Why do people act like it’s a moral failure to not pack light? AIBU to enjoy taking stuff on holiday with me?

[igotitbadforyou]

I’ve noticed this on a lot of packing/holiday threads. Lots of sneering and looking down on people for packing more than is “needed”.

Technically you could go on holiday with the clothes on your back and a spare pair of underwear and that be that, but I enjoy having options and taking some of my home comforts with me.

Why do people act like it’s wrong to do this? It doesn’t impact anyone else.

I totally agree OP.

I don’t pack light. I like to have a choice of what to wear on holiday, same as at home.

I really laughed at the 'moral failure' to not pack light, thanks OP. it's true isn't it?

for the last sixteen years of having children I have not packed light, not out of choice but necessity. Through the years I have watched those with their entire belongings in a handheld with a mixture of awe and fascination.

One day this will be me!

I think many would like to pack a little lighter now and then, but like me fail miserably and end up coming home with a suitcase full of unworn items anyway!

It's the - what if, I might need that, oh that's a gorgeous top/dress I'd never wear it here, fling it in.... you get the drift!

As long as you're willing to pay for a hefty suitcase and can manage the luggage yourself, I see nothing wrong with it. I think packing light is for those trips where you might be moving from place to place and/or getting on and off buses and trains. THAT'S where light packing and a sensible bag works great.

I used to pack light.

Then I had kids...!

I'm no longer hopping on and off trains or using exotic travel modes with tight weight limits anyway. A black cab can take a large suitcase just as easily as a small one!

Yes, i know a few competitive under-packers.

overnight in London with no toiletries, spare clothes or pants. Urgh.

It comes down to finances a lot of the time.

We just did a weeks holiday on italy with a 2 and 4 year old hand luggage only because we didn’t have another £100 to spend on the cost of adding 1 suit case on top of also paying for flights in the school holidays.

Surely that’s just not packing 🤣

100% agree OP. We are off on holidays next week . 2 adults and 3 DC and we will have a case each

It’s a class distinction.

Oh wow! I have found my tribe. Yes, I always pack lots of clothes and have a case in the hold, despite the wait at the other end. I love fashion and style and planning my outfits and love having a selection of clothes and shoes on holiday.

The moral failure thing is so true. It’s the same when people talking about putting the heating on or feeling the cold, I am considered a moral failure there too!

See with some airlines this would cost you close to an extra £500 for 5 23kg suitcases travelling both ways.

I quite enjoy packing light but I know what you mean. Sometimes it's nice to have lots of choice rather than just the pared down essentials. Some people like to temper any fun (holiday time!) with some strict rules so as to dampen down a worrying excess of joy.

Half the fun of holidays is buying new clothes and changing into them for the evening. Who wants to wear the same shoes to the beach all day and then to dinner at night?

I'm the one sweating on the weigh scales to see if my case is overweight

I pack very light, my husband was a take everything packer.

As long as you schlep your own stuff and don't hold me up with your packing, you're fine.

I pack very light. But then I also pay for the holiday, carry most of the bags, do all the washing and HATE waiting for the bags to come off the plane.

Every additional bag directly costs me money and time and I do not want to spend either.

It’s so true!! I love dressing up on holiday and taking lots of lovely new clothes, new toiletries, lotions and potions. I also hate having to take a massive carry on onto the plane with me, I like to walk through the airport bulky bag free.

You’re right Op!

Of course it can often be a money saving to pack lighter if flying. But morality doesn’t come into that.

See also-

Natural early risers (the “pillar of adulthood” woman the other day was classic!)
Spending virtually no money even if you can afford it
Spending virtually no money on food in particular

I suppose I do think it’s morally better to pack less. Agree too about the class distinction. Many many children’s books I grew up on impressed into me that taking more than a pair of shorts and two Aertex tops on holiday was the sin of vanity and a waste of money. I remember my mother telling me I owned an ‘unconscionable’ number of bras (I think about 5). Presumably because bras are for BREASTS and therefore showed that I was thinking about sex too much? There’s also an independence thing about not needing any help to carry luggage.

These days though I just hate hauling heavy luggage about.

And that’s totally fine but it’s your preference.

From her post, OP means those people who seem to attach some sort of moral worth to it!

I’d say I’m a medium amount packer. I don’t like carrying lots of bags either but I make sure I’ve got enough clothes for each day I’m away.

If it's just you travelling, then of course it wouldn't impact anyone else in your party, fill your boots (or cases!!)

I'm a light packer who often travels with one particularly heavy packing family member. The stress of travel that her cases have caused include her trying to bring too much on board and having to check bags at the gate, shoving too much luggage into overhead compartments and then going up and down the aisles looking for space, the cases getting lost when checked in when the rest of us just had hand luggage which then ruined the first few days of the holiday, we all missed a train once waiting for her because she had to take the lifts up and over the bridge when the rest of us just walked up, and a multitude of small annoyances like waiting around for her checked bags to come down the belt when the rest of us were ready to go.

She's allowed to pack what she likes, but it's undeniable that if she packed a bit lighter and avoided checking in bags if at all possible, it wouldn't impact on the rest of the group so much and would make travelling less stressful (for her as well as everyone else).

Same!
I couldn’t go on holiday with fewer than 3 pairs of shoes, multiple outfits, loads of sunblock, hair stuff and at least 2 books, but I don’t want to wrestle any of it into the overhead compartment.

Totally agree about the “moral failure” thing too 😆

You’re my person OP! I like having nice outfit options, and I like having a selection of clothing on holidays where I dress for dinner.

Yeah I can and have flown hand luggage only but I don’t enjoy it as much. I generally fly airlines that include checked bags anyway or we get them included as silver with BA.

This is why I line to cruise from British ports.

Drive down, hand over the car keys. Simultaneously, someone takes my massive luggage away on a trolley.

I always take a folding hold-all too , in case I have a shopping frolic while I’m away