Packing List – Review

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Version #: 1.0.0

Date Released: 2009-03-18

Developer: Packing List

Price: 2.99

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It doesn’t matter how well I plan or how good my intentions are — inevitably prior to a trip I find myself scrambling at the last minute to get everything together. That’s right, I am a devout last-minute packer.

Yes, there are worse flaws to have (I have some of those too) but this one can be problematic. It means that prior to leaving on a trip it is a chaotic  dash to get to the airport or train. It also means that, inevitably, I leave something behind — not a big deal if it’s that extra baseball hat but a huge deal if it’s medication or the like. So planning out what to bring on her trip is important — it’s just something I haven’t learned how to do. That’s why I was interested in this application. It promises to make packing easier and quicker. Let’s take a look —

When you first start the application you’re invited to tap the "plus" sign, add the name of your trip and the departure date, choose a packing list and add some notes. The application offers a number of preselected packing lists. It’s a great idea but not very helpful. Why? Let’s look in one example —

There’s a packing list for a man who’s heading on vacation. That’s fine except for the fact that such a packing list is going to be different depending upon the climate, the length of the trip, and whether or not you tend to choose to eat in fancy dining establishments that require a jacket or at a beach bar the entire time. In other words attempting to put down a pre-formatted list may actually take more time to undo the list and redo it than simply start to scratch.

Within each list there are numerous categories of items. This is quite helpful as it divides up items in a way that is easy to track them and also to consider carefully what you bring. Here too, there is a challenge, however. For example under the category of "accessories" there are just 10 items to start — film, lighter, matches, pen, pencil, safety pin, sink plug — that’s right next time you travel don’t forget to pack your sink plug. The problem with this is the following — I don’t need film I need memory cards for my camera. I don’t need a lighter because I stopped smoking years ago. I don’t need a pencil because I don’t use pencils. In fact, I exclusively use my Lightscribe Pulse Pen now so I don’t need a pen either, I need that specific pen AND the special paper that goes with it. And I’ve never traveled with a sink plug — in fact I don’t own one. Again, the preformatted lists are well intended but for the most part useless.

So the app is a complete bust, right? Not at all. Sure, you need to make up your own categories, feel the categories with items particular to you, and determine what type of list you need for what type of trip. That takes a lot of work. But once you’ve made a list, you’ve made the list and from there the application is quite simple. In fact, the interface is simply useful!

You simply go down the list of items and, once you’ve packed it, you mark it down by tapping on the screen once in the item disappears from your list. It’s not gone, however, because in the information screen you can toggle selected items on or off so any time you can see what still needs to be packed or what you’ve already packed. In addition, there is a small envelope icon in the lower right-hand corner of the application that allows you to send the entire packing list for yourself or someone else quickly and easily.

So what I think of the application overall? I actually like it. I want to take a look at some of the other applications available by, if this were the only one, or the others aren’t better, I can be quite happy with this application. Sure, it takes a good bit of work to set up the first time. After that initial setup, however, it can make life much easier.

For example, we go to Aruba every single year. And every year we have pretty much the same routine. We go to the same restaurants but swap out one or two new ones each time in our daily routine during our week is pretty well set. It’s actually one of the things we love about going for timeshare. And each year we pretty much take the same things. And each year I swear that I’m going to bring less because I only wear half my clothes during the week. (It’s a beach vacation after all). So this coming year I can easily see myself using the application to set up my initial list and then, at the end of the trip, take off all of the items I didn’t need so that the following year I simply have to pull out the old lists and get packing. I’m not, however, sureI woud pay the current $2.99 for it.

Quick Take

Value: Medium. Good app but $2.99 is a bit much for it
Would I Buy Again: Not at this price
Learning Curve: Medium. Once you understand the system it uses it is simple. But you need to understand the system first
Who Is It For: Packing-challenged people like me
What I Like: Simple to use for packing once the lists are built
What I Don’t:  Building the lists is a bit of work

Final Statement: Good app. Not great but good.