Secrets of travelling light

[Julesmac]

After MrMac decided he didn't want to pay the porters in Positano, and had to hike up and down three miles of perpendicular stairs with his ridiculous amount of baggage, I feel very smug when packing mine: one black jacket, 1 black pants 1 white shirt, 1 white t shirt, 1 blue chambray shirt, 1 pair jeans, 1 pair stone coloured chinos, 1 stone coloured cotton jumper, 1 pair back flats, 1 pair white runners, and a couple of scarves to mix things up. This suits a mixed business/casual trip , if more formal attire needed I pop in a black sparkly top and some extra jewellery. Cosmetics and toiletries are the killer weight and space wise. I always seem to be taken aback that there are shops that sell this stuff and they are often open at traveller friendly hours

 

[Pushka]

Toiletries and gym shoes are the killers.

 

[Revolio]

I know this is possible if, for instance, i am able to do my laundry.

On a longer trip to one city it pays to find a local laundry, not necessarily the hotel's.

I take drip-dry stuff and wash in the bath using hotel shampoo. Works fine if you soak in hot water for 2 hrs+. Quite often travel with 'disposables' too - older clothes that I wear once and then toss out into street rubbish bins. Always retail outlets to get the bargain to replace and re-fill the case.

 

[aussiejohn]

Always enjoy reading these threads as I am desperate for ideas.

However, as I feel many of our members are "biz people", the idea of HLO is not really feasible, hence the naysayers. And that is understandable. If you are on business, then you need to take the right clothes and other stuff. That's a given. However, is it not also a fact that if you are on business, you have the luxury of being able to expense taxis etc, and that gives you more freedom when it comes to heavier bags, and being able to move around.

I have long had the dream of travelling HLO. I have spent too many trips lugging heavy bags, and I no longer want to do it. I have learnt that you can wear things more than once, and that washing stuff is not impossible. I have done a couple of trips to Asia now with HLO, but I really only needed shorts, tshirts etc. and wore my jeans on the plane.

I have just come back from nearly 6 weeks away, Kuala Lumpur, Bangalore, UK, Frankfurt and Singapore. This was going to be my big test, the first big trip with HLO. I failed. Couldn't seem to do it, so took the check in bag - which of course then encouraged me to take more - just in case. I also had to deal with hot Asia and cool Europe. Except - Europe wasn't cool. I didn't need the cool climate stuff I took in the end. Instead of my holy grail of 7kgs, plus the small personal bag, I ended up with close to 25kgs. Absolute madness.

I got sick on this trip, as well as tired and exhausted. Old age has come more quickly than I wanted, and I can no longer do the things I used to be able to do. While I was not well, I hated hanging around the baggage carousels waiting for my bag, I hated the restricted movement I had getting through crowded airports and long lines. I hated the constant battle of up and down stairs and escalators on the London Underground. I hated having to battle on and off the crowded main line trains. I hated having to deal with the luggage in small hotels with a tiny lift, or no lift at all. I hated having to drag the case along uneven footpaths and roads. I hated having to keep such a close eye on all my stuff all the time.

And worst of all, I had to hump all this luggage while using a walking stick as well, as I now have slightly restricted mobility.

I basically created a nightmare for myself. I just arrived home on Wednesday, and only now just unpacking and washing, as I am still unwell.

I am about to repack exactly just what I did wear, and use during the 6 weeks, into the carry on bag (Worlds Lightest Bag 1.4kg) I had bought for the trip originally, and just see if I really could have done it as planned.

One of the problems is electronics, though this time I only took a tablet computer, which is not as good as my little netbook for typing etc. But you also have to carry chargers, cables etc, and all this takes space and weight. I could have left my camera home, I didn't use it once. Took photos with my phone. Have a kindle for my books.

I have also bought lightweight clothes specifically for travelling, to save weight. Things like tshirts, light fleece, a packable lightweight windproof jacket etc. all make life easier. My best find so far, Skechers GoWalk shoes. Like most people, I hate wearing the same pair of shoes all the time, but carrying two pairs of shoes is a pain. Then I found these lightweight shoes, that are just so comfortable. Cost me an eyewatering $100, but worth their weight in gold. And, you just chuck 'em in the washing machine to clean them! How good is that!

The other thing I need to do is put older, almost dead clothes to one side, ready for travelling, as then just chuck it away when I am on the road. I also noticed in Singapore at Bugis Street market, that I could buy 4 tshirts for $10. Why cart stuff when it is that cheap to buy and toss it away in the end.

 

[Rebekkap]

Always enjoy reading these threads as I am desperate for ideas.

However, as I feel many of our members are "biz people", the idea of HLO is not really feasible, hence the naysayers. And that is understandable. If you are on business, then you need to take the right clothes and other stuff. That's a given.

That's not remotely a given! I'm about to go to the US for a week for business, HLO. Completely doable, and IMO highly preferable.

I will be wearing suits during the day, and will need dresses for evening events too. Still HLO.

 

[Deleted member 6404]

Three of use just recently came back from Central America and we all had carry on luggage we did all our washing in the hotel room almost evert night,light stuff aircon drys things up pretty well over night while sleeping, (mmm wonder whats happening to our skin at the same time in aircon). As mentioned by Aussiejohn,we pack some old clothing and throughout the journey left old t shirts jocks and socks in the hotel bin. I havea travel adapter with 2 usb charging points + power point socket so no need for extra chargers to carry, wore cargo shorts for the flight, amazing what one can pack in the many pockets. and ended up back home with 1 and half kg to spare and that's after adding 2 kgs of Costa rican coffee, mine you you can only do that kind of travelling in warm climates, European winter would be another matter, then again there are some crazys out there lol

 

[get me outta here]

I agree, it's all soap whether it's shampoo (smells nice though), bubble bath, body wash etc. I don't feel the need to soak though. I find everything drip dries/drys

I take drip-dry stuff and wash in the bath using hotel shampoo. Works fine if you soak in hot water for 2 hrs+. Quite often travel with 'disposables' too - older clothes that I wear once and then toss out into street rubbish bins. Always retail outlets to get the bargain to replace and re-fill the case.

 

[RB]

Always enjoy reading these threads as I am desperate for ideas.

However, as I feel many of our members are "biz people", the idea of HLO is not really feasible, hence the naysayers. And that is understandable. If you are on business, then you need to take the right clothes and other stuff. That's a given. However, is it not also a fact that if you are on business, you have the luxury of being able to expense taxis etc, and that gives you more freedom when it comes to heavier bags, and being able to move around.

I have long had the dream of travelling HLO. I have spent too many trips lugging heavy bags, and I no longer want to do it. I have learnt that you can wear things more than once, and that washing stuff is not impossible. I have done a couple of trips to Asia now with HLO, but I really only needed shorts, tshirts etc. and wore my jeans on the plane.

I have just come back from nearly 6 weeks away, Kuala Lumpur, Bangalore, UK, Frankfurt and Singapore. This was going to be my big test, the first big trip with HLO. I failed. Couldn't seem to do it, so took the check in bag - which of course then encouraged me to take more - just in case. I also had to deal with hot Asia and cool Europe. Except - Europe wasn't cool. I didn't need the cool climate stuff I took in the end. Instead of my holy grail of 7kgs, plus the small personal bag, I ended up with close to 25kgs. Absolute madness.

I got sick on this trip, as well as tired and exhausted. Old age has come more quickly than I wanted, and I can no longer do the things I used to be able to do. While I was not well, I hated hanging around the baggage carousels waiting for my bag, I hated the restricted movement I had getting through crowded airports and long lines. I hated the constant battle of up and down stairs and escalators on the London Underground. I hated having to battle on and off the crowded main line trains. I hated having to deal with the luggage in small hotels with a tiny lift, or no lift at all. I hated having to drag the case along uneven footpaths and roads. I hated having to keep such a close eye on all my stuff all the time.

And worst of all, I had to hump all this luggage while using a walking stick as well, as I now have slightly restricted mobility.

I basically created a nightmare for myself. I just arrived home on Wednesday, and only now just unpacking and washing, as I am still unwell.

I am about to repack exactly just what I did wear, and use during the 6 weeks, into the carry on bag (Worlds Lightest Bag 1.4kg) I had bought for the trip originally, and just see if I really could have done it as planned.

One of the problems is electronics, though this time I only took a tablet computer, which is not as good as my little netbook for typing etc. But you also have to carry chargers, cables etc, and all this takes space and weight. I could have left my camera home, I didn't use it once. Took photos with my phone. Have a kindle for my books.

I have also bought lightweight clothes specifically for travelling, to save weight. Things like tshirts, light fleece, a packable lightweight windproof jacket etc. all make life easier. My best find so far, Skechers GoWalk shoes. Like most people, I hate wearing the same pair of shoes all the time, but carrying two pairs of shoes is a pain. Then I found these lightweight shoes, that are just so comfortable. Cost me an eyewatering $100, but worth their weight in gold. And, you just chuck 'em in the washing machine to clean them! How good is that!

The other thing I need to do is put older, almost dead clothes to one side, ready for travelling, as then just chuck it away when I am on the road. I also noticed in Singapore at Bugis Street market, that I could buy 4 tshirts for $10. Why cart stuff when it is that cheap to buy and toss it away in the end.

Maybe a realistic solution is to acknowledge your physical restrictions, pack around the 12kg & accept you now have to use outside assistance. While sorry to read of your recent challenges, would things/challenges really have been that different even if only having the 7kg?

 

[aussiejohn]

Maybe a realistic solution is to acknowledge your physical restrictions, pack around the 12kg & accept you now have to use outside assistance. While sorry to read of your recent challenges, would things/challenges really have been that different even if only having the 7kg?

I certainly agree with that. I have decided that this was my last big multi-city trip, and I won't be travelling so intensively in future. Though, as a pensioner now, and on a budget, my travels will be far and few between, unless I can find alternative funding sources, so I can travel more comfortably. Can't do pov travel down the back of the bus much more. Fortunately the spending on this trip, has taken me over the magic 256k points target I need for a business class trip to London and back, so I may try to avail myself of that in 2017 or 2018.

As for assistance, well I did use taxis a couple of times in Frankfurt, and again in Singapore, when I was just not well enough, to deal with the trains. I am also extremely grateful for the fantastic assistance I got from Cathay Pacific airlines in Frankfurt. They organised a wheelchair for me at Frankfurt, again in the transfer at Hong Kong, and another waiting for me in Singapore, who took me through immigration, down to baggage, collected my bag for me and helped with the taxi to the hotel.

Would things have been different if I only had the 7kgs? Yes, I think it would have helped me considerably - especially my back and shoulder!!

 

[Franky]

Because:
* the airlines do not deliver the 30-40kgs to each and every stop I have between flights
* In Europe I will often use trains and 30-40kgs is a pain, both to carry and to fit in any luggage areas! (ie Paris Metro where when one swaps lines it is often up and down steps!)
* In Europe my apartment may be on the 4th floor with no lift!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
* if there is a lift, then in some older places it is tiny and bulky luggage may require extra trips
* I might have other flights between my long haul J-F ones that do not have 30-40kg allowance (ie I might buy a short haul hop and so why waste your money on business class. ie I just flew HDS-JNB)
* Not good for ones back
* I normally travel with my wife and 2 lots of 30-40 kgs will often not fit in various small cabs or tuk tuks etc
* Most of my trips tend to consist of moving ever day to several days, and all that extr uggage to access and lug wastes time
* Options- Lighter bags allows one to use buses, trains, tuk-tuks etc when heavier and larger bags may force you only be able to use a large taxi or hire car




Caveat..yes I understand if you have golf clubs etc...

You just about detailed my life story...

 

[wanderer_au]

My strategies are:
1. Never take hard copy documents with you if you can help it. You can print it at the other end.
2. If you're packing a lounge suit, only take navy blue single breasted suits. They are so versatile. Coat can be paired with chinos, for instance.
3. You can dress RM Williams boots up and down - they are more versatile than a pair of brogues for instance.
4. If you exercise then take Dunlop volleys - they flatten more easily than other sneakers.
5. Don't pack a traditional sponge bag. They're bulky. I use a slightly-thicker-than-usual plastic bag to roll items up in.
6. Use the shampoo and soap provided in the room - or available from the 7-11 around the corner
7. Use the hotel laundry service.
8. Keep the plastic bags you bought your business shirts in - and fold your shirts in them when you travel. It works a treat.
9. If you're heading to the US, UK or HK, and you know your size - buy it there rather than pack from here. For instance, my preferred shirt brands are from the UK and if I'm going to London I only pack one business shirt, because I know I can stock up while in town.

Some of this is expensive - but if I'm on the road for work, they can pick up the bill (e.g. laundry).