TripPacker

What to pack forWashington, DC
in December

46° / 32°F
9 days of rain. Sunset around 5:45pm.
0 of 49 packed
One email. Free, and it stays free.

The essentials

Tick the box when it is in the bag
Insulated puffy (down or synthetic)
Lows around 32°F. Goes under the shell when the wind picks up.
Lows around 32°F. Goes under the shell when the wind picks up. Don't have one? Check these out.
Hybrid WINDSTOPPER Lightweight Puffy Jacket - Men's$196 at Backcountry.comInsulated Puffy Parka Jacket - Women's$152 at Backcountry.comSolazo Down Hooded Jacket - Women's$90 at CotopaxiThe North Face Men's Quest Synthetic Insulated Jacket$110 at REI
Merino base layer top
Wear one, dry one. Cotton stays wet all week here.
Wear one, dry one. Cotton stays wet all week here. Don't have one? Check these out.
Arc'teryx Women's Lana Merino Wool Crew Base Layer Top$63.93 at REIArc'teryx Women's Satoro Merino Wool Crew Neck Long-Sleeve Base Layer Top$95.73 at REIREI Co-op Women's Merino 185 Long-Sleeve Crew Base Layer Top$84.95 at REITerramar Men's 3.0 Merino Bi-Layer Long-Sleeve Crew Base Layer Top$29.73 at REI
Fleece or midlayer
The layer you'll wear more than any other.
The layer you'll wear more than any other. Don't have one? Check these out.
Tista Grid Full-Zip Hood Midlayer Top - Women's$41.96 at Backcountry.com
Warm hat (beanie)
Don't have one? Check these out.
Smartwool Cable Knit Colorblock Pom Beanie$29.73 at REIChaos Indiana Wool Beanie$29.73 at REILightweight Merino Wool Beanie$32 at Backcountry.comKnit Cuff Beanie$21 at Cotopaxi
Gloves
Don't have one? Check these out.
Teca Fleece Gloves$12 at CotopaxiSimond Adult MT500 Warm Touchscreen Gloves$25 at Decathlon AmericaForclaz MT100 Fleece Gloves$5 at Decathlon AmericaForclaz Adult MT500 Touchscreen Stretch Backpacking Gloves$20 at Decathlon America
Polarized sunglasses
Don't have one? Check these out.
Knockaround Paso Robles Sport Polarized Sunglasses Pink Silver Smoke$38 at REIKnockaround Premiums Sport Polarized Sunglasses Orange Rose$25.93 at REIPremiums Sport Polarized Sunglasses$38 at Backcountry.comKnockaround Fast Lanes Sport Polarized Sunglasses Matte Black/Smoke$38 at Backcountry.com
DEET or picaridin repellent
Don't have one? Check these out.
Sawyer Picaridin Insect Repellent Lotion$10.95 at REIAdventure Medical Ben's 30 Deet Tick & Insect Repellent Pump$1.92 at Backcountry.comBen's 30 Deet Tick & Insect Repellent$1.92 at Backcountry.comSawyer Picaridin Insect Repellent$9.95 at REI
Tick remover
Check ankles and, if there's a dog, paws and ears every night.
Check ankles and, if there's a dog, paws and ears every night. Don't have one? Check these out.
the TICK PATROL Tick Remover Tool$6.50 at REI
Travel first aid kit
Don't have one? Check these out.
HART Outdoor Pocket First-Aid Kit$10.50 at REIKikkerland Wilderness First-Aid Kit$12.50 at REI
Power bank 10k–20k mAh
Don't have one? Check these out.
BioLite Charge 80 PD Power Bank$99.95 at REIGoal Zero Venture 75 Power Bank$120 at REIAnker MagGo Power Bank (10,000 mAh, Slim)$80 at REIAnker Power Bank (30W, Fusion, Built-In USB-C Cable)$40 at REI
Headlamp
Dark by 5:45pm. Every campsite chore after that is a two-hands job.
Dark by 5:45pm. Every campsite chore after that is a two-hands job. Don't have one? Check these out.
Fenix HM50R V2.0 Rechargeable Headlamp$59.95 at REIDash 450 Rechargeable HeadLamp$69.95 at Backcountry.comStorm 450 Headlamp$38.47 at Backcountry.comCoast RL10R Rechargeable Headlamp$29.95 at REI
Carry-on backpack (35–45L)
Don't have one? Check these out.
Our pickMatador 45L Global Travel PackSee price at MatadorMatador SEG 45See price at MatadorGo Carry-On 44L Backpack$180 at Backcountry.comOsprey Packs Archeon 30L Backpack$132 at Backcountry.com
Daypack (15–25L)
Don't have one? Check these out.
Consuelo 22L Daypack$120 at CotopaxiStio Basin Daypack$75.93 at REIOsprey Packs Arcane Large 20L Daypack Botanica$65.97 at Backcountry.comElqui 24L Daypack$70 at Cotopaxi
Carry-on suitcase (hard shell)
Fits the overhead on every airline that matters. Skip the checked-bag line entirely.
Fits the overhead on every airline that matters. Skip the checked-bag line entirely. Don't have one? Check these out.
Coraza Suitcase - Carry On$295 at Cotopaxi
Dry bags
For the passport, the chargers, and the one dry pair of socks.
For the passport, the chargers, and the one dry pair of socks. Don't have one? Check these out.
Tuff Sack 5-55L Dry Bag$79.95 at Backcountry.comOsprey Wildwater Dry Bag 15$33.73 at REIOsprey Packs Wildwater 35L Dry Bag Tunnel Vision$35.75 at Backcountry.comDry Bag - Double Roll v2$46.99 at Backcountry.com
Merino base layer bottoms
For the mornings and the nights.
For the mornings and the nights. Don't have one? Check these out.
Arc'teryx Women's Satoro Merino Wool Base Layer Bottoms$95.73 at REISmartwool Classic Thermal Merino Base Layer Bottoms$70 at REISmartwool Men's Intraknit AS Merino Base Layer Bottoms$125 at REItasc Performance Women's Elevation Merino Base Layer Bottoms$44.73 at REI
Neck gaiter / buff
Don't have one? Check these out.
Simond Trek 500 Merino Wool Multi-Position Hiking Neck Gaiter$17 at Decathlon AmericaBuff x National Parks Coolnet UV Neck Gaiter Great Smoky$24.95 at Backcountry.comBuff Merino Heavyweight Neck Warmer$42 at REIBuff Merino Fleece Buff Solid$42 at Backcountry.com
Thermal socks
Don't have one? Check these out.
Quechua SH500 Merino Wool Winter Mid Socks$20 at Decathlon AmericaQuechua NH100 Mid Winter Hiking Socks$10 at Decathlon AmericaWoolrich Men's Merino Wool Hiking Crew Socks$12.73 at REICastelli Scorpion Logo 15 Thermal Sock - Women's$28 at Backcountry.com
Permethrin-treated clothing spray
Treat the clothes once and it lasts weeks.
Treat the clothes once and it lasts weeks. Don't have one? Check these out.
Sawyer Permethrin Pump Spray$14.50 at REI
Reusable water bottle
Don't have one? Check these out.
Que Collapsible Water Bottle Cloudy$24.95 at Backcountry.comCollapsible Water Bottle$24.95 at Backcountry.comBidon Water Bottle$14.40 at Wild RyeWater Bottle$7.20 at Backcountry.com
Multi-port USB-C charger (GaN)
One brick charges the laptop, phone, and camera.
One brick charges the laptop, phone, and camera. Don't have one? Check these out.
Dual Slim Charger$64.95 at Peak DesignAnker Wall Charger (33W, 2-Port) with USB-C to USB-C Cable$25 at REI
AirTag / tracker for bags
Packing cubes
Don't have one? Check these out.
Our pickMatador Packing Cube SetSee price at MatadorMatador Gear Cube Set$58.99 at Backcountry.com3 Piece Compression Packing Cubes$50 at SamsoniteUltralight Packing Cube$24.95 at Peak Design
Laundry bag / travel detergent
Don't have one? Check these out.
Matador Laundry BagSee price at MatadorKnack Pack Drawstring Cover and Laundry Bag-Large$10 at Knack BagsNathan Power Wash Performance Laundry Detergent with Pump$24 at REI
Packable blanket
Lows around 32°F. One blanket that packs small covers the car, the campsite and the beach at sunset.
Lows around 32°F. One blanket that packs small covers the car, the campsite and the beach at sunset. Don't have one? Check these out.
Flame Puffy Blanket - Hot$102 at rumplPendleton Yakima Camp Blanket Green Heather, Twin$199 at Backcountry.comPuffy Kachula Adventure Blanket$59.50 at Backcountry.comTeca Camp Blanket$90 at Cotopaxi

Nice to have

You could skip every one of these
Hand sanitizer
Don't have one? Check these out.
Noshinku Ultra-Hydrating Pocket Hand Sanitizer Refill$13 at REIDr. Bronner's Organic Hand Sanitizer$5.50 at REINoshinku Refillable Ultra-Moisturizing Pocket Sanitizer$9 at REI
Sunburn-safe insect bite relief
Don't have one? Check these out.
heat it pro USB-C Smartphone-Powered Insect Bite Relief$49.95 at REIheat it classic USB-C Smartphone-Powered Insect Bite Relief$29.95 at REIBadger Outdoor Itch Relief Stick$9.95 at REIheat it classic Lightning Smartphone-Powered Insect Bite Relief$29.95 at REI
Short cables (USB-C)
Don't have one? Check these out.
USB-C to C Cable, Paracord wrapped, 3 ft PD enabled$27.99 at Backcountry.comAnker Prime USB-C to USB-C Cable (6 ft., 240W, Upcycled-Braided)$35 at REIAnker 2-in-1 USB-C to USB-C Cable (4 ft., 140W, Braided)$26 at REICable Kit$19.99 at Peak Design
Luggage locks (TSA)
Don't have one? Check these out.
Matador BetaLockSee price at MatadorPacsafe ProSafe 620 TSA Accepted Luggage Locks$17.95 at REI3 Dial Travel Sentry Combination Lock$13 at SamsoniteTravel Safe 4-Dial TSA Cable Lock$15 at Eagle Creek
Toiletry bag (hanging)
Don't have one? Check these out.
DK5 ModPak Toiletry Bag$49.95 at Backcountry.comToiletry Bag$50 at Backcountry.comHanging Toiletry Bag - Small$49.95 at Backcountry.comBuddy 2 Toiletry Bag$44.99 at Backcountry.com

The basics

You own most of these. We are just making sure they make it in.
Toiletries kit
Travel-size toothpaste + brush
Don't have one? Check these out.
Our pickMatador Toothbrush Caps 2-PackSee price at MatadorMatador Refillable Toothpaste TubesSee price at MatadorHuppy Peppermint Toothpaste Tablets in Tin$12.99 at Backcountry.comDr. Bronner's Travel Toothpaste - 1 oz. Peppermint$2.95 at REI
Deodorant
Don't have one? Check these out.
HiBAR Natural Deodorant Unscented$13.95 at REIBusy Co Clarifying Deodorant Wipes$6.95 at REI
Medications + prescriptions
Chargers (phone)
Don't have one? Check these out.
Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station (3-in-1, Foldable Pad) with Charger and USB-C Cable$100 at REIDual Slim Charger$64.95 at Peak DesignAnker Wall Charger (33W, 2-Port) with USB-C to USB-C Cable$25 at REI
Underwear
Don't have one? Check these out.
Smartwool Women's Merino Bikini Underwear - Boxed$35 at REIEveryday Merino Bikini Underwear - Women's$34 at Backcountry.comREI Co-op Women's Merino Hipster Underwear$29.95 at REISimond Trek 500 Merino Wool Backpacking Underwear Women's$29.99 at Decathlon America
Socks
Don't have one? Check these out.
Injinji Ultra Run No-Show Wool Socks$21 at REIBalega Women's Enduro No-Show Socks$13.73 at REIBalega Hidden Dry No-Show Socks$13.73 at REIWoolrich Merino Solid Ragg Socks$14.73 at REI
Sleepwear
Reusable shopping bag
Don't have one? Check these out.
Packable Tote Bag - Geo$24.95 at rumplPackable Tote Bag$49 at Eagle CreekGrocery Tote Messenger Bag$125 at Backcountry.comChrome Grocery Tote Messenger Bag Matte$125 at Backcountry.com
Pen (customs forms)
Copy of passport
Small lock
Don't have one? Check these out.
Pacsafe ProSafe 1000 TSA Combination Luggage Lock$17.95 at REI3 Dial Travel Sentry Combination Lock$13 at Samsonite
Earbuds
Don't have one? Check these out.
Soundcore by Anker Liberty 5 Active Noise-Canceling Wireless Earbuds$130 at REIShokz OpenDots ONE Open-Ear True Wireless Earbuds$170 at REIShokz OpenFit Air Open-Ear Wireless Earbuds$120 at REIJBL Vibe Beam 2 Bluetooth In-Ear True Wireless Noise-Canceling Earbuds$64.95 at REI
Sunglasses case
Don't have one? Check these out.
Croakies Sunglasses Case with Carabiner$9.95 at REIChums Transporter Sunglasses Case$10 at REI
Nail clippers
Don't have one? Check these out.
So iLL Nail Clippers$8 at REI
Sewing kit / safety pins
Don't have one? Check these out.
Expedition Sewing Awl$35 at Backcountry.comSpeedy Stitcher Sewing Awl with Extra Thread$33.50 at REI

Take this list with you

It keeps your ticks. Open it again when you are standing over the suitcase.
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