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.

Pack however you like! But yeah, I suppose there 'could' be some psychological reason behind judging people. I used to overpack and learned from this mistake over time. Now it's strictly one backpack and a handbag. It saves me money and time not having to check bags, and means it's easier to travel, don't need help with bags etc. If you know you don't wear or use most of it but you still don't pack lighter.. is it okay to judge that as a personality flaw for having not 'learned' or adapted..? Don't know. Or care haha do what you want!

I prefer to have hand luggage so I don't have to hang around waiting for my baggage at the other end. Even worse, the flight gets cancelled after you've checked in and you've no idea where your luggage is going to end up (and it may well not be in the same place as you).

Nothing to do with class, morality or anything else. I just don't want to lose my case or wait ages for it.

When I go somewhere by car I take a lot more stuff.

I think I’m somewhere in between, I always decant toiletries and only take 3 pairs of shoes if we’re flying, I try and have a colour palette.

I’m not going to take a carry on

Yep. I have that same gym outfit that has been so many places but never been used.

Ultimately you are travelling alone, so no one is having to hold anything for you or carry anything for you or be slowed down by you - so whatever the hell you do is your business @igotitbadforyou

I can do 10 days comfortably on the overhead hand luggage only.

BUT I wouldn't say I'm really a "light" packer. I'm more a "dense" packer. So into my overhead locker suitcase I can usually fit 1-2 swimming costumes, 2-3 pairs of shoes, 2-3 nighties, a pair of leggings and a vest for if it gets weirdly cold, underwear, socks, a spare jumper, a couple of lightweight cardies and 5-6 dresses, maybe a pair of shorts and a t shirt if I want them, plus teabags, medications, swimming goggles, spare glasses, umbrella.

Then my underseat bag takes toiletries, kindle, chargers, headphones, water bottle, hair brush, sunglasses, waterproof coat, jumper, a big silk scarf, shopping bags and I wear a hat on the plane.

I don't wear makeup except sometimes lipstick which helps, and my hair doesn't need much shampoo or conditioner, so I get away with 40ml of each for up to 2 weeks.

And my style of dress is quite formal anyway so I can definitely wear stuff for the evening that I wear in the day. I usually get a couple of evenings out of a dress and then downgrade it to day wear, as that way round you haven't sweated into it.

Ultimately I am motivated by not wanting to wonder if my luggage will go missing/be hurled around so violently it's been broken, plus not wanting to faff around carrying anything very heavy.

When I have been on a holiday that e.g. requires black tie dress or a weird variety of different dress types then I do take checked baggage size luggage and the same for if I am traveling by car.

So if you are consciously making those choices and offsetting where you do well vs where you don’t then at least you are considering the impact to the environment.

Most of this thread hadn’t mentioned impact on the environment and when I brought it up, responses such as ‘it won’t make a difference’ and ‘it’s not my problem’ were made (paraphrasing). The fact is when we think in this way and we push the responsibility onto other people/entities and refuse to consider our own impact then we are less likely to get where we need to get to in terms of cutting emissions.

They are just being self-righteous self-appointed police state types. What you pack is not subject to their "tiny little mind" scrutiny. If you can fit that kitchen sink in that you want to take, do so. Pay them no heed.

I've never realised that I was a "moral failure". We live and learn, I guess... 🤣

I'll catch up with thread eventually...

I've seen that figure and I suspect that 3 hour recommendation is to cater for places that are struggling with EES, and is more than a bit airline/airport specific...don't forget the airports want you airside nice and early spending money....

If HBO there's still absolutely no reason to do it out of our local regional airport (Europe, and EES is working fine) and there's no way on earth it's needed out of somewhere like LHR, so there the HBOs will still cut it much finer than many people will be comfortable with.

It's another one of those personal preference things.

It takes me 10 minutes to pack before a holiday.

That was my question as well. I am intrigued .

I like to pack heavy and change outfits between destinations. If we're visiting three places in one day, I'll happily change three times and I have absolutely no regrets about it.😁

It’s pretty disgusting?

Really? I only take one swimming costume with. I wear it to swim, change out of it and rinse it out and dry for the next day.

It’s not being cleaned, is it? A dip in the pool isn’t cleaning.

So? You can also rinse it in the room if you're bothered. It's really not unclean to keep wearing it.

I just find it gross.

I think I’m going to end up with 40kg of luggage for this trip!

I think it’s probably sensible that you remain a solo traveller

Will your Airbnb have a pool?

Sounds you are really unusually focused on having, choosing and changing (a lot of) clothes - no matter the reason or excuse to do so.

You are definitely not the only one, but as this thread shows, it's not very exciting discussion topic - if you take only the other heavy packers in this thread, you got some "me toos", but sounds there is very little to actually talk about.

Part of the difference in online traffic is, that sharing light packer's tips and experiences has some practical value, and maybe the light packers are a bit more excited or proud of their choices.

Yes, heavy packers versus light packers got some traction, but I wouldn't say that was a quality discussion.

Enjoy your holiday!

Why would it be? Surely it's in water often enough to be rinsed out

I find swimsuits don’t dry completely overnight so I’d rather have 2 or 3 to swap over

teen DDs and I are going away for 12 days this summer with carryon small suitcase only. I’m packing in my head already.

im looking forward to just being responsible for my stuff for the first time ever since having dc.

Aesthetically do you mean?