A shared packing list is one list the whole group can see, where each shared item has one person's name next to it. Split it into things everyone brings (passport, charger) and things only one person needs to bring (speaker, corkscrew, first-aid kit), and assign the second group. In Troupe the packing list is part of the shared trip: add an item, assign it, and tick it off when it is packed.
Two lists, not one
The mistake is treating group packing like personal packing. They are different problems.
| Personal items | Shared items | |
|---|---|---|
| Examples | Passport, clothes, toiletries, medication, charger | Speaker, games, corkscrew, first-aid kit, adaptors, beach umbrella, cool box |
| How many needed | One per person | One or two for the group |
| What goes wrong | Someone forgets theirs | Nobody brings it, or everybody does |
| Fix | A reminder list | A name against each item |
A shared list should mostly be the second column. Add a short "everyone needs" section at the top for the things that ruin a trip if forgotten, then spend your effort on assigning the rest.
Shared items by trip type
Rented house or cabin
- Speaker and charging cable
- Sharp knife and corkscrew (rental kitchens rarely have good ones)
- Coffee, tea, cooking oil, salt and spices
- Bin bags, washing-up liquid, toilet roll
- Board games or cards
- First-aid kit and painkillers
City break
- Travel adaptors and a multi-plug
- Portable battery pack
- Printed or offline copies of bookings
- One umbrella per two people
Camping or festival
- Tent, pegs and mallet (named owner for each tent)
- Stove, gas and lighter
- Cool box and ice packs
- Torches and spare batteries
- Water container
- Gaffer tape and cable ties
Ski trip
- Lift-pass paperwork and booking references
- Boot dryers or hand warmers
- Suncream and lip balm
- Hip flask and snacks for the lifts
Road trip
- Phone mount and car charger for each car
- Paper map or offline maps downloaded
- Snacks and water per car
- Breakdown cover details
How to run it
- One person drafts the list a week or two out. Copy the relevant section above as a start.
- Everyone claims items. Put a name on each one. Unclaimed items after two days get assigned by the organizer.
- Tick when packed, not when intended. A ticked item is in a bag.
- Check it the night before. Anything unticked gets a message to its owner.
If a shared item has to be bought, the buyer adds it as a trip expense so the cost is split. That is easier than arguing about who paid for the gas canisters.
Doing this in Troupe
In Troupe the packing list sits in the Extras tab of the shared trip. Each item has a title, an assignee and a packed tick. Because it is the same shared trip as the itinerary and the expenses, everyone already has it open, which is the main advantage over a separate notes file that half the group never looks at.
Extras also holds photos of documents such as tickets, insurance and booking confirmations, and a list of emergency contacts, which belong with the packing list in the "do not leave without this" category. Starting a trip from a template (city break, road trip, family trip, beach trip, hen or stag, ski, festival) gives you a head start.
For a general pre-departure list, see the travel checklist. For the plan itself, the shared itinerary guide.
What it does not do
- iPhone and iPad only. There is no Android or web version, so everyone in the group needs an Apple device to join the shared trip.
- It syncs through iCloud. There are no Troupe accounts and no Troupe server. Each person needs to be signed in to iCloud.
- It does not book anything. You add flights, stays and activities yourself; Troupe organizes them.
- It does not move money. It works out who owes whom and can open a payment link. The transfer happens in your banking or payment app.
Free version and Pro
| Free | Troupe Pro |
|---|---|
| One trip | Unlimited trips |
| Up to 4 people | Any group size |
| Itinerary, expenses, packing list and documents | Everything in free, without the limits |
| Everyone you invite joins free | Only the organizer needs Pro |
Pro is a monthly subscription or a one-time lifetime purchase. Only the person who creates the trip pays; the people they invite never do. Check the App Store for current prices.
Common questions
Should each person have their own packing list too?
Yes, for personal items. A shared list works best when it is limited to things the group needs one or two of, plus a short list of essentials everyone must bring.
Can I assign an item to more than one person?
Each item has one assignee, which is the point: one name means one person is responsible. Add the item twice if you really need two.
Can everyone tick items off?
Anyone with edit access to the shared trip can add items, assign them and tick them.
Is the packing list free?
Yes. It is included in the free version, which covers one trip for up to four people.
Can I reuse a list for the next trip?
Templates give you a starting list for common trip types. Otherwise, add items as you plan each trip.
Troupe is for iPhone and iPad. Trips sync through your own iCloud, with no accounts, ads or tracking. Other apps named on this page are trademarks of their owners.
Put a name next to every shared item: Get Troupe on the App Store.