DrSavant

I really wanted to stay at the Serena, but it's full, and while I could get a room, it would be only for myself - not nice towards my colleagues

As I have only an hour (literally), I doubt I'd be able to do anything...

vikmurthy

It's been a while since I last posted here, and wanted to share some updates on my travel repertoire. In the spirit of full disclosure, I've become a two-bagger by virtue of placing a Tom Binh Western Flyer bag atop a Rimowa Salsa Deluxe cabin trolley spinner. I could technically place the Western Flyer inside the Rimowa, but almost certainly couldn't fit it given the existing contents of the Rimowa. The only time I become a one-bagger is if my wife and I are traveling to separate locations and she steals my Rimowa.

In any case, here is a rundown on my effort to eliminate weight from and/or add convenience to my travel setup.

1. Traded in a semi-functional circa 2009 IBM Thinkpad for a Retina 13-inch Macbook Air. I'm not an Apple fanboy, but all I can say is Yahtzee!

2. Using the Recon One travel caddy -- http://www.alphaoneniner.com/shop/recon-tablet-caddy -- made by fellow flyertalker Helm Ashiblie religiously. It frees up my hands and pockets on cross-country flights while allowing me to have everything I need at arm's length. Only the occasional plane without seat back pockets can undermine the supreme usefulness of the Recon One (I'm looking at you, United). Helm, any way you'd consider making a caddy that fit a 13-inch Retina Macbook Pro?

3. Anxiously awaiting the production of several successfully-funded Kickstarter projects including:

(a) lightweight Macbook Pro adapter -- https://www.kickstarter.com/projects...project_update -- that will replace the white Apple brick I've been forced to lug around

(b) a pocket-sized external charger for smartphones and small tablets -- https://www.kickstarter.com/projects...t-fits-your-li -- that may replace the effective, but heavier one I carry currently -- http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

(c) wireless smart earbuds -- http://store.bragi.com/pages/features-2 -- that may replace or supplement the excellent Bose QC20i earphones that I use today.

(d) cool do-hickies that prevent shoelaces from coming undone -- https://www.kickstarter.com/projects...ur-laced-shoes -- which, I unfortunately have to say, represent a product that was likely designed specifically with me in mind.

4. Experimenting with two new comfortable and lightweight pairs of shoes with good results so far: Donald J Pliner slip ons -- http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1 -- and Vivo Barefoots -- http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1. The former I use for formal work meetings and the latter I use for more casual work / non-work situations. The Vivo Barefoots are great and ridiculously lightweight, although I sometimes wonder if they are intentionally driving demand for the Kickstarter shoelace project mentioned earlier.

5. Continue to use a Tom Binh toiletry bag with several tiny bottles (ordered from Specialty Bottle) in mini resealable Zip-locs. My toiletry kit has also expanded to include:

(1) a new nail clipper -- http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
(b) Vitamin D3 drops (to help the immune system)
(c) Vitamin E oil for skincare
(d) Downy Fabric Releaser to combat travel-induced wrinkles in dress shirts
(e) Ingenious touch-up shoe polish pen -- http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
(f) A credit card-sized multi-tool -- http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1 -- that only 1 in 2 Parisian security scanners will confiscate.

6. Never forget Shout Wipes-To-Go: an absolute life-saver for a (ahem) non-fastidious eater and drinker like yours truly.

7. arjunrc will not approve, but I upgraded my Slimfold wallet to a Slimfold Micro -- http://www.slimfoldwallet.com/collec...k-orange-micro -- that has been reinforced with thin plastic inserts so that the wallet better holds its shape. Being made of Tyvek, the wallet will still likely show wear and tear over time, but it is very functional, lightweight and I haven't experienced the credit cards coming loose issues that Arjun did. I am, however, intrigued an Allett wallet -- http://www.all-ett.com/mens-wallets/...inside-id.html -- mentioned in an earlier post although it's a bit wider than I would like.

8. In keeping with the slim wallet theme, I preordered Coin -- https://onlycoin.com/ -- in the hopes that it would allow me to remove most, if not all, of the credit cards I carry around on a daily basis.

9. Lastly, have unfortunately recognized that the most conspicuous travel item that must be slimmed down is me (as the lax self-discipline, frequent travel and irregular schedule and routine of recent months have conspired to expand the carry-on, so to speak), so I'm starting a combination 5/2 and 8/16 fasting diet. I hope to be a lesser man in the weeks and months ahead ...

Boraxo

Saw this thread cross-referenced on a similar topic.

Really the premise is silly. I don't know anyone who travels with 1 carryon bag - it's just too risky. There is always a possibility that some douche makes you check a 22" rollaboard - even if it complies with all the rules and always fits in the overhead. In fact Qantas limits carryon to 7kg I think - which is virtually impossible to meet if you are packing for a 1 week business trip. If you only have one bag and you are forced to check it, you will be SOL when the airline loses your computer, etc.

Really, the only solution that makes practical sense is 2 bags - a large one for your clothes, a small one for your technology, essential toiletries and liquids, and perhaps a change of clothes in the event your are forced to check the large bag.

LuxuryRogue

Your point is right, from your point of view. It could be considered "silly" (your quote) from other viewpoints. Like mine: I usually travel without a computer, or even technology. I usually carry no change of clothes (except underwear and shirts). On a one-week business trip.

But in cases where I have to carry a trolley with important items, I do follow your thinking.

freecia

I think I've seen an earlier Kickstarter which now sells the lace anchors at Journeys.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects...-simple-people

You could try this free method which doesn't involve hooking something reminiscent of a bread package tie and trimming laces that might other come in useful if said modded bread tie falls off...
http://www.ted.com/talks/terry_moore...tie_your_shoes

Lock Laces are another option.
http://www.locklaces.com/

arjunrc

Not silly nor risky from my point of view. There have been occassions where I've been asked to gate check in the past. I used to travel only with my Tumi wheeled deluxe at one point. When asked to gate check, I would simply take out my laptop (inside a neoprene sleeve) with its charger. Agreed this was risky because I risked damaging my other electronics gizmos that did not fit into my neoprene sleeve.

But Nowadays I carry the Gate8 and that risk is eliminated - when asked, I simply unzip the laptop bag. That bag contains all my gizmos and I also take out my toiletries pouch and put it in the zip out bag when this occurs. Though frankly it hardly ever occurs to me. You are right in that if my bag is ever weighed, especially when it comes to a week's worth of stuff packed in, I'll flunk the carry on test. But then its exactly the same as taking two bags in and checking in the second. I guess the only other risk is all my clothes are in the bag that I just was forced to check in. In a two bag system, I suppose I could distribute the clothes. But given that I hardly ever get asked to check in my gate8, its a risk I am ready to accept.

arjunrc

Oooh love your posts, Vik. More inside:

*Gak*. A Jedi's strength flows from the Force. But beware of the Dark Side. The one baggers will await you.

Do you find yourself using this very often? Why do you need so many things in front of you when you are in flight? I find myself only ever needing my laptop (if I need to finish off some heavy documents/presentations) and otherwise just my iPad mini is sufficient.

Oh yeah. Likewise.

Very cool. Love the wire design too.


Have you travelled internationally with it? Have you had any problems carrying it on in any airport?

Is this a regular shoe polish or a scuff fixer? Looks interesting.

Indeed. I picked up the same when you first wrote about it. Never used it yet, but its quite fabulous. I experimented with it at home and was very happy. Now I really need someone to spill something on me when I am on travel.

I am currently using the big skinny leather hybrid. Sort of inbetween my old compact wallet and the slimfold. How long have you had the micro and can you post a picture or two of its current state?

I've almost ordered this several times but I finally decided to wait and see how it plays out

I'm very wary of fasting diets. They work but then you get back to old form very soon. It's hard to make it sustainable. I'm probably the laziest person you can ever meet and I love food. I gotta tell you, if you are going this route, try weightwatchers. I did it in 2011, dropped 30 in 3 months without starving and did not have to give up my daily wine nor any food I like. And given I travel, I still managed to eat everything and continue. Stopped doing it after that but it changed my food aware lifestyle to a point where I never went back to my old overweight self.

Boraxo

Hope I never sit next to you on your return flight. Those pants must get pretty stale.

Honestly if I could travel that light I would be delighted and certainly wouldn't need this thread. Eliminate clothes and tech you eliminate the need for a dual-bag system. In fact I've often done a single bag myself for a 1-2 night trip. Adding a couple more underwear and shirts would simply fill out the empty space.

Yeah, I get that Gate8 and other bags allow you to peel off outer compartments (with some even designed as knapsacks on top of backpacks). But most are either too small to hold everything that I would need to carryon or too large so as to put the combined bag over the normal limits.

There are 2 other issues - plane use and work use. Even if I could fit everything into my carryon (which is certainly possible for fewer nights) I like to access my bag before and during long international flights - I don't want to have to take down and unzip a 22". Similarly it would be a royal PITA to wheel my 22" bag into the office every day and dig through my underwear to find a file. So the 2-bag system works better for me.

Again, I wish you well in your mission, but I don't accept the premise as one that makes sense for anyone who carries tech, paperwork, and a week's worth of business clothes (i.e. not 5 tshirts and wears the same pair of jeans all week). However I do think it's a great strategy for leisure travelers, particularly those headed to warm weather destinations.

LuxuryRogue

I think the OP, plus some others here, and myself understand this "reduced luggage" as an elaborate artform. Without compromise!

I don't carry jeans, but a Brioni suit (or similar) that looks and smells good, even after a week. Currently, I am talking to a hightech fabric company to provide me with special "never-used-before" cloth for new tailormade suits.

I participated in a marathon at the North Pole two weeks ago (TR here) - with bulky down clothing & Sorel boots & lots of cold weather running gear & smart jacket/trouser combination. Total trip time: one week. I was the only one in the group of 50, carrying handluggage only (admittedly two-bagger this time ).



My tech is a large Samsung Note 2 smartphone, that does all I need.

So, Boraxo, maybe you need to sharpen your pencil

DrNabil

I've been reading this thread for several months and finally tried to onebag. I did a test run going on a 4 day trip to San Antonio, then the real test was one bagging on a 10 day trip to Hungary and Romania (where I was going for a conference). This was tough but I managed to get my bag down to about 10 kg (including some gift books I was bringing to conference organizers in Romania).

Tips that I've learned from posters here:
1) carry on bag - I went for the LL Bean QuickLoad Travel Pack primarily because it was the lightest bag and it was the only bag I could see in a store before purchasing.

2) contact lens cases for skin care liquids - this has been a lifesaver!

3) Ex officio shirts and underwear - purchased 3 pair and have washed them alternate nights, and this has reduced the weight in the bag substantially!

4) Smartwool socks - these are really effective socks! Love them. I can rotate three pairs and do fine.

5) A smaller bag to put inside the bigger bag, and to consider using as a second bag if I bought too much in souvenirs. I opted for the primarily because it had zip pockets on the outside and a water bottle holders (I always drink water on flights). This worked out perfectly to keep snacks, my iPad and charger under the seat.

My own tips - I decided to try to only bring one pair of shoes on the trip (which means that I just wore the same shoes the whole trip). My conference was pretty casual (as it was a student congress, most folks were completely casual in dress, but I was dressed in dockers and long sleeve shirts most of the time there). So I needed a pair of shoes that could go well with a pair of jeans, a pair of khaki dockers, and possibly a pair of beige shorts. I purchased two shoes to test out, and love both of them (just don't bring them on the same trip). I purchased New Balance Dunham in tan and Clarks Un.Sand in brown. Brought the New Balance on my test trip, the Clarks on my longer trip. Both worked perfectly, especially on long walks, which I did on both trips.

The biggest tip was the mindset - I really had to rethink how I packed and not pack for "just in case" scenarios. My partner teased me for making a comprehensive packing list, but making the list made me question everything I brought. Now I'm on the hunt for a lighter raincoat because my current one was just a little bulkier than I'd like.

I'm enjoying the freedom of just carrying one bag on a trip and not having to worry about whether my luggage will make it or not!

LuxuryRogue

^

arjunrc

DrNabil, welcome to the Force! So given your maiden attempt seems to have given you a sense of freedom, do you plan to continue to onebag or is it too much hassle for you?

I still haven't gotten around to buying Ex-officio under garments - I'll do that someday. I'm incredibly happy with my icebreaker base layer though - reusable and warm. I wonder if anyone has the tech material base layers (underarmor etc) and how they compare to Icebreaker. There are a couple of occasions when the icebreaker 200 does get a little itchy especially when the room I enter gets warm.

arjunrc

You'd better not be talking about this one. I am already talking to them about it and they've promised me I am unique in wanting it.

LuxuryRogue

haha

But sorry, I'm a rogue, even a luxury rogue, so I have an answer for everything:



Foto taken in Metropolis, Illinois, Superman's hometown

arjunrc

Awesome ^^^