Confessions of a radical packer
"Hi, my name is Bryan. It's been 26 years since I last checked a suitcase."
I spend four months of each year leading tours in Europe. I'm often on the road for six to eight weeks at a time. My trip could start in London in April and end up in Italy in June. I have to have clothes for a wide range of climates. And because I'm still working when I'm on the road, I travel with way more electronic gear than the average person. I carry a laptop, an iPhone, a GPS unit, a digital camera, a video camera, plus various tripods and accessories. Yet somehow I manage to fit all of this stuff into one carry-on size suitcase. It wasn't always this way.
My first trip to Europe, some 28+ years ago now, was on a typical bus tour: eight countries in 30 days, with 40 high school-age students and three teachers (who got free trips for recruiting us and pretending to be chaperones).
Never having been to Europe before, I assumed I needed to take enough clothes for a month, plus everything else that a person could possibly need when heading to such a wild and uncivilized place. Of course for a teenage boy, a month's worth of clothes meant two pairs of jeans, some shorts and t-shirts, plus a few pairs of underwear and socks. Still, my suitcase was literally big enough to hold four bags the size of the one I travel with now. And it was crammed full. There was no thought of carrying on luggage like that. The bag had to be checked.
Thanks to a variety of misadventures that I won't relate here, our trip from central California to Rome took 36 hours. Our luggage obviously decided this was still too speedy, and would not join us for another three days. I had carried on a small day bag with a change of clothes, so during our first day of touring I was the only member of our group who didn't smell like an Italian.
On my second trip to Europe I was packed even heavier than on the first trip. Since I was heading there to live for a year, I took my big suitcase plus a convertible backpack/suitcase bursting at the seams. I'm apparently a slow learner. My suitcases didn't arrive until a week later.
Since then, every trip to Europe has been done with a carry-on size suitcase. Most airlines allow you to carry on one main bag, no larger than 9"x14"x22", plus a small personal item, like a purse, day pack or briefcase. I know that for some people packing this light is a radical concept, but with the airlines now charging $15 to $25 or more for a checked bag, limiting yourself to one carry-on makes more sense than ever. In addition to the cost savings, you don't have to worry about:
The first step in traveling with one bag is to pick the right bag.
I spend four months of each year leading tours in Europe. I'm often on the road for six to eight weeks at a time. My trip could start in London in April and end up in Italy in June. I have to have clothes for a wide range of climates. And because I'm still working when I'm on the road, I travel with way more electronic gear than the average person. I carry a laptop, an iPhone, a GPS unit, a digital camera, a video camera, plus various tripods and accessories. Yet somehow I manage to fit all of this stuff into one carry-on size suitcase. It wasn't always this way.
My first trip to Europe, some 28+ years ago now, was on a typical bus tour: eight countries in 30 days, with 40 high school-age students and three teachers (who got free trips for recruiting us and pretending to be chaperones).
Never having been to Europe before, I assumed I needed to take enough clothes for a month, plus everything else that a person could possibly need when heading to such a wild and uncivilized place. Of course for a teenage boy, a month's worth of clothes meant two pairs of jeans, some shorts and t-shirts, plus a few pairs of underwear and socks. Still, my suitcase was literally big enough to hold four bags the size of the one I travel with now. And it was crammed full. There was no thought of carrying on luggage like that. The bag had to be checked.
Thanks to a variety of misadventures that I won't relate here, our trip from central California to Rome took 36 hours. Our luggage obviously decided this was still too speedy, and would not join us for another three days. I had carried on a small day bag with a change of clothes, so during our first day of touring I was the only member of our group who didn't smell like an Italian.
On my second trip to Europe I was packed even heavier than on the first trip. Since I was heading there to live for a year, I took my big suitcase plus a convertible backpack/suitcase bursting at the seams. I'm apparently a slow learner. My suitcases didn't arrive until a week later.
Since then, every trip to Europe has been done with a carry-on size suitcase. Most airlines allow you to carry on one main bag, no larger than 9"x14"x22", plus a small personal item, like a purse, day pack or briefcase. I know that for some people packing this light is a radical concept, but with the airlines now charging $15 to $25 or more for a checked bag, limiting yourself to one carry-on makes more sense than ever. In addition to the cost savings, you don't have to worry about:
- Waiting in line at the airport to check your bag
- Anything in your suitcase breaking
- Your suitcase being thrashed by baggage handlers
- Something being stolen
- Standing at the luggage carrousel after 14 hours of flying . . . waiting, wishing, hoping your luggage will arrive
- Filling out a bunch of paperwork when your luggage DOESN'T arrive
- Waiting in line at the customs exit, taxi stand, bus station or train station with all the people from your flight who got their luggage before you did
The first step in traveling with one bag is to pick the right bag.