HALF OF BRITS OVERPACK FOR A STAYCATION - AND STILL FORGET THE ESSENTIALS!

HALF OF BRITS OVERPACK FOR A STAYCATION - AND STILL FORGET THE ESSENTIALS!

●      Over a quarter of Brits take their own toilet paper on staycations and a fifth take their own bedding

●      But vital essentials like chargers, toiletries and even medication are often forgotten

●      Halfords teams up with organisation expert Dilly Carter to help staycationers to get set and pack more into summer 

27th May 2026: Brits are guilty of packing the kitchen sink when going on holiday - but still forget essential items such as chargers, underwear, glasses, wallets and even medication.

A study of 2,000 adults found over half of adults (51%) say they typically pack more than they need for a staycation and 44% could classify themselves as an ‘overpacker’.

Nearly a quarter (23%) have packed so much for a staycation that they've struggled to see out of their car's back window - potentially opening themselves up to a fine.

But despite this, they have forgotten essentials like their charger (28%), toiletries (20%) and medication (13%).

The top ten most forgotten items when packing are:

1. Charger (28%)
2. Toiletries (20%)
3. Suncream (19%)
4. Towels (13%)
5. Medication (13%)
6. Underwear or socks (11%)
7. Swimming trunks/costume (11%)
8. Appropriate clothes (11%)
9. Wet weather clothes/boots (11%)
10. Glasses, contact lenses or sunglasses (9%)

Organisation expert Dilly Carter has teamed up with Halfords to help staycationers pack smarter and get more out of their car space.

She said: “With no luggage limits, it’s easy to overpack — but a few simple tweaks can make all the difference especially when cramming what seems like every corner of your home into a bag.

“If you are packing for a trip you should think about your zones, putting things next to other bits that make sense, for example keeping all food in one place, and activities next to each other - this will help with quick unloading. 

“Some cars aren’t fit to have too much kit packed in them, so it’s worth considering a roof box or bike rack to make sure you have enough room for the essentials.”

As an example of Brits’ overpacking ways, 26% admit to taking toilet paper with them on staycations. Meanwhile, 18% bring their own bedding. Ten per cent even say they will pack their own spices for a UK trip.

The additional luggage you can take, and the choice this offers, means that for one in five (20%), packing for a staycation causes them stress, with 67% worrying they may forget something - as is often the case according to the figures. 

Although of course, being in Britain, over half (52%) said the weather is the biggest cause of their packing anxiety because it is so unpredictable.

On average, it takes Brits 50 minutes to pack their bags for a three-day (two night) staycation - although more than a quarter (27%) will take longer than an hour. 

When travelling to a staycation eight in ten (80%) will typically get to their destination by car, however 17% will take to the road without carrying out safety checks like tyre pressure, fuel/battery level or washer fluid.

The study found men will take control of packing the car (54%), checking the car (54%) and unpacking it (34%). Whereas women will be in command of booking (55%) and organising supplies (50%).

Paul Ray - Head of Marketing from Halfords added: “We’ve all been there - wedging a third spare pillow into the back window, driving halfway down the M5, and suddenly realising the phone chargers are still sitting on the kitchen counter. With no airport luggage limits, staycations make it incredibly easy to overpack, but shoving the kitchen sink into the boot can actually change how your car handles. Teaming up with Dilly is all about helping families cut the holiday packing stress, get organised, and crucially, make sure that extra weight doesn't compromise their safety on the road this Summer."

Dilly Carter's Top Ten Tips to Packing Your Family Car This Summer:

1. Pack with purpose - think zones, not chaos: Think in categories: sleeping and shelter, clothing, food and drink, activities, and essentials. Packing with intention means everything is easier to find - saving you time when you arrive and stress if you need to stop enroute.
2. Think outside the box - invest in a roof box! We often forget we can use our roof! A roof box is a total game-changer. Bulky, lightweight items like duvets, sleeping bags, inflatable airbeds and beach gear are perfect for going up top. Reserve the boot for heavier, temperature-sensitive or frequently needed items.
3. Heavy at the bottom, light on top - always:  This is not just good packing sense, it is a safety rule. Heavier items should always sit low in the boot, close to the rear axle. Extra weight affects your stopping distances and how your car handles - so how you distribute it really matters.
4. Check your tyre pressures before you leave - not when you get there: A fully loaded car is a heavier car, and your tyres need to reflect that. Check and adjust your pressures before you set off. You will find the correct figures on your B-pillar, fuel filler flap, or in your owner manual.
5. Protect your boot with a liner: Whether it is a muddy dog, a wet wetsuit or a leaking cool box, your boot takes a real hit on a family trip. Think of a boot liner as a duvet cover for your boot - easy to remove, easy to clean, and shaped to fit your car.
6. Keep the kids zone sorted with over-seat organisers: The back seat can descend into chaos within the first 20 minutes! Create an organised travel zone with activity packs, snacks and devices all within easy reach. A tidy back seat means a calmer journey for everyone.
7. Bikes and scooters do not belong in the boot - use a rack! Trying to squeeze bikes into a car is one of the most common packing mistakes families make. A bike rack keeps everything secure, frees up your boot entirely, and makes loading and unloading so much easier.
8. Make a grab-and-go bag for the journey: Snacks, wipes, charging cables, headphones, a spare change of clothes - one medium bag in the footwell with everything you need en route. If it is buried in the boot, it does not exist on a motorway!
9. Use all available space: Make use of all the storage compartments in your car. A lot of people forget the glove box and car door bins, but you can fit an additional 25 litres if you use it properly. It’s also handy for any items you need easy access to!
10. Pack your camping gear in set-up order: Think of it like your morning routine - everything in the order you need it. Pack what you will use first, last. Groundsheet in first, then tent and pegs, sleeping bags on top. Arriving at a campsite should be exciting, not stressful!

 

Ends

 

For further information please contact Halfords@vccproar.com or 0207 932 3693

Research study commissioned by Halfords and conducted by One Poll in May 2026 amongst 2,000 UK adults.

 

About Halfords

Halfords is the UK's leading provider of motoring and cycling products and services. Customers shop at 404 Halfords stores, 3 Performance Cycling stores (trading as Tredz and Giant), 604 garages (trading as Halfords Autocentres, McConechy's and National) and have access to more than 200 mobile service vans. Customers can also shop at halfords.com and tredz.co.uk for pick up at their local store or direct home delivery, as well as booking garage services online at halfords.com.