Try these recommendations for size @mars
2 Likes
We travelled India with just carryon. Granted, didnāt need clothing for multiple climates, and warm-weather clothes take up less space than cool-weather clothing.
We each had one of these: The Pakt One | Carry-On Travel Bag
We googled some āminimalist packagingā blogs and lists, etc. and created our own packing lists from those PLUS bought a couple of specific items (Patagonia nanopuft jackets (bang for buck for warmth and compressibility; Bluffworks travel (I.e. hidden zippered pockets) trousers/shorts))).
Like buying a new car we made a ābase packageā-list, a ācold weather packageā-list, āhot weatherā-list, a āwater packageā-list etc. Something like this:
Hot weather Package - above-80F
Everything in the Base Package with the following adjustments:
Switch or add 2x Linen shirts? Guayabera?
Switch or add 2x no-show wool socks?
Add 1x dress shorts
Hat/s: 1x wide brim boonie sun hat
Add 1x sandals
And base package something like:
Luggage: PAKT One
Cable+lock, TSA locks, big-ass combination lock
Wear on the plane Package
Black dress Docs/Helm Chukka boots, compression socks, boxer briefs, travel trews, (white?) dress shirt, sports jacket, black belt, watch. Coat?
Carry-on personal item
ID/passports, wallet, sunglasses, iPhone, Apple-lightning-USB charging cable, pen, ā¦
Base Package - 45-85F
Packing cube (small):
- 3x boxer briefs
- 3x socks (2x midweight merino wool socks; 1x heavier weight merino wool socks). Add 4th pair: DeFeet running socks that can double as dress socks.
Packing cube (medium):
- 1x wool undershirts
- 1x Ten Thousand liner shorts (that I can run & swim in; that I can wear down to hotel lobby)
- 1x tech T-shirt (that I can run in; that I can wear down to hotel lobby)
Packing cube (large):
- 4-6x mixānāmatch of Untuckit and Thomas Pink shirts
- long sleeve shirts + short sleeve shirts
1x trews/jeans
1x dress shorts
1x quarter-zip wool sweater
1x Patagonia Torrentshell rain shell
1x Patagonia nano puff vest
1x Clarkās Desert boots ā something to wear with shorts and longs
1x flip-flops
1x lightweight beanie; 1x $1 gloves; 1x baseball cap.
dopp kit: tooth-brush & -paste; savlon, soap, 12x dental floss stick thingies; razor-handle (?& -blades if not going through TSA?); nail file; nail clippers; tweezers; little safety scissors, 2x4 safety pins, ā¦
Medical kit: Band-Aids? Allergy pills? Aleve? Anti-diarrheals? Antimalarials?
Electronics kit: power adapters/converters; cables; ā¦?
3x Ziplock baggies, different sizes, S/M/L
A (stupidly lightweight) daypack (argh, surely this can double as a laundry bag?)
Packable grocery bag
Silk mummy sleeping bag liner
Plastic universal sink plug
Break-proof whistle
Write-on-able tape + sharpie
Aerobie
4 Likes
hi AussieGail
Thanks for your message. Funnily enough I do most of what you suggested and I use some recyclable ziplock bags and squeeze the air out of them and things take up less space. Have used these for a while now especially good if using rucksack/backpack. I label them with the items inside so I donāt have to open them to find out what is inside.
I did think about using charity/thrift shops for anything I might find I need once I get to destination.
thanks again
F.
When we walked the Camino, I had a packing list like that (although even less stuff) and everything was weighed in grams to try to be as lightweight as possible.
Hey Mars, when I was flying to Austria, I was warned that the carry-on baggage policy may vary by company, I solved this problem by going to the website of the airline which makes business class flights to Austria and looking at their baggage policy. He answered for all my questions, I would not want to overpay just because I did not know their rules.
Excellent! Thank you for the great details - itās very much appreciated!
The Tumi intl size carryon that Iāve been using since Delta Airlines gifted it to me in 2010 when I hit 2 million lifetime miles is shot now, I think. The extendable handle broke once before and Tumi put a new handle on. It broke again and Tumi has told me it canāt be repaired (I think theyāve changed the part a few years ago and have finally run out of replacements.)
I donāt think I want to spend what Tumi charges to replace it with the same thing (although their customer service is great - when the first on broke on a trip, I brought it to the local Tumi store at the sit for repair), they provided a loaner to get me home and shipped my repaired bag to the local Tumi store at my home. I needed to return the loaner. But replacing with another Tumi would be at least $600 on sale.
Iām amazed at the number of hardside spinner carryons in the market, every one of them claiming to be the best.
I found an all aluminum spinner on Amazon that was on sale the day I bought it for less than $200 (now the price is back up to about $300). You have to read the descriptions carefully with āaluminumā spinners - some have aluminum frames but polycarbonate bodies. A Tumi aluminum is $1200 and a Rimowa is $1500!
2 Likes
Iāve been happy with the Cotopaxi 35, which incorporates packing cube-like pockets; some can be accessed from the exterior, which is helpful in flight or anytime you need quick access.
1 Like
I just returned from 2.5 months in Australia, hand luggage only. They sell e.g. socks and tshirts in Aus as well, so no need to overpack - just buy locally if you run out. For warmth pack layers (didnāt need any in Aus, but left from & arrived in winter in Europe). Shoes never more than the pair I wear and a very light-weight spare set.
Like others have in the past also bought some warm clothes on the spot and then donated them. Didnāt bring e.g. shampoo and similar, as they sell that locally.
Was glad I didnāt have more with, as I changed accommodation 9-10 times, mostly traveling on public transport between them. So much easier if only having to lug a stroller suitcase + dayback
3 Likes
Much easier to travel with a carry-on. I use a 40 litre backpack, which Iāve had no issue with size or weight. Last year I was forced to check it on my way from Vancouver to Prague as they said the flight was full and there wouldnāt be room. I arrived for my 2 week sit in Prague, while my luggage travelled the globe on its own. Thankfully I pulled my sandals out as I was dressed for September/October in Brussels. I bought 1 outfit at a Charity shop and the homeowner offered up an outfit. Made me wonder why I even needed a carry-on 
4 Likes
in a pinch, you can tie a pair of shoes to the outside of a backpack/bag. not ideal, but can be a big help! (I usually just tie them to a strap on my backpack, but looks like thereās also a product for it!)
lots of great tips have been given here, so I wonāt belabor the point. a lot of it is trial and error ā do the best you can on this first trip, and youāll start to learn what you do/donāt need. I always try to leave some empty space in my luggage when departing from home, because I know Iāll probably buy a couple things before returning. I also try to remind myself that I can generally buy whatever I need along the wayā¦ itās not life-and-death if I leave something behind. plus itās generally cheaper to buy one or two items once youāve landed than it is to pay for checked/shipped luggage there and back.
Weāve both used the Osprey Farpoint 40 as our carry-on for 70+ housesits.
Now weāre thinking about downsizing to an Osprey Quasar 26 to use solely as a personal item, to save on carry-on fees with low-cost carriers in Europe.
Does anyone here have experience with the Osprey Quasar 26?