Small cabin bag for 10 nights?

[Parttimewoes]

How doable is it? Son’s due to go away with friends and just realised this is all the luggage they have! Weather’s looking dubious so couple of hoodies needed as well as all the usual stuff. Should we be looking at paying extra for hold luggage or am I being daft and it’s easy? We don’t go abroad often but when we have whence always had hold luggage so unsure what’s feasible.

Thank you!

Of course it's doable. I left home for 6 weeks with a backpack that fits under the seat in a plane. Just 5 days worth of clothes is enough, as long as you can wash.

Question is, does your son want to do it?
Traveling light requires some adjustments, you take as little clothes as possible, you plan to do some washing, you don't take clothes that would be worn just once, just 2 pairs of shoes etc, everything has to go with everything, you're comfortable with the idea of being dressed the same, you don't plan to bring back anything, etc etc...

If you put your hoody and other things you could put on at gate into your duty free bag, it's worth a try. No one even looked at my carrier bag, once your on the plain no one checked where we put our bags either. But as I say it was Aer lingus and the flight wasn't full. Tiny backpacks went under the seat. Massively over stuffed tote in the over head locker

On easyjet I was asked to put my duty free bag into my cabin bag once! Only ever happened once though.

I used this bag in the summer - I managed to fit in everything I needed for a week’s trip. Your DS can wear the bulkier clothes and footwear too.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/xlodea-40x20x25-Underseat-Carry-ons-Compartment/dp/B0BYCZPGCF/ref=rvi_sccl_4/258-8110862-9010543?pd_rd_w=WCwJS&content-id=amzn1.sym.d56e60fb-87bc-405a-a95d-c5e322a9b3d9&pf_rd_p=d56e60fb-87bc-405a-a95d-c5e322a9b3d9&pf_rd_r=BDN989VN7XYBQJX4PT85&pd_rd_wg=VuLrI&pd_rd_r=ba2eea42-d24c-4f81-9401-ad2a9cbb90fc&pd_rd_i=B0BYCZPGCF&th=1

Just back from 10 days in Spain I had hold luggage but my OH managed perfectly well with a small underseat soft hold-all -EasyJet. The only thing he put in my case was a pair of chunky sandals. We always buy toiletries at our destination so even less to take.

You'd need to be going somewhere really hot where you can dry clothes to do that though. I never go back home with dirty washing, just put it through the laundry out there either self service or hotel.

I used to manage that in my 20s
now I look at the luggage for just a long weekend with despair

Take one of those neck pillows with a zip and removable filling. Remove filler and stuff his underwear and socks in the pillow. Apparently you can take a pillow onboard some flights too but I’m not 100% sure which one or if I just read it somewhere??

No. If you wash a pair of knickers and ring them out in a towel, they will be dry by morning if you hang them over the edge of the bath.

Yep ..done it in winter and summer. Not checking in bags is such a freedom! You just need to roll pack, be prepared to wear things more than once (apart from underwear obviously). Helps if you wear only neutral colours . Travel in bulkier stuff.

DS stayed at a relative's house overnight before his early morning flight recently and had took stuff out his backpack when getting a shower....but then forgot to put his pants back in before the flight 🤦🏻😂 he just did without and still survived. It's doable with the backpack dimensions afforded by Ryan Air.

I have the same one and would recommend. Could easily fit enough for a week for me in there, probably 10 days. Fit easyJet’s under seat requirement and says it will fit Ryan airs too. Best thing I’ve brought this year!

Depends where you are, Lake District end of October bet they wouldn't be! I know you wouldn't be flying there but the European equivalent would be the same. What about socks? They don't dry anything like as quickly 🥴

That’s why three, rather than two, of knickers and socks. One pair on, and you have up to two days for the others to dry. If you’re in the Lake District in October, you must be doing it on the cheap if there isn’t a radiator!

I could do 10 days in one of those size bags in the summer, but that's with lightweight hot weather clothes, flip flops, sandals etc. and nothing bulky. We've got a few of the cabin max ones in that size (available from Amazon) and you can fit a decent amount in them. But, you need to be careful about over filling, I had a right faff in the boarding queue trying to squeeze mine in the rack thing at the insistence of an easyjet staff member (it did fit, but I had to re-pack it!!). If an extra hoody, pair of trainers, joggers or jeans etc. needed I'd just pay for a an additional regular cabin sized trolley case though (usually an option until check-in). Men's/boys clothes/shoes definitely take up more space.

My son (5'10 so not tiny) got a decathlon 30l rucksack for £10 which is the right dimensions and had underwear for each day and 4 changes of clothes plus pair of flipflops and a book in the bag for a 9 day trip. Bag fitted easily under the seat in front. He even managed to bring some souvenirs back.

I've done it for a week and wouldn't do it again. I spent a lot of time hand washing my clothes, and went without a lot of small comforts that I rely on daily: nice shampoo, body lotion, scent, a few books and so on.

What about tops?

See line 2 of my post: “a couple of tops”.

We’ve done that for two 10 day holidays abroad but also had a small backpack

Take a neck pillow, take the pillow bit out of the cover, stuff cover with small clothes, t shirts, boxers, socks etc.

This is genius, I'm saving that tip!

Also buy something in duty free and ask them for a large carrier
then buy toiletries or decant stuff into duty free bags as you are allowed to take duty free bags on the plane or anything you have bought in the airport

i never throw away my duty free bags 😂

I also go by the saying
one on
one in the wash
one for the next day