The great hand luggage only challenge!!!

[NM]

Packing commences in the morning - I will summarise what I manage and commence the challenge!

I am not making this easy with gifts, multiple ties, cufflinks... oh an dflying into the middle of a Typhoon...

You should have packed last weekend and practised living out of the roll-aboard bag all week. Then it would just be a matter to washing and repacking the same things.

 

[rhjames]

That is a great site! Maybe a little too hard core for my styles (I dont see me washing underwear in a sink!) but lots of useful tips.
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I travel hand luggage only occasionally when possible. However, there are some differences.

1. I always wash underwear and socks in the hand basin at night, but they're so small I'll usually take 3 pair anyway, and they fit in a shoe. Do a proper hand basin wash with soap - for socks it's not enough to wear them in the shower.

2. For me, suits are a thing of the past in most places (depends on the type of business and locations). Actually, I haven't worn a suit for about 4 years. Most business has been in USA, Europe and South America.

3. Did I read someone mention after shave - they've got to be kidding. Why would you bother.

4. I have been caught before where my trip hasn't stayed in the same hotel for more than one night - no time to get laundry done. This is only an issue for shirts, as mentioned in 1 above. This is a critical thing that decides how many shirts I need. If you know your hotels, you can discard shirts and have a hotel shop supply one for when you check in - expensive, but can be better than waiting around. I've never done this.

5. Shoes - two pair, runners and dress shoes - one worn on the plane. Forget the polish - shouldn't be needed for only two weeks, depending on activity. In 40 years of travel, I've never taken polish.

6. Deodorant (not any of the smelly re-odorant some people use) - I use a small stick supplied in previous flights, or similar.

7. The killer is warm clothes. If you're in any cold climates, this takes up room. I'll often get by with only one warm leather jacket that I take on the plane (can be a pain in hot airports). I've been caught flying to Amsterdam - luggage lost, -5 deg outside, and me in just a shirt doing star jumps outside waiting for a taxi.

8. If you're planning to run, you'll need shorts and T shirt. Sometimes with a hectic schedule, I have trouble fitting this in, but use the gym when possible. Shorts can be small and light.

9. Someone mentioned gifts - forget it. It amazes me that people feel obliged to buy gifts when they travel regularly.

10. Others - small toothpaste, QF business supplies an excellent shaver that lasts 2 weeks, and small can of foam that lasts me months, toothpaste and brush. I take a very small backup just in case they change kit. One small comb. Nothing else needed here. All fits in a shoe, sunglasses in the other shoe with underwear.

11. I normally travel with a book. Discard when read, and buy another at an airport as needed.

12. Some people take shampoo and soap - can't imagine why - plenty in hotel rooms.

13. If you're really getting tight, forget the vegemite - hard to believe, but I've done this when taking only hand luggage.

14. After having luggage lost I learnt how little I can get away with.

15. No matter how little I take, there always seems to be something I haven't worn.

16. It's an empty feeling at first to only use hand luggage, but gets to feel great.

 

[simongr]

Thanks - currently the following are on the spare bed awaiting packing:

Suit
3 Work shirts - no choice on that due to hotel changes early in the trip
2 pair chinos (one might not make it)
3 casual shirts
3 polo shirts
Underwear + socks
Formal shoes
Zip lock bag of toiletries - not full - gambling on hotel products - will be reassessed if start toi have allergic reaction to sulphur - staying in Hilton so generally crabtree + evelyn products
Laptop
BB - now with USB rather than plug charger
Phone (tried to rationalise into one device and was denied)) + charger
Trunks [aka swimmers]/goggles
Washbag - this will be filled with other stuff due to liquid baggie thing on departure
Small notepad
2 ties
Casual shorts
1.8in HDD for watching stuff whilst away

Two bird prints for parents in Cyprus

I will update later

 

[Tiki]

On our recent trip, we got all the way to Puerto Maldonado (BNE-PPT_IPC_SCL_LIM-PEM with carry on only. True, it wasn't a business trip but we did have hiking clothes/shoes which we ditched after the jungle hikes. On the way back, due to lots of shopping, we did end up checking in bags.

 

[jasonja3]

Thanks - currently the following are on the spare bed awaiting packing:

Suit
3 Work shirts - no choice on that due to hotel changes early in the trip
2 pair chinos (one might not make it)
3 casual shirts
3 polo shirts
Underwear + socks
Formal shoes
Zip lock bag of toiletries - not full - gambling on hotel products - will be reassessed if start toi have allergic reaction to sulphur - staying in Hilton so generally crabtree + evelyn products
Laptop
BB - now with USB rather than plug charger
Phone (tried to rationalise into one device and was denied)) + charger
Trunks [aka swimmers]/goggles
Washbag - this will be filled with other stuff due to liquid baggie thing on departure
Small notepad
2 ties
Casual shorts
1.8in HDD for watching stuff whilst away

Two bird prints for parents in Cyprus

I will update later

Oh... so you've gone back to having checked luggage:mrgreen:

 

[Shano]

Thanks - currently the following are on the spare bed awaiting packing:

Suit
3 Work shirts - no choice on that due to hotel changes early in the trip
2 pair chinos (one might not make it)
3 casual shirts
3 polo shirts
Underwear + socks
Formal shoes
Zip lock bag of toiletries - not full - gambling on hotel products - will be reassessed if start toi have allergic reaction to sulphur - staying in Hilton so generally crabtree + evelyn products
Laptop
BB - now with USB rather than plug charger
Phone (tried to rationalise into one device and was denied)) + charger
Trunks [aka swimmers]/goggles
Washbag - this will be filled with other stuff due to liquid baggie thing on departure
Small notepad
2 ties
Casual shorts
1.8in HDD for watching stuff whilst away

Two bird prints for parents in Cyprus

I will update later

I haven't started packing yet but have nowhere near as much stuff as that so feel pretty safe.....

 

[jasonja3]

FWIW, a more helpful post......One thing we have not mentioned yet is weight and size, and that you still need to lug this stuff around the airports, and get through security screening etc (and there ain't no porters in the airports!!), find room in the aircraft cabin lockers (a challenge on its own in the USA), get in and out of taxi's, hotels etc. So keep this in mind. When I pack light, it is bare essentials only, and I for go some flexability with clothing (but certainly not hygine!)

YOur list looks OK, agree with loosing one pair of Chino's. Could possible loose a casual or a polo if not needing them three times in a row.

Good luck!!

 

[Ric]

You could lose another pair of briefs as you are bringing your swimmers with you!!

 

[simongr]

OK - we lost a casual shirt and a pair of chinos. One thing I hadnt mentioned was the F clas PJs that I was planning to take with me for the three/5 overnight flights that I have. They will be a last minute addition potentially.

Rollaboard is full - but I have not expanded it yet so is still regulation size.

 

[littl_flier]

Congratulations Simongr, have a great trip. Can't wait for the TR.

You could lose another pair of briefs as you are bringing your swimmers with you!!

Swimmers just aren't quite the same as briefs unless Simongr is into Spandex for underwear. I try and swim in the morning before work and on the few odd occassions where I have forgotten briefs, it can be incredibly uncomfortable, particuarly if the weather is warm and the chlorine irritates. :shock:

 

[rhjames]

One thing I hadnt mentioned was the F clas PJs that I was planning to take with me for the three/5 overnight flights that I have. They will be a last minute addition potentially.

For me these are low priority. Even when flying first, half the time I don't bother with them. Once I'm asleep I don't care what I'm wearing.

 

[Dave Noble]

OK - we lost a casual shirt and a pair of chinos. One thing I hadnt mentioned was the F clas PJs that I was planning to take with me for the three/5 overnight flights that I have. They will be a last minute addition potentially.

Rollaboard is full - but I have not expanded it yet so is still regulation size.

Why would you take the F PJs? If you are flying F then they will give you them ( I have yet to remove them from cellophane when I fly ) and if not in F, isn't it a bit odd to be wearing them anyway?

Dave

 

[simongr]

I have three overnight flights - SYD-NRT, NRT-DFW and JFK-LHR - I would ratehr fly in relaxing clothes than in my actual clothes.

 

[rhjames]

I have three overnight flights - SYD-NRT, NRT-DFW and JFK-LHR - I would ratehr fly in relaxing clothes than in my actual clothes.

It depends on how desperate you are to reduce hand luggage. Personally I'd rather not take them and reduce my hand luggage - I find them fairly bulky.

I normally start packing about an hour before I leave home - that way I don't worry too much.

 

[Evan]

I normally start packing about an hour before I leave home - that way I don't worry too much.

Another last minute packer same style as me. I nearly always pack an hour before i leave, never have forgotten anything important, or for that matter just about anything ever. I guess you just get used to packing and what you need to bring for each trip.

I tend to agree with the school of thought rollaboards are not as good as a back pack, even when i pack bags to check in i often use a backpack/hiking pack, more practical in countries like Japan where outside of tokyo there is often not mant escalators/lifts etc.

E

 

[simongr]

PJs have been cut - I figured if I took them then you guys wouldn't take my baggage reduction policy seriously

 

[rhjames]

PJs have been cut - I figured if I took them then you guys wouldn't take my baggage reduction policy seriously

Now you're getting serious. What about two ties. I guess you are in situations where you need a suit. If you're not likely to spill soup on them, I'd leave one at home. Personally, I have an intense dislike of the silly things. They serve no purpose, and just get in the way. But then I'm an engineer - if something doesn't do something useful, then I don't need it. Take one that matches all your shirts, or take identical shirts. If you're meeting with the same people on consecutive days, you might want two - for me I have no interest in such things. For example I get dress shirts made in Thailand. I'll order ten from two materials, five each, and they last a long time - in fact my last purchase was in 1992, and they're still going - haven't bought dress shirts since. People probably think I wear the same shirt every day.

 

[simongr]

Well the ties were put in the shoes - so no additional sapce consumed

For me part of the thing about the tie is that it gives me focus - it is like Arnie in Commando setting the knives and guns into his flak jacket. From that point I am not "in the zone".

I made some silly decisions though - keeping the garment bag this was not necessary - I was able to put my toiletries in it after security rather than squeezing further my Tumi.

So far so good

 

[rhjames]

For me part of the thing about the tie is that it gives me focus

The only focus I get from a tie is what a useless thing it is. My shoes are normally full of socks, underwear and sunglasses. (one pair) - If they won't fit in the shoes, they don't go.

Just on socks, they normally fit snugly on the hotel hair dryer. If you wash them at night, give them about 3 mins each on the drier, then hang them out, they're normally ok next morning - if not, another quick burst with the dryer while you shower. I have travelled with one pair this way.

 

[NM]

The only focus I get from a tie is what a useless thing it is.

Ties can also come in handy as shoe shining rags or handkerchiefs when desperate.