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Why Can't You Pack a Bag? (2024)

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Re: Why Can't You Pack a Bag? (2024)

#41

Post by gensym »

popalchemist wrote: post #14
gensym wrote: post #9

The advantages of packing light aren't always obvious[1] until you experience them, so you can pretty much tell someone's level of travel experience by how small their luggage is. I've yet to meet someone who packs more and more stuff based on past experience. As the article mentions, good fabrics (like merino wool) can go a long way. (1) Reliability and flexibility being foremost. Not having to worry about lost lugg…

For people without children, yes; with children, often, the opposite.

For me, it was having children that really forced me to learn to travel light. We lived in Chicago and going to the airport meant walking to the transit stop to get to the airport, so I needed a way to carry luggage (I did so on my back) for a mile while also being able to push a stroller.

Re: Why Can't You Pack a Bag? (2024)

#42

Post by twentyfiveoh1 »

SoftTalker wrote: post #25

> I had my worst-ever packing experience in the late nineties, when I was a teen-ager. Is hyphenating a word like teenager a New Yorker idiosyncracy? Or is that a "soft" hyphen that crept into the final article copy? On the topic of packing, my advice is to roll your clothes instead of folding them. Rolling avoids wrinkles and allows more space-filling options. That plus the general advice of packing just a few unive…

I am usually only traveling with a carry-on and I use something called "ranger rolls". Roll them as densely as you can get them. try not to leave them that way outside of immediate travel. I like it precisely of your space filling comment. I can fit clothes into what was ordinarily dead space with any other method in any other bag or suit case.

Re: Why Can't You Pack a Bag? (2024)

#43

Post by OkayPhysicist »

SoftTalker wrote: post #25

> I had my worst-ever packing experience in the late nineties, when I was a teen-ager. Is hyphenating a word like teenager a New Yorker idiosyncracy? Or is that a "soft" hyphen that crept into the final article copy? On the topic of packing, my advice is to roll your clothes instead of folding them. Rolling avoids wrinkles and allows more space-filling options. That plus the general advice of packing just a few unive…

Even better than rolling is a suit fold. I inherited one, and only got around to using it years later when I needed to fly in to a buddy's wedding with a suit. Ever since, it's my go-to piece of luggage. It's small enough to fit in a seat well in a pinch, it's light and portable enough to sling over your shoulder for a multi-leg public transit journey, and your clothes don't need any ironing to look immaculate when you get to your destination.

Re: Why Can't You Pack a Bag? (2024)

#44

Post by SoftTalker »

bluedino wrote: post #39
SoftTalker wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hotel laundry service tends to be quite expensive, but many hotels have a coin-op (or maybe an app these days) laundry room where you can do your own. That's very handy for underwear, socks, and casual items. And some people for whatever reason think that everything you wear once needs to be washed before you can wear it again. Break out of that mindset. You can usually wear pants and shirts several times if they are…

If it's a trip for work, who cares how much it costs.

I've never worked someplace that would reimburse laundry. Or maybe I never tried...

Re: Why Can't You Pack a Bag? (2024)

#45

Post by AlotOfReading »

coldtea wrote: post #24
AlotOfReading wrote: post #13

I really don't understand what people are putting in the 2-3 large suitcases I see them struggling to shove in overhead. For one, rolling luggage is usually a mistake for anyone who's not flight crew. I bring a week's worth of thin clothes that layer. If I need more, I'm either washing by hand or using a service. Basic toiletries, an e-reader, phone, keys, charger bricks, a notebook/pens, daypack. It fits into an und…

> For one, rolling luggage is usually a mistake for anyone who's not flight crew. Rolling luggage is amazing, especially that that goes into the overhead compartment. "I bring a week's worth of thin clothes that layer. If I need more, I'm either washing by hand or using a service. Basic toiletries, an e-reader, phone, keys, charger bricks, a notebook/pens, daypack. It fits into an underseat backpack with room to spar…

I'm not sure what you're considering "heavier" clothes, but my layers work just fine to about -20C. It was a bit chilly the times it was The comment covered special gear, so not really sure what you want me to add there. I use a slightly larger bag that fits in overhead.

Re: Why Can't You Pack a Bag? (2024)

#46

Post by nradov »

crooked-v wrote: post #2

From personal experience when I was younger: Spending a month traveling on European trains with a backpack will teach you a whole lot about what you actually need to pack, and what you will want to just leave behind and purchase again locally if you really turn out to need a given item. For me, the starting point that makes a lot of it way easier is to focus on layering. Anyone who lives in the Bay Area will instantl…

I live in the Bay Area and I don't understand that. Layering is a stupid hassle. I'll put on one jacket of appropriate thickness when I go outside and take it off when I come inside. Simple.

Re: Why Can't You Pack a Bag? (2024)

#47

Post by pgwhalen »

gensym wrote: post #9

The advantages of packing light aren't always obvious[1] until you experience them, so you can pretty much tell someone's level of travel experience by how small their luggage is. I've yet to meet someone who packs more and more stuff based on past experience. As the article mentions, good fabrics (like merino wool) can go a long way. (1) Reliability and flexibility being foremost. Not having to worry about lost lugg…

As someone raised as a light packer, I've come to the opposite conclusion a little: I'd prefer packing "medium" to have a lot of flexibility to be dressed well for whatever may come up. A small half-full duffel bag isn't that much better than a full one, so if I'm on a short trip I've found that I'll often appreciate having the extra options.

That being said, I literally do not own a roller bag, and am quite happy taking the stairs.

Re: Why Can't You Pack a Bag? (2024)

#49

Post by AlotOfReading »

nradov wrote: post #33
AlotOfReading wrote: post #13

I really don't understand what people are putting in the 2-3 large suitcases I see them struggling to shove in overhead. For one, rolling luggage is usually a mistake for anyone who's not flight crew. I bring a week's worth of thin clothes that layer. If I need more, I'm either washing by hand or using a service. Basic toiletries, an e-reader, phone, keys, charger bricks, a notebook/pens, daypack. It fits into an und…

No major commercial airline allows a passenger to put 3 large suitcases in the overhead bins: it's one carry-on bag in the bin plus a small personal item. If I'm going scuba diving, especially technical diving in a cold environment, then I need to fill my carry-on and personal item with the expensive or fragile dive gear plus check two large bags for the bulky dive gear plus whatever else I need for the trip.

The description is a bit exaggerated, but I regularly see families with a large overhead suitcase + personal bag + secondary bag per person waiting at the carousel. I don't think many of them are diving in the places I go to, but who knows.
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