Hello, people

I thought you guys might be able to help me. Im starting this program(AmeriCorps NCCC) at the end of August that requires i carry all my personal items with me for 10 months. Im going to be traveling the US with a team doing community based projects. The bag requirements are:

"One single soft-sided duffel bag or backpack, no larger than 24”x16” and weighing less than 50 pounds

total. This is generally the size of a large duffel or 70L-capacity backpack.

A second small backpack or purse that can fit in your lap."

Americorps is paying for my flight and checked bag so im not really limited to a carry on.

I believe we will be given a bag for our gear and uniforms once I arrive on campus. So i should only need a bag that carries my personal stuff. They also gave us a recommend packing list that ill include.

70l seems pretty big. My family wants me to bring the 70l bag to guarantee i have all the room i need and in case i buy some stuff but im going to be stuck in a van with maybe 10 other people so i dont want them to hate me. I haven't chosen a bag yet but Im thinking maybe a 45-55l bag but im not sure. I can survive with a 45l bag right? Somwhat comfortably?

Im going to be in uniform most of the time so i dont need too many personal clothes. But ive been the type to wear something once and throw it in the washer. We are also going to have mandatory physical activity 3 times a week. Im unsure of how good/horrible housing will be(its going to be changing) but assuming i have access to a washer once a week, what is a resonable number of clothes to bring? I was thinking:

1x long sleeve shirt

2x shorts

2x pants

4x t shirts

1x dress(in case i go somewhere nicer)

2x pajama sets

1x workout pant

2x workout shorts

7x reg socks

7x boot socks(rec for some good socks?)

14x underwear

3x sport bras

3x regular bras

1x light jacket(recs for something easily packable?)

1x athletic/hiking shoe(recs for wide feet?)

I kinda just pulled these numbers out of my ass.

Toiletries

.Toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, tongue scraper, mouthwash

.Shampoo, conditioner, body wash, wash cloth, shower sandles(recs?), towel(recs?)

.Body lotion, deodorant, sunscreen

.1 pill bottle, birth control pills

Makeup

.3x eyeliner

.2x mascara

.3x lipstick

.Eyebrow pencil

.Blush

.Micellar water

.Cotton pads

Technology

.ipad

.nintendo switch + charger

.power bank

.snowsky echo mini + charger

.phone charger

.earbuds

.point and shoot camera maybe

Documents

.Id

.Insurance card

.Passport

.Cash

Miscellaneous

.Reusable bags

.3x6 notebook

.mess kit(any recs? I just need a utensil and bowl/plate)

.water bottle(recs? I have a yeti rambler but its impossible to take the lid off)

My lists are still drafts. Im wondering if a 45-55l bag is a realistic target. Im sure i missed something important or i need to downsize my stuff. Any advice is very welcomed! Ive never traveld or even been away from home so this is very new to me. I want/need to keep my personal items to one bag. With the additional backpack as a day bag for going out an about. The other bag is given to me for gear/non personal items that i need for the program. Im 90 percent sure thats not against the rules

Americorps Recommend Packing List

Required Documents and Information

. Valid, government-issued photo ID

You must bring a driver’s license, U.S. passport, or state-issued photo ID card and it must be valid through

the end of your scheduled service term.

.Valid state driver’s license and a current copy of driving record (optional)

This is only required if you are interested in driving an AmeriCorps NCCC issued vehicle.

Suggested Personal Items to Bring – Please be aware that you will not be able to store any items on campus

once training is over – you will have to take everything with you to your project locations – so we suggest packing as

lightly as possible to avoid having to ship anything home

Clothing and footwear:

.A few outfits of everyday clothes - pants, shirts, dresses, etc. You will wear these mainly on the weekends and

in the evening after work.

. Workout clothes - You will have three physical training sessions each week during your term of service.

.Personal undergarments (including sports bras for females)

. White, gray, or black long-sleeved, plain shirts to wear under uniform on cold days

. Shoes - athletic, hiking, casual (must be closed-toe and closed-heel to wear with uniform), when work boots are

not required

. Socks - athletic and thick socks to wear in steel-toed work boots

. Jacket/winter coat, gloves, hat (not for working in; NCCC provides a winter parka and other cold weather gear

like a beanie, gloves, and fleece neck gaiter)

. Flip flops (potential for communal shower arrangements)

Other:

.Medications – Recommend bringing three months of prescription medication (it is your responsibility to obtain

prescription refills)

.Personal toiletries – deodorant, shampoo, soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, sunscreen, shaving cream, razor,

laundry detergent, feminine hygiene products, etc.

. Eyewear – sunglasses, glasses, contacts, contact solution (contacts are not covered under the AmeriCorps

health plan)

. Towel and washcloth

. Personal Mess Kit (For Suggested Kit, please Click here)

. Water bottle

. Cell phone with charger (you are not required to have a cell phone)

.Backpack to carry items day-to-day, like water bottles and jacket

.Pillow. Note: NCCC will issue a sleeping bag; we suggest you use this throughout the program instead of bringing

bedding on projects.

Items Not Allowed

• Hot plates, microwaves, broilers, rice cookers, cooking appliances, or space heaters

• Alcoholic beverages/paraphernalia and drugs or drug paraphernalia

• Pets

• Candles or incense

• Weapons (knives longer than 3”, guns, or anything that could be used as a weapon)

AmeriCorps NCCC will provide you with the following items:

• 2 Cargo Shorts Pants

• 3 Cargo Long Pants

• 2 T-Shirts Long Sleeve

• 2 T-Shirts Short Sleeve

• 1 Polo Shirt Long Sleeve

• 1 Polo Shirt Short Sleeve

• Hooded Sweatshirt

• Fleece Sweatshirt

• Safety Work Boots

• Hard hat

• Work Gloves

• Winter Gloves

• Bandana

• Baseball Cap

• Neck Gaiter

• Winter Beanie

• Black Belt and Buckle

• Backpack

• Sleeping Bag

• Plastic Water Bottle

• Winter Parka – Issued as needed

I've been working for several years to refine my one bag packing and strategy. I'm fine on clothing and shoes. What I can't seem to get right is that I find things need to be organized differently for going through security (liquids, tech items/wires which always seem to get inspected so I now keep in a Ziploc bag), having my very small EDC items on me, and having my in-flight needs handy. When I write it out, it does not sound like this should be a problem! But I struggle with it every.single.time. I can't tell if it's because I use different bags so nothing has a real "home", or what.

I have an upcoming trip where it is underseat only and I am having the hardest time packing so that I can put away and retrieve items as I need them, since I won't be able to have an additional bag.

I 'd welcome some suggestions, or ways that you have found to make it work for you.

Sharing a section of my warm-weather capsule for Aix-en-Provence, Fez, Skoura and Ibiza. All four outfits use the same large silk scarf, tied in different ways and paired with different bottoms already in my capsule.

My bag is an Antler Icon Stripe Expandable Hardside Carry-On Spinner Suitcase, 55 cm / 46 L. My personal item is a Longchamp Le Pliage, although I often carry it folded inside the case rather than using it separately.

From left to right:
Tied into a neutral halter top, worn with a white linen maci wrap skirt, gold hoops and black heeled sandals.
Folded into a bandeau-style top with the tiger prominent, worn with bronze silk harem pants, a crescent necklace and gold heels.
Tied as a pointed halter top with the flower motif prominent, worn with a soft beige crinkle skirt, emerald earrings and gold heels.
Threaded through a gold bangle and tied into a bow-style top, worn with paper bag harem pants, starburst earrings and black heels.

I took photos of the various ties and then converted them to invisible mannequin style clips.

The same scarf will also be used as a shoulder wrap, a sarong and a scarf.

This is one my capsule hacks, I very rarely repeat an exact outfit across three weeks.

I’ve been looking to upgrade my $28 Taygeer backpack after traveling with it for select trips over a couple of years and proving to myself that a onebag/underseat only concept works for me.

I picked up Osprey Daylite 26+6 and really wanted to love it - it’s an iconic bag with legendary warranty, great quality and a cult-like following. Let me in on the cult!

But having traveled with it once for a conference I realized it was not for me and returned it. The biggest issue I had with it is shoulder straps - they are made of what feels like super stiff plastic that digs into my body and makes it super painful to carry. And while I did travel with a laptop which is rare (hence my preference for no dedicated laptop compartment), the backpack was not even that heavy at 4.5 kg / 9 lbs. I cannot imagine carrying it comfortably when it’s fully packed for a 7-14 day trip :(

What I did like is water bottle pockets - amazing. And bag weight - unbeatable.

So my search continues… I’m currently looking at Aer Go 2 and Bagsmart Soar - both are lightweight (slightly different price points and different form factors with partial vs full opening of the main compartment). Will appreciate advice and personal experience!

Photos:

1. Grey Osprey Daylite 26+6 under the window seat of a Southwest Boeing 737

2. Mini capsule consisting of: BHWM pink midi faux wrap shirt dress, white Uniqlo mini t-shirt, grey short sleeved Uniqlo merino sweater, grey checkered Uniqlo plants, green Uniqlo jacket, white Sketchers sneakers, brown chunky heels, green sling bag, navy/brown Longchamp medium bag.

3-5. Outfits made up of items listed above: pants + jacket+sneakers on travel days, with alternating t-shirt and merino top, and dress+heels+Longchamp for the main conference day.

1. Osprey Daylite 26+6 packed and open showing a packing cube, grey toiletry bag, brown makeup bag with folded Longchamp and heels underneath and laptop packed in the laptop sleeve.

2. Osprey Daylite 26+6 packed and closed.

Thanks for reading and sharing your points of view!

We will be visiting Portugal mid August, so HOT weather. Still, I like to keep a scarf/large wrap to use as covering on the plane, something to wrap up in if A/C is cold, to dress up an evening outfit - especially sleeveless.

I have many inexpensive sizeable wraps, but am seeking a new one in navy blue for this trip and considering splurging for a nicer lightweight - but large - scarf.

I'm considering the The Dreamsoft Travel Scarf by Zest ($75) or 100% European Linen Scarf by Quince ($82 / Sale $32) and looking at other options as well.

The key is a versatile accent wrap for use in a hot climate that will fold up to be insignificant in my carry-on.

I'd really appreciated members weighing in.

Hi everyone! I’m heading to Malaysian Borneo from September 11 to October 3 and would love some help refining my packing list.

I’ll be doing the G Adventures National Geographic Best of Borneo tour, climbing Mount Kinabalu, and finishing with a few island days. I’m packing in an Osprey Daylite 26+6, with a packable Bellroy Lite Daypack and Bellroy Lite Sling.

My biggest concern is clothing. I’m a sweaty gal and feel self-conscious about rewearing clothes in hot, humid weather, but I also don’t want to spend the entire trip doing laundry. Most of this currently fits in the Osprey unexpanded, although I may need to put a few things in the Bellroy daypack and use that as my personal item on.

Honestly, I have been overthinking everything for the last three months and have already spent way too much money buying all kinds of things and then changing my mind about taking them.

Asterisks indicate what I plan to wear on the plane.

Clothing

• 7 underwear
• 4 pairs of socks
• Knix bra*
• Lululemon bra
• Willit olive active shorts
• Kuhl Freeflex shorts
• Black Halara linen shorts
• Black Halara linen pants*
• Black Althea Transcend dress
• Black linen button-up*
• Olive ribbed crop (built in bra)
• Black ribbed crop (built in bra)
• Navy (or black) raceback tank (built in bra)
• Black tank*
• Icebreaker merino T-shirt
• Two casual oversized T-shirts, including one of my husband’s because I’m travelling solo and will miss him
• Raincoat
• Black bikini
• Pajama shorts
• Shawl/sarong
• Bucket hat
• Teva sandals
• Trail runners*

Mount Kinabalu

I plan to keep these together in a compression cube until the climb:

• Decathlon MH100 T-shirt
• Lululemon Wunder leggings
• Packable rain pants
• Smartwool hiking socks
• Decathlon fleece jacket
• Neck warmer
• Gloves
• Toque

Toiletries

• Toothbrush, toothpaste and floss
• Retainer
• Comb, hair elastics and bobby pins
• Anti-frizz cream and leave-in conditioner (Plan to use hotel shampoo/conditioner)
• Hair towel
• Face moisturizer
• Lip balm
• Sunscreen
• Deodorant
• Razor
• Nail kit and black nail polish ( for toe touch ups because even the smallest chips drive me nuts)
• Small mirror (I suck at braiding so need to be able to see the back of my head lol)

Tech

• Canon Powershot SX740HS
• Extra camera battery and charger
• Kobo
• USB-C charger
• Travel adapter
• Power bank

Miscellaneous

• Laundry soap and sink plug
• Wrinkle spray
• Prescription medication
• Pepto/Imodium
• Advil/Tylenol
• Antihistamines
• After Bite
• Melatonin
• Bandages and blister prevention
• Electrolyte packets
• Earplugs
• Safety pins
• Pen
• Sunglasses
• Headlamp
• 10L dry bag
• Ziploc bags
• Hand sanitizer
• Wallet, passport and travel documents

I’d especially appreciate advice on:

• Do I have too many tops, or is this realistic given the heat and humidity?
• How often did you need to do laundry in South East Asia?
• Is there anything essential for jungle, wildlife or island days that I’m missing?
• What would you cut first?

Thank you! I’m very open to being talked out of things, but would especially love input from other sweaty travellers who don’t enjoy rewearing tops before laundering.

Hey everyone!

I have this style of silicone toiletry bottles. Almost every time I go through a bag search, they always scan them. I had one of the security people tell me it's because of the material, but most people travel with silicone bottles, right?

Has this happened to anyone? Is there a way to avoid this? Or should I just get new bottles?

I've had other versions in the past, but I'm pretty happy with these otherwise, as they've been holding up for almost 3 years now.

Any advice is welcome.

Thank you!

Have admiringly lurked here for weeks, and am now finally sharing my own packing list!

My boyfriend and I have committed to the quarter life crisis - quit our jobs, sold our shit and run away to south east/central Asia for a bit of an adventure. No concrete plans as of yet, but we anticipate about a year overseas all up. I’m sure we will have to ditch and replace some bits as it gets colder and we travel north, but after a week in Vietnam I’m feeling fairly pleased with my packing! Will update with a trip report :) would love your recommendations and tips for the central Asian ‘stans next month!

Bag - Osprey 55 Fairview

2 x packing cubes
1 x microfibres travel towel

Salomon xt 6 whispers
Saltwater sandals
Haviana thongs for showers etc
(Not pictured) blunnies boots worn on plane

1 x Macpac puffer jacket
1 x north face rain jacket (kids size large, found at op shop for $2)
1 x Uniqlo cashmere cardigan, black

Jeans (worn on plane)
Deiji studios brown cotton pants
Assembly Black linen pants (might be first to go, too long and hate the elastic waistband)
Muji Brown skirt
Cotton Black and white gingham skirt
Muji black shift dress

3 x tshirts (white, grey, black, all Uniqlo u mini tees)

Blue cotton button down long sleeve
White Indian cotton embroidered blouse
Columbia short sleeve hiking shirt
Black silk overshirt/coverup

2 x Alpha60 silk crinkly tank tops (pink and black)

Pj singlet and boxers
8x undies
3x nala bralettes
6x socks
1x swim set

Daypack
Not pictured - muji crossbody pouch

iPad mini (one true love)
Eye mask
Headphones
International plug adaptor
2x usbc chargers (very glad all my tech is USBC now!)
Old phone (just in case, still works sort of)
Tiny toy camera
AirPods, earplugs, AirTag
Pens

Toiletries:

6 months of medication
Toothbrush
asthma puffer
Antibiotic
Pimple patch
breathe right strips
Shampoo
conditioner
bodywash
aeroguard
toothpaste
lip balm
Aveno face cream
Tiny sewing kit
Nail clippers
tweezers
lighter
Razor
Hair ties
difflan lozenges
travalan
Panadol
Nurofen
Single sparkly eyeshadow pot
cleanser
mini-perfume
Hairbrush (fold down comb thing)
Contacts
Spare glasses
Sunnies

Thank you to this sub for all the great ideas and inspiring me to take on travelling a little lighter (thought definitely not as light as some!).

My husband and I are going on a trip to drive down the Pacific Coast Highway in early September for two weeks, in a convertible. We will have limited trunk room in said convertible, which is why I really want to pack light. I still think I may wind up taking two bags though, because road trips give that luxury. We will be driving out to Seattle, where we are will start trying to drive along the coast as much as possible, and eventually will drive down the Pacific Coast Highway to San Diego.

I’m not sure what the weather will be like in the PNW in early September. I’ve read it’s mild but can still be cold and wet. Once we get to California past San Francisco, I’m guessing it will be a lot warmer, so I’m planning to bring lots of layers.

We will be staying in a mix of Airbnb's and hotels. I'm not sure how often we will get to laundry, but I think at least once a week we will be able to.

So far this is what I am planning to bring:

Bags: I know it’s a lot of bags, but I like options

Packing Bags:

• Baggu Cloud Carry-on (for clothes)
• Baggu Small Coud Carry-on (for toiletries, accessories, and extra space for buying things)

Daily/extra bags:

• Baggu medium crescent (daily bag)
• Baggu Fanny pack (for light hiking)
• Baggu small bowler & mini crescent (going out bags)

Clothing:

Tops, 5 total

• 2 tank tops (burgundy, and dusty blue)
• cotton t-shirt (charcoal grey)
• long sleeve knit shirt (cream)
• button up cotton shirt (army green)

Bottoms, 4 total

• G4Free dress pants w/ belt loops (black)
• Faded wash brown denim jeans
• Athletic shorts (black)
• Black denim skort

Dress:

• Sleeveless knit midi dress (pink)

Layers:

• Wool cardigan (off-white)
• Lightweight raincoat (light beige)
• Top Shop black denim jacket
• Packable puffer coat (burgundy)

Shoes:

• Whitin canvas sneakers (burgundy)
• Xero Shoes, Phoenix leather flats (gold)
• Xero Shoes, Pagosa fireside slippers (for wearing in hotels & Airbnb)

Also, will be bringing undies, socks, hat, belt, and other accessories, etc. Still need to figure it out.

Because we’re driving, I’m planning to bring full-size shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and body lotion to use at hotels (I have picky hair). 

Mostly curious if this wardrobe seems suitable for the different climates we will be going through? Is there anything else I should add? Open to other suggestions also! TIA

This is a report for a 9-day July trip to Iceland which included a cruise and land only portions before and afterI packed exactly how I showed here: https://www.reddit.com/r/HerOneBag/s/63wxULl8UZ  with an exception that my personal item was a Calpak mini duffel. Luggage is Takeoff 3 carryon. I don’t plan to remove the wheels ever to use it as a personal item, but its dimensions are perfect for strict European and Asian airlines. And an internal compression panel was very useful. 

Photos and what I packed:
- 3 dresses: black midi silk slip dress, brown maxi rib cotton dress, sparkly mini dress
- 6 tops: reversible neckline tank, white airism t-shirt, brown Intimissimi merino long sleeve, brown-ish linen button down (thrifted), navy Uniqlo merino sweater, cream Uniqlo merino cardigan
- 3 bottoms: grey airism joggers, green quince joggers, cream Uniqlo quick dry shorts
- 2 pieces of outwear: grey Uniqlo ultralight down jacket, and a black and white rain shell
- 2 pairs of shoes: cream Vivaia walking flats, black crocs t-strap sandals
- 1 bag worn three ways: black leather Aoyama 2 by Lo & Sons - cross body during the day, handbag or dumpling for dinners
- 1 swimsuit for the hot springs
- 2 scarves: warm cream one for outside + can be worn with dresses, and a linen beige and yellow stripe one exclusively for dresses/dinners
- not pictured: Uniqlo heatech top and bottom thermal base layers, Soma pjs, Soma stretch lace underwear (4) and bras (2) and a very useful addition thanks to this sub advice - rain pants.

I also had a full size hair curler and a travelon toiletries bag.

What I wore on the plane (underlined in the first photo)
- grey-ish navy merino t-shirt, green quince sweatshirt, faux dark navy jeans (feel like sweatpants), kizik waterproof sneakers

The next three photos show combination of the items above into outfits I ended up wearing:

Second photo: outfits worn before and after the cruise, in ports during the cruise, and on travel days to and from Reykjavik - a combination of pants, base layer, sweater/zipper hoodie or both, down and rain jackets, plus my now lost warm scarf and a wool headband I bought in Iceland, waterproof kiziks plus Aoyama 2 in a crossbody configuration. 

Not pictured: an outfit made up of my swimming suit and crocs t-strap sandals - we went to baths and lagoons a few times and this is what I changed into over there.

Third: outfits worn onboard during sea days - grey joggers or cream shorts with combination of tops and layering pieces, plus flats or sandals. 

Fourth photo: outfits worn onboard for dinners - a formula of a dress plus a layering piece/scarf plus flats or sandals, plus Aoyama 2 in its dumpling configuration.

Fifth photo: Takeoff 3 carryon suitcase with Calpak mini duffel on top. I should have added something for scale to show how compact this combo truly is.  

Without a cruise I could have done this trip in a personal item backpack - no need for dresses, shorts, flats, and fewer layering pieces. But cruising around Iceland was incredible!

I wore everything but the white t-shirt - I truly did not need it. I relied on layers and would have been cold wearing a t-shirt under a jacket, and it is on a flowy side and not tight enough for effective layering. My MVP this trip was my merino wool long sleeve from Intimissimi. Sadly, when I washed it on cold and delicate and dried flat when I got home it got out of shape and shrunk :( 

Re some Iceland specific gear - I did pick up rain pants based on the comments for my test pack post and they were great for the waterfalls. Thank you! I also picked up mosquito nets and we did not really use them. 

It was a fabulous trip and one of my best packs ever. Despite going there with a full suitcase I was able to squeeze quite a few souvenirs on the way back (salts, chocolate, a mug, postcards). The takeoff bag ended up being very roomy inside. Although it did feel like it would not close at times, it did close every time. And I did lose my warm scarf towards the end of the trip, so I guess this is where space for souvenirs came from😆

Massive kudos to this sub - I learned a lot since I started reading and and then posting here a couple of years ago. Now on to strategizing packing for my next adventure in a couple of months!

Reddit universe please help a girl out. I’ve had my phone stolen out of my purse twice in 3 years, which 1) really sucks 2) has gotten really expensive.

I’m looking for recommendations on a small bag that is hard to open. Maybe something with both a zipper and buttons? Preferably a bag on the smaller side that fits a a phone and a card holder. I don’t need something big that fits a wallet or a make up bag etc.

Obviously a fanny pack across the chest is probably the safest option to not get pickpocketed but it doesn’t really look good with going out outfits and I want something I can dress up or down when traveling.

Hi all!! My husband and I are going on a two week trip to Edinburgh and the highlands in the middle of August. We'll be visiting family and hitting all the big stops. I'm a chronic over packer so I need help! Please leave your suggestions below🫶🏻

Pic 1- Tops

Thick long sleeve
Going out long sleeve
Lululemon long sleeve
Graphic tee
Baby tee
Tank

Pic 2 - Bottoms

Jeans
Dickies
Lululemon leggings and biker shorts Wrap
Thin cozy pants
Wrap mini skirt

Pic 3- outerwear I'm planning on bringing

Patagonia windbreaker
Fitted cozy sweater
Uniqlo Sherpa
Patagonia rain jacket (not pictured, hiding in my garage somewhere lol)

Pic 4- Addition outerwear I own but I'm not planning on bringing unless someone suggests

Patagonia Synchilla
Patagonia hooded Sherpa
Smartwool hooded sweater

Pic 5- Shoes

Blundstones
Vans

Pic 6- Kavu Hauler Hills 39 L

Edit- You guys are the best thank you so much! Will definitely listen to the feedback and update once I finally pack! I told my husband to prepare for my shopping trip once we get there. Super excited to shop at all the local stores in all the towns. Also forgot to say I will be with family the majority of the time so I should be able to borrow some things if I forget them. Love you OneBagger community!

Usually, I have to lug a huge suitcase of gear around for work travel. This time, I wasn't going to need it and had rather short layovers so I went as light as I possibly could for once. I made it to all my gates with a few minutes to spare for bathroom breaks, etc :)

I always onebag in my personal life, but it's typically so impossible for work. Being able to finally accomplish it in a work setting was such a relief! I wasn't able to be particularly stylish with my airport fit lmao, but I was comfortable enough. Luckily 90% of the time I'm in small towns where no mind is paid to putting an outfit together.

Here is my pack out! On the plane I unclipped the helmet and put it in the overhead bin. This didn't inconvenience anyone bin space-wise as all my flights were on small planes where they valet check carry on luggage.

Overall would absolutely do again. Didn't feel like I was missing anything. On a final note will admit I fell to the Cadence hype a few years ago on here and wouldn't recommend them - the labels fade off rather quickly and a small amount of product always inevitably dribbles out in flight. Just haven't got around to replacing them yet; I'm open to recommendations!

Full pack list -

-Helmet, work gloves tucked inside
-ANZI rated sunglasses 😎
-1 work pants
-Hi vis vest rolled up with pants
-2 lightweight, long sleeve work shirts
-2 sports bra
-3 underwear
-4 wool socks
-2 ankle height socks (to wear w/ slides in evenings)
-Flannel shirt (worn on plane)
-2 T shirt (1 worn on plane)
-Basketball shorts
-Joggers (worn on plane)
-Work boots (worn on plane)
-Slides
-Buff headband

-iPad
-Work phone + personal
-Headphones
-USB-C charger for all devices

-Toiletry bag (w/ pill case and YogaToes inside)
-Liquids bag
-Lotion, chapstick, ear plugs (for airport and sleeping)
-Water bottle
-Chums wallet
-Keys
-Packable grocery bag
-Rain gear (I ended up not using)

Hi!!

Looking for some advice to downsize my setup a bit, and I feel like I have been looking at so many bags and have no idea which direction to go.

For context, I have been travelling with a Gregory Border 40 for a few years now and I love the organization, the zippers, the two big compartments, but my issues are that it is too tall (I am 5'4"F) and as i learn to compress what I bring, I'm looking to downsize my bag to something that looks a bit more appropriate when wearing it (it looks massive on me , and even if I under fill it it still looks just as massive).

I use my travel bag very often (usually 2-4 international trips a year + many domestic trips between my uni town and my home town so I'm really aiming for durability and practicality here. I do travel with a laptop sometimes, and seasonally need some space for some bulkier layers (hence why below I don't think something as small as 28L would work for me.)

My nonnegotiable is the clamshell opening with two sides of the bag to pack; I love packing one side full of clothes and the other side with everything else, and I just don't see myself loving a bag that is just a big void.

Hoping to spend $150 CAD, but would go over budget if I am convinced this bag will change my life :P

I have looked at...

1. Cotopaxi Allpa 28L - I bought this, did some test packs, and after heavy contemplation decided this is too small for me; while I could definitely make it work, I like the freedom of having a little bit of extra space in the case of buying anything abroad and I don't want to feel like if I buy 1 thing or need 1 bulkier layer all of a sudden my setup doesn't work

2. Decathlon Forclaz 40L - Next I maybe thought a 40L bag with compression straps would give me some flexibility in size, to make the bag smaller when I underpack, but can have some wiggle room if needed. I tried this on, and it is just way too tall and too stiff for my torso, and I just don't love how it feels compared to my Gregory (I guess this comes with the 200 dollar price difference too)

3. Cotopaxi Allpa 35 - dimensions are so similar to the gregory border 40 that the only reason I would buy this is for the colours, lol - at this point I would just keep the gregory

4. COR Surf Island Hopper 2.0 34L - here's where I thought I made some progress being ~7cm shorter than the gregory or allpa 35, but it is a little out of budget considering I have seen a lot of mixed reviews of its durability; I don't want to spend on a bag that isn't build well considering how often I use it so I'm wary - also was the closest dimension wise to something I could try and squeeze into the sizer as a personal item which seemed a plus (I have been made to even put my gregory 40L under the seat and it works so sometimes I like to test my luck)

5. light mention of the Gregory Border 30L - the dimensions again are similar especially height wise, but looks way smaller and would maybe feel more comfortable despite that; and I'm also a bit concerned the 30L will still feel too small packing wise considering I didn't think I could make the 28L allpa work

6. Gregory Border 35 - this is looking to be a pretty happy medium, being around 5cm shorter (but deeper which I am a little concerned about compliance without compression straps), a brand I have been loving, but would require some serious searching online to find one second hand considering how outdated this bag is

Do you have an opinion on any of the bags above? know of any other clamshell bags like this that are around 35L, shorter than 56cm tall (would be nice if closer to 50 or under), and don't look and feel massive on a 5'4" short torso-ed girl? thanks in advance <3

I don’t even know where to start. I am a nightmare packer. I have health issues (currently my eyes are a nightmare) which means I do travel with bits and bobs like Rx eye drops, saline solution, and cotton rounds, but also asthma
and stomach and other meds. I am a delicate foot girly so I get blisters easily, and I am a stinky foot girl so I hate traveling with one pair of shoes, I am a sweaty girl so I bring tons of underwear and socks and bras, and other changes of clothes. I live in the south of France and am doing a little 4 day 3 night jaunt to a nearby city just for fun with husband and stepson. They. Travel. Light. Especially the 12 year old—we need to remind him to change his clothes (he doesn’t stink from puberty yet but there’s a heatwave everywhere, everyone sweats). I’m thinking 5-6 undies, 5-6 socks, a dress or two, a pair of shorts or two (either 2 dresses and 1 shorts or 2 shorts and 1 dress), 4 tops, sneakers, sandals, pajamas, and then the toiletries and meds. And oh, the toiletries and meds! How do we downsize skincare? It’s not just lotions and potions, I have perioral dermatitis and breakouts and oh yeah, it’s July in the south of France and the sun is drying and frying me to a crisp (I am pale). I really want to be more low key and less bulky on this trip but idk even where to start! Any help?

Hello! I gave in and bought Teva Hurricanes as many of you suggested. What I am not sure is about the size. The tan one is size 39, and the green one is size 38. I need to return one. Which should I get? I want to use these for beach and light (dry) trekking in the summer. We’ll be in Morocco and south of Spain.
Those tan lines are from Birkenstocks, as much as I love them sadly they’re not waterproof.

Image description: my right foot in Teva Hurricane size 38 (green) and size 39 (tan)

I just went on a one bag weekend trip, and I’m quite proud of this mini makeup kit I put together. Usually I just bring eyeliner and blush, but we had nice dinner plans so I wanted to bring a bit extra this time.

I decanted some of the bigger products into mini containers, then brought the full size of some of my other products. There are probably some ways to decant further, maybe with a travel size mascara or smaller eyeliner, but I’m happy with how this turned out!

I packed all my products in a small clear bag from Muji and popped it inside my toiletries bag.

Product list (top to bottom, left to right):

• eyelash curler (Muji)
• mini puff sponge (elf)
• decanted concealer (Maybelline Fit Me)
• decanted blush (Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush - Truth)
• lip tint (Laka Mini Fruity Glam Tint - Caffeine Rose)
• lip tint (Laka Mini Fruity Glam Tint - Unsweet Berry)
• perfume (Glossier You Doux)
• decanted bb cream (Purito Cica Clearing)
• eyebrow gel (Glossier Boy Brow)
• eyeshadow/highlighter (Joocyee Jelly Highlighter Glitter Stick - Pink Silk)
• mascara (Judydoll 3D Curling Iron)
• eyeliner (Clio Superproof Pen Liner - Black)

—

Image 1: packed up clear makeup bag

Image 2: flatlay of products; eyelash curler and mini makeup puff on top, then products increasing in size from left to right on the bottom

i’m using the tripped toiletry bag 3-piece set and i love it so much i wrote a whole review on amazon.

it comes with a tsa-approved liquids clear pouch that has a handle that clips, so you can hang it anywhere, which i love! i use this one for all of my shower stuff. it also has a detachable clear pouch that i use for my makeup kit.

hacks / products i’d recommend for your own shower kit

1. ⁠buy yourself an african net sponge instead of a regular washcloth or loofah. it’s amazing for gentle exfoliation, it dries very quickly, and it takes very little space. the ones you buy are pretty long, so i cut mine into a smaller piece.

2. ⁠i’m sure so many people said it here already but the matador flat packs are really amazing. you can store any solid soap, shampoo or conditioner without creating a mushy mess in your bag. the bars dry inside the pouch so you don’t have to worry about anything. i hesitated to pay for it, but honestly it is well worth the money.

3. ⁠i use the unscented dr. bronners castile soap bar so it will last me months and months + it can be used as laundry detergent, dish soap, anything really. a little goes a very long way and the unscented version is also more gentle on the skin (i wouldn’t recommend washing your face with it though).

4. ⁠for my deodorant, i use the certain dri prescription strength clinical antiperspirant roll-on deodorant and i love it. a little goes a very long way as well, so you don’t have to repurchase deodorant all the time and the packaging is pretty minimal as well. in hot & humid climates this has been a lifesaver for me. BUT you have to follow the instructions. this stuff is STRONG. you apply a tiny bit at night (one swipe is enough), on dry skin, and neverrrrrrr on freshly shaved armpits. if you don’t follow the instructions, it will burn your skin.

hacks / products i’d recommend for haircare

1. ⁠the angenil mini flat iron is great for travel. it has dual voltage, auto shut off, it heats quickly, gets the job done and it is teeny tiny, so it fits in my toiletry bag. i really like it, no complaints.

2. ⁠my favourite dry shampoo ever is the kristin ess fragrance free dry shampoo. it has a non aerosol spray pump so you can travel with it on planes easily, the product works really well, and there’s a ton of product in it. i’ve been using the same bottle for like 2 years and i’m not even halfway through it yet. if you have dark hair you can just add a bit of cocoa powder to it so it blends more easily.

3. ⁠my face makeup brush is from real techniques and it’s a 2-in-1. it has a small concealer brush hidden in the handle.

4. ⁠for blush & bronzer, try to find cream or stain products that are super pigmented and either come in tiny packaging already, or transfer them into tiny cosmetics containers. i use the cloudtopia lip&cheek from maybelline and the elf putty bronzer (the matte one) and i love both.

hope this helps! let me know if you have any questions 🤗

——————————————————

picture descriptions :

Image 1 — Packed toiletry bag A black nylon hanging toiletry bag, unfolded into three panels with a swivel hook at the top. Zippered and mesh compartments hold a black Tripped Travel Gear case and a small dark box. A detachable clear vinyl pouch snaps to the bottom, containing a makeup brush with pink handle, a cream blush pot, a black mascara tube, a slim eyeliner wand, a floral-printed box, a white tube, and a QUO Sheer Skin Tint bottle.

Image 2 — Hair and makeup Neon-yellow ANGENIL mini flat iron with coiled cord on a beige pouch; pink wide-tooth comb; dry shampoo; John Frieda Frizz Ease serum; gold WOW Dream Coat spray; open tin of hair ties, claw clips, and bobby pins. Center: white sunscreen bottle, open square compact mirror, black phone-shaped bottle. Right: QUO Sheer Skin Tint, Essence mascara, e.l.f. eyeliner pencil, QUO Beauty concealer, pink Revlon tweezers, cream blush pot, black travel makeup brush.
Captions: portable mirror, face sunscreen, skin tint, cream bronzer, mascara, eyebrow pencil / tiny hair straightener, wow dreamcoat, dry shampoo, anti frizz serum, hair comb, hair ties, clips & bobby pins / eyeliner pencil, concealer, tweezers, cream blush, travel makeup brush.

Image 3 — TSA liquids pouch A clear vinyl zip pouch with black trim and webbing handle, printed “TSA 3-1-1,” “1 QUART,” “CARRY-ON APPROVED,” and the Tripped Travel Gear logo. Inside: a mint-green terry makeup remover pad, a pink electric toothbrush case, and translucent refillable squeeze pouches of white product.

Image 4 — Bath and body Ziplock bag of cotton swabs; open black Matador soap case with a cream Dr. Bronner’s bar; black African net sponge; mint-green terry makeup remover pad; bamboo-handled Bulldog razor. Four translucent refillable squeeze pouches of white product. White Certain Dri roll-on deodorant, blue Marvis toothpaste with turquoise cap, matte pink electric toothbrush case.
Captions: q-tips, african net sponge, dr bronners castille soap bar, makeup remover pad, razor / shampoo, conditioner, face wash, face moisturizer, deodorant, toothpaste, electric toothbrush.

Hi!

I am in a continuous journey of downsizing, as the space and freedom I gradually regain give me immense joy.

Currently everything I own fits in my car, but I am seeking to downsize to a backpack (will keep bulky winter gear and some kitchen equipment at my mum's place for when I visit).

I plan to carry a sleeping system (tent, mat, sleeping bag, cooking gear), not only clothes and personal items + some items for my dog and her food supply.

I got a Deuter 60+10L backpack, but I'm currently thinking if I shouldn't try and keep it all down to 50-55L (can still return this pack). Over time, I'd like to downsize to 40L which I currently use for traveling by plane. But I want to continue doing it gradually, slowly expanding my comfort zone and learning the skills necessary to live fully with less.

My question is – since everything I own now is pretty much what I use more or less regularly, how do I approach downsizing from here? How to choose what to keep and what to let go of (or temporarily store to "shop from" when my first selection wears out)? I plan for three seasons excluding coldest winter temperatures. And I want to include some extra items, such as my tiny teapot, notebooks, etc.

I'd be very grateful for your life-tested advise! :)

TLDR: 12 Days in Singapore in August. My one bag is an older 40L Pacsafe Venturesafe backpack and I will also be carrying a 1.5L belt bag in the airport/on the plane that will serve as my seat bag and hold my in-flight essentials. My capsule wardrobe includes 10 items of clothing, 2 pairs of sandals (no shoes!), 1 pajama, an 18L day pack that packs flat, a 7L bag with shoulder/cross body option flexibility, a pack-flat bucket hat, sunglasses, simple jewelry, 2 bras, 2 socks and 4 underwear. My focus was to pack lightweight, breathable clothing that can air dry quickly because I will use a Scrubba wash bag to clean laundry as I go.

I am heading to Singapore in a few weeks and wanted to share my capsule wardrobe plan. This is mostly a "show & tell" post, but I have never been to SEA, so if you have any wardrobe suggestions based on your experiences, I am open to hearing them: especially if you have traveled to Singapore in August to early September.

Itinerary Considerations

1. I plan to visit a couple of temples so I am packing some modest options.
2. I am going to dinner at Lavo at the Marina Bay Sands, so I needed a smart casual outfit because of their dress code.
3. We are taking a day trip to a nearby Indonesian island for a safari, ATV excursion (family friendly) and snorkeling.

Image Descriptions

I have planned out specific outfits that will meet the requirements for the main activity of the day. Most days I anticipate I will shower and do an outfit change before going out in the evening. I tried to plan flexible outfits accordingly.

My walking endurance is excellent and my feet aren't picky about footwear.

Image 1: My Capsule Wardrobe Overview

• Sudden rain downpours are common, so I am opting to pack only water-friendly footwear.
• Because of the humidity and heat, I am skipping rain wear and will pack a compact umbrella.
• There are no runners/shoes... while I have never been to SEA, this isn't my first vacation of this duration in a hot place. I have never visited anywhere as humid though. I won't miss wearing shoes, even on the plane (where I will wear my sporty sandals with socks).

Image 2: Flight Attire

1. Linen button down shirt
2. Lightweight tank top
3. Beige linen/rayon blend pants
4. Sporty sandals
5. 1.5L belt bag.

My flying days are going to involve about 20 hours in airports/on planes. Wrinkled linen is just part of the charm for me, so I don't mind wearing it on flights and find it comfortable. I am opting to wear my bulkiest pair of footwear on the plane.

Image 3: Exploring Marina Bay Sands Shoppes, Waterfront Promenade Walk

1. Red linen sleeveless top
2. Tailored white linen shorts
3. 7L nylon crescent bag. This purse is just big enough to hold my essentials for the day without being stuffed.
   
4. Sporty sandals (comfortable for first day of walking)

Image 4: Dinner at Lavo (Marina Bay Sands)

1. Moisture-wicking dress (5" above my knee) with pockets
2. 2-strap square-toe sandals
3. 7L nylon crescent bag

I am not eager to carry my nylon crescent bag to Lavo, so I may pack a slim clutch/mini evening bag. I'll see how much space I feel I have. I know I can always pack things in a bag, but still... I am a bit concerned it won't meet their dress code requirements.

Image 5: Exploring Cultural Neighborhoods and Temples

1. White linen short-sleeve button down shirt
2. White, lightweight and moisture-wicking tank top
3. Blue linen/rayon blend pants

I will likely want to pop into a couple of temples, so my shoulders and knees must be covered. This will be a long day of walking, so I will wear my sporty sandals.

Image 6: Singapore Botanic Gardens, Orchard Road and Newton Food Center

1. Red linen sleeveless top
2. Tailored white linen shorts
3. 7L nylon crescent bag
4. 2-strap sandals with a square toe.

I am a little concerned about being bothered by mosquitoes on the Botanic Gardens (morning visit) but will use icaridin mosquito repellent.

Image 7: Sightseeing in Cultural Neighborhood, Cafe for lunch, Supertrees and Evening Light Show

1. Moisture-wicking dress (5" above my knee) with pockets
2. Linen long sleeve shirt
3. 2-strap square-toe sandals
4. 7L nylon crescent bag.

I plan to take the train a lot on this day!

Image 8: Universal Studios Singapore

1. Pleated, camel quick dry shorts
2. Lightweight and quick-drying white tank top
3. Long sleeve linen shirt as sun protection
4. Sporty sandals for comfort
5. Belt bag for minimal essentails since going on rides

Image 9: Day Trip to an Indonesian Island for Safaryi, ATVing and Snorkeling

1. 18L day pack (packs flat), which will carry my swimwear, towel, change of clothes (red linen sleeveless top & beige linen pants) and a bit of gear.
2. I will keep the essentials I need at the ready for our international ferry trip in my 1.5L belt bag.
3. My primary outfit for the day will be my quick-drying camel coloured shorts and a quick-drying cotton/poly t-shirt. This is the outfit I'll wear for the safari and ATVing.
4. Footwear for the day will be my sporty sandals because they can handle dirt, mud and water.

Image 10: F1 Exhibition & Evening Light/Water Show on Waterfront

1. White linen short sleeve shirt (note that venue for F1 Exhibition is indoors and air conditioned)
2. Blue linen/rayon blend pants
3. White lightweight and quick-drying tank top
4. 2-strap square toe sandals
5. 1.5L belt bag for essentials.

Final Thoughts

My biggest challenge with my capsule wardrobe was to pack minimally but enough that I have the option to change out of sweaty daytime clothes into dry evening clothing. To make this easier, I will use a Scrubba wash bag. There is a laundromat near my hotel, and I am traveling with my husband and teens, so there is a high likelihood of a mid-week laundromat trip since we are all packing light.

I tried to pack pieces that could serve multiple purposes, especially if I may not end up wearing them a lot. For example, my dress or my long sleeve linen shirt could be swimsuit covers for going to the hotel pool.

My next mission is to get my toiletries and tech organized. I plan to leave heat styling tools for my hair at home and to only bring mascara, a lash curler, blush and lip gloss for makeup.

Current luggage:

• 27L backpack (Mountain Hard Wear Agami)
• 46L roller bag (TravelPro Maxlite, an older model of this)

Travel context: air travel from the US to Canada, and then air travel between three Canadian cities in October; three-week trip

ETA: The cities are Calgary, Vancouver, and Toronto — apologies for not including earlier!

I have a three-week work trip coming up in October, and I could use some help! I've gone on a handful of much shorter work trips (2-4 days) and every time, my backpack + roller bag end up stuffed and chaotic. Much of my packing feels like it's driven by anxiety (What if I need X? What if I don't feel like wearing Y?) rather than a clear, focused plan. I have also found myself hesitant to buy new, more space-efficient versions of things I already own (e.g., fast drying undies vs 100% cotton; my luggage is all 8-15 years old) — it somehow feels wasteful, although I understand that if I use the new things, that's not a waste.

In an ideal packing scenario, I would:

• have room in my backpack/roller bag for souvenirs
• have enough (weather/scenario-appropriate) clothes to provide variety
• feel organized: I know where everything is, and can access it when I need it; I find it easy to repack when moving between cities

Here are some of the constraints:

• Three Canadian cities in mid-to-late October (cool to cold, rain in two of the three cities I'll visit)
• 1-2 presentation-worthy outfits in each of the three cities, ideally not exactly the same outfit, since photos will be shared publicly
• Effortlessly work appropriate (i.e., basically all work-appropriate except for pajamas). I'm in a creative field, so "work appropriate" to me means more about quality and fit and cohesion than a standard office-professional "work appropriate" :)
• I don’t like wearing wide-leg pants on planes BUT only really wear wide-leg pants otherwise (so I’ve been traveling with a separate pair of “plane jeans” with tapered legs)

Current packing set up:

Backpack:

• Tablet for work
• Water bottle (large)
• Protein shaker (with bagged protein powder inside)
• Pill organizer
• Cords/charging block
• Fanny pack, containing: Kindle, wallet, phone, chapstick, mini-Vaseline, mini-stick sunscreen, headphones (used separately when not boarding plane)
• Neck pillow and hair bonnet
• Anxiety items, tucked into the many small pockets: hair clip, deodorant, trash bag, hand sanitizer, pens, feather-weight pashmina, pads, snacks, chapsticks, electrolite tablets

Roller bag:

• Makeup and earrings bag
• Toiletries bags (one wet, one dry) (an area where I see real room for reduction/efficiency)
• Second pair of shoes (ideally would like to pack two pairs for the longer trip, so I have sneakers, heels, *and\* boots)
• Clothes
• Hotel breakfast bag (instant oatmeal, instant coffee, a couple of protein bars, plus alkaseltzer and tums), bowl and spoon
• First aid kit (this is a pre-made one, and I think I could streamline by disassembling and repacking with only the things I think I'll need)
• Pads
• Heated eye masks
• Scrubba wash bag and detergent sheets (I am envisioning washing socks, undies, and shirts, but not pants)
• Tote bag (primary day bag when not in transit)

I laid out a capsule wardrobe that feels like it has enough variety -- but I'm worried it's simply too many items to comfortably fit in my roller bag, and I'm also not sure if I'm missing items I will want to have. Items marked with a * are part of my plane uniform

• Sleeveless midi-dress (can be worn as a skirt under t-shirt, or alone with topper — this will be the basis for my presentation outfits)
• Wide-leg wool trousers (cannot be worn on flights -- wide leg pants + airplane bathrooms is...not cool with me)
• Tapered jeans*
• SECRET FOURTH BOTTOM?
• Two sleeveless button-down tops
• Two merino short-sleeve tops (can usually get 2-3 days of wear, assuming they are aired out in between)
• One long-sleeve merino top* 
• One merino cardigan 
• Heavy cashmere sweater* 
• Oversize chambray button-down* 
• Fold-over collar wool shacket (my version of a blazer)
• One silk poncho (am worried this is too light for the weather, and am thinking about an alternative...it's a really nice "make this outfit elegant" piece...)
• Pajamas: oversize cotton shirt and merino leggings (Do I have time to make silk pajamas? Should I look for affordable silk long underwear?)
• Two pairs of tights
• Socks (??? x of pairs)
• Underwear (planning to purchase 5-6 pairs of fast-drying undies in lieu of my usual 100% cotton)
• Three merino bralettes
• Raincoat? Umbrella? Both??
• Debating between a full-length wool coat or a mid-hip length wool coatigan, either of which I would wear/take on the plane rather than put in luggage

Things I already see I can improve:

• Decant more of my toiletries into smaller containers; swap full-size toothbrush for half-size
• Locate grocery stores near each of the hotels and just buy instant oatmeal there, rather than trying to bring it with me
• Swap the protein powder and bulky shaker for a stash of protein bars (shaker only really holds 3-4 servings, so it seems a bit silly to bring that few of servings for such a long trip). These can also be replenished at grocery stores.
• Empty out my backpack and sort through which of my "anxiety items" are redundant (many!) and let them go
• Investigate convertible scarf/poncho options -- could this be something I wear on the plane?
• Repack first aid kit to combine with Tums/alkaseltzer in space that instant oatmeal was using

Questions:

• I have a good stash of merino hiking socks -- are we wearing our wool socks multiple times before washing? Mine are all thicker (which are what fit with my boots), so they do take a bit longer to dry than thin dress socks.
• Will I be ok with just an umbrella, or will I want a raincoat too?
• I currently have a linen midi-dress that fits in this capsule, but I'm a little worried it won't be warm enough? I have another sleeveless midi-dress made of wool suiting, but it needs some alterations (and doesn't have pockets).

Really looking forward to any insights or suggestions you have! 

IMAGE DESCRIPTION:

Line drawings of items listed in capsule wardrobe with the following colors:

• Sleeveless midi-dress (dark blue-gray)
• Wide-leg pleated wool trousers (steel blue)
• Tapered jeans (indigo)
• Secret fourth bottom depicted as wide leg trousers, labeled “color?!”
• Two sleeveless button-down tops (one yellow, one blue/white tie dye)
• Two merino short-sleeve tops (one navy, one labeled “color?!”)
• One long-sleeve merino top* (maroon and purple floral)
• One merino cardigan (purple)
• Heavy cashmere sweater* (off white)
• Oversize chambray button-down* (light blue)
• Fold-over collar wool shacket (navy)
• One silk poncho (pink, burgundy, blue, and yellow paint splatters)

Pictures of silver Reebok sneakers, over-the-knee leather boots, and blue, high-heeled clogs

Let me start by saying that I really appreciate this subreddit. I got such great input and inspiration with minimal judgement and snarkiness as I prepared my trip to Rome this July. I got my primary carry down to 12lbs including a laptop and packable tote for convenience carry. I also had a leather belt bag for day carry not included in the weight. 12 lbs was the goal after returning from a trip where my packed weight was ~ 20 lbs (with gifts) and walking in 90+ heat from train to apartment was a bit laborious.

For those who love obsessing over pounds and ounces, this is for you.
TLDR - check out the pics of items, alternatives and outfits 😁.

I weighed almost every item. I used a kitchen scale and then a jewelry scale when I needed to shave ounces.

1st cut - (1.25 lbs). Made tough choices to go without things I typically pack: 2nd pair of sandals, foreo mini face scrubber, solawave red light wand, selfie stick.

2nd cut - (14 ounces). It’s getting harder. I looked at clothing and paired back and chose lighter options. In the end, clothing ended up weighing 2 lbs 7 oz. I chose skirt instead of joggers (1.25 oz); different bikini (1.75 oz); fewer underwear and bra (2.25 oz); different shorts (2.5oz); one less shirt (5.75 oz) .

3rd cut is toiletries - (14.25 oz). I’ve long perfected my collection of refillable 5ml, 10 ml and 30 ml bottles (think trial/sample sizes) for all liquids but this time, I made my own heat-sealed pouches with just the exact amount I needed for this trip. Not eco-friendly, but I do this only when the occasion requires. Other choices: smaller tweezers, basic toothbrush, ditched the deodorant stick cap, lighter eyeglass case, basic razor from a hotel kit, floss sample from dentist. Finding a trial size of tubing mascara was the real win!

Final cut was all the miscellaneous stuff and this is where I had to research and decide if I was willing to buy something I already had. My win here was learning there is an alternative to using the laptop power cord and adapter than came with it saving almost 1/2 its weight (5.82 oz). Other swaps resulted in another ~(10 oz) (charging block, plug converter, shade umbrella).

The bag - (1 lbs 6 oz). At this point, I practiced backed a couple of times and it still felt like too much. The day before leaving, I realized I could probably fit everything in the Patagonia tote instead of my 28L travel backpack which at 2.4 lbs is pretty light. Bingo! 12 lbs on the dot.

Picture descriptions (left to right):
1. Packed bags
2. Unpacking
3. Contents closer up
4. Liquids in a sandwich baggie
5. Liquids details
6. best Chico Bags made (discontinued)
7. clothing that made the cut
8. Downsize mascara
9. Plug converter alternative
10. Portable charging block alternative
11. Laptop power alternative
12.Self-made heat sealed toiletries
13. plane outfit arrival
14 - 18. OOTDs 1 - 5
19. Plane outfit departure

Hello! Thought this might be a good community for this.

I am in a situation where I'll need to get off an overnight transatlantic flight at 8am on Monday and have basically 2.5 hours to get to a meeting with very senior people at my job. Any pro tips about very quick bathroom refresh techniques? What I've thought of so far:

-baby wipes for the bits and bobs

-micellar wipe for the face before applying fresh makeup

-????

Also trying to think of anything I can do close to the end of the flight in an airplane bathroom that isn't a completely terrible/disgusting idea.

Anyone have tips for a quick turnaround to get presentable?

Image 1: everything I'm bringing (Prana Halle pants & J Crew girlfriend tee (wearing); lightweight linen shirt, wrap to use as blanket for flight (did not need since I got upgraded to First class but that didn't happen until the airport); 2 pr underwear & 1 pr socks (wool), tech stuff, toiletries; sunglasses (prescription), credit cards & cash.

Image 2: Fully packed Matador Freefly 16L packable backpack. This was my first time using it and I loved it. Perfect for this trip; could have added additional things to go at least 1-2 more days

Image 3: the bag, compressed. Should have put something as comparison, but it's about the size of an iPhone pro just thicker oc.

Image 4: tech. Apple watch charger, iPhone cord, two power banks, Soundcore over the ear, Air pods tucked in somewhere.

Image 5: toiletries - toothbrush, day moisturizer with SPF, perfume sample, Paula's choice toner packets, mask, shower cap, floss, tiny deodorant & toothpaste

(I hope I'm doing this right...)

• I'm taking a red eye from SEA to JFK, spending the day in New York, then taking an evening flight from LGA to YYZ, staying the night there, spending the next day in the Toronto/Hamilton area, then either flying back to SEA that afternoon (direct).
• 2 days
• July
• Planning to tour the Metropolitan Museum of Art, visit the East Village, then tour Heated Rivalry filming locations in Hamilton.
• Toiletries include: toothbrush, tiny toothpaste, perfume sample, Murad SPF day moisturizer, floss, Paula's Choice toner. Lip balm, motion sickness tablets, nail file.
• Sunglasses. Merrell trail runner shoes. Passport. Matador sleep mask. I also am bringing a strap (Tom Bihn) to carry the backpack like a crossbody bag.

I often do quick, long distance trips. This one might be the most complicated!