now I can finally talk about all of those little things you always want to bring, yet don’t always use. I’m not saying don’t pack them…because let’s be serious, it’s super awesome when you randomly find a full tube of hot pink lipgloss, or a pack of origami-making papers…but they can clutter your bag of things you actually need. Which is why they get their own pocket.

I’m not sure if the two smaller interior pockets of my Catalina bag are meant for random little things, but I’ve designated one of them just for those potentially-necessary items, and it works wonderfully.

Disclaimer: This post is in collaboration with Lo & Sons, however I really do use the Catalina weekend bag, and highly recommend it!