Being featured on CNN, Forbes, The Washington Post, and Lifehacker doesn’t necessarily mean your app is good, but it does raise the question, “Why is everyone talking about it?” will occur.
This app, which everyone knows, helps with the simple task of packing for a trip. To be honest, I’m incredibly late on this subject. I’ve relied on various list apps for years to stay organized ahead of big trips. I reuse old lists and adjust them based on where I’m going and what the weather forecast is like, but all the while my head is the only one telling me what I need.
It’s all over now pack points App. By answering a few questions about your trip, PackPoint can check the weather forecast, consult a database of common items to bring, and generate a complete list of everything you need. Say goodbye to guessing!
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This is part of a regular series of articles exploring apps you can’t live without. Read all about it here.
Most apps today rely on a variety of features to attract users and keep them coming back. These include perks, social communities, in-app purchases, and everything in between. These things certainly have their place, but when you come across an app that doesn’t have any of them, you suddenly feel like you can breathe again.
The same goes for the PackPoint app. After a while, I thought to myself, “Is this all I can do with this app?” It wasn’t necessarily a negative thought, but rather the realization that this app does one thing and one thing only.
What the PackPoint app lacks in complexity it more than makes up for in runtime. Questions are kept to a minimum, settings are easy to adjust, and checking and adding to lists is easy. Let me walk you through the process using my travels as an example.
In September 2024, I was heading to Malaga, Spain. I’ve been to Spain before, but only to Barcelona. I knew Spain was hot, but I never expected how hot it would get after the August heatwave. Also, unlike my trip in Barcelona, it was a mix of fun and business. There was a lot I didn’t know about the place I was visiting, so I opened the PackPoint app.
On the first page, fill in your travel details. This includes location, travel dates, length of stay, and whether the trip is for business, leisure, or both. The interface is intuitive and easy, and PackPoint had no trouble determining my exact travel location from its database.
I had no trouble entering the required information, but in my opinion there were a few things that could be improved. First, it has the advantage of displaying travel dates by displaying an actual monthly calendar, rather than relying on users to enter dates as text and months from a drop-down list. That’s it. Second, the color scheme, text, and logo make it more difficult than necessary to navigate what you need. It didn’t take long to push it forward, but users could benefit from a little tweaking.
I then clicked “Select Activity”. This will give you a list of common activities and allow you to select as many as you want. These include work, camping, the beach, photography, etc. There is also the ability to add custom activities, but this feature requires a premium subscription.
Most users won’t need to upgrade, but if you want custom controls and Tripit integration, you’ll have no choice but to pay the premium price. Price is $3.99 / £2.99.
Click “Start Packing” and the magic begins. PackPoint takes all the information you enter, checks the weather forecast, consults the packing database, and then provides you with a comprehensive list of what you need to pack. Everything is categorized so you don’t get overwhelmed.
At that point you can start packing. There are radio buttons next to each item that allow you to check each item when adding it to your bag. There are also numbers next to some items in case you need to pack more than one thing for a long trip. Really helpful.
PackPoint is good, but it’s not perfect. If you notice something is missing, you can easily add it to the list. One example would probably be your passport. For some reason, PackPoint’s list of “must haves” doesn’t include this, but you’ll obviously need it if you’re traveling internationally.
Once everything is checked, you’re ready to go. I really like the PackPoint app and will definitely use it as my go-to solution for remembering what to pack the next time I travel. Premium custom templates ensure you don’t miss anything when you’re packing for a city getaway, week-long beach getaway, or a night under the stars. I like the idea.
Download the PackPoint app. iOS or android.
