Spontaneous Overnight Bag

For those of you who head out for an adventure Saturday morning and find yourselves wanting to make a weekend of it, this list is for you. Keep your bag in the back of your trunk and take advantage of every opportunity.

The Bag

1. Backpack

You'll just have a few clothes so they should all fit in a small backpack. You can

use the backpack for your activities as well.

2. Packing Cubes

Keeping your clothes in a packing cube in your backpack helps avoid wrinkles and

makes it even easier to pull them out if you find you want to use the backpack for

daytime adventures.

His Clothes

1. Hybrid shorts

Go from lunch to a hike, to the pool with a pair of hybrid shorts. We like these

Goodfellow shorts from Target. They look nice, the fabric is comfortable and they

are cheap enough that you can leave them in a just-in-case bag without missing

them.

2. Nice exercise shirt

The goal here is a shirt made from sweat-wicking fabric that looks nice enough to

wear around town wherever your adventures may find you. Again we like a shirt

from Target that wears well but is cheap enough to leave packed.

3. Chino pants

A chino, very versatile whether you end up at a brewery or steakhouse. These

pants are comfortable and, again, a good price point to stay in your bag for when

you need them.

4. Polo shirt

Day-to-night, you'll be dressed right no matter where you end up. You know the

drill, nice enough fabric at a good pack-it-and-leave-it price.

5. Jacket

You'll get the most use out of a jacket that has athletic material but clean lines. A

jacket like this one will be comfortable for sport or on your way into dinner.

6. 2 pair underwear

Hopefully no explanation needed on this one.

7. 2 pair socks

Essentials.

8. Sneakers (option 1, option 2)

If you know you're not going to take part in a sport, go for a casual sneaker like the

one above that you can wear with your shorts and your pants.

If you'll probably hit the trails or the field, try to find a sneaker that is

monochrome and looks a little nicer. The one above you can get away with your

chinos for dinner without folks really noticing.

9. Hat

Avoid a sunburn and no need for hair gel.

10. Sunglasses

It's always nice to have an extra pair around.

Her Clothes

1. Leggings

Comfort wherever your adventures take you. Since these will live in your bag most

the time, I'd recommend an affordable pair like from Target, vs the $100 leggings

athletic brands sell.

2. T-shirt

A nice t-shirt will be comfortable whether you go for a morning run or a walk

around town. This one still looks nice, but at a good price point to leave in

your bag.

3. Sports bra

Easy to forget, but you'll be glad you have it for a trail run or yoga.

4. Jeans

Choose a color that you can dress up or down as you need to. Just go for a basic

pair that you wont miss from your closet, so they'll always be ready in your bag

when you need them.

5. Cute shirt

Choose something that can go from day to night in a fabric that is good to

throw on after being folded in your bag.

6. Jacket

I like a puff coat that I can bring for a cold walk if I need to, and still feel

comfortable wearing on the way to dinner.

7. Bra

Basic. This one is super comfortable.

8. 2 pair underwear

Remember to pack what you'll want for both your leggings and jeans.

9. 2 pair socks

More basics.

10. Sneakers

You'll be prepared for anything with a pair of sneakers that you can go for a run in

or wear with your jeans and t-shirt around town.

11. Flats

You'll want to choose a pair that you will feel comfortable wearing day-to-night.

We like grabbing flats from Target, as they're cheap enough to not feel guilty that

they live in your weekend bag but still cute.

12. Swimsuit

Whether you're adventures take you by a river or an inn with a hot tub, you'll be

glad you have a swimsuit in your bag. This one-piece is really cute and still stays

on for water sports.

13. Hat

Protect your skin and don't worry about washing your hair.

14. Sunglasses

It's nice to have an extra pair you can throw on for anything and not worry about.

Toiletries

The final category is optional based on the type of adventures you're inclined to. For most people any toiletries you can grab from the place you end up staying the night, so there is no need to have them packed. But we usually do some type of adventure sport during the day, then pull a quick change at the gym chain we are members of before heading out for dinner. We often don't find ourselves at the place we stay for the night until later, so it's handy to have a little toiletries stash in our bag to change wherever. If that sounds like you, or you just like having your favorite brands here is the essentials list.