Well, I’m like you, Carla—a small carryon and a Le Pliage tote are enough for a 4-week trip to London and Paris, with time for some coastal walks/hikes in the Sussex and Normandy. I really dislike being hampered by luggage when I’m flying or traveling from city to city.
My current 2-wheel carryon is an 12 year-old Osprey Ozone which weighs a bit over 4 lb before I pack anything inside. I try to keep the packed weight to 15 lb. or less because I find it tiring to haul more weight. The case fits easily into an overhead bin even on European discount carriers. Now that I’m in my mid-seventies, I suspect it will outlast me!
I always travel with 2 Le Pliage bags—one backpack https://www.nordstrom.com/s/lo.....ck/3023122
and one large tote size.
https://www.nordstrom.com/s/lo.....t&
In airports and on planes, I pop the backpack inside the tote along with my raincoat/sweater/travel necessities for my “personal” item. When I’m more stationary, I use the backpack as my hand bag and the tote to carry parcels, groceries, etc. With this system, I can easily spend a day sightseeing or walking if I check out in the morning and then fly out 10-12 hours later. My luggage is unobtrusive enough to let me sit in a concert hall or a restaurant.
I know that most of the forum members prefer to travel with larger suitcases, but, after 5 traveling decades, I’ve come to the realization the less I haul around with me, the more enjoyable the trip. Now that I’m a senior, I doubt I’d still be travelling if I had to haul around heavy suitcases by myself—my hips, knees, and back would give out in a couple of days.
Oh, and another insight—high quality fabrics make for easier packing. Cashmere, fine-staple cottons and merino wools, silk, and technical fabrics fold into VERY small packages, and look far more presentable when shaken out and worn. These days my travel garments are quite a bit more pricey than many of my regular items. I may travel with fewer items, but every piece needs to pull its weight in terms of comfort, suitability, and style.
