How do you pack? Loaded for Bear or Light as a Feather?
 

Just read a little article in the recent "Travel and Leisure" magazine entitled "Traveling Heavy"
The author basically stated that he has always packed steamer trunks for even the briefest of weekend stints. He wants to be prepared and blend in to any situation. For the first time in his life he's going to Montreal for a three day weekend and NOT checking a bag.

Interesting.

I stopped checking baggage a long time ago. Heck, I went to London and Paris for 10 days with an Ogio Rolling carry on duffel and a matching Ogio Hip-Hop Messenger bag. I'm not saying the two carry on bags were not stuffed to capacity, but I spent 10 days in two cities and never checked a bag.

IMO, business men have it easy. I'm not sure about women, not being one myself. But I can get by with a Navy Blazer, Gray and Khaki pants, two shirts, change of underwear, two ties, change of socks, toiletries kit, shoes, and workout clothes/sneakers for a few weeks. OK, if it's really going to be "FORMAL" I'll pack one suit.
My typical "business" packing is that plus my Nook or Kindle, Laptop, and maybe a casual shirt and pants/shorts if I think I'll be goofing around on the weekend. For leisure, I'd forgo one pair of pants and one dress shirt and throw in a swimsuit, and flip flops and another casual shirt.

Do you pack loaded for bear or light as a feather? Maybe somewhere in between?

I have a large roller suitcase that typically weighs in at 22 to 25kg, and a small laptop backpack. Have been on the road non-stop since January with nothing else. I do need to carry some VoIP desk phones for my work (owner of a VoIP software business) which adds perhaps 3 or 4kg, but apart from that it's pretty standard tourist clothes, laptop, DSLR gear, toiletries, electrical chargers and cables (which I somewhat resent having to carry), etc. All I need to live a nomadic lifestyle indefinitely...

We always INTEND to pack light. As I am loading the car, it seems like we have packed the entire house.

One carryon is my limit for any length trip. It's only hard to go from packing lots to packing a little the first time. After that you'll wonder why you ever bothered carting around all that stuff.

+1 :D

Say pack light, but pack alot.

I am always loaded for bear..........

I "pack light" in terms of no checked baggage, but my backpack is fairly heavy (my laptop weighs about 4.5 pounds) and my 20" or 22" rollaboard usually weighs about 25 - 30 pounds. However, I can usually travel at least 10 - 14 days with that unless it is a business trip with both cold weather and semi-tropical destinations.

Before most domestic airlines got so strict about the 22" X 14" X 9" dimensions, I often traveled with a wheeled garment bag the was 24" X 16" X 7" which sufficed for almost any length trip to any destinations(s).

I have noticed despite "packing light" I always come home with at least one or two items I didn't wear or use at all on the trip. And it is very rare that I need to buy something at a destination because I forgot it or it couldn't fit in my suitcase.

Totally depends on the trip. Sometimes light as can be, other times I'll be a half pound under the weight limit.

But then again, I don't have any problem checking a bag or two when I need to, it's way easier sometimes.

I have a medium messenger bag - fits under a 737 seat. That's it*. A day, a week, a month, three months. Haven't carried a second bag or checked one in 30 years.

* Well, sometimes I have an armload of "overflow" magazines and books.

It's a cliché, but true.

The more I travel the less I take.

On a trip from DFW to Athens to board a cruise ship the wife took so much stuff I had to arrange for two taxi cabs from the airport to the hotel, then from the hotel to the port. Yes, two cabs. One just for the overflow luggage. I was afraid the ship would draw too much water to leave the port.

me, I carry a small day pack with very little - I can manage a trip of up to four days with just that, any longer I need a larger roll-aboard.

Now, my 18 month old daughter....

It very much depends. Different carriers have different rules for carry-ons. Domestic US flights are quite permissive; the same bags would often not be accepted in the EU.

Biz travel for a few days is one thing; travel for weeks at a time makes it impossible to pack lightly (especially when climates are changing and you need clothes for different weather conditions).

It also depends on how much shopping you intend to do, what stuff you need to bring/send/transfer.

Travelling on business I tend to pack pretty light and a pair of trousers can usually last 2-4 days with a change of shirts, ties and underwear each day. I just take a small roll-aboard that can fit tiny FlyBE and I assume it is slightly easier for men to pack. Even with the liquid restriction in hand luggage I find small 100ml can last easily a week or 2 where I've seen others have kilos worth of the stuff!

I always travel with loads of food in my bags, be it from Bangkok to Europe with black rice and curries or in the other direction with 50kgs of jams, hams, cheese, fruits. My wife loves pears, so I brought her a few kgs last week from Germany.