Packing Light

[zacsGranny]

Any tricks to pack very light for 5 days away and a 10Kg luggage allowance.
Specifically toiletries etc

Back to basics regarding toiletries. Just mascara and an eyebrow pencil for example. Soap and shower gel or shampoo normally in hotel. Sun cream get airside. Mini toothpaste.

Multipurpose outfits, wear heaviest shoes and heavier clothing.

10kg is fine though, it's not the tiny underseat bag is it, so you'll have a second bag too.

100g tube of aqueous cream = body wash, face wash, hand cream, body lotion and face cream all in one

Put the heaviest stuff like chargers powerbanks etc in your underseat bag

I will have a handbag that needs to fit under the seat, and a 10Kg bag to go in the overhead locker.
We are travelling with RyanAir and they are red hot about weight.

Get one of the Ryanair sized underwear bags and put your handbag in it, along with filling the rest of the space. Vacuum bags are great for getting as much as possible into it, as there’s no weight limit on the underwear bag. Toiletries, just take the bare minimum and buy shampoo etc when you get there, unless you can use solid shampoo/conditioner as these don’t count in your liquids allowance. Heavy items like power banks etc in pockets then just pop them in the trays at security, and wear heavy clothing/layers, as you can take off a jumper/hoodie and carry it through or tie it round your waist. I can do 7 days with just the under seat bag at a push, if I’m feeling really tight 🤣

Underseat, not underwear! Damn autocorrect!

Are underseat bags for RyanAir a thing?

OP Ryanair are obsessed about size, not weight. Just check your dimensions and you'll be fine with 2 carry on bags for only 5 days!

If you want to absolutely maximize your allowance then get a specific bag that has the dimensions 40x30x20 for the underseat bag, and obviously your trolley can't be more than 55x40x20.

I thought you meant you only had the smaller bag for 5 days.

You'll be fine. We went away recently for a city break for 4 nights and just had an underseat bag each. Was fine.

Thanks. Just measured and I have an oilcloth bag that is within the size for underseat. My small wheeled case is the right size for OH locker.
If they aren't too bothered about weight I'll be OK.

What toiletries do you need? I just went away for 3 days and took only a tiny toothpaste and deodorant. Shampoo, conditioner and shower gel were in the hotel.

I only travel hand luggage now and honestly it's liberating !
check if you can buy your toiletries airside once your through security - this won't count
towards your allowance.
boots do a click and collect that you can pick up at the airport.
Pack a capsule wardrobe where everything matches each piece.
Travelling somewhere hot? Then pack laundry sheets so you can always hand wash and dry overnight.
Cold? Then wear the heaviest items on the flight -usually coat and jeans and a thick jumper you can take off when your on board.
Sometimes it's been cheaper for me to buy when I get to the destination vs 50 quid on the extra weight.

We are off to Gozo for my birthday.
Quite warm during the day, but it can be chilly at night, so layers I think.
Hadn't thought about Boots click and collect. Are they open 24 / 7?

We are off to Malta too. Family of 4 for a week, only taking one booked in bag of 23kg plus small hand luggage. 5 days with one bag should be fine. Just did 3 days in Spain 2 adults including packed raincoats with one tiny underseat bag each. Only actually needed one of those bags. They were both half empty.

Pack items that go together so don’t go wild packing lots of different colours. Stick with neutrals and if you do have bright colours, try to keep to similar colours. Then, you can mix up the outfits with the same clothes.
Travel versions of toiletries are best, you can always decant some of your favourite things into little bottles if not available in small sizes . You can buy bottles on eBay or Amazon. (And don’t forget to check the airports rules on liquids, they seem to be all over the place at present).

Buy the toiletries at your destination.

Use compression packing cubes. Wear your bulkiest stuff on the plane.

Be prepared to rinse out the odd t shirt of pair of socks.

Don't waste your underseat bag allowance on a handbag! Use it instead for a correct sized kitbag or backpack. Take a small crossbody bag for your phone, bank cards, passport etc and ensure there is enough room in your underseat bag to stash it in there when boarding.

Plan your outfits in advance and only take what you need for the number of days you will be there.

I recommend a light quilted jacket for evenings (such as the Uniqlo ones).

If you are staying in a hotel you won't need many toiletries.

It’s the size of your suitcase that is likely to be the problem, more so than the weight. A friend had to pay and put her case in hold even though it was sold as Ryanair dimensions, so double check yourself with a tape measure. Not saying weight doesn’t matter but my medium case packed full for a week only came to 13 kg so can’t see how you could get more than 10 kg actually into a carry on.

You can can also take a fairly large rucksack/tote bag as your underseat bag (again, check dimensions).

some airports now allow noemal size toiletries bottles in your carry on (Birmingham being one) but you can’t guarantee that on the way back.

I am a massively lightweight traveller, did 6 weeks in the Far East with hand-baggage only under 7kg, and never pay for baggage. I am 60. I realise that everyone is different with what they need and what they would be comfortable with. My tips would be: Don't take toiletries and towels if they are offered by your hotel. If you have time left, buy the little pots and so on from Temu (you can get similar in home bargains and so on), I decanted my normal foundation, moisturiser into them. Mini-mascara, mini perfume, lip stick pencil and travel sized toothpaste. I am careful about clothing (all stuff that matches, and not that much stuff, must be ROLLED) I do wash through knickers and socks, takes 3 minutes in hotel sink with their handwash, and dries overnight. I always take 3 pairs of each, plus the one I am wearing. Superlight travelling is brilliant, no waiting for anything to come off the baggage carousel, no baggage to lug about, you just heft your ridiculously light daypack on your back and move on. If I had to say what is a problem with superlight travelling it is these things. a) Shoes. Wore my most comfy trainers for the 6 week jig, you still get sick of them. Actually packed a spare pair of lightweight shoes. Never touched them. b) Tech, tech is heavy, would have liked a tablet at times, could not afford the weight as we had internal flights. c) Souvenirs / Presents, would have liked more room to bring more stuff back but same problem. Ryanair do not weigh anything, but they are draconian on sizes if the ground staff are Ryanair (they are incentivised to stop people) if they are swissport, they don't really give a damn. Hope this helps in some way, and have a great holiday xxx

You’ll be surprised how much you get in a 10kg carry on. I think the key thing is to check the weather so you don’t pack anything you won’t actually wear.

Remember, things bought in duty free don’t count towards the weight and capacity, so buy your toiletries airside. There are some really light T-shirts (I got mine from decathlon). Wear layers, you can take them off once airside.

Don't go mad buying toiletries because you can't bring anything above 100 ml back.

I just have refillable small bottles which are cheap and take whatever I'm using at home.

Two cabin bags for 5 days somewhere warm isn't especially 'travelling light' so it's easy to do.

According to Richard E Grant try rolling up your clothes as one technique, basically compress everything big time. Going to try that myself!
I think Richard was fed up of his suitcases getting lost, going missing

Some really great advice by PPs.

I won't repeat it but will add to find out what's provided where you're staying (toiletries, towels, hairdryer etc) so you don't end up carrying things that they have there.