The Lost Girls Dish on How to Pack for a Trip Around the World

Racked is no longer publishing. Thank you to everyone who read our work over the years. The archives will remain available here; for new stories, head over to Vox.com, where our staff is covering consumer culture for The Goods by Vox. You can also see what we’re up to by signing up here.

What happens in your late 20s when you have a glamorous life, a great boyfriend, the best friends in the world, a high-powered, high-profile job, and a growing sense of discontent—or, at least, an inkling that there's more to life than being fabulous?

If you're Jennifer Bagget, Holly Corbett, and Amanda Pressner, three women who are hitting their strides in the cut-throat world of New York media, you give it all up and kiss your boyfriend goodbye to embark on a year-long, 60,000 mile trip around the world. And then you write a book about it.

The Lost Girls (HarperCollins) is a story about travel, adventure, friendship, truth, and leaving everything behind in order to find yourself.

Of course, being as seriously materialistic as we are here at Racked, we wanted to know how on earth Bagget, Corbett, and Pressner packed for a trip around the world—and, for an entire year!

Would Vuitton luggage survive a trek through the Amazon? How many miles can one actually hike in a pair of Louboutins? Did they have to use—gasp—backpacks?

How to Pack:

Divide and conquer: If you're traveling in a pair or a group, avoid taking multiples of heavy items such as Blackberry or computer chargers, curling irons, guidebooks and sunscreen. Instead, email the list with your travel partners and agree who's taking what. Not only will you lighten your load—but you'll save at the ticket counter when you don't have to pay to check a bag.

Choose products that multitask: Why bring moisturizer, sunscreen and a foundation, when you can toss in a product that does all three jobs? To get a 3-in-1 result, go for a triple-purpose product MD Skincare's All-In-One Tinted Moisturizer Sunscreen SPF. And, for a hint of color on your pout and cheeks, reach for Stila's Lip & Cheek tint. It contains potent antioxidants, vitamins A, C, and E to moisturize and reduce the signs of aging.

Bring half the clothes—and double the accessories: You can practically wear the same basic outfit every single day of your trip—so long as you switch up the look with colorful scarves, funky jewelry, belts and hair accessories. Trading out a few pieces can help take you from day into night, without bulking up your bag. One word of advice: Leave a little room in your accessories bag for must-have items you'll snap up while on the road.

Pick up a few packing cubes: If you're really trying to get a lot into a tiny suitcase, nothing beats Eagle Creek packing cubes, which come in a near endless array of sizes and shapes. These nylon storage piece are nearly weightless when empty, but help to compress your rolled-up garments so you can pack more of them in. Another bonus: They can help you keep items like shirts, pants and other clothing items separate and organized, so you won't need to root around in your bag to find what you want.

Plan for the unexpected: Chances are, you're going to come home with at least a few souvenirs you picked up during your trip—and you've got to have somewhere to put them. Rather than bringing two suitcases on the outbound leg, stash a super collapsible nylon duffle or reusable tote, which is as light as a feather and folds away to practically nothing You can be a bit sneaky and take two carry ons on the way home, or just load your personal items in this roomy carry-all.
· The Lost Girls [Amazon]
· The Los Girls [Official Site]