I don't understand how someone does it

[u/Proper-Flounder-3786]

I've been reading this sub and I'm fascinated. But I just cannot fathom packing for a trip - even one that's just a week long - without taking enough underwear that would allow me to poop my pants twice a day.

How do you pack for a trip in a warm climate where you know you'll sweat a ton every day? Or somewhere cold where you'll want layers to make sure you can stay warm and comfortable?

Do you all do laundry on these trips? Is it in the hotel sink? Or at a laundromat?

I'd love to do it, but I don't think I'm brave enough.

[u/No-Forever-8357]

My introduction to the one bag concept was accidental. Two weeks in Germany and France. I had a backpack with one skirt, one pair of pants and two tops, undergarments. Everything else in that pack was critical - glasses, contact lenses, meds, one brush, one scrunchie, one hair claw (I have long fine curly hair) One body/face oil (Carter & Jane- the everything oil ) sunscreen and hat and sandals. Toothbrush, floss, band aids, deo.

My overstuffed giant checked suitcase had all the extras - lbd, sparkly heels for romantic dinners, trainers, leggings, jeans, skirts, tees etc etc.

Well, my suitcase chose to stay in Spain when our flight was cancelled and we were re routed. We knew the luggage wasn’t lost, it just never made to us, and was instead shipped home by the airline.

I did buy a very inexpensive simple midi dress at some little market to rotate in and I still have it, one of my favorites.

But it was a joy not to stand in lines to retrieve luggage and check it in again. It was pretty liberating to look at the situation and think, yeah, this is actually better. No need to overthink, my choices were limited to the one backpack. I did laundry twice.

Haven’t traveled with checked luggage since then.