Luggage question

[ESF]

If you are doing a trip with a few stops, like visiting 3 European cities, or hopping to a couple Hawaiian islands, what do you use for luggage?

I always feel like I'm being weighted down with a standard suitcase and get annoyed lugging it around everywhere. But backpacks feel too small and not right for packing a wardrobe that isn't camping clothes and might involve a couple dressier pieces. Bags like the Lo & Sons Catalina are heavy to carry through airports and train stations.

I'm just curious if anyone has any solution they love.

[moreace01]

I only travel with carry-ons (like the ones on wheels). I've done 12 days in Italy (4 cities in fall), a week in Brugges, Brussels and Paris, a week in Paris and Amsterdam, another 10 day trip to Italy (Cinque terre, lake como and milan), a week in Costa Rica (3 areas) and a carry-on has worked out well for me. No problems getting it on/off trains, buses, etc.I usually also bring a backpack for other stuff or if I'm bringing a laptop.

My SO just bought me a carry-on from Away (the one in pink. Aww...) and I cannot wait to use it. It comes with a battery charger. www.awaytravel.com/luggage/bigger-carry-on/blush

[chimera]

Europe-
I have a timbuk2 set (https://www.timbuk2.com/copilot-carry-on-luggage-roller/544-4-2000.html?category=travel-bags newer version of mine, I have a carry on size and the big one) that I like, the wheels (skateboard wheels) handle European streets pretty well.
DH uses my old Merrell bag (I can’t find it on their site, but it is this one www.shoes.com/merrell-excursionist/396443)
that has sturdier wheels as a carryon size and he has a rolling duffel bag from Eddie Bauer that is pretty light weight, but needs to be checked. www.eddiebauer.com/product/expedition-drop-bottom-rolling-duffel---large/82302253?showProducts=&color=116&sizetype=&size=

For our trip this week (12 days) I’m taking the carry on size, but checking it, then OG lo and sons and my camera bag. We are in Prague for the majority of the trip (DH has a conference) but are then taking the train to Vienna and Budapest so I don’t want to wrangle the big bag. DH is planning merrell bag and taking his work backpack (laptop) - if he has to take anything for work he’ll swap to the duffel.

Hawaii is a different trip for us, as we drag dive gear with us. That all goes in it’s own bag and we figure out what else we need to take - if we have to check a second bag.

[marytini]

I have an ebags mother lode weekender that I've been since 2012 when we did 3 European countries. It has a strap to carry over one shoulder but I always use the backpack straps. It's just so nice to have the weight distributed on both shoulders and to have my hands free. Great for those European buildings that don't have an elevator. Only one did I need to pack something nice for the Opera in Prague. I brought a little black dress from White House Black Market that was a flowy material and basically wrinkle free.
DH still uses a standard rolling suitcase and I never feel bad for him when he struggling on European streets.

www.ebags.com/product/ebags/mother-lode-tls-weekender-convertible/143101?productid=10362789

(I actually have the junior version because I am short)

[ESF]

I don’t consider myself a crazy packer and will wear jeans and stuff a few times, but I don’t understand how people manage to pack for 1+week in a carry on, let alone a 21 inch one.

Do you do laundry multiple times?

[mich1]

Apr 22, 2018 17:33:55 GMT -5 ESF said:

I don’t consider myself a crazy packer and will wear jeans and stuff a few times, but I don’t understand how people manage to pack for 1+week in a carry on, let alone a 21 inch one.

Do you do laundry multiple times?

I did 2 weeks in France, in Dec. with a 21” carry on.  The only thing I washed was underwear and socks out in the sink.  

I also only traveled with the same carry on to South Africa, the Maldives and Dubai.  I did send out clothes several times to be laundered, but we were gone 5 weeks.  I was sick of my clothes choices by the end of that trip, but hate schlepping heavy suitcases.

[chimera]

Apr 22, 2018 17:33:55 GMT -5 ESF said:

I don’t consider myself a crazy packer and will wear jeans and stuff a few times, but I don’t understand how people manage to pack for 1+week in a carry on, let alone a 21 inch one.

Do you do laundry multiple times?

Packing cubes and rolling- it took a lot of trips to get the system down.
I have an easier time packing for warmer weather, than if i need cold weather weight clothing I have to take the bigger bag -sweaters don’t compress well.
I pack more dresses than pants, and I keep shoes to a minimum - wearing the heaviest ones on the plane.
Pair of jeans, pair of black skinny jeans, pair of plain black travel weight pants, and the pair I wear on the plane. My plane pants and the plain black pants wash well in the sink and dry by the morning. If it is hot I’ll swap the skinny jeans and the plain pants for shorts/capris.
Shirts that I can mix and match/ layer as needed.

[moreace01]

Apr 22, 2018 17:33:55 GMT -5 ESF said:

I don’t consider myself a crazy packer and will wear jeans and stuff a few times, but I don’t understand how people manage to pack for 1+week in a carry on, let alone a 21 inch one.

Do you do laundry multiple times?

Like another poster - I wash underwear and socks in the sink if I have to (and I usually bring double anyway cause I like to shower a couple times a day - especially on travel days, beach days, or workout days). But I roll my clothes. You can get a TON in that way. I will say that 12 days traveling Italy in fall was pushing it with the carry-on. I had multiple jackets and heavier clothes in general. I don't think I brought a ton of shoe options on that trip though. That's usually what gets me in trouble on a beach trip. Too many cute sandals and flow-y dresses. 

I'm kind of a minimalist packer though. When I was a kid my mom always told us "if you can't carry it by yourself, it's not coming cause I'm not carrying it for you". Tough love Mom...

[atlas]

My Patagonia Black Hole 60L bag. www.patagonia.com/product/black-hole-duffel-bag-60-liters/49341.html?dwvar_49341_color=TDT&cgid=luggage-black-hole-bags#tile-9=&start=1&sz=24

[smock]

Apr 22, 2018 17:33:55 GMT -5 ESF said:

I don’t consider myself a crazy packer and will wear jeans and stuff a few times, but I don’t understand how people manage to pack for 1+week in a carry on, let alone a 21 inch one.

Do you do laundry multiple times?

I've done a few month-long Europe trips with a single carry on bag. But I always stayed in an apartment with a washer. And it was always spring/summer, so lighter clothes.

[gigem]

Duffle with packing cubes was our solution to hardsided suitcases, pp’s Patagonia suggestion is great or we also love the north face base duffles.

Also we stopped buying large “full size” hardsided suitcases. We prefer samsonite 25” suitcases so they aren’t as big and bulky and we get the extra light feather-weight kind with the swivel wheels. That would be good for Europe not for Hawaii island hopping or safari- duffles are prefect for that. I need a decent amount of clothes. I cannot go on a trip more than 5 days and not wash everything and/or have a few outfit options for each day (my day clothes and then my evening clothes). Plus I like to workout on vacation and can’t rewear my workout clothes (or if the trip involves a lot of hiking). We travel a lot in Africa (safari) so even if you have just 2 nights stay somewhere it usually possible to get some clothes washed and with the strong sun it dries by the next day.

[dragon's breath]

For our five-week Europe trip, we took a carry on each, both from the Rick Steves site. One was the rolling backpack, the other was the convertible carry on. We'd just put the convertible bag on top of the rolling bag when walking around. Or, one of us could wear the convertible bag like a back pack. Not real fashion minded, but worked great for us.

Used packing cubes to keep things organized. Also had a small laptop bag and I had a small travel purse. We were on the move (buses and trains) every couple days, so easily portable was my main goal.

We did sink laundry, laundro-mat laundry, and one apartment we spent a few days in had a washing machine. I don't mind spending an hour or two in a laundromat when on vacation. I can read, somewhat plan the next couple days of the trip, talk to locals or other tourists (met a family from my home state and a couple from New Orleans while doing laundry in Munich), etc.

[ESF]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone!

I have always seen those blogs and websites that have the "Packing List for two weeks in Europe in a Carry On" articles that list various the items that the blogger packed, and I have always felt they were lying to me about what they really packed. I generally use a pretty standard 25 inch rolling suitcase for most trips, so not huge, but not compact.

I am not sure which trip stress I'd rather live with, annoyed at my suitcase stress or need-to-do laundry stress. It looks like that's the trade-off though. I was hoping for some magical packing solution that would not involve any stress, LOL.

[mich1]

Apr 23, 2018 10:53:26 GMT -5 ESF said:

Thanks for the suggestions everyone!

I have always seen those blogs and websites that have the "Packing List for two weeks in Europe in a Carry On" articles that list various the items that the blogger packed, and I have always felt they were lying to me about what they really packed. I generally use a pretty standard 25 inch rolling suitcase for most trips, so not huge, but not compact.

I am not sure which trip stress I'd rather live with, annoyed at my suitcase stress or need-to-do laundry stress. It looks like that's the trade-off though. I was hoping for some magical packing solution that would not involve any stress, LOL.

I think it more depends on what type of trip you are going on.  If I was going to one location and not leaving, I’d be inclined to pack heavier than if I was leaving every couple days to go to a new location.

I do try to restrict the shoes I bring.  Shoes take up a lot of luggage real estate, so I bring only one other pair.

[ESF]

Apr 23, 2018 11:36:36 GMT -5 mich1 said:

Apr 23, 2018 10:53:26 GMT -5 ESF said:

Thanks for the suggestions everyone!

I have always seen those blogs and websites that have the "Packing List for two weeks in Europe in a Carry On" articles that list various the items that the blogger packed, and I have always felt they were lying to me about what they really packed. I generally use a pretty standard 25 inch rolling suitcase for most trips, so not huge, but not compact.

I am not sure which trip stress I'd rather live with, annoyed at my suitcase stress or need-to-do laundry stress. It looks like that's the trade-off though. I was hoping for some magical packing solution that would not involve any stress, LOL.

I think it more depends on what type of trip you are going on.  If I was going to one location and not leaving, I’d be inclined to pack heavier than if I was leaving every couple days to go to a new location.

I do try to restrict the shoes I bring.  Shoes take up a lot of luggage real estate, so I bring only one other pair.

The problem is that I find the multiple location trips to require so much more. As an example -- we went to Spain and France in October for two weeks, with four stops. Weather reports were predicting 85 and sunny and Barcelona and 60s and rainy in Paris, and unpredictable for the rest of it. In Basque country, we did a hike and spent some time walking on some beaches. We had several high end restaurant reservations.  

Can people really pack for that kind of trip in a 21 inch suitcase? 

I think I may have to be a 25 inch suitcase person for life, LOL.

[mich1]

Can people really pack for that kind of trip in a 21 inch suitcase?

I packed for city (Johannesburg, Cape Town and Dubai), a safari and a beach vacation out of a 21” suitcase.  The temp ranges were 60 to 100+ degrees.  

My packing list was 3 pair of khakis (one worn on flight), 3 shorts, one dress (doubled as swimsuit coverup), 2 swimsuits, one thin dress slacks, 6 shirts (a combo of ss and sleeveless t shirts, some dressier), a fleece jacket (worn on flight/thrown in backpack), I wore Merrill light hikers, packed Tevas and leather flat sandals.  7 days of underwear/socks, light pjs.

Clothes got sent to laundry 3x in those 5 weeks.  In the Maldives, our shower was outside so we did laundry while showering and the sun dried stuff really fast.  We were there 10 days.  

[ESF]

Apr 23, 2018 14:06:42 GMT -5 mich1 said:

Can people really pack for that kind of trip in a 21 inch suitcase?

I packed for city (Johannesburg, Cape Town and Dubai), a safari and a beach vacation out of a 21” suitcase.  The temp ranges were 60 to 100+ degrees.  

My packing list was 3 pair of khakis (one worn on flight), 3 shorts, one dress (doubled as swimsuit coverup), 2 swimsuits, one thin dress slacks, 6 shirts (a combo of ss and sleeveless t shirts, some dressier), a fleece jacket (worn on flight/thrown in backpack), I wore Merrill light hikers, packed Tevas and leather flat sandals.  7 days of underwear/socks, light pjs.

Clothes got sent to laundry 3x in those 5 weeks.  In the Maldives, our shower was outside so we did laundry while showering and the sun dried stuff really fast.  We were there 10 days.  

Wow, that is amazing!

[jr009j]

I like this hybrid backpack carryon bag: www.redoxx.com/Red-Oxx-Featured-Gear/Sky-Train/91019/0/Product I used it for a 10 day safari and had plenty of room.

[orangello]

Apr 23, 2018 14:06:42 GMT -5 mich1 said:

Can people really pack for that kind of trip in a 21 inch suitcase?

I packed for city (Johannesburg, Cape Town and Dubai), a safari and a beach vacation out of a 21” suitcase.  The temp ranges were 60 to 100+ degrees.  

My packing list was 3 pair of khakis (one worn on flight), 3 shorts, one dress (doubled as swimsuit coverup), 2 swimsuits, one thin dress slacks, 6 shirts (a combo of ss and sleeveless t shirts, some dressier), a fleece jacket (worn on flight/thrown in backpack), I wore Merrill light hikers, packed Tevas and leather flat sandals.  7 days of underwear/socks, light pjs.

Clothes got sent to laundry 3x in those 5 weeks.  In the Maldives, our shower was outside so we did laundry while showering and the sun dried stuff really fast.  We were there 10 days.  

Where did you carry toiletries/makeup?  My kit takes up so much room in my suitcase, and there's no room in my purse/personal item.  I would love to be more efficient when packing!

[tres3]

We always just use carry on bags. The trick is not to pack a lot of shoes. All you really need are a pair of walking shoes and a pair of dressy shoes if you need to dress up.

[mich1]

Apr 23, 2018 15:14:35 GMT -5 orangello said:

Apr 23, 2018 14:06:42 GMT -5 mich1 said:

Can people really pack for that kind of trip in a 21 inch suitcase?

I packed for city (Johannesburg, Cape Town and Dubai), a safari and a beach vacation out of a 21” suitcase.  The temp ranges were 60 to 100+ degrees.  

My packing list was 3 pair of khakis (one worn on flight), 3 shorts, one dress (doubled as swimsuit coverup), 2 swimsuits, one thin dress slacks, 6 shirts (a combo of ss and sleeveless t shirts, some dressier), a fleece jacket (worn on flight/thrown in backpack), I wore Merrill light hikers, packed Tevas and leather flat sandals.  7 days of underwear/socks, light pjs.

Clothes got sent to laundry 3x in those 5 weeks.  In the Maldives, our shower was outside so we did laundry while showering and the sun dried stuff really fast.  We were there 10 days.  

Where did you carry toiletries/makeup?  My kit takes up so much room in my suitcase, and there's no room in my purse/personal item.  I would love to be more efficient when packing!

I use very little make up, I think I only brought mascara and lip stuff with me.  My toiletries were minimal.  I bought travel sizes of things like toothpaste, shampoo and conditioner and contact supplies and ditched them as they emptied.  The only thing I bought full sized was sunscreen, and DH and I went through 2 bottles while at the beach.

We checked our carry ons, and both carried a backpack onto the plane.  My purse went in mine, along with my fleece, my meds, my iPad, Kindle, camera (and cords).  However, I’ve frequently flown with both as legal carry on.

I only brought the jewelry I wore daily (watch, ring and simple hoop earrings).  All the hotels we stayed at had hair dryers.....some better than others, so brought no hair stuff, other than a few barrettes and clips to pull up my hair.

Everything I brought, I wore or used.  The only thing that I packed that went untouched/unused for this trip was the first aid kit (anti diarrhea meds, ibuprofen, antibiotic ointment, band aids, etc) I put together....luckily.  Better to have and not need!

[ESF]

Apr 23, 2018 15:14:35 GMT -5 orangello said:

Apr 23, 2018 14:06:42 GMT -5 mich1 said:

Can people really pack for that kind of trip in a 21 inch suitcase?

I packed for city (Johannesburg, Cape Town and Dubai), a safari and a beach vacation out of a 21” suitcase.  The temp ranges were 60 to 100+ degrees.  

My packing list was 3 pair of khakis (one worn on flight), 3 shorts, one dress (doubled as swimsuit coverup), 2 swimsuits, one thin dress slacks, 6 shirts (a combo of ss and sleeveless t shirts, some dressier), a fleece jacket (worn on flight/thrown in backpack), I wore Merrill light hikers, packed Tevas and leather flat sandals.  7 days of underwear/socks, light pjs.

Clothes got sent to laundry 3x in those 5 weeks.  In the Maldives, our shower was outside so we did laundry while showering and the sun dried stuff really fast.  We were there 10 days.  

Where did you carry toiletries/makeup?  My kit takes up so much room in my suitcase, and there's no room in my purse/personal item.  I would love to be more efficient when packing!

This is one efficient packing thing I can answer. I love my toiletries, and this will hold a ton in a very efficient way:

www.ebags.com/product/ebags/pack-it-flat-toiletry-kit/54638

That said, I truly hate this bag from a "using it in a hotel" standpoint, because if there is no counter space in the bathroom, you are screwed, because it doesn't hang. It has a hook, but the zippers are meant to be used when it lies flat, not when it's hanging upright. I avoid using if unless I am truly pressed for space, and then cross my fingers that I won't have to back and forth between the desk or table in the main room and the bathroom to do my routine.

[Deleted]

Back in the day when my husband and I used to frequent Europe we used bags like this www.ebags.com/product/osprey/womens-fairview-55l-travel-backpack/351204?productid=10602607

Mine is 10 years old, at least, and is still in great shape. We did 2 pair of shoes and 6 outfits. We managed to find the room to come home with 3 German steins in our bags one trip lol.

[scout8]

When we will be moving around quite a bit, we almost always travel with backpacks. Ours are not carry on size and they hold quite a bit. Mine zips all the way around as opposed to being top loading and I think that makes a difference. Due to our work situation, we often take a three week trip. We will do laundry one to two times during the trip. I do feel a little silly as a 46 year old walking around like a backpacker, but a backpack really does work best for our travel style.

[GilliC]

I rarely travel carry-on only for trips over one week. I don’t have a problem fitting stuff in a carryon bag, but with everything packed in so tight, I usually go over the weight limit (many European airlines have a 17-lb max, and I’ve had to check a 20-lb carryon more than once).

Even for a multi-stop trip, I choose based on logistics more than the number of stops. If I expect lots of uneven ground, stairs, or long walks with my luggage, I will go with a backpack. Otherwise, I’m usually fine with a spinner suitcase unless there are other logistical issues like packing it into small vehicles.

I once thought that the answer to all my dreams was a rolling duffel with backpack straps, but it wouldn’t stand on end in its rolling position and it took too long to get the backpack straps out to use them for very short distances (e.g. car to hotel). When an airline damaged it, I replaced it with a rolling duffel with a detachable shoulder strap that will stand upright on its own. I use that one as an in-between option (but I mostly bought it because the frame can be disassembled to pack it away — useful on expedition ships that have plenty of shelves but very little cabin space for luggage).

[steamboat185]

We typically do carry on and just do laundry. I’d rather not carry extra luggage. I have an Osprey Porter 40 that I really like.

[pantsparty]

Apr 22, 2018 17:33:55 GMT -5 ESF said:

I don’t consider myself a crazy packer and will wear jeans and stuff a few times, but I don’t understand how people manage to pack for 1+week in a carry on, let alone a 21 inch one.

Do you do laundry multiple times?

I rewear a lot when we do travel trips, where we're moving around between cities. On my last trip, I packed 2 pairs of jeans (wore another pair on the flight), 2 pairs of shoes (wore my bigger boots for the flight), and about 4-5 tops and a couple of dresses. I just make sure everything mixes and matches. On our first trip to Europe we each brought 2 suitcases and I vowed never again! Such a pain to lug those around.

I also don't typically do laundry because socks and underwear are small and I can stuff them into shoes - but we bring laundry packets just in case.

[lightbulbsun]

We've done carry-ons to all over the place, for trips up to 3 weeks long. We typically do have laundry done at some point through the trip. A lot of hotels have laundry service, so if you're staying for 2 nights it's not a big deal to drop it off overnight. I can do underwear and socks in the sink. Usually shoes are the biggest issue, and I try to limit myself to 3 pairs, and I wear the biggest pair on the plane.

[neonpink]

I just got back from Thailand and used this hynes eagle back pack that opens like a suitecase. It was amazing. I also used some travel space bags to help give me more space. It was great to not check anything. I had three planes to catch. It’s foing to be my new go too bag.

I will rewear some items or wash things when I’m using an Air Bnb.

www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B075WRLNBX/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1526063522&sr=8-2&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=Hynes+eagle&dpPl=1&dpID=4144HYNw37L&ref=plSrch

[ESF]

May 11, 2018 13:35:03 GMT -5 neonpink said:

I just got back from Thailand and used this hynes eagle back pack that opens like a suitecase. It was amazing. I also used some travel space bags to help give me more space. It was great to not check anything. I had three planes to catch. It’s foing to be my new go too bag.

I will rewear some items or wash things when I’m using an Air Bnb.

www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B075WRLNBX/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1526063522&sr=8-2&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=Hynes+eagle&dpPl=1&dpID=4144HYNw37L&ref=plSrch

I really like this!

One question though -- is this the only thing you take or do you also carry a purse somehow? 

I have been looking into packing cubes and think that I might actually be able to go to carry-on only. But I can't imagine doing it if I didn't have an option to carry two things on. The problem with backpacks is the difficulty in also wearing a crossbody or having a purse sit on  your shoulder. 

I am thinking that a backpack that also has a detachable smaller backpack would solve many of my problems. I really love the look of this one though and would love to make it work.