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 started making a list when unpacking at home as to what I’d actually worn and I use that as the start of my packing list for another trip.
I’ve now got lists for pretty well every kind of trip - except skiing. My skiing days are over.

Herein is a clear misconception of whose responsibility emissions reductions are. It has to be the role of the consumer to reduce their consumption and in turn reduce emissions. When consumers consciously change their habits because of a concern for the environment then meaningful change will happen. Burying heads in the sand and saying that’s someone else’s problem is a significant part of the issue.

Me taking 30kg of luggage on holiday will do squat

Adding more fuel due to bad weather is a safety thing.

adding more sandals because you can’t pick one or two pairs for a holiday or refuse to wear something for dinner twice is not a safety thing it’s an overconsumption thing

Yeah you plus nearly everyone on your flight though. Look at the poll, nearly 90% of people think like you here. 90% of a flight is a massive impact. This is the problem

Then people shouldnt be going on holiday at all if one extra pair of sandals is causing a world crisis.

I do hope you’re totally vegan, walk everywhere and only consume what you can make with your own bare hands

I don't see packing heavy as a sin as such, just there is little reason to discuss it online or at all, so it is underrepresented in the discourse.

One note here - if a group travels together, people need to be aligned about the plan - if car is involved, stuff need to fit in it, if hopping trains, people need to be able to carry all their things, if the agreed plan is to walk with all things 5 kilometres, people need to pack for that.

Otherwise, there's a difference between packing lite and just going without and packing light, but well. In my family light travel equipment is a favourite gift option.

Did you not just miss the train because as a group you didn't allow enough time. Did you check the size of the station before you travelled?
Bag or no bag I don't want to be legging it across a station at the last minute

Why?

Because you’re here criticising me for taking two pairs of sandals on holiday as if I’m single handedly the reason for the climate crisis

Until the majority of people do start taking ownership of their choices when it comes to emissions then the climate crisis will continue getting worse

It all seems so very performative in an 'I'm such high maintenance, I have to travel as though I'm on a steamer to Singapore'.

I'm away atm and most things are rolled and placed in a bag about the same size as the leather washbasin. Silk or swimwear doesn't take up much space, sandals in my handbag with assorted electricals, plenty of space for snacks and meds.

Having dealt with travel insurance claims in the past, though, I do wonder where the people who need the giant cases for ham, cheese, milk, sliced white and space for nine grand's worth of camera equipment and jewellery., only for it to be stolen in transit, have got to. Maybe the same place that houses the 'everything is handmade and designer in my definitely Louis vuitton cases I don't have proof of purchase for'.

No I didn’t? I said that if 90% of people take 30kg of luggage on your flight that will be a problem.

Taking ownership of our choices as consumers is a significant part of reducing emissions. Are you comfortable with how the climate crisis is developing?

I take about 35-40 for a two week trip (even if I have a washing machine)

I also take about 30 t-shirts, all identical, all in their wrappers.

Of course individual choices matter to some extent, but I think that's a massive oversimplification.

The climate crisis isn't continuing because families take too much luggage on holiday. It's a complex global issue involving energy systems, industry, transport, agriculture and government policy as well as consumer behaviour.

These discussions seem to drift from environmentalism into finding ever more opportunities to judge other people which frankly is what you sound like and its tiresome and wearing and people end up not listening. Like the OP asked- do you do everything perfectly?

It's not helpful to imply that ordinary people are primarily responsible for a problem that is much larger than any one individual's lifestyle.

You might persuade more people if you spent less time telling them how they ought to behave. Once a discussion starts feeling like a sermon, most people mentally head for the exit.

'Light Packers' always laugh at my 'Prince Akheem' level luggage, then end up using all my stuff or wasting the first few days shopping for things which are 3x the price at home 🫣 It's not even environmentally friendly as half the stuff they buy has to be left behind as no suitcase to carry it back 😂

i wouldn’t say I’m high maintenance, but I just like to have what I need. For example, I use a bottle of body lotion every two weeks. So I’m obviously going to take one away with me

Packing as we speak, I take as much as I want and use all the luggage allowance if needs be. I like to have choice on hols. And if I spill coffee on my white linen shorts on the first day I have a back up pair. Always take my hairdryer. I know the hotel room has one but I like mine. Same with shampoo etc. I would only dumb down the list if I had a washing machine included in SC accommodation.
I take a selection of handbags, shoes, belts etc as I like choice.

They are obviously just bad at packing light if they are having to buy and borrow. I never have to do this. In fact the last twice we have travelled with friends who utilise their 44kg total, they have had to borrow from my well packed medicine kit even tho they know they will need the thing they borrowed. We took 10kg plus underseat bags compared to their 44kg.

Lol I do and im an 18/20.

Meh, that's in my washbag with everything else. (Just seen the autocorrect, it's definitely a bag, not a basin),.

Oh, I've just thought of a potentially unnecessary item or two.I've got a large thermos cup and a dual charger doobrey with high power leads. But I'd say the sleep band is pretty essential, especially if the hearing aid gives up the ghost at the worst possible time.

The root cause of the climate crisis is human beings and our consumption of energy (powered by things that generate greenhouse gases).

I believe that the link between everyday life choices and energy consumption is often overlooked by many consumers. How we travel, what we eat, how we run our homes and what we buy all have the potential for incremental benefits in terms of emissions reductions and we should be making conscious choices because incremental improvements is what is going to make the difference.

Do I personally do everything perfectly? No, but do I continually try to do better? Yes. Can we all make improvements? Yes, but only when we think it will make a difference. And I think the stats from this poll are actually very demonstrative of that.

If it was for environmental reasons they’d not be travelling at all!

I dream of being able to pack light, but it just doesn't happen! I look at some travellers luggage and think 'I've got handbags bigger than that case'.

The main thing for me and DH is the toiletries. I'm not paying over the odds for suncream for instance in Boots at the airport or in resort when I can get it much cheaper in Aldi and take it with me. That's just us though, and each to their own when it comes to packing.