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Packing light: rolling duffel? other recommendations?

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I am preparing for a trip in February that necessitates very light packing. We have a strict weight limit for the flight from Chile to Antarctica (!) of 55 lbs. Now, 55 lbs might sound like a fair allowance, but this is a photography tour, so we will all be carrying camera equipment, laptops and the necessary peripherals, and cold weather gear. I got the lightest weight rolling camera bag I could find, loaded it with the necessities, and that weighs in at just shy of 25 lbs. So far, so good.

In my effort to pack light and smart, I am sticking with taking almost nothing clothing-wise that isn't gear. It won't be my most fashionable trip, but warm and dry is the name of the game. I'll have some time in Patagonia after the Antarctic portion of the trip, so hiking shoes and multiple light layers will be the strategy.

In my efforts to pack light, I'm considering a new bag. Most of our luggage is sturdy and a bit on the heavier side. I'm thinking specifically of a rolling duffel. The bag I already own that comes closest to working for this trip is a 30" rolling bag that weighs 9 lbs. I'd love to go a little smaller and as much lighter as possible, while still having wheels. Maybe 26" or so? And under 7 lbs would be great.

Anybody have any suggestions? I've been poking around a bit online and some things look good in theory but it's hard to truly assess size, usability and quality from an online picture.

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15 replies

Latest reply was from Janet

Parsley

Veteran

I love Lipault luggage. It's SUPER-lightweight but sturdy, folds down to almost nothing for storage, and comes in lots of pretty colors.

Their 27" duffle weighs less than 7 pounds.
http://www.ebags.com/product/l.....&rlid

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Ooh, that is exactly the kind of thing I'm looking for, Parsley. Thank you! I love that it is available in a nice selection of colors, too. My big bag is green and a snap to spot at the baggage claim. I wonder if I can find Lipault on sale. The price is not a deal-breaker, but I may have to hunt around a little. Of course, the color I love is not on sale at that site, while the brown is.

It may seem like a quibble to fret about 3 or 4 extra pounds, but as any backpacker knows, each little bit of weight adds up quickly! A lighter bag means I can take my hiking boots AND some comfy good-traction shoes for on the ship.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Wow, just discovered that Nordstrom sells these. Not on sale, but at least I would get Nordstrom points...

trix

That sounds like such a great trip -- I wish I could stow away in your luggage (but then you *definitely* wouldn't get under the 55-lb weight limit)!

Anyway...if you have 25 lbs. of photography gear, that means only 30 lbs. of other stuff, right? I don't know if a 27" duffel bag might be too big in that it might tempt you to pack too much. If I remember correctly, even my carry-on suitcases usually weigh close to 20kg when packed full (apologies...I cannot for the life of me remember whether it's kg or lbs, but I can't imagine that I would have packed as little as 20lbs for the trip).

For my Antarctica trip, I used a Victorinox soft-sided rolling bag that could be converted to a backpack -- no longer offered, unfortunately. Because it was soft-sided, I had no worries about fitting it under my bunk during the voyage. I currently have a Victorinox Avolve spinner (http://www.ebags.com/product/v.....d=10251808 ) that I love (22", 6 lbs. 12 oz., 3051 cu. in.). My SO likes the Cosmolite suitcases, though unfortunately they don't come in 22" (the 20" is 4 lbs. 14 oz., capacity 2700 cu. in.) and they're definitely not soft-sided. http://www.packinglight.net/sa.....kd/product

FWIW, it was actually warmer than I expected during the day on my trip (which took place in late February a couple of years ago). Oh, and my company gave out heavy parkas, so if yours does, you'll have to account for the weight of bringing back an extra coat or donate your parka back to the staff. And one last thought: If you're staying in the same hotel in Ushuaia before and after your trip, could you store a bag of hiking gear with them while you're on the boat?

catgirl

Veteran

I have been looking at the Zuca but a little afraid to spend that much... Would love to know if anyone else has experience with it.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Trix, thanks for all the thoughts! Yeah, the weight when packed is part of why I'm avoiding taking my big 30" bag. I'll be too tempted to pack it too full, although I have a little scale to weigh my bags at home (that's how I figured out my camera gear weight). I'm trying to work this all out in advance so I'm not scrambling the week before the trip!

Unfortunately, we found out we are not getting parkas from the expedition company for this trip. We got them in the Arctic last year, but it was so big and bulky (and YELLOW!), I donated mine rather than lug it back home with me. I think I'll take either my EMS or Helly Hansen shell -- they are both pretty wind-proof -- and an extra good fleece layer or maybe my new Under Armour Cold Gear infrared hoodie -- that thing is WARM!

I do have a hotel booked for the two nights before we fly out from Punta Arenas, and you read my mind -- I have wondered if they might be willing to hang onto some stuff for me while I'm in the Antarctic. I was checking out weather in February in Patagonia, and it sounds pretty consistent with what you describe, so I'm thinking layers are definitely the way to go.

I'll check out the Victorinox offerings as well.

Una, I've never heard of Zuca, but I'm off to look...

Gaylene

Veteran

I deliberately chose a non-wheeled bag for my light-weight travel bag for two reasons: first, wheels add weight, and, as you've mentioned, even 2-3 pounds can be significant; and two, I wanted to avoid a tendency to over pack if I knew I wouldn't have to actually carry the bag in my hands. For those reasons, my go-to bag for the past eight years has been this nylon LeSportSac that I picked up on sale:
http://www.lesportsac.com/Large_Weekender?color=

It barely weighs a pound unloaded, yet I've used it to carry enough for a month-long trip through Europe. Since I know I'll be toting it, I keep the total weight to around under 15 lbs which is well within most airline carry-on limits (for the occasional airline with more stringent restrictions, taking out my personal kit and tossing it into my handbag usually does the trick). The bag is totally smushable into any luggage compartment because it doesn't have an internal structure, yet it has stood up quite remarkably to being used as checked luggage a couple of times (with the proviso that whatever is inside is enclosed in a plastic bag because the bag is not rainproof if left on a tarmac for a while). I've also laundered the bag when it arrived a bit dirty and after an unfortunate experience with bedbugs in one hotel. The bag is a tough little sucker.

Since my husband often takes a small, roll-around bag for his carry-on, I can just put my Sportsac on top of his roll-around and lash it to the handle with a bungee cord so one person can roll around the whole unit quite comfortably if we are in an airport.

jenanded

Veteran

Janet I got crumpler as their bags are designed for really doing stuff... including travelling and carting photography gear... I think they are in USA as well as rest of the world... can't wait to hear more about the trip!

trix

Parsley -- Thanks for the suggestion of the Lipault bags! Now I'm tempted by the foldable carry-ons...

Lanet -- Oh right, I forgot you're going out of Chile and not Argentina. Re hotels: I've only ever had to ask about storing luggage in situations when I was going to be returning to the same hotel, but it's always worth a shot asking. I don't know if the airport has any luggage storage -- it's less common now post 9/11, but I think I've still seen it in places.

And that's disappointing about the parkas! But yes, they do tend to be very bulky and very yellow...I suspected they were as much for the crew's purpose as for anything else, making it easy to spot any stray passengers.

I just looked more closely at my Avolve dimensions and realized that it's actually 10" thick, just above carry-on dimensions. But I carried it onto the plane for a recent trip and no one blinked. (Admittedly it was a cross-country flight with big bins, and plenty of worse offenders than me.)

Windproof shell and fleece and hoodie all sound great. My recollection was that it could get up to between 32F and 40F during the day in Antarctica, and I discovered that with the light hiking we did, I could be OK in just 1 or 2 wool layers plus a shell (which sometimes got shedded partway up). But if you want to stand on the deck in the evening, yeah, the shell plus all your layers will come in handy. I brought a packable down vest and wore it more than anything else. On the other hand, hiking around Ushuaia, there were times when I got down to short-sleeved shirt plus nylon pants. It did make for a bit of "split-personality" packing.

Whatever you end up bringing, it sounds like it'll be an absolutely amazing trip! I hope you get lots of photos of penguin chicks.

ATLynn

Veteran

You asked for a rolling duffel suggestion, but my favorite lightweight bag is a backpack. Since your camera bag rolls, you might want your other bag to keep your hands free. I use this for all of my trips that require frequent changes in city via public transport/train/low cost air carrier. It's so much easier to navigate uneven terrain and steps with your hands free. The backpack straps tuck away so you can carry as a duffel if you need to look slightly more pulled together. To be fair, you will always look more "adventure" and less professional with this bag, so I rarely used it for corporate travel. After seeing me travel with mine, two friends and my 65 year old mother have all purchased one to use on their international travel in particular. It's a big open space, so for anyone considering, I highly recommend packing cubes.

http://www.amazon.com/Osprey-P.....id=1389537

And here's a review from a travel forum that eventually led me to this bag:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum.....eview.html

Susie

Veteran

Like Lynn, I've found a convertible backpack/suitcase to be useful for the most space with minimal weight. I have this one and ebags has a nice one too.

http://travelstore.ricksteves......038;id=346

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Thanks for all the great suggestions! I will definitely be giving this some more thought and checking out all your links.

I am leaning strongly towards a rolling bag because I have to be careful of backpack and shoulder bag situations. My physical therapist got me to move away from shoulderbags for my purses, but I have a bad tendency to carry everything on my right shoulder, which is stronger but also my more sloped one, so it puts me more out of alignment than I already am and makes it more likely I'll throw out my back -- like I did once years ago hefting my photo backpack off. I switched to a rolling photo bag for travel after that.

I have traveled a bit with two rolling bags and as long as my "personal item" bag slings over my shoulder in crossbody fashion, I'm usually fine with that.

Gaylene

Veteran

Ah, that makes sense. I'm kind of klutzy when I'm navigating with two roller bags on uneven surfaces, escalators, and stairs so that's why I like to strap a second soft bag on top of a roller bag so my one hand stays free.

Interesting all the different options that work for us, isn't it.

Carla

Veteran

Loved the idea of a rolling duffle myself, but with a shorter wheel base, mine rocks when it gets off balance. It is check through at 27 inches long. Use it for my big city clothes shopping trips. It holds A LOT! :-). I found that there really aren't any duffle style rolling bags that meet the carry on size/weight restrictions.

I use a small roll aboard suitcase and a Le Pliage tote the most. I will also vouch for Le Sportsac as mentioned by Gaylene. They make a rolling duffle, BTW! These super light bags offer very little protection for camera equipment or other tender gear, but no problems with clothing items.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Thanks, everyone! I got a chance to check out a Lipault rolling duffel the other day, and I think I will go for that. It's just for clothing and I'll check that bag -- camera & laptop bags always get carried on.