Can an overnight trip to St. Louis serve as a dry run for a 10 day trip to Italy?
Traveling for just one night with a Pacsafe daypack & the Red Oxx Safari Beanos PR4 (with admittedly little in it) is in a weird way a trial run for our trip to Italy. But all the gadgets that will go on the European trip – netbook, digital camera, iPod, cables – plus my itinerary, a book, magazines, etc. – were in the Pacsafe, and a few articles of lightweight clothing were in the PR4.
Two things will change for the longer trip: more clothing, and a couple of other things – universal adapter plugs, and some additional paperwork – will be in the PR4.
The jury’s still out, but all of this underscores how important it is to trial pack, and experiment with packed luggage. My goal? Avoid checking luggage, and avoid being overloaded with “crap” when we travel to Italy.
As we get closer I’ll continue to do some experimenting and additional trial packing; if I have a concern, it’s with the weight of the PR4 as I battle with the temptation to bring more clothing than I truly need. And… I may opt for an even lighter “personal item” bag that can be stuffed into the Red Oxx bag more easily. After all, what do I really need on board? iPod, in-ear headphones, a book, S90, itinerary, passport. It’s not as though I’ll whip out the netbook for a quick post.
For this quick trip, the combination was excellent, although the PR4 could not have weighed more than 6 or perhaps 7 pounds. The Pacsafe daypack was comfortable on my back, and much of the time I used the briefcase handles on the PR4. If that bag was nearing 11 or 12 pounds, however, those handles might not work for long concourse walks.
I need to go through my checklist and challenge everything on it, and then think hard about exactly what bags make sense. Working this out is for (OCD) me, an enjoyable challenge.
How do you approach planning for longer trips?
February 26th, 2010 at 9:14 AM
Just check one bag with overflow and lighten up your carry on. You’ll be happier. One bagging is great for business people on fast turnaround, but you are going to Italy and should take some nice things, and that weight adds up quickly. Checking a bag is free on international. Take advantage of it.
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Kevin Reply:
February 26th, 2010 at 12:06 PM
I really hate checking luggage. The only thing that would make me go that route would be if Pat checks luggage.
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Michael W. Reply:
February 27th, 2010 at 9:04 AM
I think for just planes and taxis, a checked bag is ok, so long as your survival items are carried on. If you have to take tour buses or trains, then a checked bag might be too much, in combination with the carryon bags.
Let us know if Mrs. Hacks is able to keep it down to carryon only – without undue prodding – I’m betting it will be hard. I know it can be done with just carryon – but with any style and panache?
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Kevin Reply:
February 27th, 2010 at 9:27 AM
Can the Sub-0-G work as a carry-on when flying a 777 & an A320? I think so.
If she uses the Sub-0 and a purse, I think we’re good.
I’m bringing a lightweight travel sports jacket and a couple of pair of lightweight khakis which will serve as the “core” for my daily wear; (relatively) neutral, washable LS shirts & polos; and for Sorrento, a pair of shorts; washable underwear & socks; my Marmot Precip rain jacket; one pair of shoes.
If I find myself lacking something, I’ll buy it there.
I may opt for the PR5 vs the PR4 just to have extra room to bring stuff back, as I’ll undoubtedly buy a few things. I’ll also see if I can mail items back during the latter half of the trip.
February 26th, 2010 at 5:45 PM
On international flights I’m even MORE weary to give up my bag. I had my entire life in my bag when I backpacked through Europe; if I was to lose it that would’ve been a trip ender.
If I can do 95 days with one bag, you guys can surely do 10. I know this is a luxuriously romantic trip, but that means you need to pack even less than I did since everything will be provided for you. Even if you brought 10 changes of clothes, I still can’t see how either one of you would need anything larger than a carry-on.
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February 26th, 2010 at 5:55 PM
And not that you asked, but here’s my personal packing list for trips of any length to any climate.
http://andymesa.pbworks.com/PackList
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Kevin Reply:
February 27th, 2010 at 9:42 AM
Andy – thanks for your comments and the pack list – excellent!
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February 27th, 2010 at 2:24 PM
One of the things you might consider for your Italy trip is that it is a great place to buy clothes and shopping is one of the ways to get to know a city unless you are there for a die hard cultural trip where you have to see every church along the way.
So you could either underpack and/or take one checked bag that is shared between the two of you. Imagine one expandable 22″ roller plus one duffel or Airboss per person. I would actually check a heavy weighted duffle, then underload the wheelie to make it light but still serve as a cart for the other carry-on bag. Ideally the wheelie will be able to be loaded with the other two bags, one stacked and one hanging on a hook. This way you will need only a single hand for three bags.
This is particularly practical if the biggest distances you will have to walk are at the train stations and airports. If you count on taking public transport to the hotel and possibly having to walk for a mile with many high curbstones, it will be better to leave the wheelie at home. That said, I did use my Plat5 in Venice last November. Rolled it for at least 2km and carried it up and down bridges. Wasn’t all that bad really. It weighed about 22lb. That means it’s ok to briefly carry it but between bridges I’d rather roll it.
Pre-packing is great fun, I agree. If you really want to push it, you could “pre-live” meaning to use only what is in your bag for ten days. I know that for you personally, as a very experienced traveler, that is probably not necessary. But for someone who tries to beat a low weight record it might help to see if it’s doable.
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March 1st, 2010 at 9:31 PM
Hmmm. I don’t know. I just did a practice pack of the OPEC for 9 days in Italy. To be clear, I gathered up things that represented clothing I’d be likely to take, but perhaps not the exact stuff. My goal was to fill it and see how much it weighed.
There are still some things I have to include from my packing list, but for the most part, I had a fair representation — I think. I may be kidding myself.
Anyway, it was far from stuffed. In fact, to reduce some of the sag, I’d have to fill in “air pockets.” It weighs 10 pound. I’m mindful of the 10% of body weight formula, in which case, I have about another pound I could add. But honestly, I don’t think I’d have any trouble carrying a few pounds beyond that if need be. Again, maybe I’m dreaming and will find a lot of extras that I forgot to factor in.
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