Packing for an upcoming vacation can be a last-minute affair in which all the important items are left behind at home. With our busy schedules and long to-do lists, it’s rare that we get time to think about all the things we’ll need while traveling to that exotic location, or even just heading home to see the folks. Either way, using a list to be sure we remember all that we need is a smart idea, but I’m guessing that many folks don’t get that far, or, like me, have a congenital aversion to tiny slips of paper.
However, using an iPhone app is ever so much cooler, and it actually helps us stay organized. With an app like Packing Pro – or it’s little brother, Packing – you’ll be able to save time AND stay organized. What a concept, right?
First of all, Packing and Packing Pro are essentially the same app. Both allow you to create lists of all the things you need to pack, sample lists to help jog your memory for things you may have forgotten to include in your list, template support, and a big catalog of types of items. You don’t need to create anything from scratch, which helps the process along.
To create a packing list, first download Packing from the App Store (it’s currently $0.99). Launch the app and tap on the green plus button in the upper right ot create a new list. You’ll be given a list of options, allowing you to create that new list from one of your previous lists, from a sample list provided by the developer, or from scratch. Pro options here include restoring a deleted list and importing a list from Contacts or iTunes.
There’s even an Expert option, which acts a little like a Genius playlist in iTunes. Simple enter the number and gender of the adults and children you’re planning to pack for, the length of the trip, the climate and destination type, and options for food and clothes washing. Packing will create a list for you based on your choices. Seems like a pretty sweet way to start packing if you’re at a loss for what to bring.
If you want better syncing & sharing options, iCloud support, display customization, a super-sized catalog, twice as many sample lists, & additional, built-in Expert assistance, then Packing Pro may be your bag. It also allows you to share packing lists via File Sharing. You can download it separately, or as an in-app purchase from Packing.
