Traveling light is a huge challenge for me. I normally take a 49 pound carry on bag, and a computer bag on EVERY trip. I pack everything except the kitchen sink. For short trips, I don't need to pack so much. Here is my first try at traveling light!
A few days ago, I spoke to my best friend about a trip that I was making to meet her in Las Vegas. We were planning a road trip to bring her car back to Michigan. We talked about flight plans, and when we would start our adventure. Then she asked me "You are only bringing a carry on, right?" I told her that I was.
After we ended the call, I began to think about what 'carry on' usually looks like for me:
A spinner Samsonite carry on suitcase that always weight just under 50 pounds.
A spinner Briggs & Riley computer bag that fits under most airline seats.
In those two bags, I always manage to pack just about everything I might need except the kitchen sink. I often check the carry on suitcase so that I will not have to keep it with me in the airport. (I know, that defeats one of the benefits of carrying on - you don't have to pay for checked bags!)
This trip, however, is a four to five day trip. The first day is a travel day, the second day is a rest day, then we start our road adventure. There is no reason for me to bring so much stuff with me.
My challenge: Pack light for this trip
I know that I need to take my laptop bag - I will be working remotely for part of the trip. But I did not need to carry my usually 50 pound suitcase.
I have seen posts about travelers who journey for weeks through Europe with just a backpack. If they can use a backpack for their travels, I can use one for this trip. Since I have already proven that packing light was not my way, I need some help. I found an amazing REI Co-op Expert Advice article, and a great article by The Broke Backpacker to help change my overpacking ways!
My goal: To bring a backpack and my spinner computer case. Nothing else!
Why bother to carry on all your luggage?
Most airlines allow you to carry on for free!
You never have to worry about your luggage getting lost because it is always with you.
You have your medications and other important items with you.
You can bypass baggage claim when you arrive at your destination.
If you choose to give up your seat, you have your luggage with you.
I recently earned $1600 in travel credits for giving up my seat and moving to a later flight!
If your flight is cancelled, you can quickly work on alternate flights on any airline without having to track down your checked luggage.
How to go from packing too much to taking what you need?
Use a packing list.
Limit the amount of clothes that you pack.
Choose clothes that can serve more than one purpose.
Choose colors that are interchangeable.
Use the 1-2-3-4-5-6 rule to figure out clothes to pack for a week's travel:
1 hat
2 pairs of shoes
3 pairs of pants
4 shirts
5 pairs of socks
6 pairs of underwear
Wash clothes while you are away from home.
Layer your clothes, especially on the plane.
Pack one or two pairs of comfortable, broken in shoes.
Gym shoes and another pair (for this trip, summer sandals / beach shoes).
Wear the heaviest pair when you travel.
Use compression packing cubes to compress and organize your packing.
Pack a lightweight, zippered collapsible bag to serve as a shopping bag or beach tote.
Consider carrying a small sling chest crossbody bag that you can wear under a coat or jacket. This is secure way to keep your cash, credit cards, passport, keys and medications close to you.
But I need my toiletries!!!
For me, toiletries are my biggest challenge! The toiletries that I normally travel with fill about 1/3 of the space in my suitcase! Definitely time for change!
Reduce the amount of toiletries that you take with you.
Only bring essentials.
Bring sample size toiletries.
Check the camping area of the store for travel size items.
Put them in the smallest containers that you can.
Buy contact lense cases from the dollar store and use them to carry small amounts of creams and liquids.
Put all liquids in a small individual ziploc bag - snack size work great!
If a container opens while you travel, the contents won't mess everything else up.
If you can get it free from the hotel, don't pack it!
Soap, lotion, shampoo, conditioner, shower cap... usually free for the asking!
Remember the TSA rule - no containers larger than 3.4 oz and they have to all fit in a quart size bag.
Pack your quart size bag at the top of your luggage - you will need to remove it when you go through security.
Are you ready to pack? Lay everything out!
Place everything neatly where you can see every item. This will help you visualize what you need to fit in your bag.
Check your packing list to make sure you have everything you need.
Remove everything that you don't need.
Only bring the toiletries that are essential.
Use compression packing cubes to organize what you are packing.
Pack quart sized bag with liquids last; it will be easy to remove for security check.
Follow TSA liquid rules, or your oversized liquids won't make the trip with you!
Let's get packing!
Place a fabric softener sheet in the bottom and top of your bag to keep your clothes smelling fresh!
Roll your clothes tightly and put them into compression packing cubes
Pack in an organized way.
Roll underware, shoes and shirt together, and put a pair of pants or shorts in the same cube with them. Or roll the shorts with them.
Pack your swimsuit and cover up in the same cube.
If packing for more than one family member, put each persons items in their own packing cubes, assigning each person their own color.
Place your shoes in a plastic grocery bag or shower cap to keep them from getting your clothes dirty.
Put small items in your shoes so that no space goes unused
If you plan to carry on your luggage, the TSA rule says liquid toiletries must be in containers smaller than 3.4 ounces, and fit into a quart size bag.
Pack quart sized bag with liquids last; it will be easy to remove for security check.
Be patient - it may take a few trys to pack everything so it fits in the bag.
Remember, wear layers, your hat and the heaviest shoes to the airport (so don't pack them).
Check the weight and size of your bags after you pack them!
For checked bags:
Most airlines allow up to 50 lb bags. However, some only allow 40 lbs.
Check with your carrier to find out the weight limit for checked bags.
If you are over the weight limit, you will pay a hefty additional fee.
For carry on bags:
You are usually allowed only two carry on bags:
One has to fit under the seat in front of you.
Ladies, this includes your purse. I usually carry a small purse that I can slide in my underseat bag before I board the plane.
The other can go in the overhead bin.
Check with your carrier for the allowed dimensions for carry on bags.
The allowed size can vary from carrier to carrier, so be sure to check with them for the allowed size.
Although most US airlines don't weigh carry on bags, you have to carry them yourself!
Your bag should not weigh more than 10% of your body weight!
If you weight 150 lbs, your bag should weigh no more than 15 lbs.
I usually to take a spinner bag and attach the second bag (a backpack or a computer bag) to it.
For this road trip, I will take my spinner computer bag and attach my backpack to it so I can roll them both.
If you are traveling outside of the US, many airlines DO weight your carry on bags.
Check with your carrier to find out the weight limit.
It's travel day - how did I do?
Let's see how I did with toiletries:
Before, I would have taken 36 toiletry items
I would have used seven travel bags for all the toiletries that I have!!!!
After, I took 30 toiletry items, most in much smaller containers
Yes, I still need my toiletries, but not such large quantities of them!
I removed Lysol spray, Gain Fabric spray, shower gloves, shower cap, facial cleanser & cotton wipes.
I took smaller sized shampoo, conditioner, moisturizer and gel, floss, deodorant, bug repellant, sunscreen, first aid kit, Q-tips, headache balm, hand salve, sewing kit, Pepto Bismol, fewer masks, and antiseptic wipes.
I used three travel bags, and one quart sized bag for all of my toiletries.
My toiletries, packed to go in four small containers!
How did I do with the rest?
I packed four bras, panties and t-shirts, two pairs of capris, and my favorite sandals.
I rolled a set of under ware inside each t-shirt, and each pair of capris separately. I put the shoes in a cloth shoe bag to keep them from getting anything else dirty.
Everything except the shoes fit into the medium sized compression bag. Compressing the bag reduced the thickness of the bag by an inch!
I also packed my two piece swim suit, a pool cover up and a pair of long sleeve pajamas with pants. I put them into the small compression bag.
I packed the large compression bag and my toiletries in the backpack, and planned to put the small compression bag and my shoes in the laptop bag.
Yay!!! I did it... I thought!
I thought I was finished, then realized that I forgot my planner! For me, leaving my planner at home was not an option. So something had to go!
I decided to leave my tennis shoes, pajamas, and pool cover up at home, and only take my swim suit. I added my USB drive case and my medications to the small compression bag. I fit the small compression cube into my laptop case with my planner.
How did it go, in the end?
It actually went very well.
I was able to travel with the backpack and my computer bag, instead of a 50 lb carryon bag and my computer bag. I also carried a sling chest crossbody, but it was stuffed to the hilt and I felt like it would be clear that I had something under my jacket. I stuffed the crossbody into the backpack before I boarded the plane, then took it out and wore it again once I was onboard.
It was quite easy to navigate the airport with the two smaller bags. A bonus was being able to use the built in strap on the rear of the backpack to attach it to the handle of my computer bag.
Would I pack this way again?
Absolutely! I have four short trips coming up in the next five weeks, and plan to pack this way again! I am certain that the more I pack this way, the better I will become, and the more normal that it will feel.
For any trip, I think packing this way is definitely worth the advanced planning needed.
Having two smaller, lighter bags to handle as I traveled was a huge bonus!
Aloha! My name is Robin,
and I'm the owner of Robin's Dream Destinations.
Hawaii is my absolute favorite place in the world,
and cruising is my favorite way to travel!
I am a Certified Hawaii Destination Expert, and a Certified Cruise Counselor!
I would be honored to plan and book your next Hawaii vacation or cruise,
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