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We’ve made the transition to digital travel planning, all but for the humble checklist—a dashed-off reminder on a scrap of paper to pack our toothbrush or cell phone charger. We could fill a suitcase with those well-intentioned (but often failed) attempts to plan ahead. If only we had some packing assistance...
Wouldn’t you know it: There’s an app for that.
Packing Pro, $2.99
Packing Pro is a Type-A dream: a comprehensive list-making tool that helps you pull together the necessities by category. Check off the essentials (passport, cash, etc.), clothing, accessories, toiletries; you can also customize categories and make listswithin lists (ooh). It may seem fussy, but anyone who travels extensively for business—or manages logistics for a large family trip—will fall for it instantly.
Stylebook, $3.99
Strictly for fashion plates, Stylebook is both a virtual stylist and closet organizer. The setup can be grueling—you have to snap photos of each item in your wardrobe—but once done, the fun begins. Page through categories of clothing (footwear, tops, pants), plan and name outfits, use a calendar to schedule what you’ll wear, and, of course, create a packing list without having to open a closet. Being able to sort through seasonally appropriate items without digging through old boxes is a godsend. And the beauty is that, as with a playlist shuffle, you’ll rediscover hidden treasures over time.
Things, $9.99
Presumably inspired by efficiency bible Getting Things Done (though not affiliated with its author, productivity consultant David Allen), Things is a life-management app that, if used religiously, happens to be fantastic for travel tasks as well. The app sorts the various to-do lists of life—work, home, family, hobby, health—and the actions required to accomplish each. It also syncs over the cloud with desktop and tablet versions, so the system doesn't fall apart when you switch to a different device. The cult-like followers of GTD swear by it; the rub, as always, is sticking to the system.
Springpad, free
As with Things, Springpad isn't a dedicated travel app, per se, but happens to be perfectly suited to the task. Login via smartphone, tablet, or computer and create your notebooks; there can be one for travel, or maybe one for recipes, or books to read, or home renovation tips. Within your travel notebook you can add a packing checklist, complete with tags for easy searching or sorting, and then share the list with others. Springpad is polished and intuitive to use. The ability to build Pinterest-style collections of notebooks may not appeal to everyone, but those looking for a versatile checklist app will find it extremely useful.
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