How many Covid tests to bring and packing challenge

Or you could just test at a pharmacy/testing site the day before your flight. You have to decide which is more advantageous to you: not worrying about squishing the tests over 14 days, or taking the test on your timing the day before the flight.

You could also buy masks there as you go, so you don’t have to pack so many.

As carefully as I packed, our BinaxNOW tests got smushed. The gov’t issued tests made it just fine. I took them out of the boxes and put them in a ziplock bag nestled against the hard side of the luggage. The Binax test was a pain in the neck and not easy to get the orientation of the iPad camera correct.

How many N95s are you bringing? Ive been using them for months and we are maybe through the first box of 20? You can reuse them unless you going swimming with them in your pocket (that was my partner!) .

I assume we'll need to do a pre-departure test on our return to NZ but I'm certainly not carrying anything around for the months prior!

I put my Binax boxes in a plastic box to eliminate squashing. I’m bringing 2 Binax and 3 home tests. 7 masks per week.

I feel better knowing I have certain and easy access to what I may need. Others may feel comfortable doing it differently.

I am checking my carryon size bag and bringing a large tote on the plane with me.

Hi. I’m bringing one Binax now and a couple regular covid tests and around ten N95 masks. I’m putting the regular covid test kits in ziplock bags and keeping the Binax in the space between the wheels and the collapsible handles. It’ll get smashed but so long as it’s intact I don’t care. I plan to use it shortly after I arrive in my first city, which will be the day before my Rick Steves trip starts, so it won’t be in there that long. For the Covid test before I return home I will go to a local pharmacy, but before I go, I will take one of the regular Covid test in my hotel so I know what to expect. It’s a pain, but it’s a lot better than sitting at home waiting out the epidemic.

I brought a box of regular binax tests in the original box and the smaller box of 2 of the government ones. I carried them in my carry on but I routinely check my 22” bag.

I’ve got 32 N95 masks for 30 days, packed in large ziplocks in an outer pocket of my 22” bag. Yes, I am using a new one every day especially when I am in crowded situations. I use them repeatedly at home but I’m not in public transport nor am I in crowds. I brought my own because I wanted ones that fit my face tightly

So far I’ve used 2 of the Binax tests. One because I was having a major allergy attack and wanted to make sure that’s what it was. The 2nd was before I met up with some forum folks for dinner. They are headed on a RS tour in a few days and I wanted to make sure I was negative for them.

I purchased a box of 5 tests at a local pharmacy the other day. I’m headed off to Belgium to meet up with a Road Scholar tour. They do not require testing prior to the tour but I’ll do it anyway as I’ll have been on a train for a few hours. Plus I’ll test along the way. The box of 5 is smaller than the government issue boxes of 2, so I’m downsizing.

I ordered the Qured proctored tests, 2 for each of us, for our "return to US" tests. We'll also bring some of the free at-home tests for along the way. I habitually save the sturdy plastic take-out trays with lids and found one that will fit the Qured boxes. Not worried about the at home tests. We purchased trip interruption insurance that will cover extra days in case one of us tests positive. We got our 2nd boosters last week and have a good supply of masks, which we'll wear on the plane and elsewhere. So, hopefully, we're prepared for the risks, but feel it's worth it. Not getting any younger. We leave in 10 days for London, then will join the Best of Ireland May 15.

We each packed two Binax tests for our March 7th tour. We each used one before the tour began and one before flying home. We figured that if we had to use both before our return flight we could get tested at a local site. And we figured that removing the bulk of the tests would give us more room for souvenirs and other "bring-backs." The same logic served for masks.

My Binax box got squished, but it was still intact. The test proctor seemed to be simply reading from a script and didn't seem to notice that my box was squished.

I have used this proctored test before, and the kit comes in plastic bag about the size of a glasses case : https://www.cityhealth.com/rapidreturn/

Also, my kn95 masks fold in half flat, so they took up virtually no room in my luggage at all. Do you have masks that aren't folded flat?

@Carol, where did you buy your plastic bins for the Binax test? I was at the Container Store and didn’t see any that size?

We will also be bringing 3 self test tests each. Maybe 4 if I have them around.

As always, the RS community delivers! Thank you all for sharing your tips and lived experiences with me. I see now that I have lots of options and can now focus on (worry about?) other aspects of preparing for my trip.

I had 2 packed for each of us, but seeing several posts about positive tests, I will make room for more.

I like my masks to fit and be comfortable, so I customize them. I will bring a variety of KN95, medical, and my cloth masks with filters.

“Do you have masks that aren't folded flat?”

My N95’s (3M Aura) fold flat and have a plastic overwrap. I packed 16 each in 2 1-gallon ziplocks. They fit well in the outside pocket of my suitcase and lay better if I can spread them out a bit. I’m 2-weeks in so have reused the 1st gallon zip lock, lol.