Rick Steves: "Pick two"

“You’ll never meet a traveler who, after five trips, brags, “Every year I pack heavier.” The measure of a good traveler is how light he or she travels. You can’t travel heavy, happy, and cheap. Pick two.” - from Newsday
 
Some highlights:
 

• “Whether you’re traveling for three weeks or three months, you pack exactly the same.”
  
• “Pack for the best scenario — not the worst. You can buy yourself out of any little jams as you go.”
• “The bulk of your luggage is clothing. Minimize by bringing less and washing more often. Every few nights you’ll spend 10 minutes doing a little wash.”

Advice from Joe

“Even as airlines hike their luggage fees, they are losing more bags than ever before. That’s a double whammy you can avoid by packing smarter and buying better carry-on bags. If you don’t want to spring for the custom-made stuff from artisans like Myron Glaser, you’ll find capacious carry-ons from the better commercial suppliers. And when you must travel with lots of luggage, ship with Fed Ex, U.P.S., or the special services rather than paying for the privilege of using the inefficient airline system.”

- from air travel guru Joe Brancatelli - Portfolio.com

Packs & packing

Andrew Ho, a veteran poster in the Tom Bihn forums has some interesting stuff on his personal site: a packing list and comparison chart of convertibles & travelpacks (somewhat outdated but still good). Here’s hoping Andrew will contribute to our reader forum.

 

Here’s a very sweet deal (less than $80) on a convertible similar to the Victorinox Andrew mentioned, the Victorinox Travel Luggage Werks Weekender Travel Bag - Expandable.

 

 

Flckr lightweight travel photo group

From our OBOW Light Travel Forum- there’s Flickr group where light travelers display the contents of their bags Thanks to Kit for the post

Readers respond: How light can you go?

Are you really a light traveler, or - should I ask - are you a really light traveler? Tell us how light you can go for a trip of four nights or more. I’ll go first: just over 10 pounds (including day bag/personal item) for five nights, trans-Atlantic to Europe.  And this summer I did sub 15 pounds for 11 days in England and Scotland - including day bag/personal item. I don’t know if I’ll ever beat Tim Ferriss’s 10-pound kit which includes a computer. I’ve resolved not to buy another laptop until I can afford a featherweight (three pounds our less).

 

How to weigh? Well, you can step on the bathroom scales with and without your bag. Even better is a luggage scale (above). Mine came from Target. It actually has a tape measure built in.

Pack like a pro

A London Times travel writer learns packing tricks from a persnickety, dapper professional concierge in this online video and story. An excerpt from Times travel writer Ginny McGrath:

For someone who considers themselves a master in the art of travelling light, I was surprised to learn some canny new tricks from Fraser: a belt wrapped around the inside of a suitcase instead of being rolled into a coil will protect the clothes inside and save the belt from creasing.

Likewise, a folded shirt can be rolled at the bottom, where it is tucked into trousers and wrinkles aren’t seen, but should be folded on top to avoid creasing. The other tip I’ll take home is to leave shoes and other bulky items at the bottom of the case at the wheel-end. Fraser explained that this stops these items sliding down and crushing clothes when you tip a wheelie bag upright.

 For the greatest possible contrast with this proper English gent, check out light travel, Tim Ferris style. This post has a video as well. The difference is like, well, Brideshead Revisited vs. Monty Python….

Gadling.com has its own piece on travelin’ Tim. 

Not stupid at all

Words of wisdom from a nice Stupid American Tourist post about what to keep, what to scratch off that packing list.

I carried a lot of useless excess crap with me to Japan. It’s the sort of stuff you’ll see in a catalog, and think, “Wow, that looks really useful!” when in reality you may use it once the whole trip, and still end up lugging it all over the place.

“But it’s so small, and folds away nicely. It’ll hardly take up any space at all!” Sure, that one thing is small, thin, and light, but when you add 10 or 15 of its little friends together, they start to take up a lot of space and add a lot of weight.

Think logically, and take only what you absolutely know you’ll use repeatedly with you.

Dress for travel succes with beltless Joe

Joe Brancatelli is a gem. His advice is always witty and wise. Joe on dressing for checkpoint success:

“I’ve found that the fastest way through security is to go plastic. I switched the brass buttons on my blue blazer for plastic ones. I bought a plastic Swatch watch specifically for road trips. I’ve even gotten rid of my belt. Needless to say, I wear only slip-on shoes, and I check my socks for holes before I leave home. 

“I won’t argue that this all sounds a bit unstylish. If you want to don jewelry, sport your favorite chunky metal watch, and wear your lucky running shoes, and if you really need a belt, do what I do: Stow these possessions in your carry-on bag, then put them on once you clear security. And here’s an incredibly useful tip: Stash potentially problematic items in zip-top plastic bags. Before you reach the checkpoint, dump everything-keys, jewelry, pens, handheld computers, cell phones, loose change-into a bag and place it in an exterior pocket of your carry-on. When you escape the clutches of the T.S.A., fish out the zip-top bag and return everything to your person.” - washingtonpost.com

More tips from Joe on minimizing your sartorial load:

• Limit your color palette so your clothes match easily - maximizing their utility
• Accessorize - create the illusion of more outfits with different ties, scarves, etc.
• Buy clothing on the road
• Use hotel laundry services - “Lugging around dirty laundry is, needless to say, counterproductive.”  (I might add that the non-business traveler can easily wash their own clothes in-room, provided you’ve chosen the right clothing)  

Bundle wrapping bliss

Let me say this about bundle wrapping: It works. It works very well. On my last trip I made a more serious effort than ever to exactly follow the instructions from the Red Oxx website (in the form of a diagram based on Doug Dyment’s method.) I was astounded at how well the bundle system prevented wrinkles in my cotton and cotton-blend clothing.  Click on the bottom photo below for an image file which explains the system. Better yet, download the PDF from the Red Oxx site, print it, laminate it, and tuck it in your bag. You’ll be glad you did.

This method can be used in bags with or without hold-down straps and with or without packing cubes. The bundle helps keep everything together which decreases the need for hold-downs if the bag is snug and tightly packed . I believe I got better results in an undersized bag without hold-down straps than I ever did with the straps. Why does it work? Read Doug Dyment’s explanation here.

 

Carry on divas

This site proves that not all carry-on travelers are slightly scruffy and perpetually ruffled, nor are they mostly men. Diva in a carry on is a feminine look at one-bag travel. There are lots of ads and links but if you scroll down far enough you’ll find plenty of tags for luggage and packing - and more than any man ever wants to know about cosmetics and pretty things. Carry on divas!

And the Divas have linked to OBOW so we display the pink badge of honor. I feel more sensitive already…

TSA's holiday checklist - check the pies & beer!

Memo to Santa: In case a  French reindeer strike causes you to have fly commerical, here’s what you can and can’t carry on.

 
Some samplings from tsa.gov (no kidding):

“Not sure about what you can and can’t bring through the checkpoint*? Here’s a list of liquid, aerosol and gel items that you should put in your checked bag, ship ahead, or leave at home:

• Gravy

• Salad dressing

• Oils & vinegars

• Cranberry sauce

• Salsa

• Sauces

• Creamy dips

• Wine, liquor & beer

• Other beverages

• Jams & Jellies
  

• Soups

• Cakes & Pies”
  

AND REMEMBER, NO WRAPPED GIFTS!!!!

 

TSA says be neat or be delayed!

Messy packers, you and the TSA have issues:

WASHINGTON — Airline passengers, who already are required at airport checkpoints to remove their shoes, take off their coats and carry only small bottles of liquids, now have a new task: Pack neatly.
In anticipation of the most popular holiday for travel in the USA, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) today launches a campaign urging travelers to eliminate clutter in carry-on bags. Pack in layers. Keep items neat.
Messy travelers could spend more time in line if their carry-ons are cluttered because such bags are more likely to be pulled aside and searched by hand, TSA spokeswoman Ellen Howe says. - USA Today

From the TSA site:
—
Here’s how to SimpliFLY your overall security experience:

• Pack an organized carry-on bag using layers – a layer of clothes, then electronics, more clothes, and then other items like toiletries. This will help security officers see what’s in your bag.
• Have your boarding pass and ID ready for inspection when you get to the checkpoint.
• Remove your coat and shoes and place them in a bin.
• Place any oversized electronics (laptops, full-size video game consoles, DVD players and video cameras that use cassettes) in a separate bin. iPods and other smaller electronics can stay in your carry-on bag.
• Follow the 3-1-1 rule for liquids and put your one quart baggie separately in the bin.
• When in doubt, leave it out. If you’re not sure about whether you can bring an item through the checkpoint, put it in your checked bag or leave it at home. Click here to see the list of prohibited items.
  —
  

I’m guessing packing cubes are OK, but probably the more translucent the better. Some of us will take a little umbrage at being told to “neaten up,” I’ll bet. Here are some TSA example photos (left good, right bad, if the shoe fits wear it!):

 

What's in your pack?

From Gadling.com’s excellent recurring feature - What’s in your pack? - this time with travel writer David Farley:

“I’d much rather hand-wash my clothes than lug around a big bag. It’s also nice to get off the plane and just go,without having to wait around for my bag, which is inevitably the last one that comes around on the carousel. Sometimes when I see the way people over-pack-lugging around bags that a pachyderm could fit into-I almost laugh out loud in shock. One time, while waiting in the check-in line, I noticed the couple next to me each had two massive bags and two large carry-ons. I jokingly suggested that they must be moving out of the country with so much baggage, but they said they were just going to London for four days. In a way, it’s emblematic of how inefficient and solipsistic we are as a society; we stuff our bags with so many just-in-case items, forgetting that the outside world also uses shampoo, tampons, and soap, and that there are shops in the outside world that sell those things just in case you need them. In fact, being forced to go into a shop to buy something you need (but didn’t bring), may in some way heighten your travel experience. We like to wax on about how travel changes us, it opens our minds and expands our world view. But I’m not so sure this is always true.

Packing and luggage thread

Here’s an interesting thread on the askandyaboutclothes.com forum - mostly for men. This is a nice site for the snappy dresser. Andy has pages about packing amd luggage.

In Tim Leffel's duffel

Here are a few notes on some items that help me pack light. My Fujitsu laptop weighs less than three pounds and has a built-in wireless card. It slips into my eBags laptop backpack, which looks just like a regular daypack. My camera case also holds a small notebook, pen, lip balm, and extra memory card, so it’s all I need for the day when doing research. I carry some lightweight, quick-dry clothes from REI and Ex-Officio, including two pairs of boxer shorts, so I can do some sink laundry on occasion. My toiletries are all travel size items that can be carried on. Everything electronic is rechargeable. Only two pairs of shoes: dressy loafers with rubber soles (worn on the plane) and a pair of lightweight, water-resistant sneakers from Technica. If I were going somewhere hot I would also take Teva-style sandals. - read all of this “What’s in your pack” post from gadling.com

What's in Tim's bag?

Check out this post on gadling.com and learn what professional cool guy Tim Ferriss packs for one of his many adventure trips. Not much it turns out, but your sure to find some good ideas in his ultra-light kit.

 

Adventure travel packing list

Here’s an adventure travel packing list that’s not much different than our own light travel/one-bag list. I tend to leave the doo-dads and emergency stuff up to the individual and I’ve never had need of iodine tablets, but the adventure list is a good one and is available in a downloadable PDF, too. The contents of the list would easily fit in one carryon or pack.

Solid solutions to carryon liquid rules

Here’s a story that reviews solid replacements for liquid toiletries. The list includes moisturizers, shampoo, conditioner, makeup, and even toothpaste that come in solid form - meaning they don’t have to ride in the little TSA-required 3-1-1 baggie.

Stick it in your Ickle Bockle

From the UK comes a new product to help carryon travelers deal with the liquid rule dilemma. The curiously named Ickle Bockles provide a solution for those liquids and gels that you can’t find in the 3oz./100ml trial size or that you want to draw from larger containers. The Ickle Bockle Bank set includes bottles and pots which comply with EU carry-on rules.The set contains 3 x 100ml bottles, 1 x 60ml bottle and 2 x 30ml pots.  The bottles have interchangeable tops so you can pump, spritz, flip or pour. The labels on the bottles and pots can be written on so you won’t confuse your shampoo with your mousse. The ‘flight friendly’ Ickle Bockle Bank costs £10.25 and is available to buy from www.icklebockles.co.uk.

Keep calm and carry on

British travelers are hit with a wicked double whammy: they must deal with the strictest carryon rule (one bag plus nothing) and their airports and airlines are some of the worst at handling (and best at losing) luggage. It seems the  Brits are turning increasingly to carryon-only - as evidenced by these two stories from UK papers advocating one-bag travel. The Telegraph gives advice on strategy and luggage and a Daily Mail writer says he has finally been driven to go one-bag but bemoans the hated no-personal-item restriction. Bear in mind that the UK allows a slightly larger carryon (22x18x10) than the more typical standard of 45 inches in combined dimensions (often 22z14x9 or thereabouts).