tips and tricks for packing small and light???

kathryn

kathryn

Cathlete
I like to travel light, and I hate checking luggage (the last time I did was about 18 years ago, and my luggage was misplaced for a day!). I'm looking for different tips and tricks to make my load as small and light as possible, especially since on the way to Europe, I'll be packing some handouts for the workshop I'm giving, and they will take up about 1/3-1/2 of the space in my larger carry-on. (I'm trying to emulate a former schoolmate of mine, who took one small suitcase and a purse to spend a month in France!).

Some things I plan to do already: buy some reversible clothes to get 2 or more outfits out of one (I've found some at Travelsmith...any other places to check out?)

A place called packinglight.com has some cool shampoo/deodorant/conditioner/hand lotion sheets that are like facial cleaning sheets, but they disolve in water, so they don't count towards the 'liquids/gels' limits.

I'm thinking of using some of those space-saver bags to pack the few clothing items I am taking.

Any suggestions on easy-wash undies? The styles they have at the travel sites I've visited are mostly granny-pants looking.
 
Hi Kathryn,

Yes, I have some suggestions (I NEVER check my luggage except when I fly back to the states from Naples, IT...it's a small plane with no capability to check larger carry-on items wing-side). I and three other women spent two weeks in Italy last year with only carry-on luggage. We flew on Lufthansa where there is an 18 pound weight restriction for items carried onto the plane. With this as a reference point, here's what I suggest:

Clothing suggestions: Do you have a local REI? Columbia, ExOfficio, and REI brand clothing all pack down into virtually nothing and are wrinkle free. Bonus is that many of the clothing items have a built-in SPF. I found the number three to be handy; three slacks, three short sleeved tops, and three long sleeved tops. For slacks, I only wore the pants that convert into shorts. I purchased the REI brand of undies that washed well in the hotel sink and dried easily on a portable clothes line (to be discussed later). I brought 6 pairs each of socks and undies. I wore hiking boots on the plane and packed a pair of sandals and dressier shoes in my luggage. I wore the boots during the day and found them to be wonderful while walking on uneven cobblestoned surfaces.

For compression, I always use the Eagle Brand folding packets. They are wonderful and handy tools in packing lots of items into small spaces.

Check out http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/tips/tips_menu.htm for packing tips and a packing list for Europe. Specifically, I would read his packing list for women and his tips for packing light and right. I followed these tips to the letter and had great success. I also took his advise and purchased his portable clothes line. It was great in that all four of us could hang our freshly laundered undies and socks on one clothesline.

Please note that you CANNOT carry on any laundry detergent. My Tide stick was confiscated by TSA while going through security in the states. My advise is either buy the detergent once you arrive in Europe or buy in one of the airport stores.

Hope this helps.
Lorrayne
 
Thanks for the tips!

(I probably will check a bag on the way bag, merely because it will be full of books, which are heavy to try to lift into the overhead compartment!)


>Please note that you CANNOT carry on any laundry detergent.
>My Tide stick was confiscated by TSA while going through
>security in the states. My advise is either buy the detergent
>once you arrive in Europe or buy in one of the airport
>stores.

Not even the small, single-use packages of Woolite that could fit in the quart 'liquids and gels' bag? Is there some other reason, other than it being a liquid/gel?
 
Kathryn, there was recently a piece on NPR about packing light to avoid the extra charge for additional checked luggage. They interviewed Doug Dyment. Here is his website http://www.onebag.com/ I checked it out and he has some great tips. Have a wonderful time on your trip. I envy you! France is on the top of my "some day" list, but I'm scared because of the language barrier.
 
I have friends who can't believe that DH and I spent 10 days in Italy with one carry-on bag each.

As mentioned, Rick Steves is the guru of packing light! We took a lot of his advice. I was going to buy some of those travel clothes, but, I didn't like the style that much, and, I thought they were too expensive for stuff I probably wouldn't wear in my back-home everyday life. I lived in two knit dresses that I picked up at Target for about 25.00 each. No zippers, no wrinkling; they were great for walking around during the day and fine with a cotton sweater at night (and I still wear them!!!). We went around the first of May, so the evenings could still be cool.

I also took a lightweight jeans skirt, some tee shirts, two pairs of shoes (sketchers and sandals), a pair of black pants, a couple of light sweaters for layering, and, as far as undies, I think I took like some cheapo Hanes synthetic blend with no band so they didn't show under my clothes. They were light, and dried practically overnight.

I envy you! DH & I contemplated going to Spain and/or Portugal in April or May of this year, but, with the dollar so bad, we nixed it. Now we're thinking about going to Argentina next year, if the dollar stays as good as it is now!
 
I have no clue!:) You people who are able to pack a carry-on and that is it, are a very, very special breed, I bow to your resourcefulness.

I cannot pack because who can predict what one will feel like wearing for those days away from ones closet? Impossible!

Have a safe and happy visit! BTW..what in the world is reversible clothing?:eek: Like those reversible coats, that have one print on one side and a solid color on the other?

Good undies, easy wash? Hanky Panky's! Nancy can vouch for me here. They simply are the best and actually pretty cute, and they last forever. Just wash in cold /warm water. You can get them at Nordstrom who usually has them on sale.:)
 
>I have no clue!:) You people who are able to pack a carry-on
>and that is it, are a very, very special breed, I bow to your
>resourcefulness.
>
>I cannot pack because who can predict what one will feel like
>wearing for those days away from ones closet? Impossible!


Isn't that the truth?? It's all about choices! ;)
 
>I have no clue!:) You people who are able to pack a carry-on
>and that is it, are a very, very special breed, I bow to your
>resourcefulness.
>
>I cannot pack because who can predict what one will feel like
>wearing for those days away from ones closet? Impossible!


LOL! Same here!
My poor husband. When we travel, he has one small suitcase. I have his carry-on filled, my carry-on, 2 trunks, and a garment bag. Too many outfit choices. I have a difficult time narrowing my choices down.
 
>Not even the small, single-use packages of Woolite that could
>fit in the quart 'liquids and gels' bag? Is there some other
>reason, other than it being a liquid/gel?

You can try to bring the single-use packages of Woolite. However, the TSA agent may confiscate it. I used to take my Tide stick all the time. On the outbound trip, a TSA agent commented to me how wonderful the Tide Stick is and let me pass. On the return, the TSA agent said that I couldn't carry it on the plane with me because it was considered a cleaning agent (hence, flammable liquid which is not allowed to be carried onto the plane).
 
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