Build a packing list app with reusable templates

Templates, then trips

The structure that makes a packing checklist reusable is a two-level one. Templates are master lists that change rarely: Essentials (passport, charger, medication), Beach, City, Business, Camping, Skiing, Baby. A trip is built by picking templates, and the app merges them into one list without duplicates. Ticks belong to the trip, never to the template, so next time starts fresh.

Group items by where they go or what they are: documents, clothes, toiletries, tech, kit. Groups make it easy to pack one bag at a time, and to see at a glance what's left.

Quantities that follow the trip

"Socks" isn't a useful item; "socks × 6" is. Let each template item carry a rule:

Per night, such as underwear and socks, often with a cap if there's laundry.
Per few days, such as a T-shirt every two days.
Fixed, such as one raincoat or one tent.
Per person, for family trips where the list covers several people.

The trip setup then asks only for the number of nights, the people and the templates. A weather choice you set yourself (hot, mild, cold, wet) can add or remove items; the app can't look up a forecast.

Packing, and packing to come home

Pack mode: Big tick targets, items disappearing to a done section as they're ticked, and a progress bar per group.
Last-minute list: Things that can only go in on the day (toothbrush, phone charger, fridge food), pinned at the top on departure morning.
Return check: Untick everything and run through it again before leaving the hotel or campsite. Chargers and adaptors left in walls are the classic.
Didn't use: A tick after the trip for items that came back untouched, so the template can be trimmed.

Asking Anticode for one

"A travel packing list maker for our family. Templates: Essentials, Beach, City, Camping, Ski, Baby, each item grouped (documents, clothes, toiletries, tech, kit) with quantity rules per night, per two nights, fixed or per person. New trip: nights, people, templates, weather (hot, mild, cold, wet). Pack mode with big ticks and a progress bar, a last-minute list, a return check, and a didn't-use flag that suggests trimming templates. Saves on this phone and works offline. Bright, simple design."

For a camping checklist app, ask for templates by trip style (car camping, backpacking, festival) and a gear list for shared kit. A campsite or outdoor shop could also publish one as a helpful tool for customers; see campsites. Related builds: trip planner and to-do list app.

Why local-only suits it, and the limits

A packing list is used in places with poor signal: a loft, a campsite, a hotel room abroad. An app that saves to the phone needs no connection once it's open, and installed to the home screen it has an offline fallback; check it in flight mode before you rely on it. Nothing about your trip is sent anywhere. The limits follow from the same design:

No shared list. Two people packing for a family trip can't both tick the same list from their own phones; one phone holds it.
No weather or airline rules. The app can't fetch forecasts or baggage allowances; add your own reminders.
No barcode or photo inventory. There's no camera access.
One device. Templates built on your phone stay there. Export them to a file if you want a backup.

Questions people ask

Can the packing list app print a list?

Yes. Ask for a print layout grouped by bag or category, with tick boxes, for anyone who prefers paper.

Can I share my templates with a friend?

Ask for export and import of templates as a file. They import it into their own copy on their own phone.

Can it handle several bags or people?

Yes. Each item can be assigned to a bag (carry-on, hold, car boot) or a person, and pack mode can filter by either, so each child packs their own list on the shared phone.

Does it remember what I forgot last time?

If you ask for it: a 'forgot this' button during the trip can add the item to the relevant template for next time.