One Bag Travel – Cabin Size

Every travel blogger in the world has an opinion on packing, as in not over packing. Early on, I took the opposite approach. I swam against the tide. My mantra, take the things you want to have with you. Being comfortable on your vacation is more important than the short discomfort of dragging bags to and from the airport. If you want music, take your speakers. Want a laptop, and tablet in addition to your phone? If it makes you more happy, do it (we did have a laptop and tablet each). Traveling 4 years with the same 4 suitcases (2 checked size, and two cabin bags) and the same gear, Mark and I really know what we want and need. 

Weight

Then came the tight weight limits airlines have imposed. All of a sudden we are painfully aware of what our belongings actually weigh. Weight became the new limiting factor. Mark and I now know how much all our belongings weigh. By the way, it is a bit more than we are actually allowed. Our two checked bags weigh under 23.5 kg. 23kg (50.7 lbs) is the limit, they let you by with a few tenths over (usually). We own American sized cabin bags. These are arguably too big for traveling the rest of the world. They are even expandable, but that is only good for terrestrial travel legs or if we check them. American sized carry-ons are often too large to fit in the little box they use to limit the size of your carry-on. Yet, we have so far, always gotten by. The weight limits are sometimes as low as 7kg (about 15.4 lbs) for non-American travel, unless you are business class or above. We can never get down this low. Once in a while the bags have been weighed and we had to take things out. 

Vacuum bags and cubes. 

I still see travel articles mentioning vacuum bags. Their dinosaurs, literally. Weight matters now, not bulk. You run out of weight long before your bag is full. Nowadays the worry is keeping your stuff safe from bouncing around so fabrics squeezed devoid of air space is not helping, it’s hurting. And the bags themselves are not weightless. Using vacuum bags adds weight and does not help. Lightweight cubes, different story. We still use these to keep socks and underwear from going astray. They are breathable, mostly mesh so they do not add much weight and give you a little more sorting capability. You also need something to double as a dirty clothes bag, this can do. 

Lost Luggage

Now there is a new goal for travel; getting your bags with you where you are going. Air travel is a nightmare these days, let’s not sugar coat it. Expect to have a story or two by the time you arrive about the hardships you endure. Millions of bags are waylaid around the world.  So now, a new strategy, keep your stuff in your own control. So now, we all really do need to travel on 7 kg. It is time to figure out what the travel gurus have been saying for decades. 

What we are doing

This new reality is dovetailing with a change in travel style for us. We have a home base in Europe, so our “trips” are 1-2 weeks, not years anymore. We are seriously enjoying traveling light. No longer carrying our laptops and tablets. For a week or two we can get by with just phones. No longer carrying both our summer and winter clothes. Our baggage consists of two smallish day packs. And I usually have a reusable grocery bag carrying water, snacks and a bit of overflow. This bag usually is fuller on the return leg.

The benefits of traveling light: 

Quicker – no time lost waiting at the baggage reclaim. This gets you out of the airport ahead of your fellow travelers, so you get the taxi or space on the shuttle.

Cheaper with no extra baggage fees

Freedom of movement: especially with backpacks, you can walk faster without dragging bags…over cobblestones. I am willing to walk a little further to catch a bus. The tourist bus that comes through our village is about a 15 minute walk; too far for a roller bag, but not a packback.

Organization: you will know where everything is. If you only have one bag, you know which bag it is in. 

Security: it is a lot easier to keep an eye on your bags having them closer. And the airline is not going to get a chance to lose them. Gone are TSA locks, and the cable locks we used to use to secure our bags on trains.

Downsides:

You cannot take anything that cannot go in the cabin with you. TSA rules change all the time, so check. 

You no longer have the luxury of waking up and deciding what to wear. That decision you make before you leave.

Some vacation time is forfeited: buying necessities at your destination, toiletries for example; and time to do laundry.

Laundry on the Road

Some concessions I am still unwilling to adopt. I will not live with poorly washed clothing drying all over my hotel room. Have you ever noticed how many travelers, identifiable by their travel togs, stink? You know why? They think they are getting their clothes clean, doing it by hand in their hotel rooms. They are not. More importantly, once you get body odor smell in those high-tech, quick dry fibers, you cannot get it out. 

You have several options other than your hotel sink. Book and Air B&B type lodging with a washer is the best one. We have also found found hotel rooms with washers in-room. This way you do not take any time from your vacation doing laundry. Most hostel type accommodation have coin operated washers. Even if you do not have a dryer, clothes will dry overnight when they have gone through a fast spin cycle. Hotels, at least nicer ones, have laundry service. This is an expensive option, plan on 2 or €3 for each item, including each sock. Or walk to a laundromat and mingle with locals. We have visited a few of those all over the world.  

How much clothing do you really need to take with you? 

It really does not matter how long you travel, because you will be washing along the way. How many of each item depends on how many days until you are going to be able to wash. What does factor in is the weather. In cool winter weather, you can get away with wearing a garment twice at least, maybe way more. In warm weather, you need more changes of clothes, but they are going to be less bulky. Face it, we need a variety of options. Something different for evenings than walking during the day. You can get away with wearing that evening garb several times (unless you are dancing the night away). True all your pictures will show you in the same clothes. But that will make it easier to identify what trip it was when you look back. I like exercising, but try (it is a sacrifice) to use the same clothes for running, pilates, and maybe even hiking.

I plan out our vacations with a washing machine available every week or so. With one backpack, this is down to 4-5 days. We know before we leave where these washing machines will be and plan our clothing around the biggest stretch, that’s the number of socks and underwear. Socks and underwear is another concession I will not skimp on. They are small, and I want them fresh and clean, I pack extras. 

Only Bring What you Plan to Wear

Will I really need a sweater, or long pants? No longer do I pack for “in-case”. Look at the weather, plan accordingly. Hey, this is how I get new sweaters and coats; when I’m caught under dressed, I get to go shopping. The old thought was to wear your heaviest clothes: the long pants, bulky shoes and carry the wrap while enroute. But why wear uncomfortably warm clothing, and get these dirty, when you really don’t need or want to wear them at all? Never do I pack an umbrella any more. If rain is in the forecast, I have a packable raincoat.

Think, think, think about how you are actually going to travel. Strappy high heels will really set off that outfit. But in most of Europe, you cannot walk a block on the cobblestones in those shoes. If you are taxiing everywhere, take the shoes, they weigh nothing. If your husband is going to make you walk like mine does, then flat, non-slip shoes are going to replace those. You will be foregoing the fashion statement, but hey, you probably will not run into anyone you know anyway. 

Toiletries.

After traveling for so long with only one bottle of each toiletry, I have gotten a feel for exactly how much I really need of everything and have found the appropriate sized bottles to keep them. No longer can you count on hotels for toiletries. If they supply shampoo, there won’t be conditioner. Shower gel is usually supplied, but quality has declined. Body lotion, don’t get me started. I don’t bother anymore, take my own stuff. What do you need the most of: toothpaste is surprisingly high turnover. I use so much shower gel and body lotion, that I buy it at the destination if we will be in one place for 5 days or more.

My Tips for Toiletries

If you are taking a long trip on only hand luggage, you cannot bring a lot of liquids. one quart sized zip-lock bag with two ounce bottles is all you will be allowed. It will only be a few days worth: small bottle of shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, sunscreen and body lotion. Small toothpaste. Shopping when you get to your destination is going to be necessary. I have tried solid shampoos and conditioners, but so far, not worked for me. It would sure be nice not to have to worry about those liquids, but some compromises I cannot make. Same with solid soap, I really like my shower gel.

Tip: I love silicone bottles. It is easy to get every bit of product out of them and they are usually a little larger than other travel size bottles. 

Tip: test your travel bottles before you go. They often leak or the caps do not work. 

Tip: instead of buying empty travel bottles, I sometime look around the shelves for products in just the right size, light weight jars or bottles. I use the product, or sometimes just dispose, and keep the container. Toiletries are often in bulky, heavy and often glass jars, so I re-home them in a lighter container.

Hotel A/C does a number on skin. For my dry skin, body lotion cannot be skipped. And the watered down tablespoon you may get from the hotel is not going to help. Pick up you own, your skin will thank you. Chapstick too.

Do not forget sunscreen. 

Now, you need some laundry detergent. The pods are so easy, with stain remover and softener all in one. But TSA counts them as liquids. Instead get some one load size powder sachets. Or better yet, buy a small box of pods at your destination.

Tip: A great weight and liquid saving option is dry facial wipes. I never fly without these Olay Daily Facial Wipes so I can freshen up along the way. 

Tip: Be sure your liquids are in a waterproof bag that you can count on. At very least, separate your liquids into more than one bag so the one is not over full (after you go through security that is). Packing this little clothing, you cannot risk getting it getting wet or stained. 

Once arrived at my destination, I will find larger rations of these toiletries. A few times we have not bought what we thought we were. No harm, just laughs and it adds to the travel story. Google translate is a lifesaver. Take a picture of the bottle to make sure you are getting hair conditioner if it’s going on your head.

Making space for souvenirs

This is a quandary. You cannot bring home liquids; no wine or limoncello. But I have an idea for you. To make space for souvenirs, donate your clothing at the end of your vacation. You have worn them now for days and days, you probably won’t want to wear them much after that anyway. We always hit a donation bin or Salvation Army on route to the airport after carefully getting our bags to the required weight. Often the hotel can help you by getting your donations to the right place. You can also donate leftover toiletries that can go to women’s or homeless shelters. 

Happy traveling. It is time to get back out there.