With all these great low cost flight offers from European companies like Ryanair, Vueling and Easyjet, the urge to travel … and let’s face it, the possibility to travel grows and grows. The drawback, well besides all the missing leg room and forgotten luxuries (like food and water!) is that one also has to learn how to pack a 10 kg or 23 pounds bag into a 55cm x 40 cm x 20 cm amount of space AND it needs to last the duration of the ticket.
This could be a bit of a no brainer in the summer but how about if you are travel from November thru April in the northern hemisphere?
After doing quite a bit of traveling myself I have come to the following conclusions:
First rule of thumb has got to be find a carry on that is expandable and light. Who wants a piece of luggage that takes up 25% of your weight limit!! – I am all about expandable leather travel bags. They are light weight, durable and please . . . they look good.
Second, don’t over pack…this is one I like to repeat (in a loud voice) for my boyfriend (Mr. 4 Seasons) – but I believe he has his 4th seasom ear muffs on when I say it.
Third, …well actually I am not an expert so I will just pass you over to a few articles.
Though there seems to be some differing opinions on folding and rolling – the tips are the pretty much the same. Here are three of my favorite articles.
http://www.fabsugar.com/How-Pack-Carry–Suitcase-12445037
This is a video, so no trick photography of before or after shots that leave you wondering. I find ziplock bags curious. That might work for space . . . but I don’t know if they were weight conscious.
http://www.myjetsetstyle.com/2011/03/12/how-to-pack-like-a-freaking-ninja-8-days-in-a-carry-on/
Pretty wacky – the video is a bit long … but her packing method is, well, you need to see it to buy into it. I will admit her video is more like a personal accomplishment then about giving you packing ideas.
http://holayessica.com/2012/09/02/how-to-pack-a-carry-on-bag-avoid-extra-ryanair-fees/
She is topic specific, because I normally travel Ryanair …. and this airline is a stickler (to put it nicely). I mean even your Italian leather handbag (y’know the one you just love to show off) needs to fit into your carry on.
In any case, where ever you are traveling – and however you decide to get there – I wish you fun, fun and more fun!
#1 by ladylighttravel on January 10, 2013 - 7:41 am
Oooh, I’m not sure I agree with any of these videos. My favorite girly packing video is from shiny Pigeon:
http://shinypigeon.wordpress.com/2012/08/23/how-to-to-pack-for-2-weeks-in-a-carry-on/
The key to seasons is layering. Packing for 2+ weeks in winter is absolutely do-able.
#2 by Pierotucci on January 10, 2013 - 9:50 am
Thanks for the link and the idea of layering. Y’know what the big challenge is now? not so much making it fit BUT making it fit with the weight requirement. What do they say: just when you learn all the answers to the questions —- they change the questions.
#3 by ladylighttravel on January 12, 2013 - 8:31 am
10 kg is plenty. Wear your heavy stuff on the plane. Wear your coat. If needed, stuff your pockets with the heavy stuff – electronics, liquids, jewelery books.
Oh yes, make sure you bring a bag that is not heavy. Why waste your carry on allowange on the packaging (the bag). Leather is very heavy compared to nylon. The LL Beach Quickload Travel Pack is only 2.2 pounds. Compare that to a wheeled bag!