Oh, how I long to be that person who can pack for a weekend trip on a moment’s notice, with everything neatly tucked into one airline friendly-sized “personal item.”

I’m a wannabe minimalist, but also a strong believer in always being prepared, and those two sides always seem to come into conflict when it’s time to pack—whether for a weekend get away or a long vacay. I’m self aware enough to know I’ll never be the person who’s okay with just a backpack for a week away, no matter how much I’d love to travel that light.

But I’m definitely making strides to trimming down the extra baggage by adapting some smart packing strategies paired with leveraging some space-saving or multipurpose power hitter products.

One way I’ve upped my packing game is by having a well-thought out “base kit” ready to go.

That looks like having a weekend bag with most of the basics—in travel friendly form—ready to go. When a last-minute trip comes up, whether for work or pleasure, it’s a matter of picking out appropriate clothes and shoes for the destination, weather and occasion and then I’m good to go.

And yes, I know I made picking out clothes and shoes sound easy when I know that’s often the hardest part. But the reality for me is if I can have the basics, like toiletries, chargers, etc., ready to go, it makes it easier for me to do the mental gymnastics to sort out clothes and shoes—which makes it easier to make better decisions and not throw everything in my closet into my suitcase.

So what’s in my base kit?

Well it starts with a fully-stocked toiletry bag as the cornerstone, with travel-sized everything—soap, skin and haircare products, makeup, and travel-friendly health & beauty tools.

I intentionally choose solid over cream/liquid products when possible for air travel ease. Specifically, I use shampoo bars versus traditional liquid. I use bars at home as well as travel, as I think they’re better for my hair anyway. Love Beauty and Planet’s Coconut Water Shampoo + Condition Bar is my personal favorite. Solid sunscreen is another great option.

I’ve found it well worth the investment to pick up products specifically designed for portability and travel for my base kit.  Subtl Beauty Staks are a great example, with their customizable, “mix and match” stackable makeup products designed for travel, combined with travel-friendly brushes and tools. (Pro tip: use this link to save $5 on your first order).

My already-stocked toiletry bag gets popped into one of three larger pieces of luggage, depending on the trip:

• My general “weekender” bag that I use for most short road trips. This roomy duffel bag has a classic style that always looks great, but really delivers on functionality. I love the built-in shoe compartment coupled with smart pocket options. This bag meets airline carry-on requirements, if you don’t mind an over-the-shoulder option when you fly. Personally, I usually go with one of the next two options for air travel, depending on trip length.
• My “personal item” suitcase backpack for short trips when I’m flying. This backpack can be brought on flights as a personal item in addition to your carry-on (for longer trips), or can hold enough on its own for a short weekend. It’s especially great for business travel, with the laptop/electronics section at the back, which folds open flat for TSA screening. The main compartment is designed like a mini-suitcase, making it easier to pack for travel than a traditional suitcase.
• My standard carry-on. We all need a reliable wheeled carry-on for trips longer than a couple days. Always go for an option with four spinner wheels to get you through the airport quickly. When I’m packing enough to tag in this option, the backpack above is usually also in the mix, so I can keep a few in-flight comfort/entertainment options stashed away under my seat.

I keep my fully-stocked toiletry bag in any one of these bags at any given time, along with a few core travel essentials. It’s easy enough to swap everything into a different piece of luggage based on needs.

Here’s a look at the core essentials that I keep at the ready, in addition to toiletries:

• A well-designed all-in-one charger for devices. Look for an option that can serve as both a plug-in charger or power bank, and built-in cords are an additional space saver.
• A travel power strip with compact design but AC and USB outlets for those times you find yourself with limited outlet options where you’re staying. And if you’re doing any international travel, a universal plug adapter and voltage converter are a must.
• A mini clothes steamer, especially for business trips when I’ll need to be wrinkle-free.
• A dirty laundry bag, of course!
• Packing cubes to organize and condense.
• My favorite ever open ear headphones. I’ve got super sensitive ears, and not only are these bad boys the only headphones I’ve ever tried that stay comfortable, they’re designed to fit into this awesome sphere carrying/charging case that can be worn on a neck lanyard for easy access when traveling (or just cleaning the house.
• A compact umbrella, just in case if the weather looks iffy.
• A travel-friendly cold brew coffee maker. Ok, this one might be less universal, but my fellow cold brew addicts know what I mean. I’m less likely to include this in my bag for air travel or a quick weekend trip but it’s a complete MUST-HAVE when I visit my coffee-less family for the holiday. Look for an option made with shatter-resistant material in case your bag gets battered and bruised in transit.