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Re: OP. I operate in both modes. Spirit Airlines is the extreme on traveling light; I went to Costa Rica for 3 days and Cancun for 5 with only a rucksack (their maximum to take free). On Delta I'll still do the checked bag (a Samsonite hard-shell) IF I have a rental car for the duration. If not, I have to tailor the packing to the situation (e.g. a backpack).

Flying as an air courier in the early 90s (when it made some sense and you could earn miles doing it) was an education in traveling light, as I was limited to the carry-on allowance only, even for 2 weeks in Asia.

I used to travel with an overweight suitcase, a stuffed carry-on and backpack for almost any trip, but I am now learning to pack lighter. I recently did an intercontinental trip (4 days) with just one carry-on and a pack, and I am going to try to do that again for a month long trip that is coming up.

That would explain the full suit case.

imo.. for those carrying an overweight suitcase that is not explained by carrying heavy equipment, what on earth are you guys packing?

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I pack fairly light on the outbound trip, but still take a bag with me. On the way back, the bag is usually crammed full of stuff. I like to buy food, clothes, and gadgets while I'm in foreign countries, as they're usually a lot cheaper in the places I travel to. Sure, I could just mail order instead, but I find it fun to shop while I'm away on business, so what the heck

It really depends, I think, on the amount of time you spend at a destination compared to the time and type of travel involved.

In a typical weeklong vacation for me, I may stay in 4 different locations. Because of the extra time "overhead" of unpacking and packing, and because I am probably toting the gear on foot myself, I definitely look to minimizing the load. I did take 5 changes of clothes with me once� when I spent 2 months backpacking through Southeast Asia.

But a few years ago, I went to a wedding at a resort. A driver picked us up from the airport and dropped us off directly at the hotel, where we stayed for 5 nights; we didn't carry anything more than 20 feet. My friend who brought clothes for a week didn't have to do any thinking beyond that. I, however, having been "smart" with my small rollaboard, had to have a laundry strategy, and to spend time complaining when the hotel laundry was a day late with some items, and had to leave at home some athletic shoes and a raincoat that would have proved useful.

So if your usual travel is to plant in a resort for several days, and if your goal in travel is to relax rather than to adventure, I don't see why you wouldn't just bring anything and everything along. Sure, they have toiletries and clothes in every country, but not necessarily the brands or the sizes or styles you prefer. What's a couple dollars in bellhop tips or baggage fees for the peace of mind of being prepared for unseasonably hot/cold/wet/dry/formal/casual/dusty/muddy/cigarette smoky/spill-attracting conditions on a vacation getaway?

But a different brand of moisturizer for a few days does damage the skin on my face! I get unattractive dry spots if I change face creams and I will only use my organic shampoo and conditioner. However, over the years I have collected the perfect size jars and bottles to fit all my favorite lotions and potions in that 3-oz bag. So I can still travel with just my rollerboard and backpack for long vacation trips, and duffel and backpack for short solo business trips. I still wear makeup and bring plenty of outfits, I just don't go crazy packing things that take up too much space like boots and odd shaped purses. No one believes us that we did our 2 week honeymoon in Greece with carry-ons only. I had to buy overpriced sunscreen in Europe because I ran out of my 3 oz sunscreen but oh well.

On our summer trip this year, packing with carry-ons only literally saved me from missing my flight to Europe when the Air Train to JFK decided to break down and got me to the airport too late to check a bag. I did have a small bag I wanted to check that had nothing except 2 bottles of sunscreen in it since I ran out last time, but I tossed it into the nearest trashcan to rid myself of any checked luggage and ran to catch the plane. So I wound up having to buy the overpriced European sunscreen again, but oh well, that was better than missing 1.5 days of an itinerary that had no room to spare.

I've never done laundry in a hotel except for a rinse and scrub in the sink. A 22" rollerboard is quite generous and fits a lot of stuff if you pack it well.

We check our bags on the way home though. My husband likes to buy wine and other local liquors wherever we visit so we pack and cushion them well and check the roller boards.

It's like the universe is trying to tell you something...

But what?

Skip the Costco sunscreen even if I get free checked bags and just budget the 30 euros for sunscreen when I get there?

Or maybe skip the sunscreen all together and just stay out of the sun? I still have tan lines from the summer trip which was at the end of JULY. Over 4 months later.

I tend towards the medium to heavier side (which means for many people on here, the heavier side ). Generally, my travel is solely for vacation. My carryon is filled with electronics. Most of my recent vacations have been cruises, which for me means I need to have a somewhat larger variety of clothes (daytime and evening). My next trip I'm going to be flying from home where it'll likely be cold, to a location that's going to be hot, and on the cruise expect to encounter a very wide variety of temperatures, so I have to plan for that. When I'm on vacation, the last thing I want to be doing is constantly doing laundry, and I'll be damned if I'm paying the cruiseline prices to have it done. I'd rather just take advantage of whatever baggage allowance I have and use it. I figure for this upcoming cruise, for my wife and I, it'll probably be 3 bags, plus our two carryons. We could probably do a little better if it wasn't for packing coats (I personally hate having to deal with a coat on the plane, and would rather stuff it in luggage).

Now, I'll admit, I'll probably be able to travel a little lighter after a few more cruises when I gain free laundry because of status.

Same goes for us.. we generally travel on vacation.. so checked bags on the heavier side..

We really must learn how to travel lighter.. and use the laundry machine more on the go.

Here here.. some information best not disclosed.,

On a side-bar, I am seeing more and more "Under-Seat" carry-on luggage. That's even too light for me. I've got to be able to pack at lease a weeks worth of clothes and workout/play gear.
Of course, I could do as my friend A.M. does and stay at Fairmont and not have to WORRY about workout clothes. Man, some chains do it RIGHT!

Since I usually leave for over a month I pack one bag for check, and a small one with one set of clothing for carry on. I don't like having too much to carry on because it's a pain and long walks through the airport dragging or carrying a bag + laptop bag hurts my back in the long run and since my flights are long haul it's just not worth it. So I pack several pairs of jeans and several tops to mix and match, plus the basics but nothing heavy...I can normally buy toiletries where I go.

I have seen all the tips here and I still feel like I can't do the one carry-on bag thing and I think a lot of people feel the same kind of anxiety thinking that they are going to be uncomfortable.

So this is going to be my trick to possibly give up the other bag.
First leg of the trip is from the us to europe so my limits are one carryon and a personal item. I am going to follow all the tips and everything I should need should be in there. AND am going to check one small bag with anything that is giving me panic attacks about leaving behind.

I am going to try not to open the checked bag and see if I can get away with what is only in my carry on.

So that is really a win-win.
First, managing 2 bags that are 22 inches are so is not going to be difficult in any but the most rugged circumstances (one bag works as a backback and the other is a very light roller duffel with carry straps)

Second, if I don't use the other bag, I know I can do it and next time I can take only one bag. If i find that I really wanted to needed the other items then there is no loss as I have them.

This is, FYI, for a 10-12 day trip which is partly business, partly active leisure and going to encompass 2 weather zones - hot and dry and cold and very wet - which is the biggest type of packing challenge.