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I really don't understand what people are putting in the 2-3 large suitcases I see them struggling to shove in overhead. For one, rolling luggage is usually a m

I really don't understand what people are putting in the 2-3 large suitcases I see them struggling to shove in overhead. For one, rolling luggage is usually a mistake for anyone who's not flight crew. I bring a week's worth of thin clothes that layer. If I need more, I'm either washing by hand or using a service. Basic toiletries, an e-reader, phone, keys, charger bricks, a notebook/pens, daypack. It fits into an underseat backpack with room to spare. This has scaled fine all the way up to multi-month scientific expeditions in remote locations. Sometimes I need to accommodate specialized equipment like formal clothes/shoes, camera bodies/lenses, excavation equipment, tent, water purification, sleeping pad/bag, etc, but that's solved through the magic of bringing a slightly larger bag.

coldtea 2mo ago
>For one, rolling luggage is usually a mistake for anyone who's not flight crew. Rolling luggage is amazing, especially that that goes into the overhead compartment. "I bring a week's worth of thin clothes that layer. If I need more, I'm either washing by hand or using a service. Basic toiletries, an e-reader, phone, keys, charger bricks, a notebook/pens, daypack. It fits into an underseat backpack with room to spare." That's if you don't need to take more or heavier clothes, formal clothes, an extra pair of shoes, if you're packing gifts, or extra gear taken space elsewhere (e.g. camera and lenses in your backpack), and not taking stuff like souvenirs and such back. >This has scaled fine all the way up to multi-month scientific expeditions in remote locations. If you slob it like a 19 year old backpacker, sure.
- PaulDavisThe1st 2mo ago
  > If you slob it like a 19 year old backpacker, sure. Had an interesting trip when I was 55. First 7 days: my niece's wedding, a cross-country + transatlantic trip away, with lots of occasions (or need, if you were so minded) for good looking semi-formal wear. Next 20 days: backpacking (like a 19 year old) for 280 miles across the Scottish Highlands.
- AlotOfReading 2mo ago
  I'm not sure what you're considering "heavier" clothes, but my layers work just fine to about -20C. It was a bit chilly the times it was <-40C, but I don't think that's what you meant? The comment covered special gear, so not really sure what you want me to add there. I use a slightly larger bag that fits in overhead.
  - rjrjrjrj 2mo ago
    Boots for -40 are practically a carry-on item just by themselves.
  - coldtea 2mo ago
    >I'm not sure what you're considering "heavier" clothes, but my layers work just fine to about -20C. It was a bit chilly the times it was <-40C, but I don't think that's what you meant? What I mean is that even for 0C, I'd take a heavy padded jacket which would fill 1/2 to 2/3 of the backpack by itself. I wouldn't be letting it "a bit chilly" with mere layers in -20oC.
    - AlotOfReading 2mo ago
      Most of that volume is air, and I use vacuum bags for storage/laundry organization. My jackets only take up the volume of a few t-shirts en route. Sweaters are more difficult, because I don't want to put handknit fabric into a vacuum bag, so the times I've needed to travel with those I wear them onto the plane as normal clothing, or slung over an arm.
    - presentation 2mo ago
      I don’t do the whole minimalist packing thing but my super warm down jacket from montbell fits in a tiny stuff sack and I often wear that inside of other not so warm layers to stay comfy in the winter, so it probably depends on what you’re using for warmth.
    - deleted 2mo ago
      [deleted]
peezd 2mo ago
I've had this conversation a lot with my wife, as we have divergent philosophies. I'm an old Peace Corps hippie that then road warriored for a few years where I would do a 4 day work trip and limit myself to a bag I could fit under the seat on a plane. You have to be ruthless, rewear stuff that will be fine for multiple days, etc. You also learn what is non-negotiable to bring. My wife is a planner, so she builds for redundancies and tries to pack for every scenario. She targets to fill a roller bag and the biggest personal item tote she has. But I will also admit there's much more social pressure on women than men in terms of what makes up an outfit.
koreth1 2mo ago
> For one, rolling luggage is usually a mistake for anyone who's not flight crew. I used to travel with just a soft carry-on bag that converted into a backpack. It was great to just pick it up and go, and not have to worry about constantly extending and retracting the handle or bracing the bag so it wouldn't roll away on a hill. But around the age of 50, my back informed me in no uncertain terms that those days were behind me. Now I let the wheels on my luggage carry the weight.
nradov 2mo ago
No major commercial airline allows a passenger to put 3 large suitcases in the overhead bins: it's one carry-on bag in the bin plus a small personal item. If I'm going scuba diving, especially technical diving in a cold environment, then I need to fill my carry-on and personal item with the expensive or fragile dive gear plus check two large bags for the bulky dive gear plus whatever else I need for the trip.
- AlotOfReading 2mo ago
  The description is a bit exaggerated, but I regularly see families with a large overhead suitcase + personal bag + secondary bag per person waiting at the carousel. I don't think many of them are diving in the places I go to, but who knows.
  - nradov 2mo ago
    You misinterpreted what you saw. I fly a lot and most airline gate agents are quite strict about enforcing carry-on bag limits. They frequently pull passengers out of the boarding line and force them to gate check extra carry-on bags. The only common exception is for medical equipment needed during the flight.
    - mikestew 2mo ago
      You're replying to the same person that thinks they can dress for -40C with some layers that will easily fit in a carry-on.
davkan 2mo ago
Recently I visited my parents and had to pack cycling gear, backpacking gear, wedding suit, on top of my daily clothes. I had two pairs of shoes in my luggage which alone takes up like a quarter of a carry-on. I filled a carry-on and a big checked luggage. For a week trip without significant activities it would just be a light carry-on. Also small rolling luggage is fine if you’ve got status with the airline. If you board in group 2 you will never be forced to gate check your bag. Just make sure it fits in the smaller RJ overheads and you’re good to go.
watwut 2mo ago
Rolling luggage has exactly zero disadvantages? You dont have to roll it if you dont want to, but rolling if frequently easier. I have seen people walk 2-3km from hotel to the station with rolling luggage, no issue or effort needed. It would be harder if they had to actually carry it.

coldtea 2mo ago

>For one, rolling luggage is usually a mistake for anyone who's not flight crew. Rolling luggage is amazing, especially that that goes into the overhead compartment. "I bring a week's worth of thin clothes that layer. If I need more, I'm either washing by hand or using a service. Basic toiletries, an e-reader, phone, keys, charger bricks, a notebook/pens, daypack. It fits into an underseat backpack with room to spare." That's if you don't need to take more or heavier clothes, formal clothes, an extra pair of shoes, if you're packing gifts, or extra gear taken space elsewhere (e.g. camera and lenses in your backpack), and not taking stuff like souvenirs and such back. >This has scaled fine all the way up to multi-month scientific expeditions in remote locations. If you slob it like a 19 year old backpacker, sure.

PaulDavisThe1st 2mo ago
> If you slob it like a 19 year old backpacker, sure. Had an interesting trip when I was 55. First 7 days: my niece's wedding, a cross-country + transatlantic trip away, with lots of occasions (or need, if you were so minded) for good looking semi-formal wear. Next 20 days: backpacking (like a 19 year old) for 280 miles across the Scottish Highlands.
AlotOfReading 2mo ago
I'm not sure what you're considering "heavier" clothes, but my layers work just fine to about -20C. It was a bit chilly the times it was <-40C, but I don't think that's what you meant? The comment covered special gear, so not really sure what you want me to add there. I use a slightly larger bag that fits in overhead.
- rjrjrjrj 2mo ago
  Boots for -40 are practically a carry-on item just by themselves.
- coldtea 2mo ago
  >I'm not sure what you're considering "heavier" clothes, but my layers work just fine to about -20C. It was a bit chilly the times it was <-40C, but I don't think that's what you meant? What I mean is that even for 0C, I'd take a heavy padded jacket which would fill 1/2 to 2/3 of the backpack by itself. I wouldn't be letting it "a bit chilly" with mere layers in -20oC.
  - AlotOfReading 2mo ago
    Most of that volume is air, and I use vacuum bags for storage/laundry organization. My jackets only take up the volume of a few t-shirts en route. Sweaters are more difficult, because I don't want to put handknit fabric into a vacuum bag, so the times I've needed to travel with those I wear them onto the plane as normal clothing, or slung over an arm.
  - presentation 2mo ago
    I don’t do the whole minimalist packing thing but my super warm down jacket from montbell fits in a tiny stuff sack and I often wear that inside of other not so warm layers to stay comfy in the winter, so it probably depends on what you’re using for warmth.
  - deleted 2mo ago
    [deleted]

peezd 2mo ago

I've had this conversation a lot with my wife, as we have divergent philosophies. I'm an old Peace Corps hippie that then road warriored for a few years where I would do a 4 day work trip and limit myself to a bag I could fit under the seat on a plane. You have to be ruthless, rewear stuff that will be fine for multiple days, etc. You also learn what is non-negotiable to bring. My wife is a planner, so she builds for redundancies and tries to pack for every scenario. She targets to fill a roller bag and the biggest personal item tote she has. But I will also admit there's much more social pressure on women than men in terms of what makes up an outfit.

koreth1 2mo ago

> For one, rolling luggage is usually a mistake for anyone who's not flight crew. I used to travel with just a soft carry-on bag that converted into a backpack. It was great to just pick it up and go, and not have to worry about constantly extending and retracting the handle or bracing the bag so it wouldn't roll away on a hill. But around the age of 50, my back informed me in no uncertain terms that those days were behind me. Now I let the wheels on my luggage carry the weight.

nradov 2mo ago

No major commercial airline allows a passenger to put 3 large suitcases in the overhead bins: it's one carry-on bag in the bin plus a small personal item. If I'm going scuba diving, especially technical diving in a cold environment, then I need to fill my carry-on and personal item with the expensive or fragile dive gear plus check two large bags for the bulky dive gear plus whatever else I need for the trip.

AlotOfReading 2mo ago
The description is a bit exaggerated, but I regularly see families with a large overhead suitcase + personal bag + secondary bag per person waiting at the carousel. I don't think many of them are diving in the places I go to, but who knows.
- nradov 2mo ago
  You misinterpreted what you saw. I fly a lot and most airline gate agents are quite strict about enforcing carry-on bag limits. They frequently pull passengers out of the boarding line and force them to gate check extra carry-on bags. The only common exception is for medical equipment needed during the flight.
  - mikestew 2mo ago
    You're replying to the same person that thinks they can dress for -40C with some layers that will easily fit in a carry-on.

davkan 2mo ago

Recently I visited my parents and had to pack cycling gear, backpacking gear, wedding suit, on top of my daily clothes. I had two pairs of shoes in my luggage which alone takes up like a quarter of a carry-on. I filled a carry-on and a big checked luggage. For a week trip without significant activities it would just be a light carry-on. Also small rolling luggage is fine if you’ve got status with the airline. If you board in group 2 you will never be forced to gate check your bag. Just make sure it fits in the smaller RJ overheads and you’re good to go.

watwut 2mo ago

Rolling luggage has exactly zero disadvantages? You dont have to roll it if you dont want to, but rolling if frequently easier. I have seen people walk 2-3km from hotel to the station with rolling luggage, no issue or effort needed. It would be harder if they had to actually carry it.