Really, travel light/carry on only - how on earth do you do it?!

[Keith009]

My one and only attempt at carry-on only sent me bumbling around the airport, losing my fingers by the minute being weighed down by various carrier bags and walking twice as slow. All this while negotiating through the airport with my wheelie. I even gave up my prime upper deck real estate 17k on SQ's 747 in favour of the lower deck just so I didn't have to go up and down all those stairs with so many things. I really didn't intend to shop that trip but was caught off guard by massive sale signs plastered all over KL.

Since then - never again.

But I decided that I'd try to pack light after hurting my back earlier this year lifting a heavy suitcase the wrong way.

OK it's only halfway through my current trip (4 weeks) but I find my bag already stuffed to the limit, the number of carry-on items increasing rapidly, and almost needing a 2nd suitcase! :shock:

How do you people pack light?! I see some people simply rocking up to the airport in dinky little suitcases. OK for a short trip I suppose but I recall a TR on here about doing a RTW in 8 weeks with carry-on only. I mean, you must either have to send your clothes to the laundry every few days, or you have some sort of device to magically shrink your clothes or expand your suitcase!

I am already finding it difficult to decide what outfits to bring along as it is - i mean you do wear your clothes according to your mood of the day and so is one supposed to predict how one is going to be feeling on any given day?! Especially shoes - i wouldn't want to leave any of them at home! But bringing my entire shoe collection might be a tad too much so usually get around this issue by choosing 4 pairs that are most 'representative' of my shoe collection. (casual/comfy for flying, semi formal, formal, dance)

The other half, inspired by Becky Bloomwood, suggested planning my outfits in advance in the form of a flow chart, but again how am I supposed to know what I'm doing on any given day, and so many variables determe what one is to wear for the same event (eg dress code, the weather, contingency if someone else is wearing the same things, a 'polite, make an appearance' look vs 'i am really wanting to be here and enjoying this party' look etc). Nonetheless I tried to adopt this strategy and forced myself to bring my mid-sized suitcase, but ended up with not having enough space for my shopping!

Toiletries was an easy one - easily solved by travel sized packs of Bliss Spa's sink size 6, different varieties of gift pack sized cologne bottles and deodourants to match - and if in a mood for something I don't have it can be easily included with a quick call to the concierge, using hotel dental kits negate the need for my own toothbrush/toothpaste. But these don't take out that much space even if I brought full sized bottles along.

And given this is sale season - the things that I simply have to have, sorry worthwhile long term investments that I simply have to make have exponentially increased - thus compounding the problem. And also - how am i supposed to know whether sales are on apart from the traditional sale seasons. And if sales are on it'd be criminal not to participate in such unique opportunities to save money especially as we're in the middle of a GFC!

Help?! :shock::shock: And please don't say stop shopping as that's not an option (ie I might as well stay at home if im not shopping?!).

Still I think I've come v far, even if I ended up with a 2nd suitcase as on my last RTW I came home with 3 suitcases on top of having already shipped some stuff. Praise be to the 3pc allowance in the US I suppose....

 

[Commuter]

I even gave up my prime upper deck real estate 17k on SQ's 747 in favour of the lower deck just so I didn't have to go up and down all those stairs with so many things.

Hahaha! I have done a similar thing on QF!
Not once, but twice or three times. OK, I've finally learnt.

I really didn't intend to shop that trip but was caught off guard by massive sale signs plastered all over KL.

Who can blame you...

But I decided that I'd try to pack light after hurting my back earlier this year lifting a heavy suitcase the wrong way.

OK it's only halfway through my current trip (4 weeks) but I find my bag already stuffed to the limit, the number of carry-on items increasing rapidly, and almost needing a 2nd suitcase! :shock:

Just buy a 2nd suitcase, like I have just done (OK, it wasn't a 2nd suitcase I bought this time, because I have something like 8 suitcases from those antics now, and I didn't want any more for fear that suitcases will spill out of my storage room, but it was a huge duffel bag).

How do you people pack light?

I pack light! I depart home with an empty suitcase (literally - my regular airport got so used to it, although I got a funny look at first) with all my necessities in my carry-on bag.

THEN, I shop, fill the suitcase, and need to buy another one.

I've just been in London and I brought back a full suitcase (that was empty on departure) plus a completely full huge duffel bag. Considering I still have 10 garments being altered, that's a lot of things I brought back.

If it weren't for the shopping, I'd have been there and back with a carry-on only though. I can easily do a two/three week trip with a carry-on only, excluding shopping.

I mean, you must either have to send your clothes to the laundry every few days, or you have some sort of device to magically shrink your clothes or expand your suitcase!

I use the hotel laundry/dry cleaning facilities very liberally. I do hand-wash my underwear, however.

I am already finding it difficult to decide what outfits to bring along as it is - i mean you do wear your clothes according to your mood of the day and so is one supposed to predict how one is going to be feeling on any given day?!

I just take my staples and combine them. If I tend to find myself always wearing them, it means I can't go wrong with them while travelling, either.

Especially shoes - i wouldn't want to leave any of them at home! But bringing my entire shoe collection might be a tad too much so usually get around this issue by choosing 4 pairs that are most 'representative' of my shoe collection. (casual/comfy for flying, semi formal, formal, dance)

You see Keith, your problem is that you don't have enough pairs of shoes. Once you have 100 pairs, there is no question of 'wanting to leave any of them at home'.

On a serious note, I only take one pair of shoes with me, i.e. the ones I'm wearing. They're not the most comfortable, they're not the most practical, and they're not the most stylish, but they are a good 'happy medium' pair. I call them my 'travelling shoes'.

Nonetheless I tried to adopt this strategy and forced myself to bring my mid-sized suitcase, but ended up with not having enough space for my shopping!

You need to take a shopping bag, or two, or three.

I am embarrassed to admit to having gone out with 2 bags (one carry on and one suitcase) and returning with six (3 suitcases, one large wheeled duffel, 1 large cabin bag, and one original carry on) on one occasion. This was my biggest 'mistake'. I wasn't as experienced at 'managing the risk of having to buy lots of new bags' then.

On my last trip, I should have taken one suitcase with another suitcase inside, with a duffel inside it. This is called 'Russian Doll Suitcase' and works very well. I have done three layers of cases before and it works well. I just stuffed up this time by under-estimating the amount of things I'd buy, so I ended up having to buy another duffel.

If you do elect to do this, this is what you do:

Buy a large suitcase in which your medium size one will fit (make sure it does fit!), and also buy a flexible large duffel, preferably without wheels but with a 'handle strap' to put it over the suitcase handle (not having wheels means flexibility to crush it and also saves on weight).

Make sure that ALL the cases have 4-wheels for ease of carrying if you have any risk of needing to walk even a small distance with them without a trolley. I'll explain more later.

Pack the duffel with the items you are taking with you. Crush it and put it inside your medium size suitcase. Put your medium size case inside the large case.

Gradually fill your duffel/cases as you shop.

When everything is full, if you must walk with all of your bags, put your cabin case (make sure this has 4-wheels as well) and the large suitcase back to back and grab the handles with one hand. Put your duffel over the handle of your medium case and grab that one with the other hand.
You will now be able to wheel 3 cases + a duffel quite comfortably (note: only works with 4-wheel cases!).

(In the worst case, you can buy another 4-wheel case and still move all four by yourself.)

Now as to limiting the amount of fashion items you take, do your research in advance as to the feasibility of wearing what you buy while downroute. This will work for most people (it doesn't usually work for me as most clothes I buy require alteration, unless I decide to pay for express service). You can research the sale quite well and know in advance the likelihood of buying what you actually want to wear (and whether you'd get the clothes for the right season etc).

Key to this is to work on the principle of 'the more space for shopping, the better'.

Toiletries was an easy one - easily solved by travel sized packs of Bliss Spa's sink size 6, different varieties of gift pack sized cologne bottles and deodourants to match - and if in a mood for something I don't have it can be easily included with a quick call to the concierge, using hotel dental kits negate the need for my own toothbrush/toothpaste. But these don't take out that much space even if I brought full sized bottles along.

Full-size bottles are weight issues as well as space issues. Try and gauge the exact amount you need. After a while, you'll get this down pat. If you are in London or Tokyo or somewhere elsewith Muji, buy appropriately-sized empty containers from there - they are of good quality and re-usable - and refill them with what you need from large bottles. As I am rather fussy with toiletries, I take everything I need with me (apart from the things I know for the fact I can get at the destination), but it really isn't too bad.

And given this is sale season - the things that I simply have to have, sorry worthwhile long term investments that I simply have to make have exponentially increased - thus compounding the problem.

See reference to Russian Doll Suitcase above.

And also - how am i supposed to know whether sales are on apart from the traditional sale seasons. And if sales are on it'd be criminal not to participate in such unique opportunities to save money especially as we're in the middle of a GFC!

Prior research! Look on a few larger stores' websites and you'll see if they are likely to be on sale when you get there.

And please don't say stop shopping as that's not an option (ie I might as well stay at home if im not shopping?!).

Hehe, I have avoided saying that all through my post - in fact the opposite I believe I am a bad influence on you.

 

[simongr]

If you want to HLO then you cant shop - basically that's it.

If you are going to HLO then you need to be disciplined:

- Assume that you are going to have to laundry every 3 days
- Accept that wearing the same suit for most of your time in HKG is an option
- 2 pairs of shoes (max) - ones for wearing at work and one for casual
- Plan your attire day by day - moods not an option
- Maxmimise the applicability of "business casual" so that clothes become both business and casual...
- Don't shop for things unless they are thin AND flat

 

[sunfan]

I enjoy reading this thread because my wife is the ultimate shopaholic and when she is not shopping for herself and me (why do I need more clothes?) she is shopping for the children, for next years' birthday presents, etc etc

For years we have problems with her excessive lugguage on our trip, yes going away with one suitcase and coming back with a lot more.

For the past ten years we have solved the problem by using these "folded up" suitcase that actually folded up into small packages and when she has done her shopping in Hong Kong (her favorite shopping city), the folded up suitcases expand into full size suitcase. I have only ever seen them sold in Hong Kong and bought ours there. The two brands that I am aware of that made them are Samsonite and LaSportSac.

We have used our Samsonite for over ten years, we check them in and they are very strong and durable.

I have looked for them in Singapore, Paris, London and KL and no one sell them. The only place that sell them is in Hong Kong.

I realised I cannot stop my wife from shopping and these "folded up-expandable suitcase" saved my life.

 

[whereishome]

It's been mentioned on here before, but onebag.com is a great resource for HLO travel.

Personally I have done the US for 2 weeks, Japan in winter for3 and am about to do Japan in summer - all with HLO. I just have 3 sets of trousers, 4-5 shirts and a bit longer worth of underwear and socks. I usually wear a pair of dress shoes on the plane (since they weigh more - the perils of 16 size feet) and cram some lighter walking fare into the carryon.

Buying light stuff, wearing the heaviest clothes on the Plane helps. As for shopping - I tend to spend money on tickets accomodation and food.

Maybe becaus I'm not really a fashion plate, but I usually get around with (in summer) two pairs of BDU trousers (tan and OD) which look like cargo pants but are much harder wearing, a pair of black dress slacks, a bunch of long sleeve shirts and usually wear over a jacket of some description that's tidy enough to go out in, but not too fancy I'm concerned about it clashing with the BDUs.

I do laundry myself every day and the sink or bath, ask for extra towels that I use to wring out he water and then (if I need to) can use a trouser press to press a shirt (again, between two towels).

Although recently I've been able to stay part of my trips with friends, so there are free laundry facilities!

 

[Commuter]

I have only ever seen them sold in Hong Kong and bought ours there. The two brands that I am aware of that made them are Samsonite and LaSportSac.

Lipault also do pretty decent ones in interesting colours.:mrgreen:

Lipault Paris site officiel - Les bagages ultra légers

 

[drron]

ROFLMAO.Keith there are 2 types of people in this world-those that can travel with hand luggage only and those who cant.You could also say those who shop and those who dont-though strictly not quite the same groups.
Before marriage I was definitely in the HLO group.I used to go bushwalking and so weight was always very important.I was a believer in 8 day underpants-2 days right way round,2 days back to front then repeated inside out.We often caught the train to the Blue Mountains for our walks and on the return journey always seemed to be able to find an empty carriage
Then along came mrsdrron.Well I remember those first OS trips.We would leave with 1 suitcase each and would always return with 2 or 3 each.We were appointed suitcase suppliers to both our families .Finally I decided on what commuter has so aptly named the "Russian Doll suitcase"method of travel.But it does work with 2 wheeled suitcases.With the third cases perched on the 2 bags I am wheeling mrsdrron does all the checkins etc.If I need to leave the bags-ie to put mrsdrron's bags on the belt for weighing(and yes I became very adept at the toe under the bag trick-only caught once :shock the bags natural tendency is to fall in the direction of the side with the handle-so you leave them handle to handle.
On our last DONE4 with mrsdrron having read some of the misguided posts here about HLO travel she decided to go with 1 suitcase each.I knew this wasnt going to work and insisted I take one of the larger cases for myself.She performed wonderfully packing as we left home with only her bag containing our luggage.She felt virtuous with these but content that we had 1 other bag for purchases-well I was a very naughty boy because I had gone with 1 of the smaller cases inside my empty large bag .And just as well-the 3 bags were nearly bursting on our return.:shock:
Of course the problem is shoes as well.Mrsdrron left the 100 pair mark behind a long time ago.DFW in the states is known as heaven.On this last trip she did the best ever-only 2 pairs plus a pair of texas Cowgirl boots!
So Keith-congratulations on your attempt at HLO status but just accept you are who you are.Well they dont even have an Overpackers Anonymous do they?

 

[serfty]

While I'm a HLO type of guy, I do bring along a light duffle bag when travelling with SWMBO.

It folds up flat and can be easily carried so in a rollaboard section.

For the last (few) segment(s) of the trip it gets filled with unbreakable items (such as clothing).

Still even then we occasionally need to expand one of our rollaboards and check it as well.

If I am travelling on my own - it's HLO all the way!

For all that can be said on how to HLO it see this great thread:

• http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/com.../great-hand-luggage-only-challenge-10900.html

It's been around for nearly 2 years but is still very pertinent.

In IMHO Keith, if you need to take more the one additional pair of shoes (other than those you wear onto the aircraft) then it's a lost cause.

 

[Keith009]

Thanks for all the tips guys, especially Commuter's Russian Doll idea. :mrgreen: I will endeavour to check that out, unfortunately I only have 2 wheeled suitcases so will have to buy some of those 4 wheeled thingies. Talk about an investment though - I could save money in the long run as I wouldn't need to buy suitcases on the go or ship stuff on future trips anymore.

OK so I should accept the fact that I'm not a HLO or even 'pack light' person but hopefully I am improving on this trip, cutting down from 3 suitcases to not more than 2!

I think not packing anything altogether might be a great compromise - to make even more room for shopping, and just shop for clothes/shoes/accessories as I go along. But just imagine - I might wake up one day in the mood for a v specific limited edition shirt that can't be found anymore, eek! Or my quirky 'I'll show you who's boss Kate Moss' shirt that I bought for a joke at a Taipei night market.

Incidentally there was a sale on luggage at Nordstrom, so problem solved - for now. I hope. Hmm maybe i should auction off some of my suitcases to make some money in order to buy more suitcases ad hoc on future trips.

Worse comes to worst - I'll be meeting the boyf in Korea, and he hates shopping - so I might convince him to come with a large suitcase half empty.

 

[notzac]

Echoing what others have written - shopping addictions and HLO do *not* mix!

I'm yet to be able to do HLO for anything outside Australia and NZ - but I'm usually traveling in the northern hemisphere winter, which makes packing light a bit difficult.

 

[auriga]

For the past ten years we have solved the problem by using these "folded up" suitcase that actually folded up into small packages and when she has done her shopping in Hong Kong (her favorite shopping city), the folded up suitcases expand into full size suitcase. I have only ever seen them sold in Hong Kong and bought ours there. The two brands that I am aware of that made them are Samsonite and LaSportSac.

Any pictures?
Are they duffle bags, or actually suitcases.... I find it hard to picture a foldable suitcase.

 

[sunfan]

They are like a square duffle bag made of ( I was told) some material they used on spaceship. They are very tough and we have loaded upwards of 23kg into one of these bags and checked them in time and time again. We used it mainly to pack all our "used and worn" clothing and shoes on a trip and that leaves our main suitcase for the wife's "shopping".

 

[Commuter]

Thanks for all the tips guys, especially Commuter's Russian Doll idea. :mrgreen: I will endeavour to check that out, unfortunately I only have 2 wheeled suitcases so will have to buy some of those 4 wheeled thingies. Talk about an investment though - I could save money in the long run as I wouldn't need to buy suitcases on the go or ship stuff on future trips anymore.

Here is an interim measure for 2-wheel suitcases.

You need a strap that links the two suitcases (the larger one in front, the smaller one behind). Some of the suitcases (soft ones) have a built-in linking strap in the top pocket. That way, you can drag two with one hand. It's heavier and harder to pull but you can get it to work - so long as the surface you're dragging them on isn't too bumpy (if it's too bumpy, the second one sometimes flips).

You can buy those short little straps (they look like those long baggage straps but much shorter and might have an extra clip) from luggage shops.

If you are sure to have a trolley, man servant, porters, or Red Caps etc everywhere, then you can do it OK with 2-wheel cases. 4-wheel ones are for enabling you to pull two suitcases per hand without feeling like you're dragging a house with you

Speaking from experience here

Enjoy your shopping!

P.S. Make sure you get lightweight cases/duffel etc, or you'll encounter excess baggage issues.

Also, if you do the '4 x 4-wheel suitcases' method, please don't use the long fairly-steeply sloped travellator at Melbourne International (the one near the Customs office on the ground floor). It's a bit scary - your bag will try to get away from you, and it's hard work to hold them without falling over. Again, speaking from the experience...

 

[Saab34]

I want to know what is the take up of that Jetsaver Light fare to Hawaii! How can you do it??

 

[whereishome]

Any pictures?
Are they duffle bags, or actually suitcases.... I find it hard to picture a foldable suitcase.

I have one I bought in Tokyo. I saw it at a duty free store I was passing by and thought "For ¥1000 I'll have one of those!".

It folds up into about the size of a small laptop, but when it expands it's about the size of a regular suitcase with a single double stitched heavy-duty YKK zip across the top. It's made out of the kind of heavy duty material you get sports bags (good ones) made out of and has worked out pretty good for me.

I usually save my shopping for the last day or two of my trips, and I scam a few cardboard boxes from a store or the hotel and use those to line the sides (not very high-tech I know) but it adds a little bit of form to it, which allows me to safely fill it with DVDs and books (my only shopping weakness).

I've never seen anything like them in Australia though.

 

[russianrob]

I'm currently on a 9 week Northern Europe jaunt with carry-on only. My 2 wheel Roller is taken outbound in the "smaller size" with an empty 20 litre vinyl duffel bag flat packed inside (weight 10kgs spot on). On the way home the roller can be expanded to go underneath if I buy anything, and use the vinyl as carry-on. I also use a specialized LowePro Laptop/camera backpack which has room for books/passport/phone etc and my 12" and SLR. No problems with any Airlines to date.

As previously stated, if you need more than 2 pairs of shoes/long trousers etc (wearing one, pack one) you have NO chance of ever doing a carry-on trip.

Go with the Matrioska case idea.

 

[roshodgekiss]

Hah! This is such a refreshing thread to read! My mother suffers from a similar condition - does she really have to pack a 1/2kg of teabags when on vacation? What are all these toiletries for? - so I empathise completely.

My personal tip - go to Kathmandu (or a good camping store) and buy yourself a compression sack. This looks like one of those bags that better-quality sleeping bags are packed into, with two straps and four buckles which can be adjusted by hand to pack soft items into a really small space. Stuff all your iron-free items into it (denim jeans, cotton t-shirts, undies) and compress it. Pop it into your bag and forget. Buy another sack for dirty laundry, if necessary.

I find that t-shirts in particular will expand to take up any amount of space they are applied to, so go the sack

 

[ejb_nz]

Hi all,

Slightly OT but, I have just converted from a HLO to a No Hand Luggage (NHL) person.

I have always left gear behind to fit in with the "must not check luggage" crowd but after a recent injury forced me to limit my carry on to headphones only I have decided that appart from the headphones all else gets checked.

The freedom of not lugging the carryon through security, the joy of just taking your seat for the flight and the ease of getting off has converted me.

Now some will say the extra time waiting for checked bags is wasted but IMHO the benefits outweigh the time wasting.

YMMV

ejb

 

[tuapekastar]

Hi all,

Slightly OT but, I have just converted from a HLO to a No Hand Luggage (NHL) person.

I have always left gear behind to fit in with the "must not check luggage" crowd but after a recent injury forced me to limit my carry on to headphones only I have decided that appart from the headphones all else gets checked.

The freedom of not lugging the carryon through security, the joy of just taking your seat for the flight and the ease of getting off has converted me.

Now some will say the extra time waiting for checked bags is wasted but IMHO the benefits outweigh the time wasting.

YMMV

ejb

That's a fair enough position ejb, and I recall enjoying a day trip to CBR recently where I had no carry-on (or any luggage at all)...certainly has its place though I'd be wary about checking certain valuables.

 

[whereishome]

The freedom of not lugging the carryon through security, the joy of just taking your seat for the flight and the ease of getting off has converted me.

Now some will say the extra time waiting for checked bags is wasted but IMHO the benefits outweigh the time wasting.

I like the cut of your jib, sir!

If but I could be in the same boat, but my (pleasure) travel involves a lot of station lockers, trains, crashing at various friend's places which is made a hell of a lot easier by having only a carry-on sized bag and a messenger bag.

I think that HLO travel is fine to a certain point, but if I could afford to travel in the manner to which I'd like to become accustomed (exec suites, F, Chaeffu-- cheauff-- being driven around) then I sure as hell wouldn't be HLO only...