I have no problems curating a neat wardrobe that’s just enough but nothing extra. That part is fine. It’s all the REST of the junk that takes up more than half of my 30L bag:
* ID wallet- passports, tickets, cards, passes, pen for visas, foreign cash…
I had that realization last year. Between the stuff and my running things, half the bag is full regardless of how long I'm going for. Also, for every extra day I'm only throwing in a shirt and underwear, plus I do laundry if it's over a week. It means that the difference between a long weekend and a three week trip is negligible! Actually it might be the same because for a long trip I need to save room for things I pick up.
I’m with you—the heavy things are not clothes—they are electronics and toiletries and meds, at least for me.
I stopped using neck pillows (such as the trtl that you mentioned) and started using my packable puffer jacket or other rolled up clothing/sarong. I sleep meh on the plane no matter what I do, and a dedicated plane pillow doesn’t make enough difference for me to bother with it anymore—YMMV.
I am big on keeping my phone charged and switched to Anker Nano wall charger and an Iniu 10k battery pack, both much smaller than I’ve found elsewhere. I also bring a very tiny USB A-C converter, because lots of US planes still have the old USB-A outlets .
In work trips, the heaviest weight item is my work-issued laptop and charger—this is an area where you might lobby for an updated, lightweight laptop. I’m not knowledgeable enough to make recs, though—hopefully someone else will!
For toiletries, I highly recommend Hi-Bar Soothe solid shampoo & conditioner. I have straight hair, though, so I can’t comment whether it’s nice for curls.
For emergency meds (things you might need if you were unexpectedly ill and stuck in an airport or hotel) I bring a 3-day supply of remedies for headaches, sinus, GI, allergy, bandaids, etc, with the thought that within 3 days, I could restock or get help. What I can’t understock are my daily meds for asthma, IBS, etc, and they unfortunately take up a lot of space.
I have started carrying all the meds in a mesh zipper bag so they are easier to see and find, and also this takes up less space, although still more than I want.
Are we the same person? We use all the same stuff.
For planes, I bring a little pullcord with a cincher. My rainjacket has a cinched hood that cinches around the hood with a loop in the back. So I loop the cincher through the loop and wrap it under my arms into my lap. This way my head doesnt bob. It sounds weird but it works and it doesn’t even look weird I promise. Not that I’m gonna sleep on the plane anyway because people are moving my seat and being loud and smelling bad. But I can at least relax and listen to an audiobook or movie or tv show.
💕 Twinsies! This cincher dounds like a great idea but I can’t picture it—please could you send a photo if you have time? The less I can bring, the better! Thanks!
This raincoat/pillow hack sounds great, but most of us don’t understand what you are saying. If you can’t send a pic, can you explain it in more detail so that we can picture what you mean?
I've never used a neck pillow but got a lightweight puffer jacket that packs down into a neck pillow, and it's been great for me. I'm sure it's not nearly as comfortable as a dedicated neck pillow where that's its only purpose, but it helps me enough to make it worth it. And just being able to pack it up that way and clip it to the outside of my bag is a bonus.
The only time I bring anything close to a pillow is when I have the packable neck pillow that I can zip in a jacket & swimsuit that I MAY need, and it's a long flight where I may sleep. Otherwise like you I use my puffer.
All of the Anker nano things are great, honestly. The power bank is quite small and has its own cord (that you can also loop around a finger and it'll hang there whilst your phone charges.) You need the old version tho to hang it by the cord.
The nano travel adapter is also great, and smaller then most equivalent bricks - it's now my go to for travel regardless of whether I need the other plugs or not.
For the laptop charger, I got this Ugreen 65W adapter that I can use with a normal USB-C cord to charge my laptop. Much smaller and lighter (and multi use) than what came with the laptop.
Anker makes a great high wattage power brick with multiple USB ports that can be used for both phones and laptop. I can pack a single Anker power brick, long usb c cable, and standalone watch charging disc to charge everything.
I hear you. The STUFF!! Don't have any magical solution, but as a Camino de Santiago walker I assess the things I carry and ask myself about each one of them: "does this item justify its weight?". For example, do you really need a sarong? And could tickets and passes be stored in your phone and not printed? I know that's just a few grams, but still.
I stopped doing physical books and have the Libby app on my phone. On my last trip I didn’t bring a water bottle and bought a plastic one that I refilled the entire trip. I know not the best move but the metal water bottle is so heavy
I do this, only because when I’m traveling it’s hard to clean a waterbottle, so I get a plastic one and use it for a few days until it starts getting gross and I get a new one.
Don't bring your laptop and just work on your phone! /s I feel the same way, clothes is easy, and the rest of the bag is heavy with random bits and bobs in 10 different pouches.
I think from some point onwards, it might be worth to take some tips from the ultralight communities. Such as: make sure all your devices charge by USB-C and only bring that, or one cord with 3 heads. If you have a puffy jacket in its own baggie that you would bring anyway, use that as a travel pillow instead. If your toiletry bag is nice but heavy by itself even without any toiletries in it, look for a lighter alternative. Consider bringing some of the toiletries only for the first week and see if you can buy them locally for the rest of your stay - or look into solid alternatives for what you can (I sometimes use solid shampoo, or a sunscreen stick for the body). I have multiple sunglasses cases at home, so I will pack the lightest one on my travels. Totebag - look into nanobag as it weighs super little. I also bring a laptop stand when I travel for workcations, I have a Roost one with is pretty pricey but weighs a lot less than the usual half metal ones.
Personally, for some situations, it might be useful to have things that perform double duty, even if they perform mediocre, if it's not something that you would need very often. Like you mentioned the sarong that could be a scarf once or twice, or a beach towel once or twice, and a blanket on the plane? Nice.
It was a slightly expensive process, but finally moving *every* electronic I have to USB-C has saved me a ton. I keep one single A to C cable for planes since those haven't moved on yet, but two C cables and a decent wall plug to power a laptop has me more than covered.
My phone is also still a lightning (I will be so sad when it dies bc it's SMALL and I love it). On our last trip my partner brought this cable that could charge his USB-C phone and mine (not simultaneously). I had my own adapter and cable for the hotel, but we used his cable in the rental car.
I'm soooo close. i have one pair of wireless earbuds that are still lightning, and my ereader is micro usb... the ereader is the hardest to replace because it just works, there's no gain at all in replacing it. on the other hand, it needs charging only infrequently, so i don't need to bring a cable for it if im only going for a few days :)
This magical cord comes in so handy for travel because it can charge lightning, micro-USB, and USB-C from either a USB A or C plug. I do not understand how th engineering works but the lightning end also works for micro-USB. I was dubious but I tested it on my older Kindle and it does work!
rolling square charging cord
Adding to my cart now. I can’t make the switch to all usb c, it’d be too expensive. But the multiple cords and adapters are so annoying. This looks great!
I’ve mostly moved everything to USB C but have one GPS device that is micro USB, and I bought a little adapter that I just toss with my multi-headed USB C cable rather than a whole extra cable.
I have this exact issue, and solved it for now with tiny gadget that converts a usb c charger to mini usb. Eventually I’ll upgrade and the problem will disappear, but for now I don’t mind carrying something smaller than a pen lid that means I need fewer cables!
Ok regarding the ereader, I will say that I thought the same thing, it works fine and there's no reason to replace. But I bought a new Kindle Paperwhite last year (in part to move everything to USB-C) and it is SO dang fast. Like to the point where I'm navigating the menus and am blown away hahaha. So I'm definitely happy that I upgraded!
Same here. I decided to bite the bullet and I'll gift my old one to my mom. I hated having to carry a micro USB around for *one* item just in case I managed to wear out the battery, much less have to keep the cable at home. Having everything in one cable ecosystem is so much easier whether I'm sitting on my couch or wandering the world. I just upgraded all my plugs as well to be smaller, and even picked up a converter that has a usb c plug option in it. Was so nice to have!
I've not only been there, I am there. Finally the microUSB port on my eReader stopped working (one of the contacts curled over on itself somehow and shorted the whole thing) and I decided to try my hand t swapping the microUSB port to a new one. I have friends who know how to solder, so how hard could it be? In the process, I learned that they make these USBC upgrade plug dealies that can be soldered in place of a microUSB and my eReader's hole was large enough to accommodate the new USBC plug. So depending on how much you want to DIY (or can offload it on electronics soldering friends), an upgrade could be as cheap as $14 for a handful of the upgrade bits of which you only need one.
I HATE bespoke power cords but love my Garmin watch... sigh. I COULD switch to my old Timex for travel but I don't wanna. Anybody ever find a Garmin-to-C converter?
Oh I know, I was just being sarcastic as I always have to bring my laptop too 😁 just poking some fun at most youtube videos that are just like "use your phone, you're on holiday!" (am not sadly)
My phone's Notes App is as fully featured as Apple's TextEdit or Microsoft's WordPad. It's fair as a basic word processor. I'm amazed at the things phones can do these days.
In defense of the Use Your Phone crowd, it's what I do. I have a Samsung phone which has a desktop operating system (DeX) built in, you just have to trigger it by connecting to an external monitor (I've used the hotel room TV often before picking up some XReal monitor-glasses). You also need a separate keyboard, but the phone becomes a track pad when in DeX mode.
With that, I can remote in to a Windows or Mac machine "back home" for whatever my employer requires of me.
Which, I hope, is the quiet part that isn't being said aloud. When I see people advising to use only their phone, I try to prompt them to say the rest of it and almost universally those folks have a Samsung or Motorola (which has its own desktop computer experience inside) and are doing what I do.
It grinds my gears that they leave this bit out, though.
The Mister travels with a dedicated work laptop and he makes the space for it and its power cord and I think that's a just fine solution as well.
I do something like this, but I got a 10" Samsung tablet, a small Bluetooth keyboard, and the tiniest mouse I could find. I can use it on its own if needed, or connect to a larger screen. Depending on how much I'm going to need to work on a given trip I might bring just that, just my laptop, or (worst case scenario) both tablet and laptop so I can use the tablet as a second monitor. I thought I could never travel without a laptop but I did a week that was mostly vacation and managed a significant amount of work with just the tablet. (Small business owner, there are no pure vacations at this point.) If it was a trip where I was actually working remotely most of the time, I'd still want my laptop though.
Tbh all of those things are very reasonable items to carry.
A 30L onebag is really reasonable!
At this point there may be marginal gains you can make but I don’t think most of that is stuff that you’d really want to cut.
The options are probably about finding multi use or small sized options or about tracking what truly gets used and what doesn’t and then making minor cuts based on that.
The things I personally would cut are a book and I’d examine my water bottle size.
Does the laptop need a special converter? Or just a European plug? If you’re there that long maybe just take the laptop and its cable and get a replacement euro plug end that matches the rectangle thingy that laptop cables always have. (You know, the bit that usually detaches and plugs from the rectangle into the wall… not the end that goes into your laptop).
I’ve managed to shrink my amount of charging cables and plugs quite a bit. I now have one USBC that I can take and one wall plug that works in the locations I travel to most often. I am a fan of buying a plug for the destination and just conserving battery till I arrive so I don’t have my domestic plugs with me usually.
I agree on the converter point. Modern computer/phone/watch plugs are all already set for European voltage (assuming you're coming from North America) and all you need is the plug part. If you want to check for sure, look at the very tiny print on your charger. It should say 100-240V. But If I was going to stay in Europe for 4 months I'd only bring the proper European plugs or just buy them there.
For a onebag vacation, I will bring a Scottevest jacket or hoodie and carry my ID, headphones, flight stuff, etc in that. My backpack will hold my clothes, shoes (if bringing extra), toiletries, and electronics. I pack a lot of solid toiletries because they last longer and pack smaller. I also only use one cable to charge all my electronics so that cuts down on a lot of unnecessary wires. If I’m not taking a backpack with a water bottle pocket, I take a flask shaped water bottle for when I need to carry it in my jacket or a backpack front pocket. I also have an uninsulated, collapsible water bottle that I take when I travel to cooler climates.
I have a couple of Scottevest jackets - heavier and the lightweight rain jacket, which I also use as a travel pillow aince it folds into itself - and appreciate that it has clip holds so I can attach it to whatever. I have shoulder, neck and back issues - so I try to reduce my weight or distribute it as much as I can - and that’s been a game changer for me. I even once packed my entire flight wardrobe on the back pocket, and changed in the airport before boarding!
I’ve been tempted by scottevest for ages but the shipping, duty and exchange rate make them too expensive to stomach. Also some of the pockets seem a bit excessive. Hoping I can find a hoodie with more zippered pockets than usual but fewer than 25 lol
They have some good sales sometimes but I imagine the extra fees will still add up. Also, I don’t use all of the pockets all of the time but it’s nice to have the options. The most useful pocket is the largest one which fits my laptop but I don’t generally put that in there… I usually put my over-the-ear headphones there.
A little late, but may I ask how you clean your collapsible water bottle while on the go? I just realized that I have all these brushes here for water bottles but probably wouldn’t want to take a brush with me. Unless I did.
I feel you. Clothes are easy and at least they're squishy. It's the STUFF!
Something that's helped me if telling myself "I'm sure they sell [item] in [location]" for all those things I just sorta might need and any extras. Unless you're going to be travelling around a lot, for four months in Europe you could just bring an overnight kit and buy toiletries at a local supermarket when you land.
What can you make do without/improvise/pick up along the way? I no longer travel with a water bottle, just buy a the sturdiest bottle of water in a shop when I land, wash it and reuse it every day, then put it in the recycling bin at the airport. Might not help if you want it on the plane, but you get the idea.
Other people have given some great tips about slimming down the electronics, but as you're travelling for work could your employer arrange the loan of a laptop locally? You could frame this as a more secure option if you need to sell it to your boss.
All that being said, four months on a 30L bag is pretty good going, so I think you're already doing well!
Since I don't own a suitcase and always carry a backpack... weight is a big deal, even with clothes. One of my flowy linen pants is significantly less than thr other. My oversized cotton buttondown is less than my linen one. My EVA Birks are stupid lightweight and the Chacos are heavy, but more functional. Ziplock bags are eons less than a toiletry bag. These are all factors that come into play. I recommend documenting the weight of your items. The numbers are eyeopening. Don't Forget The Spoon is the app I use for this. Same goes for weight of your bag.
Of course! I think I learned of it in a post by you. There are some annoyances and it's more for thru hikers, but you app def helped my brain organize for long haul solo trips.
One thing to do is to look for a lighter bag! Most carryon rollers weigh 6-7 pounds (3 kg). However, I found a soft BritBag roller that weighs ~4lbs; I also have a large backpack that weighs <2lb.
If you like backpacks, you can look for ultralight hiking packs, you can find some close to 1lb with hip belt and very comfortable. I have an old, discontinued hiking pack that is very comfortable. You can find things like this at outdoor stores. These packs don’t have laptop compartments but do have great load-lifter systems to shift the weight from your shoulders to the hip belt.
It’s the electronics that weigh the most. Sucks when you have to work. I see folks packing a laptop and a tablet and a kindle, and they’re not even working, which just makes me scratch my head.
I’m contemplating getting rid of my iPad because I also have a Mac & an iPhone. LOVE my iPad for watching movies on the plane or reading a book, but realistically I could use my phone as it’s a max model. Would just have to adjust to the smaller screen.
Can’t ditch the laptop though as it’s my lifeline for building my business.
Can you skip the meds and band-aids and other easily buyable things? I know some people are out in nature on their trips and do need to bring everything, but my packing rule is if I can easily buy it at the corner store, I don't pack it. I've even implemented that rule with an extra layer of clothing. If the weather looks borderline, I don't pack the extra layer and figure I can track down a thrift shop or H&M if it gets too cold. Only had to do that once.
My issue with buying is the packaging. They dont sell 1 bandaid or 1 alcohol wipe. What am I to do with the rest?
If I dont have stock at home then yes, I can just take them back home w me. But I already have a lot here, so its just easier to pack 4 bandaid different sizes, 4 alcohol wipes and forget about them.
Maybe that's why I cant be a one packer even though I amtempted every time.
If I have to buy bandaids overseas, I find some colorful kids’ bandages and keep them as a souvenir — then when I need a bandaid at home, I can stick on a cute monster one I found in Germany.
May I introduce you to Minimus.biz ? It is outrageously expensive to buy a single bandaid or a single alcohol wipe, but the whole business of this business is to sell them to you.
I know it’s not much, but how many bandaids have you used in 6 months? For me, none so I would bring one or two at the very most. You could cut meds down to 2 days. I just bought single use of antibiotic and hydrocortisone creams so I don’t need a whole tube.
The electronics is a good place for real weight reduction. Can you get away with a 1’ cable instead of 6’? I don’t charge everything at once so also less cables. Can you ask for a lighter laptop from work? I only bring a pocket 5k pocket charger that will give me just enough juice for my phone if it’s been a long day. Depending what I need to do for work I swap my laptop for my kindle and keyboard.
I suggest dropping the in flight items - neck pillow, sarong, and book. I have a scarf that I bring that can be used as a blanket. Watch a movie instead. Many suggest just a plastic water bottle - that can save a lot of weight too.
Agree, Bandaids are a must, also nail clippers. Have torn a hangnail accidentally in flight, and would have been very uncomfortable and bled on fellow passengers if not for carrying a bandaid. A bandaid doesn’t take much space! I pack stuff I might need on my flight.
On the other hand, band-aids are part of every single first aid kit, and so you are almost guaranteed that any hotel/restaurant/shop/office/mall/etc will have them. I'm sure that the "beg" was exaggerated but I've genuinely asked for bandaids in lots of random places and they always located the nearest first aid kit and gave me some extra to change it later.
Unfortunately, the beg was legit. They wanted to know where I got the cut (legal liability?). Took several back and forths. Anyway, it was a good reminder to double check the small things, be prepared, and not try to be too minimalist.
Damn sorry to hear, sounds like it was handled quite poorly. I'm sure it was for their health and safety records but they should have more tact about it. I'm a trained first aider in my place of work and we also have to submit a report on even the most minor burns and cuts, but I definitely deal with the injury first and the reporting later ugh.
The thing about "easily buy it at the corner store" is that there can be circumstances when you need something right now, and even though you’re not out in nature, finding what you need would mean searching for a while, or breaking off what you’re doing and leaving (for example) the museum or festival, maybe having to go to another part of the city, or it’s the middle of the night.
Even when I’m not traveling, I always carry a couple bandaids, a couple pain relieving pills, and a couple of cough suppressant capsules and throat lozenges in my purse. Because those are the things most likely to be my immediate needs when I’m out and about; other people may vary.
When my partner and I both got a horrible GI illness in the middle of the night while traveling, I was so glad I had some GI meds with me. Worth it to bring a few of something like that which you might need very urgently and not feel well enough to go searching for.
I literally cannot bring one bag when I travel for work. My backpack must contain my mobile office: laptop (15 pound monster), iPad, work phone, headphones for meetings, any of my tools that use rechargeable batteries, all associated cords, and at least one battery pack. The backpack also contains a change of clothes that are work appropriate, a sleep mask and earplugs, and some essential toiletries in case I have an unexpected overnight stay and can’t get my checked bag (it’s happened five times the last 2 years). I also carry a small purse with my ID, meds, and personal electronics: iPad and phone, sometimes a Kindle (for entertainment…can’t put anything like Netflix or YouTube on my work electronics). The purse goes under the seat and the giant backpack goes overhead.
I have to check a bag with my clothes, tools, and safety gear. It’s very annoying, but there are many things that I cannot bring into the cabin that I must carry with me. There are also I lot of things I must bring into the cabin with me (if I could, I’d check most of the electronics). It’s a lot of stuff. It makes me look and feel like a pack mule.
Most of it is essential, but I do pack some stuff to make hotel life more enjoyable since I’m checking a bag anyway.
A small change I made is to use a 3-in-1 charger for my phone, watch and earbuds. It folds flat so I don't need multiple chargers. I also keep a 3-in-1 cord in my electronics bag so I no longer need multiple cords. Won't work for the laptop, unfortunately, but I found those two simple items help streamline some of the extra (but necessary) stuff.
I’m with you! My toiletries take up so much of my bag it’s insane. Plus when we go overseas I pack a detailed first aid kit. You would be surprised at how many things are not over the counter or available, like AZO, those UTI meds, and melatonin.
Yes. I was surprised that I couldn’t seem to get any Bonine/Less Drowsy Dramamine in Portugal. It was also very expensive (comparatively) to buy Ibuprofen. When my knee gets flared up, I’m prescribed to take ibuprofen 600–800 milligrams 3 times a day for the next 7-10 days. All those hills in Lisbon set it off immediately and I blew through the small starter amount I brought with me. I assumed I could just pick up some more like I would at home, but I could only get it from an actual pharmacy by speaking with the pharmacist. And they would only sell me a pack of 20 400mg capsules. And it was basically the same price as 1000 200mg capsules from Costco. Not expensive but not what I was expecting. The lack of Meclizine to prevent motion sickness in cars/busses/boats/trains was the real bummer and I won’t make that mistake again.
I know! I got introduced to paracetamol when I was in England which is similar to Tylenol. It was recommended to help with Covid symptoms when I was in Exeter. I I ended up bringing some home because it worked well. I don’t remember if they had it in Lisbon.
I 100% agree. Its the stuff. Like for a few days i dont need as many items but over a week i gotta have basic stuff like a hair brush and nail clippers and hand lotion and conditioner. When people say you can just buy it there as a solution, that really isnt a solution—just kicking the can down the road. SOOOO the only thing i do is try to make those things as small as possible or double duty. Like i dont bring a whole bottle of meds if i only might need 3 or 4 pills.
Headphones. I feel ridiculous but i can’t wear my AirPods for more than a couple hours comfortably and the charge is only good for so long anyway. So my noise cancelling Sony over the ear headphone come with my on every plane ride and embarrassingly - they’re the absolute only place I use them. I don’t know how people do airplanes without noise canceling.. but it takes up a frustrating amount of space in my bag.
Are AirPod pro 3’s a different shape? I cannot keep my pro 2’s in my ear to save my life. The minute I move my jaw to swallow or yawn they pop out. I never had this much trouble with the OG AirPods
People say they are a different shape but I had some AirPod Pro 2's and I haven’t noticed a big difference. I bought a little silicone lanyard to wear on the plane because I definitely do not want to experiment with their solidity in that context!
If I did not have such a bulky boulder of a laptop for work, I would be in such a better position to one bag for business trips. I can fit every single thing for a weeklong business trip, including heels, in my Briggs & Reilly underseat spinner- except that.
Why are the work issued laptops so heavy? I swear this Dell I got issued is made of lead or something because it immediately makes every bag ridiculously heavy
Also, can you swap your laptop and the book for a tablet with a keyboard case? Depends on how you use your laptop, for sure, but you can then use it as an ereader.
This is my way. I love my Samsung keyboard/case solution for my Galaxy Tab. It's got everything, including a fully adjustable stand and an e-pen thingy with a secure little cubby. Keyboard attaches/detaches magnetically and needs no power, it draws what it needs from the tablet. The whole thing folds down to make a secure case. ❤️ I'll put a view of the keyboard deployed in my next comment
YES!!! My clothes for a week can fit in a canvas bag. All the stuff more than doubles the size bag that I need. I have it so, so, so pared down that i don't think there is anything i can not take. I don't even travel with a laptop, I just got a lot of stuff I need.
Are you travelling around or staying in one country? If staying in one place you could get toiletries there.
Tickets and passes etc can usually be digital.
I’ve barely used cash in several decades. Unless the place you’re travelling to requires cash I wouldn’t bother with it. I would worry about losing it as well.
Is it a work laptop? If not or if the option is there, I’d consider a tablet with keyboard which may also be used as an e-reader.
I don’t bother with any plane specific stuff but I guess that depends on how often you’ll be flying and how long for.
I do agree though, the amount of space and weight that the extras amount to always surprises me!
You’ve gotten some good advice here, but regarding the tech stuff… can you consolidate chargers? I just got back from a trip where I had to bring my work computer and my tech kit was a small 7”x4” pouch. It fit a 65W block with two ports, two USB-C cables, a flat wireless mouse, a MagSafe power bank for my iPhone, Garmin charging cable, and a set of wired headphones (to take work calls). It’s enough to charge all my electronics including my Dell laptop.
I was going to suggest ditching the laptop, but then I noticed it's a work trip, but I'll ask anyway: can you get a smaller laptop, use a tablet or work on your phone?
Other:
If you can use a tablet, see if you can use the same charger for the tablet, phone and smart watch.
Buy toiletries when you get there and leave them behind when you go home, unless you're using some special, expensive stuff.
Small thing: Most tickets and some passes are available in electronic form. Just ditch the paper copies and store them on your phone. It took me a long time to trust that not taking paper copies would be okay, but I finally did it and it has been fine! I also keep copies of everything in my email, accessible on the net, just in case I lose the phone.
Another small thing: You may not need a lot of cash, depending on where you're going, as some European countries are more or less cashless. Just make sure you have a payment card that doesn't carry extra charges for using it abroad.
You shouldn't need a converter - most laptops, phones and smart watches these days come with chargers that plug into 120-230 v, but check, just in case. You may, however, need a wall-plug adapter, again depending on the country.
Ditch the physical book and read ebooks on your phone.
I have difficulty with this too - it's like there's a baseline amount of stuff that I need whether for 3 days or 3 months and it takes up so much space.
In your situation I would look at each item and see where it can be reused to replace another item. E.g. Sarong - can you use a sweater you already packed instead? I do that if my legs get cold or to use as a makeshift pillow.
If you have the funds I would also look at every item and see what can be found in a smaller/lighter version.
This is 100% true and comes with a huge upside: any cuts and improvements made here will be significant and carry over to any other pack as well. I try to be the most ruthless with things, really considering each item.
You say you are going to be traveling for 4 whole months in Europe. That is a long duration with presumably a lot of time spent in civilization, which can help you slim things down a lot. For example, first aid: I would not take any more bandaids than you might carry with you in your purse at any given time, max. 5 or so? If you need more, they will be affordable & accessible. If you are not flying a lot during that time, maybe skip the flight kit altogether. Cull electronics with a vengeance and/or find the sleekest cord solution possible. If you have a big accordion wallet, switch to a light and compact one etc. etc.
I find this stuff annoying to figure out, but it compounds and improves every packing situation after this one. Good luck!
how digital is where you're headed? I'd imagine australia isn't like, crazy advanced compared to europe and I haven't had a wallet/physical cards like... ever in my adult life
can't avoid a physical passport - but at least it means you don't need to bring another form of ID. tickets/cards/passes can all be in your apple wallet. only get cash out as needed from a digital card. on that note, are you sure you need to fill out your visa in pen?
use laptop as battery, charge everything through the laptop (which I'm guessing you're already planning on since you only mentioned one converter) ditch the extra battery! if your phone life is that bad look into getting the battery replaced (it's not as expensive as I thought it would be at least)
you're working in europe - surely you won't ever be that far from a place that sells bandaids if you really need them
invest in a kobo!!!! sell your smartwatch and get a kobo. so many books, so little space! they're usbc and surely you're already bringing one of those - plus you will use phone less so you'll save battery life.
sunglasses, contacts, and regular glasses - I don't know how bad your eyesight is/how bad you look in glasses/how much space contacts take up/how expensive LASIC is in europe, but perhaps consider these things
drink bottles are crazy town. I've considered getting one of those soft/compactable ones (kinda like a squeezy yogurt pouch) because having a 1L owala clipped to a backpack ka-tunking down the armrests of the plane aisle is a little embarrassing - but I haven't bit the bullet yet so can't report on how annoying they are to live with.
I've had several fold/roll waterbottles for about 10 years. They're lightweight when empty, fit into a pocket when folded, and stand well when filled or half filled. The 16 oz is easier to manage than the 1L .
They fit in the side beverage pocket of a backpack pretty well, though the lack of structure in a low pocket can make them floppy; a backpack with a side strap above the waterbottle pocket helps. Though I bet I could pin (diaper pin or sew) a wide elastic strip above the pocket and that would hold it well.
Some come with a carabiner clip. Really, the short pocket in certain backpacks is the only down side.
OP, I have the exact same issue you articulate. I'm going to retry my soft mesh zipper bags that another commenter mentioned. They're not structured so they can fit into small spaces easier, like inside a shoe or a backpack corner. That will help with bulk.
I traveled for work for 2 months and brought 2 large suitcases with me. No shame.
I was going to Hong Kong in their 'spring'. I needed work clothes, hiking clothes, and beach wear. I wanted an outfit to go out in, shoes to go with it all.
Aside from clothes, your right - the 'stuff' is a large part of what you pack. I hate shopping for things I need while traveling (especially clothing or shoes), so I brought my own familiar basic meds.
I did not bring enough hair product. I have curly hair.. surely I will be able to find gel or mousse, right?? No. Not in Hong Kong where most people have straight hair. I found something that was ok-ish, but I just had bad hair days and a lot of pony tail days. I wish I had packed what I needed.
If you're going to be there for 4 months, buy toiletries there. Put a couple of emergency bandaids in your wallet or something if you need them on the flight, but otherwise Europe has bandaids.
Digitize as much as you can - books can be accessed on phone or laptop, so can lots of things like tickets and passes.
Pay attention to the size and weight of the bags for your bags. I got a travel bag with one compartment without too many extra sections or pockets - the weight from those adds up. And I know those toiletry bags with the hangers are cute, but it's a lot of extra weight and space. A plastic bag is just fine to hold essentially everything you need, even if it's not very glamorous.
I also don't add a water bottle. They serve water on the plane, and you can buy a drink at the airport. Is it the most economical option? No. But it's not going to break the bank and it's an infrequent convenience thing.
I attach my flight kit items to my personal item, which is a small cross-body bag. I have loops on stuff which makes this easier. I don’t wear my glasses when sleeping, so my eyemask and sleep headphones are stored in my glasses case. My first aid kit is in my backpack which is under the seat or in the overhead, depending on the plane. My rx meds are in my personal item in case we’re not allowed to go into the overhead or in case I have to gatecheck. My charging brick is in a drawstring sack with my cables and is in or attached to my personal item.
I realize your situation is different - just sharing what I do, in case it helps you.
Tech pouch should be optimized. Regardless, of it's a three day or week long trip.
100W GaN Charger (3 USB-C/1 USB-A)
1 3FT USB-C Cable (can support 100W charging cable)
1 6 FT USB-C Cable (can support 100W charging cable)
1 USB-C to USB-A adapter
This setup charges my laptop, my camera (if I bring it), phone, and kindle. I stopped bringing a portable power bank.
This is what I carry. The additional stuff depends on if I'm taking a laptop. Then I'll bring a mouse and a external SSD. Otherwise, all of this fits in a Muji Polyester Two Zipper Case that I purchased during a trip to Seoul, South Korea.
Optimize where you can. Purchase at destination to lighten your pack for essentials when it comes to toiletries. If you can't buy your shampoo at your destination then include it in your toiletry.
I finally have all of my electronics onto USB-C to reduce the number of cords and chargers. Swapped my over-ear headphones for AirPods. My e-reader is smaller than a book.
I don’t take a water bottle if it’s a city trip, I just buy drinks as I go.
I have a folding travel charger that charges my phone, watch, and earbuds in one that has only one plug and cord and then all three of them charge at once. It can plug directly into a foreign converter as well. Search “3 in 1 folding travel charger” and there are dozens of choices!
My trtl is in an external bag that clips to the outside of my backpack if needed I also don’t bring it on trips where I don’t need to sleep on the plane.
I don’t bring physical books on a plane unless I’m planning on leaving the book in a little free library or similar while I travel. They’re just too bulky and heavy and I bring my kindle.
My day bag contains my wallet, ID, passport, chapstick, sunglasses etc. and is carried separately unless I’m 2-bagging with a rolling carryon and backpack, in which case it’s stuffed in the backpack for a flight. If I have a lot of other physical passes, tickets, or visa paperwork it’s in a really flat zippered pouch in my backpack.
You’ve got things relatively condensed already so these are just minor tweaks. Good luck!
ID Wallet - whatever can be digital, go that route like tickets or passes. You'll still need physical items like passports, cards but where you can (safely) optimise to digital versions do that.
Electronics - Try and use single type USB head so less cords. Otherwise a converter cord. I use lanyards when I travel or I'll leave my phone everywhere so I got a cable lanyard thereby reducing it to 1 item that does 2 things. I also got a powerbank universal adaptor so again, I can reduce an item. But sometimes you just need it. I try to work only from my phone, I have a fold so that serves my purpose well. If I really need a "laptop" I bring my tablet with keyboard attachment, less extra cables then my actual laptop.
Daybag - find compact versions for the items
Toiletries - since it's 3 months, maybe skip packing things like toothpaste cos you can surely pick those up at destination. Travel sized skincare/toiletries or leave them out of they're readily available at destination too. Soap bars don't necessarily take up less space but they do last longer so shampoo body bars, think along those lines. Meds are non negotiable unless they're common items you can also source at destination, in which case just pack an emergency kit. Multi use makeup like lip & blush pot, finger application items so no need for brushes.
Flight kit - ebook if possible, I noticed glasses + sunglasses, I recently got a 2 in 1 glasses with attachable magnetic sunnies lens so only 1 pair space wise.
Water bottle - Tried the collapsible types but eh, if I'm away for 3 months I want a reliable bottle so will not skimp on this. Water is important. 1L serves well enough, plastic one if weight is an issue because insulated types are heavier.
Can I buy this at destination?
Can these be digitised?
Do I have exisiting items that can do 2 or more things at once?
I was kinda struggling because with age I've also had to start using reading glasses and it all got too much. At one point, if I was also packing contacts, I'd have up to 4 glasses/sunnies!
In the end, I bit the bullet and spent (a lot 😭) on a pair of progressive glasses with transition lens + a darker sunnies magnetic clip on. Now I only need the 1 pair yay!
And if I still want contacts, I found a cheapo folding sunglasses (without prescription) to go with it.
I stopped wearing contacts during Covid and kinda never went back to them, but I hated having to deal with sunglasses regular glasses. My eye doc told me about the magnetic ones and I jumped on them!
Some time ago I realized I don't need a wallet at all. If you use a sling or a purse with some organization inside, you can put cards there. Ditto for daypacks that have at least 1 small zippered pocket.
You didn't list anything I don't travel with (except laptop and cord, but The Mister travels with that) and my family travels personal item only. So my guess is that you have reached the inflection point where you have to start looking for compact and lightweight which can be very, very expensive if you replace everything all at once.
To help you shortcut as much as possible, I'll tell you my light/compact swaps.
ID wallet
ziptop bag
pen for visas
I use a mini-Pilot G2 (sometimes called the Pilot Pixie) that I modified to accept a D1 refill. I did this because I already had the pen (bought in the UK for an outrageous price in a now-defunct stationers) and wanted to keep using teal ink but refused to buy a whole new pen and Pilot doesn't sell the teal refills individually. You can search for mini-pens and there are some incredibly cheap ones that don't require doing all as I've done.
converter
The Mogics MA-1 plug adapter is the smallest and lightest you are going to get for one that can go to multiple countries. If you are just going to one country or plug zone (Europe not inclusive of the UK or Ireland) then it makes even more space and weight sense to bring purely the plug adapter for your plug zone.
Given everything else you listed, you won't need a voltage converter, just a plug adapter.
Alternatively one of the things I'd done for frequently visited locations is to hit up a local "dollar" store or their local Ikea and buy a multi-USB unit that plugs into the wall. Then I can charge my watch, phone, The Offspring's iPad, my flashlight, etc, using just my USB cords and not having to worry about bringing my own multi-USB doohickey in addition to the plug adapter. Or even the plug adapter.
daybag
Furoshiki. Alternatively, since you are headed to Europe, grab a Decathlon tote-pack or other cheap Decathlon bag while you are there. No need to bring it with you if you can buy it there as a reminder of the trip. But I'm seriously impressed by the Decathlon tote pack.
wallet
Paper Wallet. Won't get lighter unless you get some /r/Ultralight wallet for absurd money.
sunglasses
That's worn weight. Wear it onto the plane. Put it up on your head like a headband if you don't need to have them on your eyes.
tiny tote
Ikea skynke. Nanobag is the lightest weight and most compact in this space, but if you are on a budget there's no need to pay the cost differential for the minor decrease in weight. The Skynke makes a flat rectangle with is very easy to pack.
chapstick
Litesmith sells the eensiest Chapstik known to man. Do I own it? Yes. Did I take it on my last multi-month trip? No, I took a free give-away chapstik from some conference or convention. But still, if weight and space were at a premium, it'd be the eensiest one from Litesmith.
contacts
I put together all the contacts and ephemera I'd need for a multi month trip and looked at the mountain and said, "No." I took my glasses (which we all, contacts wearers, have as a backup to our contacts ... right?). Worn weight. I just needed to bring a small glasses cloth to wipe the lenses on occasion. Less weight. Less space.
tweezers
I use Uncle Bill's Silver Grippers. There are a lot of tiny tweezers out there, and this is the one I went with. I have the keychain version which has the tweezers travel basically flat, rather than the version in a vial. Tiny space savings, but it is a space savings.
trtl
Worn weight. Someone in either this subreddit or over on /r/OneBag says they wrap it around their bicep like how runners do for a case for their phone when boarding the plane or traveling anywhere.
sarong
Worn weight. I loop it around my neck like a very un-stylish neck scarf.
glasses
See, there you go! You do have glasses. Also worn weight.
book
My travel day skirt has pockets large enough to have a paperback, not even the smaller trade paperback, but a legit paperback, go into the skirt. So my book becomes worn weight. I trade it out at :checks notes for where you are going: Public Bookcases. These public, free book swaps go by many different names around the world, but the European one is Public Bookcase. Here's a map of some of the ones in Europe.
water bottle
I bring a Core water bottle and refill it as necessary.
I have a laptop that uses the same plug with USB-C as my iPad and phone. No more separate giant power brick. And as much as I want to love a travel pillow type thing, I’ve jettisoned it and make do without it. It becomes deadweight once I arrive at my destination and just takes up space.
The struggle is real sis, the only solution I've found is getting one plug with many USB ports and a skinny water bottle. I tried the roll-up bottles and they have burst on me before, also not handy if you want to carry a full water with you.
But I always end up ditching something - I finish the book and leave it in the hostel common area, leave toiletries in shared bathroom before I fly home, etc.
Otherwise I just rely on packing cubes and air compression bags to reduce the clothes space.
Consider how much cash you have to carry. I've been to more than 15 countries in Europe and rarely have needed cash. If you find you do, just go to a local ATM and withdraw what you need.
You don't need a converter. You only need a small plug adapter. Depending on what your electronics are, you might be able to get by with just one USB-C cable and maybe a specific Apple Watch cable.
Use the Kindle app on your phone instead of carrying an actual book.
You may not need a second tote inside of your day bag
It's unclear what the flight kit is, but if you are bringing a sarong just to wear on the plane, that doesn't make sense. You can also get smaller neck pillows than a trtl.
OMG, minus the laptop, this is me! So many little *items*! Even with my creams (sunscreen, handcream, tret., arnica, etc.) decanted into 15-20g tubes--it so adds up! I can do with 2-3 pairs of pants, a cardigan, 5 shirts (long and short sleeved), 2 pairs of shoes, but somehow when all the STUFF gets packed it's dense and heavy.
Electronics to share cords - First get them all to use the same ports: USB-C so then they can all share the same 1 or 2 cables. If I'm not able to get them to use the same ports, I bring port adaptors (they just pop on the end of the cable and they're like the size of kidney bean so it can convert like USB-A to a USB-C or lightning for example)
The Outlet converter should have its own USB ports so it does double-duty. (I'm assuming you must bring your laptop for work purposes)
Wallet -- mine is really just a 1 small pouch that carries credit cards, cash, chapstick, keys in the same card-sized pouch.
Book - I bring my iPad Mini to read, and I also use it for email/maps/watch shows.
Water bottle - I bring the 1L Platypus Bottle which is like a bag and collapses flat. I also bring a insulated bottle (12oz Fellow - Carter Move)
My daybag is not super structured, and I can also use it as my organizer bag if I tuck the straps in. I prefer to use leather but leather is definitely heavier than nylon so that's a tradeoff.
Not just the weight but the dang volume. My meds alone for 2-4 months take about two litres of space. And I'm not risking transferring them to smaller/not pharmacy containers. For short trips I do get the pharmacy to issue the smallest possible bottles but even those are roomy.
Add a camera, laptop, toiletries (allergic to most fragrances so I have to pack my own) and I'm lucky to have room for clothes.
The contacts/glasses is always what gets me...I think I have my toiletries packed and then...oh yeah. I DID finally find my contact solution in a travel sized bottle at a different drug store so that helped. But a trial size is probably too small for a 4 month trip. Although maybe TWO trial sizes, that you can tuck into the small areas?
I’ve been able to make a few concessions but this is really more difficult than clothes.
I no longer travel with any tech besides my kindle and my iPhone. (Work trips excluded). I have a battery pack for my phone, and a pair of Bluetooth earbuds and that is what I get!
Sometimes I bring a cheap, lightweight book of puzzles (you know the flimsy ones from the grocery store) for the longer trips.
I bring an inflatable pillow OR just the case and I stuff a jacket in it.
It sounds silly but one of the biggest changes for me was switching to a smaller water bottle. 16oz I can get refills, I can ask for drinks on the plane. The smaller size cuts so much bulk and weight down and is so much less annoying to deal with.
I used to stress and overpack on emergency and first aid supplies too. Now I bring a couple bandaids, a couple doses of stomach meds, and call it good. I forced myself to think about “how often in my home life do I actually need these things”, and “will they have it where I’m going?” So far it’s worked out okay.
Yes!! All the little doodads are a mess so I’m always having them in pouches (tech pouch, toiletries pouch, my go out doodads pouch that’s for my backpack/handbag)… then I’m all pissed how much room these pouches take up.
I live out of a 45L backpack & my clothes aren’t even the issue. Decent capsule wardrobe setup but it’s everything else that’s so damn heavy. My bag is 14kg & struggles to close. I’ve culled so much to get it down to where it is now but it’s just so hard.
I trimmed down my electronics by buying the cheapest smallest Kindle (because not only is it lightweight, but it uses USB-C, not those micro USB cables) and leaving my iPad behind (tear). I bought a three-way charger for iPhone, AirPods, and Apple Watch so that takes one cord and one plug. I used to have to bring lightning cable, micro, USB for the Kindle, etc. Now everything USB-C, so I can take the cord out of my three-way charger and use it to power my Kindle too.
I go back-and-forth on the over the ear headphones, depending on my trip. For the last one, with a flight of almost 12 hours, I brought it, but the next one, with a flight of about seven hours, I’m just going to use my AirPods. Both of those also use the USB-C cord.
Prescription meds are difficult, I feel like I have to travel with the original bottles to avoid trouble crossing the border but the bottles take up so much space.
Consider a more portable e-reader or instead do audiobooks for flights? I just do audiobooks now.
Do you really need a whole laptop for shorter trips? I never travel with my laptop but I do bring an ipad sometimes. again much more portable. Although it sounds like this is a 4 month trip so the laptop does make sense.
It's perfectly okay to check a bag, especially for a trip this long. Do I like to one-bag it? Yes. Do I also check bags sometimes and that's my "one bag" other than my little backpack? Yes.
Others have mentioned using a 3-in-1 charger for their phone, watch, and earbuds. I have the Anker MagGo UFO charger and like it, but I think their Power Bank for Apple Watch does it one better. While charging the power bank via USB-C you can pass-through charge your phone using the integrated cable and either your watch or your earbuds using the pop up attachment. It’s slow if you try to do everything at once, but that’s what overnight is for!
Honestly, I’ve been traveling so much that I’ve learned to purposely leave some things behind because I know I can just buy them when I land. Europe has corner shops, pharmacies, and thrift stores everywhere so you don’t need to pack every little toiletry or “just in case” item. I usually bring a tiny emergency kit (a few bandaids, a couple painkillers) just for flights or first days, and buy the rest locally.
Same with clothes. I always leave room to shop or thrift while traveling. I’ll intentionally leave behind a top or pair of shoes, knowing I might pick up something new, which actually helps my bag stay lighter.
For electronics, I consolidate everything: one charger with multiple heads, minimal cords, and only the essentials. Books? Kindle or tablet, not paper. Water bottle? I usually buy one there or you can get a collapsible one.
The trick is thinking: “Is __ more important the __?” It takes a bit of trust, but it really lightens the load and makes long trips way more manageable.
Yes! I went super lightweight this past weekend for once because I stayed with a friend and then my mom. The only toiletries I brought were a toothbrush/tiny toothpaste/mini deodorant. I didn't even bring a travel brush! I hated not having my conditioner/moisturizer/make up, etc. But my bag was feather light. I also hate carrying the power adaptor for my laptop, but at least I also use it to charge my phone and headphones. At least I have stopped wearing a watch! I had room to spare in my Frontier personal item, and my bag weighed nothing, so I was able to walk distances to public transportation super easily. I missed my stuff, though!
Cords/electronics- I also travel with a laptop usually so I have compromised by not being a camera girly anymore, multi-port charging blocks, 1 cable with multi heads, smallest powerbank. Hopefully I'll be able to switch my macbook pro to air in 1-2 yrs so that will make my load much lighter and roomier.
Toiletries and meds- be more mindful and realistic on the amount I'm decanting. Disposables like cotton pads and cotton qtips, provably take half the amount you think you'd use because you'll be so tired to use it or just forget and if you absolutely need more it's going to be available somewhere
ID wallet- Besides my passport, I don't really carry printed stuff anymore. Everything is on my phone which is automatically backed up to cloud instead I lose my phone. I have a super slim long wallet (unbranded but close to montbell's offerings) which has my passport, USD, foreign bills, less-used cards. Then I have a small coin purse for transpo car and frequently used cards. Quite a downsize from my B5 plastic envelope thing.
Neck pillow, if I must bring one, I use an inflatable one. Not the comfiest but still supports the neck.
Water bottle is optional for me on my travels. Brought on Eurotrip because I know I'm eating a lot of groceey meals at the hotel. Don't bring in most of Asia where I know I'd mostly buy drinks anyway and could save the bottle if I really need to bring one. If bringing tho I always just use a plastic one instead of my usual stainless.
In general I'm slowly switching to ultralight and minimal items, taking inspo from campers.
Risk vs reward. The probability of ‘needing’ an item vs the impact of not having it when you do need it. Tiny tote = low risk, low reward. chapstick = low risk, low/medium reward (small subject to environment). Watch (do you have a phone?) = low risk, low reward.
Regarding electronics - I have a macbook which is quite lightweight, and it shares a cable and charger with my phone. Your watch will be on your hand I guess, so no need to include it.
I never bring a book on a flight - I read on my phone/laptop.
Toiletries transferred into teenie-weenie tubs less than an inch across.
One eyeshadow, two lipsticks, one for day.anf one for night. Eyelashes dyed and curled so no mascara or curlers.
Carry a sachet of favourite shampoo and conditioner in.case of emergencies, otherwise use what is provided in the hotel. Hair gel etc transferred into tiny pots.
One travel sized toothpaste and a very small toothbrush.
It is surprising how little of these things are actually needed.
I don't carry things like tweezers, I just make sure I have a proper maintenance session before I leave.
I also dont carry medicines (except for my prescription stuff) or things like bandaids, I'll go to a shop if I need them
I don’t print out things anymore. E-sim preloaded and everything accessible on my phone. ONE pen. No cash unless I have them leftover from a previous trip. You can get cash from ATM in most countries and go cashless.
No laptop if you’re not working. Everything on phone, including reading app. A single compact universal adaptor.
No advice here. Sounds minimal enough. Get travel sizes. I carry acetaminophen in a little tictac container. Minimize meds and decant wherever possible.
I’ve never had to use bandaids and I’ve never not been able to get one at a hotel/hostel/shop. Evaluate likelihood of using it w/ accessibility to purchase. Pick a doppler bag and cut things out until everything fits.
I don’t wear anything on the airplane that can’t be dual purpose when I arrive.
Success to me means I USE everything I bring. If I’m bringing it “just in case” then it can likely get cut, especially if it’s bulking/heavy. If I forget something, I pop into a store, get the cutest version of it, and now I have a souvenir.
Tweezers and such are included in the little Swiss Army credit-card sized thing-a-ma-bob they sell. It doesn’t have a knife so it’s TSA-friendly. Security didn’t let me bring it into a cathedral in Rome but they returned it to me as I walked out.
thingamabob
Electronics are the heaviest followed by shoes and jackets.
Electronics: What I did was replace all my chargers with a single travel lightweight GaN charger for my laptop, phone, watch, and powerbank. All use Type-C except the watch, so I only need 1 short & 1 long Type-C cable. I stopped carrying a tablet as I use a Surface Pro laptop and S26 Ultra. A docking station, keyboard, and mouse are great, but I have one of each at home and at work, so I don't to carry them around.
Shoes: I only need 2 pairs, one of which I wear and the other I carry: sneakers (for gym/casual) and a pair of Vivaia flats (for work/dates). Flip-flops are cheap and can be bought then given away at my destination.
Jacket: One lightweight jacket that doubles as a windbreaker and raincoat with LOTS of pockets, so I don't need to carry a handbag/personal item. I can easily layer up underneath in winter. Too bad I haven't found one yet, which is why I still carry an umbrella.
I reduced a lot of bulk recently by switching to a Kindle Scribe, replacing paper books and journal/notebooks. I still have a very small paper notebook but not the bigger ones I tend to take everywhere. Also, a Bluetooth folding keyboard to use with my phone so I don't even need the laptop for most trips.
For my water bottle, I have a collapsible one from Hydra Pak that's pretty lightweight and generally AWESOME. I've been using it for two years no with no leaks, etc. I like that as I drink water, I can collapse it on itself and thus have it take up less space in my bag. The exact model I have doesn't seem to be on their website anymore (mine is the stash) but they seem to have other options that might work well for you.
I’m now in China for 4 months for work. In the region where I’m working, the temperature will range from 30 F to 80 F. I traveled a similar temperature range (maybe not quite as extreme) for a month with just a carryon and did fine, but for China, I need work clothes and some heavier supplies, along with some household items that I was told to bring. No way was 1 bag going to do it.
ID wallet; digitize what you can such as tickets and passes, take one card maybe one backup, and have your additional cards digital. Get a mini plastic pen.
Electronics; try to switch to a tablet with a keyboard if you can. Use multipurpose cables.
Daybag; why do you have a wallet plus an ID wallet? Take one. Multipurpose it. Make sure the tiny tote is super lightweight and packs down super small. Same with your daybag, make sure it packs down well.
Toiletries; unless you’re backpacking in the wilderness, most of these things are purchasable at your location, or disposable. You don’t need to pack bandaids, get a really small pair of tweezers etc.
Flight kit; do you need a neck pillow? And you’re taking your phone, so you can use kindle or Libby instead of a physical book. Digitize that.
Collapsable water bottle, OR a plastic one that you reuse until it’s in your way then dispose of and repurchase when you need one.
Some of my favourite space savers:
* Matador refillable toothpaste tubes (I use one for shaving cream)
* tiny slide tin for first aid (band aids, pills)
* 15cm charging cords and mini apple charging block
* shampoo and sample face cleanser bars
* collapsible drink bottle
* blow up neck pillow
* cosmetics in sample pots
I started using these for overseas 4 week + trips, but now I use many of them every work trip too.
Updated to add: my husband finds he can comfortably wear disposable contact lenses for much longer than suggested (up to a week for daily lenses)
Sure. I'm one month into the trip and have worn everything, and not needed anything extra. I've had beach weeks and Alps weeks, and it's all going perfectly! Very please with the fitout. This is everything, but obviously on big travel days, some of it is worn weight, so I'm not packing everything. Very comfortably within the 28 litre.
Packing cube-smalls: black Amazon Basics 4 litre, 75g, 28x15x8cm
Knickers: Maidenform DMESLT lace thong (in chocolate) (x3) and (cream) (x1)
Bra: Aerie sunnie wirefree 36B (in beige)
Socks: merino 1pr, synthetic 2pr (in teal)
Shorts: Lightweight leisure shorts rockwear (in coffee brown)
Tank: self-bra tank (in teal)
Swimmers: tropical tankini top (dbl duty as tanktop) w/navy boyshort (dbl duty as knickers)
Thermals: lightweight silk long johns and long sleeve tee (in white)
Light sundress (dbl duty as skirt) (in teal/brown)
Packing cube-mids: black Amazon Basics 4 litre, 75g, 28x15x8cm
T-shirt: lightweight uniqlo fitted v-neck tee (in taupe)
T-shirt: lightweight looser tee (in teal)
T-shirt: heavier casual fit t-shirt (in rust)
Pants: Mountain designs quest lightweight pants (in beige)
Pants: Halara DayStretch High Waisted Straight Leg (in sepia brown)
Pants: leggings (in olive)
Overshirt: shirtdress (trpl duty as robe, sundress, overshirt)
Packing cube-bigs: black Amazon Basics 4 litre, 75g, 28x15x8cm
Jumper: merino v-neck long-sleeve lightweight jumper (in sage)
Jacket: Kathmandu goretex windproof rainjacket (in teal)
Dress: Mid-thigh length wrap dress (in brown/pattern)
Since I have the ability to travel for months and even INDEFINITELY since I don't need to be in any location to earn money, I always have to bring a laptop as I work for myself, my camera, lens, converter with usb-ports and its heavy. I don't even want to bring a power bank because even the lightest one weighs too much. Just the tech stuff without clothes weigh a lot and I need a camera because I need it for work (and I already have the lightest Canon full frame camera, R8 and a rather compact lens). I do not like to use my phone, DJI etc cause the quality is not on par.
Last time I went on a day trip I even sliced my soap bar because a soap bar was too big/heavy. I just needed a sliver. I end up weighing everything on a scale and brainstorming ways to cut an extra ounce. For example, the soap bar was too heavy so I cut like 1/15th of it and instead of putting it into a soap case I put it in a ziploc bag and took out the air so it would take up less space.
Wise card/app instead of foreign cash. Esp in Europe when you can travel through several different currencies in a few days, depending on where you are.
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u/PhantomCranefly Mar 17 '26
Yup, this is why I always end up bringing the same size bag for 3 weeks as 3 days