Comments on: Mrs. Hacks: Europe for a week and a half, no checked luggage – how I did it

By: Barbara

Barbara — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 03:53:37 +0000

My husband and I just got back from a week’s trip to Portland, Oregon. I was astonished to see many people dragging large suitcases around the airports. They looked like they were emigrating, not going on vacation! I’m so glad I learned to pack for any amount of time with only a carry-on.

By: Adriano

Adriano — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 23:24:43 +0000

Pat,

Showing that travelling light is possible even for women could already help many desperate husbands/boyfriends/colleagues who are obliged to help some I’ll-bring-this-and-this-and-this-because-you-never-know lady… It could also convince some more gentlemen that they can make it too…

So, please, do it. Maybe even a small section on this website, and all the above mentioned people will be very thankful (as well as hotel porters, taxi drivers and such, all over the world)! ;-)

By: BobbyD

BobbyD — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 15:43:01 +0000

Kevin: I just spent 8 days on the gulf coast with nothing more that my red oxx PR4. Thanks for a great review on a great bag. For a little bag this thing is huge.

By: Pat

Pat — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 12:41:18 +0000

All: thanks for your comments and suggestions; I’m stunned anyone commented! Adriano, your last comment made me laugh… I’ll let you know when we launch the course! :-)

By: Adriano

Adriano — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 23:48:10 +0000

A few points on cold weather
1- yes, you may need to pack more, but then you can also wear more stuff, thus reducing packing.
2- my personal experience in temperatures down to -30°C (I ignore the Farenheit, but I can tell you this is damned cold!!): the layer system (aka as onion strategy) is just great. Why? the air between two layers acts as insulator;
3- there are already plenty of lightweight solutions for fighting the cold. Polypropylene underwear, softshells with windbreaker membranes, multifunctional scarves. For many sport activities (winter jogging, cross country skiing, biking, hiking etc.) there is a huge demand in lightness and performance, so you can “borrow” ideas from them and use them in everyday travelling life.
just have a look in a sportsgear shop and you’ll be more than happy.
4- for these same sports activities a hat is always recommended. Why? A huge amount of heat is lost through the head.
5- my idea of cold is different form yours. Bear this in mind when someone tells you “Don’t worry, it’s warm-ish here!!”

To Mrs Hacks,

Should you make courses on the art of travelling light, I’d enrol my female colleague, who left home for a 5-day business trip by car with 2 huge suitcases!! ;-)