Fear of traveling light

It’s amazing how many travelers I run into who give me strange looks when I tell them the carry-on bag I’m holding is all the luggage I’m taking. They just don’t understand it. And it’s gotten even worse since I switched to a non-wheeled bag.

In a follow up to the recent posting, “Solution: Wear it,” I thought it might be interesting to post reasons people have told you why they can’t “one bag” it.

Here are some I’ve heard:

1) What if I need something I leave at home?

2) I’m on vacation, I don’t want to do laundry.

3) My wife won’t let me.

4) Everything I carry is essential and there is no way I could get it into one small bag.

5) I need a bag that size just for: shoes, electronics, make-up, my work out clothes—take your pick.

6) I don’t want to smell bad.

7) I’m not some hippie backpacker.

Your turn…….

(Frank II)

Comments

[Maria]

"I've never had a problem checking my bags." (YET!)

"What if I cannot find what I need when I get there?" (Other countries don't have toothpaste?)

"Just in case."

Years ago, arriving at Kingsford Smith AIrport in Sydney, with a heavy rolling suitcase that I checked and even my carry-on was heavy and cumbersome - the customs agent looked at all my luggage and joked "Are you moving here?" When I got home and realized I didn't wear / use most of what I packed...I realized I can go light!

[Paula S]

1. I take at least five pairs of shoes.

2. I can't be seen wearing the same thing every day!!

3. I need my hair dryer and heated rollers, then there's all my make-up and I can't go without all the toiletries I use and then there's the stuff I might need, even if I don't use it, at least it's there.

(This was my husband before I converted him.....when I asked why the heck he took EVERY piece of equipment and accessory in his large camera bag?).
4. I can't be bothered to empty it out and get a smaller bag.

I'm glad to report that changed very quickly. ;-)

[Paula S]

LOL Maria!

I was once asked if I had a body in my roller duffle!!

[Andy Mesa]

I don't understand the laundry bit. The trips I take are either very long (weeks to months) or relatively short (a few days to a week).

In the first case, you're going to have to do laundry regardless. In the second case, you shouldn't have to do laundry at all. In both cases, you should carry the same amount of clothes.

These days I travel with a tiny bag that weighs 6-8 lbs on average. A max-size carry on seems enormous to me, and I could (I have!) fit my entire wardrobe in one, enough for at least two weeks of wearing with no overlap.

So who are these people that can't fit all of their clothes for a multi-week vacation in one carry-on? And for longer trips, do they really never wear anything twice?

[Maria]

I do know a woman who will pack 8 pairs of shoes for a five day trip - so they have a "selection". Hopefully I was able to hide the look of horror on my face when I heard the number of shoes "required"...plus clothing choices, pounds of makeup, etc.

I told them I try to pack light, so I have room to bring back shopping purchases! (I thought that would help convince them.)

Paula S - thanks for the laugh. May I use that line?

[Jenny]

I hate those gals who feel the need to pack hot rollers, make-up and umpteen million pairs of shoes! What a waste! (But I'll admit that a hair dryer comes in handy sometimes.)

I'm the light packer: husband is not. His excuse is, "What if I want to go somewhere nice for dinner." That little sentence snowballs into his packing slacks, a sport coat and dress shoes that will be worn ONCE on the trip. My philosophy is that if I can't eat there in a nice pair of dark denim jeans, then it's not my kind of place to begin with.

[Frank II]

Jenny, introduce your husband to Rockport Dress Shoes. They look like dress shoes but are as comfortable as sneakers. I've worn them for business meetings, nice meals, and for sightseeing. Except for formal wear, I can wear them just about anywhere. They are my travel shoes.

[Paula S]

Jenny and Frank,
My husband wears Rockport World Tour shoes, the comfort of sneakers, the support of walking shoes and smart enough for dress up.


Maria......be my guest. :-)
That was said to me at Portsmouth Ferry Terminal (England). We were due on a 7am ferry to Normandy, the French suddenly went on strike and the ports closed. Fortunately there was a luggage storage at the terminal so we left our big bags there.....it was the poor luggage agent that nearly broke his back hefting my case over the counter, but at least he kept his sense of humour!
That was another situation where one bagging would have been so sensible, we returned to our hotel and begged them to let us have our room back, they were fantastic about it and gave us the room until 3pm, we were re-booked on the night ferry so waited from 3.30pm at the terminal waiting to board at 7pm. It was a relief to be able to store our big bags.


Jenny, I have a tiny palm size travel dryer, but it belts out a lot of hot air and great for drying clothes.

[Monte]

Paula S, What brand of dryer is that, something we could find here in the land where the rhubarb and strawberries grow? Thanks.

[stevenshytle]

"I don't know what the weather will be like."

Frank II, I second the Rockports. Many of their shoes now have Reebok/Adidas soles with the Rockport style. Every trip I go on has the word Rockport at least once on the packing list. The if a second is needed it is Rockport (business or business casual), Merrell (casual or light adventure), or Vasque (adventure).

[Frank II]

Monte, not sure which one Paula uses, but here's one readily available at Magellans:

http://www.magellans.com/store/Health___Hygiene___Hair_CareEP123?Args=

Or this one from Packinglight.com

http://www.packinglight.net/Conair-1600-Watt-Mini-Turbo-Travel-Hair-Dryer/PAAAIAFIOPFFKNCM/product

[Karen F]

"I can't wear jeans more than one day."
"My sweater will get all stinky if I wear more than a couple days in a row."

[Jenny]

Thanks for the tips about the Rockports! I'll look them up on line.

Also, thanks for the hair dryer tips. I live in Australia and the dual voltage one I ordered from a reputable supplier turned out not to be dual voltage after all. Long & flamey story short; I need a new hair dryer. :)

[Paula S]

Mine is very similar to the one in the first link Frank posted.
It is a Baby Ionic by Luxor Professionals (folded - is the width of my hand and 41/2 ins long), two speeds, dual voltage and 700 watt. Not as powerful as the one in the link but still gives a strong blow dry.

[Paula S]

Oops, sorry Monte, I bought it in Canada, from my travel gadget source in Quebec
http://www.jet-setter.ca

Don't mention rhubarb please.......I can't find any up here......have you eaten all of it?!!!

[Monte]

Thanks Frank and Paula. Its gone until June. We are on trap line rations now.

[Laurie]

I've heard all the excuses mentioned too. My absolute favorite, has always been the one about "looking like a hippie." To my elderly parents, hippies never went away with the Sixties. I've noticed that most of the time, the excuses are based on not knowing there are other options or thinking those options are special and expensive in some way. Sometimes, the excuses are based more on fear of leaving behind something comfortable, like a routine.

[Maggie]

My favorite is a variation on Paula S's:

"But I'd get tired of wearing the same thing every day."

This quote is by a woman who wears the same color jeans and a similar print top every day when she's NOT traveling. When I pointed this out she didn't see the connection. I even tried describing my experience. I find at home the same 8-10 items are in the wash every week until they wear out. So finding a similar 8-10 items that go together, don't wrinkle, dry quickly and fit into one Eagle Creek packing cube for traveling isn't that big a variation on what I do at home. I buy a travel wardrobe that I love, save it only for traveling and have a blast picking up scarves and quirky jewelry as I travel as my souvenirs.

Maria - I love you describing your "horror" at the 8 pairs of shoes for a trip. I totally agree that is indeed horrifying!!

[forest]

I just gave some friends a ride to the train station. My jaw dropped when I got to their house and they had two of the largest suitcases they make. I could get only one in the trunk of the Prius. Then they came out with the other two rollies and a backpack each. One of the rolies weighed about 30 pounds and *clincked* when I lifted it............ four gallons of water in glass bottles!!!!!! My friend rolled his eyes and said "they give us free water on the train".

[K-eM]

This is awesome. People come up with the most interesting excuses. I have to confess that I mostly encounter envy.

My boss' excuse was her standard for everything. "I'm too busy." But when I went with her and another team mate to a conference and . . .
1. we almost had to take the next shuttle because their suitcases for a 4 day conference were so huge and there was almost no room left . . .
and . . .
2. I was able to easily hand my small bag up to be put on top of the pile and neither one of them could lift their suitcase alone . . .
She changed her mind and now uses a small backpack that she keeps perpetually packed with items she needs for short trips like that. All she has to do is add clothing.

My husband still uses wheels, but he has a good excuse. His back. I'd rather he use wheels and take up a little more room than throw his back out.

Once when we went on a tour, we were waiting in line with our two small personal bags and a carry on sized duffle stuffed with souvenirs. The woman ahead of us had a huge suitcase for all 4 members of her family plus the carry-ons. When we came up behind her with our 3 bags her first question was, "where are the rest of your bags?" When we told her that was all we brought this look of extreme longing came over her face.

[Andrew H.]

I have a legitimate excuse, which is that I have flat feet, which hurt when I walk a lot (my favorite way of vacationing is to explore a city on foot, unfortunately!), and it gets a lot worse if I'm carrying stuff (the first time I injured my feet was backpacking in Big Sur).

But I still pack a non-wheeled Aeronaut when I travel because typically I'm not schlepping my bag more than through airports and hallways anyway. I just have to be careful and do things like take a taxi to my hotel instead of walking through town from public transit on the day I get in.

[Lucy]

Just went on a 3 week trip to Vietnam with family including my aunt and cousin. Neither of them had traveled outside on the US, so we sent them the links to this site and told them that one bag would be best. So they both show up with 2 largish checked bags, full of stuff like blankets, paper towels, toilet paper, etc. We had mentioned that paper goods were not commonly used, but still, it was a bit of overkill on their part, since they didn't pack the travel size versions. They learned what a hassle that extra bag was. My aunt's excuse, since she really was not able to manage her bags by herself, was that there are always porters at the airport and hotels. But of course that doesn't factor all the other places we were going.