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Minimal packing taken to extremes?

Astrid

Veteran

I said that I wanted to pack minimal for my upcoming long weekend in London and I don't think that will be a problem. I'm not sure about our upcoming family trip this summer. We will be touring Scotland for over three weeks! My mum wanted to check only three big pieces of luggage because everything has to fit into the car afterwards, but I won't be able to add my stuff into those bags because I'm going to take a seperate flight from Berlin. We wanted to book the flight soon, so I have to think about whether I want to check a bag or not. My mum would be happy if I wouldn't take another big suitcase, but I'm not sure I can pack everything in a carry-on bag (10kg + 55cm x40cm x20cm and one additional bag of 35cm x20cm x20cm). She said she would pack towels and other stuff so that I would only have to pack my clothes, but even then I'm not sure. Especially because I think I'll have to think of weather variability. When you add checked luggage after booking it's very expensive, so I have to decide now if I want to add one or not.

What do you think? Is using a carry-on bag possible? Or madness?

ETA

So it's a done deal, the tickets are booked. BUT I'm going to take the
same flight as the family after all (and go there by train on the same
day) because that was less expensive. Which means I can add some stuff
to the bags that will be checked after all if necessary. I'm going to
only take my small carry-on bag all the same and see what happens. I want to do this! And if I can do with less it's all for the better, because everything needs to go into the car in the end.

General

56 replies

Latest reply was from rachylou

Deborah

Veteran

I haven't travelled a lot Astrid but I'm not sure I could manage with only enough for a carry on

Astrid

Veteran

Thanks Deborah! That's what I worry about. Of course I wouldn't take clothes for three weeks in any case because we will definitely be doing laundry, but even so I'm not sure I could do this.

MRL

Veteran

I think it would be difficult to pack everything for 3 weeks into one carry on. Can you check another bag that isn't large? That would give you some more leeway and might still fit into the car.

E

Veteran

I managed to pack for 4 weeks in Ecuador, which involved temperatures ranging from the Amazon rain forest (hot but recommended to wear long sleeved, collared shirts) to temperate, spring-like climates, with a big chance of rain to freezing at nights, 11,000 feet high elevation to hot and sunny coast, in a carry on. With room for souvenirs. So yes, it's possible (albeit stressful before you get things sorted)! I was very glad I managed it, as it made my life far easier. But I didn't have a rental car, instead I was getting around via public transport, so it was worth it to me. Also, laundry services are cheap there, so it was easy to get my clothes washed a couple of times. In your case, you'll have to decide if the trade offs are worth it (I never wished for more clothes or shoes during my trip,)

Your Scotland trip sounds fabulous! We had a wonderful family vacation there when we lived in England, even brought our dogs.

Astrid

Veteran

Thanks MRL! I could check a bag, but it's quite expensive considering how cheap the flight tickets are going to be. Given that I need to take a small bag even when it is checked, there wouldn't be a big difference to carry-on luggage anyway - although I'd have a bit more leeway of course (especially with the weight).

Thanks E! I'm in awe... I can't imagine how you managed that. Having said that, I do like the idea! Btw, having a rental car doesn't mean that much if six people and all their luggage have to fit into it. Packing would be very goal oriented in this case, more gear than not. Similar to our trip to Norway in 2007 probably. I think I'd wear my hiking boots and a gear jacket (with zip in fleece) for the flight. I wouldn't need another jacket then and I'd wear the biggest pair of shoes.

E

Veteran

In case it helps, here are the clothes I brought (including what I was wearing during transit days). In addition to weather factors, I also had to think about modesty, presentability, and sun protection.

Shoes

Waterproof hiking boots: brown
All-day walking friendly leather flats (nice enough for cities, sturdy enough for the country): navy blue
Water sandals (necessary for the Amazon, were nice to have on the coast, and ended up doubling as dancing shoes in the city because they were strappy & metallic): silver

Bottoms

2 pairs of slim but not skin-tight trousers, one looser than the other, one lighter weight, one medium weight: navy blue & charcoal grey
1 knee length skirt: navy blue

Tops

2 long sleeve light weight button-down collared cotton tops (for the Amazon; the button-down aspect made it possible to layer them over something if I wanted to): 1 chambray grey/blue, 1 white w blue checks
1 wool jumper/pullover: teal
3 lightweight woven sleeveless tops (one cotton, one silk, one a mystery fabric that was either a lovely sturdy silk or really nice polyster or some other synethetic): navy blue, teal, taupe

Toppers

1 nylon/cotton cardigan: taupe (a different shade)
1 wool cardigan: blue-grey
1 light rain coat (more gear than anything, but still cute in a very casual kind of way): navy-blue

Other

pair of silk long johns
pair of tights: grey
several pairs of wool socks (the only kind I wear, they can go ages between washes w/o getting smelly)
undies (obviously!)
wool hat & gloves: blue-green
sun hat: grey
pashmina-style scarf: grey
bikini: navy blue

I made sure all of my toppers went with my bottoms & tops, but didn't worry about limiting myself to a super-tight colour scheme. It was just a coincidence that the clothes that worked best for the task ended up falling into just a few colour groups! With these clothes, I was always comfortable, no matter what the weather threw at me.

E

Veteran

Cross posted with you! I wore my hiking boots on my flights too. But all of that fit into my backpack along with all of my toiletries, medicines, and some electronic gear (mainly chargers) w/o cramping. Oh and my pjs! You'd be surprised how many clothes you can fit in a carry on. I roll mine & use packing cubes to keep things organised.

Astrid

Veteran

Thanks so much for writing this down! I love your list, it sounds like a great capsule. I'd definitely need to shop some for this trip (like new socks to wear with my hiking boots, maybe a jacket etc.), but I'm thinking that maybe I could do this after all.

Karie

(website)

Veteran

Your trip sounds fabulous! I would aim for the carry-on. Have you tried neatly rolling items in your suitcase? That allows for more room. In the bottom of your suitcase, you might want to lay out a zippered bag in case you need it for souvenirs for your return trip. You'd have to check a bag then but better to check a bag on one side of your trip than two. You can also carry a nice, big purse and put things in that. Wear layers and you're all set!

missvee

Veteran

Sure you can do it! Wear your bulkiest clothes on the plane ( jeans, rain jacket, warm sweater, sneakers) and then pack another pair of jeans, a pair of shorts and a skirt or dress ( if you need a dressier look). You'll need another pair of shoes and 3 or 4 lightweight tops that you can layer if needed.
Don't forget a scarf. - Scotland can be quite cool as you know.
All of this will go into a carryon with room to spare.
It sounds like a wonderful trip!

E

Veteran

You're welcome! And OMG Norway (& the rest of Scandinavia) is very high on my list of dream countries to visit. That must've been a stunning trip!

I had to go to REI (an outdoorsy, gear store here) to buy some stuff before my trip, and wool socks were on sale (probably because it was August in Texas), so I got some marvelous hiking socks that are tighter across the arch area of your foot. I don't know if that's normal for hiking socks, but they are SO comfortable & supportive. Something to look for!

Astrid

Veteran

Thanks Karie and Missvee! I'm glad I asked because I think I needed the confidence to say I could do this. And yes, the trip sounds awesome!

Astrid

Veteran

E, Norway was fantastic! Below some pictures, I couldn't resist. I agree that hiking socks are a must for a trip like this and I'm definitely only taking those. There are so much more comfortable and the possibility of getting blisters is much lower.

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Kim

Veteran

If your mum brings the toiletries, (shampoo, towels, etc.) you'll have room enough in your carry on. I had a dress (and dress shoes) and running gear (thing big sneakers) all packed in my "personal item" so I had everything else, including makeup, toiletries, hair straightener in my carry on and I made the 10kg limit.

You can do it, and you'll be glad you did, when everything you need is in one suitcase, and it's easy to carry up and down stairs, etc. Do not use a wheeled version like I did, the wheels and frame take up extra kgs (2-3 if I remember right.) If your straps are long enough on you bag, you might be able to carry it backpack style, if you're carrying it for an extended time. I used packing cubes to keep everything in my bag organized, and that helps a LOT.

It's a challenge, but if it's going to cost you a lot to check a bag, then I'd be taking the challenge and using my money for something nice to bring home with me. ( Would it be expensive for you to *post* your clothing home from Scotland if you went over your weight limit? You could mail home your dirty laundry! LOL)

JamC

Veteran

Astrid, Your photos are amazing! I am adding Norway to my list of places to go. I am a firm believer in carry-on only. You can do it, think of all the types of items you need and bring at least one of each type, knowing you will wear each item many times. Add extras if you can. Bring more tops than bottoms. You will have a great trip.

Susie

Veteran

I have found my roomiest suitcase to be a convertible backpack. It's lightweight and you don't lose any space- or weight- to a frame and wheels. Packing cubes and rolling clothing help too. Your trip sounds awesome!

Astrid

Veteran

Thanks Kim! I don't have a wheeled bag, but one to carry. It is very lightweight, so almost all the weight can go to the contents. I haven't used packing cubes before, but I'm going to look into that! I haven't looked into the *post* option, but I can just give my family any stuff I buy to take home if necessary and then my mum can post it from home to Berlin, that isn't as expensive (or I take it with me the next time I'm visiting).

Thanks JamC! Norway is definitely worth a visit. And I'm definitely bringing more tops than bottoms, thanks for the tip.

Thanks Susie!

Diana

Veteran

Hmm, I took a 22" spinner suitcase (fis in most USA carryon bins) to Athens in Oct. for what ended up being a 1.5 week trip (had to stay 3 days extra to replace my stolen passport), no laundry (although I had to wash some underwear in the sink for the last couple of days). It was meant for 7 days, but I did not have a problem with stretching it to 10. So it's doable, but that's with a us sized carryon. If I remember correctly, many Euro airlines do not allow carry on bags that big.

Unfortunately I have no pics of what I packed, but I did pack for a conference (at which I gave a talk) and sightseeing, weather from 50F to 85ish. I think I wore all the bottoms twice, and some tops (but the conference days did not get my clothes sweaty and dusty the way the sightseeing days did). I had 4 pairs of shoes (including one dressier pair for the conference), one trench coat, a couple of pashmina type scarves (great for plane and adding a little warmth), and a blazer type jacket (would swap for denim most likely if no conference). (eta: and a cardi).

Hope this helps!

Glory

Veteran

Astrid your trip sounds fantastic. Since you will be able to do laundrey and your wonderful mom is looking after toiletries I think you can do it. You will need to be quite particular. Perhaps get a list together and we can help you - would be fun.

ramya

Veteran

Astrid the pics of Norway is awesome. Where was this?
I think you can manage in a check in. In my opinion bottoms and jackets take space. So if you can minimise that you will be fine.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Sounds like a great trip! I'm not so great at minimalist anything, much less packing, so I'll leave that advice to others. However, I am leaving this week on an excursion that involves a strict weight limit for part of the trip (flying to Antarctica!). So I'm limiting myself to gear, and as little of it as possible. Fortunately, the ship has good laundry service.

Have a wonderful time and share pics! I'd love to see more of Norway (I've only rushed through the Oslo and Tromso airports, alas).

ramya

Veteran

Janet plz come will love to meet you.

Astrid

Veteran

Thanks Diana! Yes, I do think Euro airlines are stricter. I won't need to pack anything dressy or formal, so that makes it easier. We will be doing sightseeing and probalby hike a bit, but we'll be on the road and even when I won't be in hiking boots, sneakers and jeans will be fine.

Thanks Glory! I'm definitely going to do a list to reduce it to the minimal amount possible. It might be of help to decide about further shopping needs too, even if it's still some time away. I'm going to have exams shortly before the trip, so it would be great to have it all sorted out in advance.

Ramya, we rented a caravan and made a trip through the south: along the coast starting in Oslo and from Stavanger back again with detours. We didn't get as far as Bergen although we first had planned it that way, there wasn't enough time.

Janet, that sounds fantastic too! I think it's always easier to minimize when you factor in gear. And yes, I'm definitely going to be sharing some pics.

trix

What a terrific trip -- three weeks in Scotland (with a car)! Any idea where you might be going?

For me, the weight would be a bigger challenge than the volume because my carry-on weighs more than 10kg when fully packed. That said, I think 10kg is challenging but doable depending on your travel style, especially since you said you're bringing a bag without wheels (which is OK since you'll have a car). You have to be willing to accept the constraints -- wear your heaviest things on the plane, don't pack too much denim (heavy and bulky), be OK with wearing repeats, do laundry a couple of times, bring as few pairs of shoes as you can -- but it's a good exercise in remixing. It will definitely help if your mother can bring the toiletries and hair dryer if you need it, or if you don't mind buying the things you need in Scotland. Maybe she could also bring a warm wrap or scarf for you for chilly evenings?

(I've done 10 days in Spain in winter with a carry-on without repeating any tops, but I think I brought more than 10 kg. I've also done up to a month at a time backpacking in hot climates, which included bringing a month's worth of contact lens supplies because that can be hard to find and expensive in some places, but I got heartily sick of my clothes by the end. I do love packing cubes for keeping my stuff organized in tight spaces, but then again, if you have to pack less than 10kg, your bag may not be as stuffed as mine usually is.)

Astrid

Veteran

Thanks Trix! No idea yet, we'll be collecting ideas (and wishes) in the next weeks and plan a rough route around that beforehand, with some room to leave something out or take our time when we want to. That has always worked fairly well. And I agree, the weight is a challenge! Packing cubes might be problematic because I'll end up having more room when I use them but I still have to take care that the bag isn't too heavy. I'm very low maintenance with toiletries anyway because I don't use much, so there isn't a lot I have to take for myself. And I don't even use a hairdryer, although my mum will probably pack one anyway for the others. I think I'm going to wear one scarf on the flight and that's enough.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Oh! I meant to mention, I hope you include Skye in your trip. What a beautiful place. It rained most of the time I was there, but I still loved it.

Gaylene

Veteran

Lots of good tips here, but I just wanted to chime to say it's completely possible to take a 3-4 week vacation using only a small carry on.

I toured through England, Scandinavia, and France for four weeks in the spring with only a small backpack (the kind used for a laptop computer). My trip involved rain, sunshine, major cities (London, Paris, Copenhagen), and a considerable amount of hiking and walking. My decision to take such a small bag was based on having something comfortable to carry on subways, trams, and trains, as well as fit well within the limits of Ryan Air and EasyJet carry on restrictions.

I wore pants, top, cashmere sweater, boots, and raincoat on the plane. In my bag was another pair of light-weight black pants (my "dressy" alternative!), four tops (one long-sleeve, two 3/4 sleeve, and one short-sleeve), a skirt, a pair of light-weight walking sandals with a slight heel, and a very light-weight nylon windbreaker. Since it was spring, I added a pair of gloves, scarf, merino cami, and umbrella to the mix, along with my nightwear and tiny personal kit. I took a change of undies and a couple of extra pairs of socks because I gave these things a quick swish out in the sink every night.

I always felt appropriately dressed and loved the feeling of not having to worry about what to wear.

Astrid

Veteran

Thanks Janet! I'm going to add it to my list.

Thanks Gaylene! I hoped you'd chime in, as a queen of lightweight packing. Your travel wardrobe sounds fab! And yes, being on holiday is so much more relaxed when you stop worrying about your outfits. If I manage to still look stylish it's a bonus of course.

ETA

Booked the tickets, explanation at the beginning of the thread.

ramya

Veteran

Oooo lovely. Astrid you look sorted and you beed to comeback to Stavanger

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