Although I write a blog about travel, I am sorely lacking in the “packing light” department. I have been working hard to do better recently, but it still seems like on every trip I take my suitcase is heavier than I would like and I always end up bringing home a few unused items. Sound familiar? Or, do any of you manage to pack for a week or more in a small carry-on? If so, will you please write a guest post to share how you do it?!
In anticipation of my upcoming Ireland trip (fingers crossed that I will be able to go!), I am challenging myself to try to pack for a week in just a 21″ international size carry-on. Hmm…just the thought of that makes me incredibly nervous.
My old carry-on bag is too big for the new international carrier restrictions AND it is the two wheeled version. With a bad arm, I need to make sure my luggage is easy for me to manage. So I need to find an ultra light spinner carry-on that can hold a weeks’ worth of clothes.
Here are a few of my options…I would love your input…which would you choose? Or, do you have another one you would recommend?
This may be the most stylish choice but how practical is it? Believe it or not it is also the lightest weight of them all, at just 5.8 pounds! Of course, it is also the most expensive.
I love that this one is SO lightweight and it looks like there may be some “give” for me to overstuff it a bit, plus I am tempted by all the fun color options…BUT, will it be sturdy enough?
Delsey Luggage Helium Titanium Carry-On EXP Spinner
Everyone seems to be carrying “clamshell” luggage these days so they have me intrigued…definitely sturdy but will it be light weight enough? The Delsey website claims it will hold 10 shirts, 4 pairs of pants, 2 coats, 4 pairs of shoes and two toiletry bags.
Travelpro Maxlite3 21 Inch Expandable Spinner
This is the brand the flight attendants and pilots swear by…that should be a reliable recommendation, right?
Victorinox Luggage Avolve 2.0 20
All my other luggage is Victorinox and I love the brand, but this just isn’t wow-ing me.
Okay, my friends…I would love for you to help me out…which would YOU recommend?
Even though I travel regularly I still take far too much in my case and return with items unworn! In particular, I pack far too many shoes. I use Samsonite luggage as it's so sturdy with excellent locks. You have featured some lovely lightweight bags here.
This is so great Sandy as I need a new very lightweight roller bag! Thanks so much for the info!!
xoxo
Karena
The Arts by Karena
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I cannot help you out, dear Sandy, because I always have to pay the fine for having luggage over the weight limit. The Mister never is happy about it. Have a great week!
I too pack too much but with 2 young children, I always want to be prepared. For myself, I do a pretty good job. Planning what outfits I'll wear each day and my trick is to try to stick to as few shoes as possible! I would go with the Travelpro…can't get a better recommendation than people that fly for a career. We tried the "clamshell" (hard case) suitcase and it broke the first time we used it! It was just so bulky! Just my opinion though!
I traveled thru Italy for 7 weeks, alone, and really needed a lightweight bag for picking up and throwing into the overhead compartments in trains, for that is how I went from city to city. I had clothes and everything I would need for 7 weeks in a 21 inch carry on. I bought the Rick Steves 21 inch carry on bag which he recommends for travel. It was perfect for me. I spent more sleepless nights worrying about how I could get everything I needed into that one bag than I care to recall. You just really have to get into the mindset of wearing things over and over and only taking one of what you need.
I bought a ReVo at Sears (http://www.revoluggage.com/collection/sprint) and I love it! I've been on several trips with it and it's holding up fine. The 21 inch says it's 8.6 pounds and I think it's really light and it does have the four swivel wheels. I think this one I pasted the link to is the model I have, and it has an expansion mode so you do have a little extra space for the trip back when you've bought "stuff"!
I am a big believer in just taking one bag and for a week, you absolutely can do it! The key to remember, for me, is that NO ONE but me will know that I plan to wear the same shirt the 1st, 3rd, and 7th day. I take one pair of black pants that can be day or dressed up for an evening place that's not too fancy. You will need a sweater if you're going to Ireland, but I just take one that's not too bulky (maybe a cotton one?) and then 4 shirts that can go under it (couple of basic white and pink Jones of New York blouse variety that have a nice collar that dresses up even under a sweater), and a couple of easy ones that pull over your head. I like Peck & Peck which is a brand I find at Steinmart because they're fun and can be dressed up too. You will need something for rain, depending on when you go, so that's tough to pack so I take the smallest umbrella I can find and a very lightweight rain coat that I just wear instead of trying to pack it.
Shoes are the toughest because they take up so much space so depending on what level of dressiness you need, take a nice pair of black ones to go with your black pants and can also be worn with jeans, and a cute pair of flats to wear with a little dress or skirt. I don't tend to take a dress, (because I'm not crazy about my legs) but if you are, make it a fun little stretch skirt that can be worn with a couple of your blouses you have already. Throw a couple of fun scarves in and underwear and socks and you're set! That's my two cents worth!
Good morning sweetest Sandy! Well, I'm not a very elegant traveler. I do travel light but I use a backpack these days! On our recent trip to Carmel, what was most important to me were my camera, cell phone, tablet and laptop. YES! All that technology in order to do what I wanted to do via Instagram…..so for 10 days in Carmel, I took one pair of pants and a pair of shorts, two shirts and a jacket. EASY! But like I said, I'm pretty basic, so I have NO feedback for you!
I wish you well and hope you are on the mend!
Hi Sandy, hope you are feeling better. I can't comment on the luggage as I still use my old Samsonite, but I am a light packer so here are some of my tips. I wear a lot of black, so I take things that all work together. You can make up different outfits and nobody knows the difference. I take a sweater and shawl for the plane and to use at night. I wear sneakers/walking shoes on the plane and take one other pair of shoes for dinner out. A good trench coat that is wearable in the rain saves having to take two coats, and I just wear it on the plane to avoid having to pack it (you can wear your sweater under that to save even more room). Check to see if your hotel offers laundry service. You can also ask at the front desk for a laundry rec in town. My last tip is one I got from Rick Steves years ago. Don't over pack toiletries. You can always buy shampoo, toothpaste etc if you run out and it's fun to try brands we do not have at home. Have a great trip!
Since you travel A LOT Sandy, I would go for the first one, although Rimowa clam shell is also pretty sturdy. I have a samsonite, which I plan to replace with a more dependable one like the Bric later on. 🙂
Glad to have you back my friend! I love all of these great suitcases will chat soon about europe 😉 !
I like the Lipault, I think I prefer soft-sided (though it's been years since I carried anything else). I recently saw an orange TUMI bag that looked alot like this that was tempting. Looking forward to hearing what you go with… I am actually trying to figure out my next luggage step as well. How wonderful that you lived in Naples, I'd love to see your mother's collection of ceramics, have you posted on that? I'll be writing more on Italy, our next stop was the Aeoleon Islands, which were incredible. Happy September! ~ebh
Hello there my dear girl,
I am so sorry to have have missed all of your posts. I have been so out of whack since Munchen died and then we had guests for a week that blogging took a back seat. I hope that you are doing well!
I am no pro in this dept. but we have our old but very reliable good ol Samonsite and a few years ago bought a set of Tumi….both which have seen us through a lot of trips. I like the look of the Travelpro (great color). Looks like you cannot go wrong with any of these stylish choices.
I didn't know you lived in Italy…lucky girl! No wonder you have the travel bug:) Hope you are feeling a little better each and every day….wishing you a wonderful and super relaxing Labor Day weekend.
We've been traveling back and forth to Europe regularly now for a few years (husband's company has main offices in US and Amsterdam), so I've gotten great at the packing light routine! I'd recommend any luggage by Briggs & Riley: they have a terrific guarantee, so any damage is covered (just a small shipping fee, but we are hard on our bags, so it's definitely worth it). I use (I think?) a 21-inch spinner for trips ranging from one week to two months; that plus a comfortable backpack (also Briggs & Riley) and I'm ready for just about any trip. My two best tips? Take enough for one week, then hand wash in hotel sink and reuse. And lots of black clothing, broken up with colorful scarves and a bright top or two. Works for me…
Sandy, I'm a new follower of yours (over from Jennifer and Heather's link up) but I am a frequent traveler. I would recommend any luggage by tumi or Hartman, they both hold up extremely well with lots of traveling and their carryon is made for international flights as well. I always pack for carry on only, I never check luggage now days. I've become one great efficient packing girl and I have found some fun and easy ways to still look stylish. I would be happy to write a guest post if your still in need of one, just let me know.
I've been using my 19" Hartmann for over 25 years. I've written several posts on how I pack so light. It can be done! Up to 3-4 weeks, carry on only. I highly recommend Hartmann. The zipper is just getting a little wonky after millions of miles travel, so pretty good stuff. Thanks so much for sharing with us in #stylefocus!
I have zero arm strength so, rather than going to the gym to solve the problem, I check my suitcase whenever I fly. I'd love to find a lightweight carry on piece so I could change my ways. Anxious to hear what you decide!
Hartmann was bought by Samsonsite so now sadly it is no longer the same as it once was.