When I’m packing for a trip, I review the itinerary to see how mobile I’ll need to be. If I’m flying to meet a cruise ship, and then flying directly home from the last port, I can pack heavy. If I’m heading out on a TV shoot and will have a car for the entire trip, I’ll lighten up on the “packing light” stuff. But if I’m going to be changing cities every couple of days and using public transportation (trains and buses) rather than a car, I get serious about mobility and packing light.
Flying home from my two-month spring 2013 trip, I weighed my luggage at the airport check-in desk: 11 kilos (24 pounds). A week before that, I took an hour to photograph each category of my luggage on my hotel bed (to incorporate into my new and improved travel skills lecture).
I’ll share all the details in a later post, (but for now, you can see our “his and hers” packing lists at- Pack Smart and Travel Light by Rick Steves). I will say there are two kinds of people you meet on the road in Europe: those who pack light, and those who wish they’d packed light. I’ve got it down and I love it. What’s your best tip for packing light?
I live out of these two bags for two months at a stretch: My Convertible Carry-On (9″ by 21″ by 14″, $99.99). I helped design this bag…and I love it. And, for running around on the street, I use our cute little Civita Day Pack ($24.99).
People ask me, “Exactly what do you pack for one of your two-month trips?” They insist on every detail. To answer that question, I spread absolutely everything out on my bed on the south coast of Portugal. There I was…naked with my camera. And this is it. For a third of my adult life (four months a year), this is my entire material world.
I try to wear my heaviest clothes on the plane, especially shoes.
Thanks for this, Rick!
I would like to see how much you put into the Civita Day Pack. I need jacket, snack, first-aid stuff for my feet, some electronics. Can anyone describe what they are able to carry in this bag? Don’t the compartments get in they way of getting maximum storage? I plan on only taking an adirondack jacket that is not heavily lined
I like the looks of the pack and am considering buying. Thanks.
This is definitely the “unfun” part of any trip. We have collected a great set of luggage. Mostly Eagle Creek to pack as light as possible. But by car or like a Cruise type trip it is nice to splurge a bit. I just try to take as little as possible, but as we have gotten older it seems like the “Pill” bag is the biggest problem, contact lenses and all that stuff. But I try to take four complete outfits including the one I have on. We splurge now and have clothes cleaned along the way. Last year our trip in January to Paris for only one week was hard because it is so cold there in the winter and impossible to wear boots on a 12 hr flight, so we had to take one mid size back too. But we had a car picking us up and taking us back to the airport so not so bad. Every trip is different period. So my advice is always back down as much as you can, you really don’t need it and you will be home with all your stuff before you know it.
Rick,
When I read Europe through the Backdoor in 2002, I took your advise to heart. On my 2 and half month trek through Europe I had one backpack. I agree with you that you can always buy more clothes there if you need them. First aid, bandiaids etc. are readily available. I think that if a person were to really understand that everything they need will be available for sale over there, they can pack light and really enjoy their trip much more. Must haves? Sandals for a shower and running shoes.
Rick -as a devoted follower of your tips I’ve used your list and bags for many years on trips to Europe. I always try to limit my big bag to 8kg since that’s the limit for Lufthansa or Swiss carryon (my usual airlines) and sometimes they do check. I have a day pack with camera and heavy items that is usually more than 8 as my personal item. Are you using American carriers that dont seem to worry about weight like the Euro airlines? If I go biz class they don’t seem to mind as much as you can have two official carryons.
I also have the Civita Day Bag. I like it but my husband likes his structured Eagle Creek better. You can fit a lot in the Civita Bag, it is very soft and things can mold into it. But you have to be careful because things just hang to the bottom, so if you have heavier things like camera’s and electronics it gets bottom heavy to manage and I think that is why my husband doesn’t like it as much. He tends to be the one that carries more of those things than I do.
Rick,
In the picture of you wearing the backpack, it appears to me the shoulder straps may be too long for the most comfortable fit. If the shoulder straps were shortened a bit, the pack would fit higher on your back, and not hang heavily on your lumbar region. Shortening the straps would shift the weight higher, and would, for most people, be a much more comfortable position.
The packing-fitting staff at most outdoor stores would offer the same advice
Give it a try.
I’ve traveled many times to Europe in my late 60’s and now at 70. While I started with Rick Steves gear, I’ve switched to Eagle Creek luggage which is much stronger and designed for travelers but also considerably more expensive. I need 2 pair of rugged walking/hiking shoes that also look good for dress (usually Ecco), and one pari of Birkinstock sandals. I’m a guy and usually feel most comfortable in Lucky Brand jeans. I take 2 pair with 1 or 2 pair of Kuhl pants and/or shorts. I’m big on tee shirts that are dri-fit with one or 2 dressier shirts that also dry quick. For a day bag, I use High Sierra back packs with plenty of sturdy compartments & zippers that handle laptops, iPads, heavier jackets, cameras & headphones all at once (usually available at eBag.com after X-mas for $30-$40 or less). If you don’t want all of that in a back pack, then plenty of room for picnic lunches, etc. It all works very well for me.
One thing more — contrary to some opinions, I don’t find shopping in Europe works that well for my needs; takes time to shop and find what you need, prices are often higher even before currency conversion and it’s not that pleasant an experience. I ran out of sun screen in Italy and found a small tube at a local shop for a whopping 50 euros — bring an ample supply with you even if it means more weight!
“impossible to wear boots on a 12 hr flight, ” I travel with over the ankle hiking boots as I need the support, and I do wear them onto the plane. Once I’m seated I take them off and put old socks on over my “real” socks. (Usually left over from a biz class flight.)
I, too, need a more structured day bag – I once bought the Civita bag but sent it back. Also, my first long trip was with Rick’s convertible back pack, but after that I switched to Eagle Creek as I needed a proper hip belt to get the weight off my shoulders. (Ten years later I bought Rick’s wheeled bag which is doing well.)
Electronics and pharma are my heaviest items. Used to be books but now I only take (cut up) guide books, and novels are on my smart phone or iPad. I’ve experimented with guidebooks and maps on the iPad, but I’m still much happier with paper (and you don’t have to worry about someone stealing a paper map out of your hands like you do with a smart phone!)
Most limos already have twwo exit doors and tempered safety glass that will break easily with a break out tool ! The problem will be with the intoxicated passengers opening them up and falling out. Most modern cars lock the doors as soon as the car is in gear, cchild door locks are also a problem! I propose a law to put smoke detectors and glass break out tools in every coMmercial passenger vehicle. Smoke detectors would provide an early warning system and would be inexpensive. Any upstanding operator would already have a fire extinguisher and first aid kit in their vehicles.
If you stay at Youth Hostels you need a towel. I’ve learned to make do with a bandana. Bandanas are terrifically useful, clean easily, dry in a jif. Tablecloth, scarf for warmth, dampen it for air conditioning, head cover – a hundred uses – essential.
I have a Civita day pack. Nice and light, however 3 problems with it. First, no compartments, so heavy stuff shifts to the bottom. Second, no padding, so heavy stuff that shifted to the bottom gets banged as you put the pack down on a table, floor, etc. Third, it can easily be slashed by someone with an Exacto knife, razor, etc, as you walk with it on your back, and your stuff quickly taken. I also have a Pac-Safe shoulder bag to deal with all this. It has compartments, padding, and a thin wire grid running within the fabric (and the strap), plus locking zippers. It’s definitely heavier than the Civita, but not too heavy. If you value your camera, phone, etc the peace of mind is worth the extra weight.
I have traveled to several places and always roll up my socks, underwear, pants, and shirts. I try to take those items that when I arrive at mydestination, I simply take the shirts and pants and hang them in the closet so that the next day, there are few wrinkles. I have found that the items take much less space that way also.