Packing three outfits based on core activities of the trip is a great approach and one I’ll use again. But, I did end up over packing. It had been a few years since I’d done a long trip and the panic of being unprepared set in and I brought along things I didn’t need. Here’s the lessons:

It is warm & sunny in Korea in the spring. Korean’s prioritize sun protection, and that is why everyone will still be covered up on the beaches, in the city, and on the trails. I only needed a rain jacket, a sun shirt for hiking, and a a cute jacket for the city or to throw on in the evenings. These three layers will keep you protected from the elements and in-style. Importantly, bring sunglasses!! It was sunny. I wear glasses everyday and didn’t bring sunglasses because I didn’t bring contact lens. When I got home, I immediately ordered prescription sunglasses from Smith and now I’ll never be without again.

My hiking outfit was key. Despite warm temperatures, Korean’s rarely wear shorts or tank tops, however it’s fine if you do–and I did. I brought Mountain Hardware’s Crater Lake tank top and Basswood shorts. This whole outfit I got from a clothing swap with friends, and I wore it a ton on the trip! Both items are lightweight, easy to wash in the shower and air dry, and they’re stretchy, making them really comfortable pieces to wear. Normally, I don’t hike in shorts, but in Korea the trails are extremely well maintained, like this one that is almost entirely stairs or wood slats and you will be passed by many ajummas who are in better shape than you.

Shoes that are easy to slip on and off. When visiting temples, palaces, and historic sites you’ll often see a sign asking you to take off your shoes before stepping inside. Having a comfortable walking shoe that is no fuss taking on and off is a good bet. I went with a white pair of sneakers by Cariuma, but if you can find cute trail sneaker that is also slip on/off, then you’ve found the holy grail of travel shoe for this trip (let me know what it is!).

Bring your favorite pants. I brought 4 pairs of pants and none of them were my favorite. So, I hated getting dressed everyday AND I had to lug around all those pants for a month! What I didn’t know was that black wide leg trousers were IN–every woman in Seoul was wearing them, all the time, everywhere I looked! When I came home I made a pair in black linen and they’re my favorite pair of pants now. If not making your own pants, look for linen, hemp, or another material that breathes well (i.e. avoid jeans, ponte, corduroy). 

Packing cubes. Enough said. Ok–any travel packing article you read is going to recommend packing cubes and for good reason. It sucks to open your backpack and have everything fall out. Aside from keeping my pack organized, packing cubes help everything fit and take up less space than if I wasn’t using them. I have the Amazon Basics small ones because they fit vertically, side-by-side in my pack.