To ask for help from seasoned light travellers

[whereisthelover]

I am not a person who packs light. On my most recent holiday for ten days I took a 20kg checked suitcase, a small wheeled suitcase and a handbag.

I hated every second of it and I can’t bare to do this again. It’ll just be too much. So I’m looking at hand luggage only backpack systems. I don’t want to drag a single suitcase around again.

im currently torn between the Osprey fairview 55l system which is a 40l backpack and a 15l daypack, or the eastpak 51cm transformable duffle.

Any advice would be appreciated!

I've gone from typically taking a wheely cabin case, a standard 20Lish backpack and a crossbody to travelling with no more than a sub 30L backpack. This has been from necessity (disability) but I wish I'd realised how easy it is a long time ago! On my last trip I realised I could now manage with a 20L backpack...

I found the HerOneBag (and OneBag) subs on Reddit invaluable.

One of the key takeaways for me has been 'don't pack your fears'. I always used to pack too many extra clothes in case I spilled something, now I just take some laundry sheets and pick clothes for the trip that will dry quickly (Uniqlo Airism is fab) if need be.

I decant toiletries into reusable tubs and tubes (lipgloss tubes and contact lens cases are good), take minimum just in case meds (because if I need to I can buy some there).

I also came here to recommend the heronebag subreddit. Users there will almost certainly have experience with those bags for travel. There’s a huge user base there too so pretty much any kind of trip someone will have posted a packing list and in many cases an update of how they found it. It’s such helpful and supportive subreddit.

I would go for a v small wheeled case- rucksacks get incredibly heavy stumping round airports.

Just to add, duffels and convertible backpacks are generally not the most comfortable to wear. If you do go over 30L or so, the bag needs to be right for your torso, and needs a decent hip belt, so do go and try out bags somewhere before buying.

I just cannot face wheeling another bag along the cobbled streets of Europe, it was hell

That’s why I think the Osprey is probably the better choice, but I’m so tempted by the clamshell openi mug

Good review of the Fairview here:

https://www.packhacker.com/travel-gear/osprey/fairview-40/

It does open fully at the front, not a proper clamshell but you won't need to scramble around to find stuff!

I’ve gone for it in black. I’m a bit gutted to sacrifice the clamshell but it’s better than suitcases!

I totally get you, I hate wheeling stuff around but I would avoid any kind of "system" or "transferable" whatever. Too much faff and wasted volume. You need to maximise the amount of packable space within the airline allowable bag external dimensions.

Get a fairly simple duffle bag and a dirt cheap, thin, daysack type rucksack. Find a duffle with dimensions as close as possible to a large cabin bag. I bought an Arcteryx Carrier Duffle 50 on sale and its perfect for a week in the son for DS and me. Although could probably go a bit bigger and still be within size limits.

https://www.trekitt.co.uk/dpt/pgr/arcteryx-carrier-duffle-50-black_6977

I pack light

Rucksack - weigh before you travel

Bumbag or small bag for passport

Small amount of toiletries

Mix & match clothes, ones that do not wrinkle & light weight

I have just been for 10 days, my bag was less than 10kg

Maybe go for a suitcase backpack combo? I got a great one from decathlon, has wheels, backpack straps which tuck away when not needed. It's expandable so I can use it for shorter or longer trips. At its smallest it goes in as cabin luggage, or hold luggage when expanded

The bag isn’t really the issue, it’s the stuff you put in it!

To travel light, you need to spend more time planning / thinking than you do actually physically packing. Pick clothes which you can layer and which are washable and dry quickly. I tend to pack only a few colours of clothes so everything matches / is interchangeable and gives you a maximum of outfits for the least actual clothes. Think about footwear and what will work with the clothes you have / what you plan to do. And how heavy / bulky they are!

Only take the toiletries you will actually need and in the amounts that will last just for the duration of your trip.

Once you get used to it, this is all pretty straightforward and quick but the first few times be a bit mind melting when you plan. I keep a list of what I will pack on my phone and then update it after the trip with anything I forgot/needed plus delete anything that I didn’t use. Next trip I use that list as my plan starting point.

Following with interest re. the right things to pack - if anyone can link to specific garments that don't wrinkle I would v much appreciate it! 😆

A backpack is a must for me - I can’t be doing carrying anything either!

I definitely need to put more thought into what I pack. I just love having options!

This. I travel a lot and light. A small wheeled suitcase with a handle that you easily carry and lift is the best option. Back-packs sound good but if you travel a lot you realise they are not as good as a light wheely one.

Rule 1: pack as normal but store your crammed suitcases in a neighbour’s house, in order to give a feeling in your own that you have this thing licked.

I always fly with hand luggage only, unless going long haul. I've had various bags over this years, but would recommend these, I managed to get one of the travel backpacks with multiple compartments from TK Maxx recently and it's brilliant, loads of space and the back has built in packing cubes, can be enlarged and squashed down. You can easily get enough in it for a week away.

https://www.travelerchoice.com/products/markham-backpack

🤣🤣🤣🤣 I saw that one! Out of sight out of mind

I always use packing cubes which helps. Me & DH are both light packers - we could easily do a 10 day trip with one cabin bag between us.
I wear the bulky stuff during the flight - coat, trainers.
we tend to go for self catering so always plan to do a mid-stay load of laundry. The little laundry sheets are great.
I hold on to hotel toiletries and bring those with me. Never bother with a hairdryer - most places supply them.
we also maximise our hand luggage- there are brilliant rectangular hand luggage bags on Amazon that perfectly fit airline dimensions.
I can’t comment on the backpack v wheelie case debate, although I did do a gap year around the world with a 55l backpack so maybe that’s where my light packing comes from!

I've moved on to travel with my trusted Kånken 17". It is personal item sized and I won't pay extea to bring any type of luggage if it can be avoided. I've managed to do quite a few trips like this. For me the key is to get roll-ul vacuum bags. All clothing in the bag, roll air out and then you can fit a lot of stuff.

Personally I find a backpack way more convenient for one bag travel than a suitcase. Suitcases have a lot of space and weight taken up by the wheelie mechanism - backpacks are pretty much all usable space. Carrying a backpack is faster and easier than a case because I can sling on my back anywhere and walk at my usual speed. I don’t have to worry about steps and cobblestones and tough surfaces. In Venice for example I felt very pleased not to have something to drag along, which is more annoying to carry.

I think I am an ultra-light traveller (only ever go with hand-baggage 30l backpack, less than 7kg, including 5-6 week trips) I travel for at least 3 months a year (not all in one trip) and I completely get your post (although I realise it was more asking for back pack recommendations). There are joys of travelling light, and downsides. The great things are: never being separated from your stuff, no overhead cabin baggage dilemma, hoisting your ridiculously light back pack off a flight and walking straight out of an airport, not having to ever store your baggage anywhere if you have weird flight times, it is a lot cheaper too, no baggage fees. You never lose things, there isn't much to lose. I also put a bit of work in and get places with a washing machine, and then use Green Sheets (weightless sheets that do a full wash), and sometimes hotels I know have toiletries already (most do) and then decant my "must haves" foundation, face-cream etc. into tiny travel pots from Temu, travel toothpaste etc..deodorant is a nuisance, esp if you like spray, if you are OK with stick or roll on then you are grand I only ever take deet roll on (jungle formula max strength) and long sleeves, the spray just goes all over and chokes you. The downsides are: Shoes, you get the trainers you are wearing (and they have to be absolutely right and comfy), if you are lucky, you can fit something else in, because wearing the same thing day and night is tiresome. Underwear & Socks, you have to wash them through if you are going for a long time - takes 5 minutes, and they dry overnight, but it isn't anybody's dream activity, and takes a bit of discipline. If you like to look different every day / fashionable / or are high maintenance on the hair and make up front, this is not for you, although if you choose well on clothing (light, wrinkle free) you can do OK. Tech is heavy, I go with my phone and kindle (lighter than books, easier if you have a sleeping person in your room), and over the ears noise cancelling headphones, but I do miss better tech. I take lightest adapter, and lightest power bank and double cables. Double cheap reading glasses (always manage to lose a pair somewhere along the way). Light fleece or jacket. I rarely take a towel, hotels have them 99% of the time, . I usually take a headscarf /neckscarf thing, not only to cover head in religious sites, also it is quite comforting on long flights I realise this is a long post, but hopefully it will help those who would like to travel light. xx

Use the vacuum bags, the air extractor is tiny so easy to take for the return journey and you can take loads more.