Okay, so confession time: I’m terrible at packing. Like, really bad. For this road trip up the East Coast, I told myself I’d be all minimal and clever, but honestly, I just chucked random bits into a bag last minute. Somehow, the only thing I actually wore the whole week was my Essentials Hoodie. Not even exaggerating—it became the MVP of the trip. I had jeans, a couple of tees, and yeah, my Essentials Tracksuit bottoms, but they were like side characters. The hoodie was the star.

Day One – Hoodie vs. Sydney Weather

We left Sydney at stupid o’clock in the morning. I was half-asleep, clutching a servo coffee like my life depended on it. Essentials Hoodie on because it was cold. Two hours later, the sun’s blazing through the car window, I’m thinking I’ll roast alive—but nah, still comfy. Not sweaty, not freezing. It’s like the hoodie knew what was up. Aussie weather is chaotic, but this thing handled it better than I did.

Day Two – Hoodie at the Beach (don’t judge)

We get to Newcastle. Everyone’s stripping off, diving into the surf, and I’m that weirdo still rocking a hoodie. But then late arvo rolls around, breeze picks up, and suddenly everyone’s jealous. Pulled the hoodie on over my Essentials Tracksuit bottoms and boom—looked like I’d actually tried to dress myself. Spoiler: I hadn’t.

Day Three – Coffee in a Random Coastal Town

By day three, we stopped at some tiny café in a town that looked like time had forgotten it. I shuffled in, hoodie still on, hair messy, sunnies hiding the damage from zero sleep. And you know what? I blended in perfectly. Everyone was in the same vibe—hoodies, trackies, sneakers. Aussie style is just relaxed but somehow not sloppy. The hoodie fit perfectly.

Day Four – Hoodie = Pillow

At this point, exhaustion was real. Long drives, servo pies, mate’s dodgy playlist, I needed a nap. Pulled into a rest stop, hoodie became my pillow/blanket combo. It didn’t look glamorous, but it did what I needed. That’s when I realised, kind of amused, that this hoodie had officially graduated from clothing to travel essential.

Day Five – Inland Cold Snaps

We ditched the coast and went inland. Big mistake, it was freezing. Proper breath-in-the-air kind of cold. And yep, the Essentials Hoodie came through again. 

Paired it with my Essentials Tracksuit bottoms, and I was sorted. Everyone else was layering up like marshmallows, and I was chilling, literally.

Day Six – Byron Pub Night

Hit Byron, obviously had to go to the pub. I almost swapped the hoodie for something “nicer,” but couldn’t be bothered. Walked in anyway—turns out half the people there were in hoodies too. With Byron’s mix of surf culture and streetwear, the Essentials Hoodie just works. Casual, comfortable, and it doesn’t feel forced. Win.

Day Seven – Hoodie = Lifestyle

By the last day, I wasn’t even pretending anymore. Hoodie all day, every day. Grocery runs, lookout points, sunset with mates—it just worked for everything. My friends were digging through their overpacked bags, and I was chilling in the same thing I’d worn all week. No stress.

That’s when I got it—the hoodie had stopped being just gear and started being the theme of the trip. Comfortable, adaptable, and hassle-free. And the Essentials Tracksuit? Solid backup when I wanted full comfort.

The Lesson From One Hoodie

So yeah, moral of the story? Australians have it figured out. No one wants to lug around ten different outfits—they just want clothes that actually fit their life. Stuff you can wear in random weather, in small towns, in pubs, on the beach, wherever. The Essentials Hoodie nails it. Simple, reliable, doesn’t scream for attention, but still looks good.

Pair it with the Essentials Tracksuit and honestly, you’re set. You don’t even need to think about it, which is probably the most Aussie approach to style ever.

Final Thoughts: Packing Less, Living More

Packing light was meant to be a gamble, but it ended up being genius. The hoodie carried me through the entire trip—warmth, comfort, even doubling as bedding. Meanwhile, my mates had bags full of “options” they didn’t even touch.

Lesson learned: less is more. And if you’re road-tripping Australia, you really just need one thing—a good Essentials Hoodie (and maybe the Essentials Tracksuit if you want to get fancy).