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Me in all my glory aboard.
This is my preferred color family |
I've spent a lot of time the past few months on Reddit, in particular, a forum called "Her One Bag". There, folks trade tips about traveling light. I tried out some ideas from there on this trip. My next big trip is Antarctica, and some of these lessons will be helpful for that.
Bags
I've written before how I like having my hands free as I negotiate airports and train stations, so I prefer a backpack to a drag-along bag. It's also more practical on board boats where there isn't much storage space for empty luggage - a soft-sided pack is easier to store. Many travel packs are designed so they are clam shell, zipping open two roughly equal sides to lie flat like a suitcase. I like that design a lot. The bag I've been using for years, the Cotopaxi Alpa 35L, is fine and 35 litres is about the same amount of space as a European-sized carryon suitcase. But, when fully laden, the Cotopaxi feels heavy and uncomfortable. This year, I invested in a new bag, also 35L, also clamshell - zip flat design. My Pact Cero weighs less empty than the Cotopaxi, and has an integrated waist belt to help balance the load. It also has some extra well-thought out features like little straps on the side that can be deployed to hold something like a jacket or sweater. I think, despite the nominal same-size of the two bags, the Pact is slightly smaller. But I like it a lot. I used it on my short Baltimore trip, to check out its features, and it was pretty much perfect for the Sweden trip. The shoulder and waist straps can be tucked securely into pockets on the bag when I check it - less stuff dangling to catch on something. As I missed my connection on the way to Sweden, I'm feeling carry-on luggage was the right plan on the way there. I checked the backpack on the way back, because it would matter less if it was delayed (as it turns out, it made the trip just fine.) I weighed the fully packed bag at home before I left: 17 pounds, within the 8 kg Lufthansa limit.
I have a cross-body bag kind of like a small briefcase I think I bought from Uniqlo that I use as my personal item in addition to the big backpack. In it I put things I'll need during the flight - charge cords, headphones, eye mask, snacks, water bottle, sweater, e-reader, ipad. This bag fits easily under the seat and still leaves room for my feet. But, this bag is not a great daypack to use when I'm at the destination. For this Sweden trip, I bought a thin nylon daypack that stuffs into its own little case, only about the size of two thumbs when stuffed. I also have a tiny waist pack, just big enough to hold my passport, phone, and earbuds. In Stockholm, I set out early in the morning wearing a sweater and the waist pack, with the little folded-up daypack stuffed in my pants pocket. When I bought a couple of things in a museum gift shop, and it became too warm to wear the sweater, I put the stuff in the day pack and was able to resume being hands free. (BTW, I vowed some years ago that I wouldn't buy any pants, skirts or dresses that didn't have pockets and I've stuck to that. All part of trying to be hands free!) I also brought a nylon shopping bag that folds and fastens into a thumb-sized bundle. It normally lives in my purse, for random purchases when out and about. I didn’t use it, but I might have, and don’t regret its minimal space.
I did not bring my normal (or any other) conventional purse on this trip.
When I go to Antarctica I will need more stuff than will fit in my lovely carry-on backpack. I'll pack a check-in wheeled suitcase, but I may bring the big Cero carryon backpack on the plane with some essentials in case of a luggage mishap on the way there.
Clothes
My travel clothes for the past several years have all been casual as I've been doing outdoor things and not going to fancy restaurants or on fancy cruise ships. I blended in nicely everywhere in I was in Sweden - women my age either dressed in practical clothes like me, or on the hot days, wore huge tent dresses festooned with big pockets.
This trip was 15 days/14 nights - 1 night on the airplane, 4 in hotels, and the rest on the ship. No chance to do laundry, except sink laundry. Here is what I brought on this trip:
3 short sleeved merino wool tshirts - good for re-wearing several times
2 soft bamboo short sleeved tshirts - 1 became pyjama top after a day of wearing out and about
2 polyester longsleeved shirts (thin - good either for sun or cold)
1 Long sleeved linen button down shirt - worn as open layer over tshirt or buttoned and tucked
2 sweaters, 1 close-fitting merino, 1 loose fitting polar fleece, could be stacked
1 pair knit ponte pull-on cargo pants (these are bulky, dedicated to airplane wear, love the multiple deep pockets!)
3 pair LL Bean nylon hiking pants, water resistant/quick dry
1 pair pull-on nylon bermuda shorts, as PJs, double as swim suit cover up if needed (but wasn't)
Underwear: 9 nylon underpants, 4 nylon bras (wash in sink and hang dry in bathroom)
4 pair socks, of varying heights and thickness
Tank bathing suit
1 pair pull-on red sneakers
1 pair Keen hiking sandals, neutral color (sturdy soles, good for rocks)
Oofos flip-flops
Rain jacket
Ball cap
2 polyester Buffs (neck scarfs)
fingerless sailing gloves
Sleeping eye mask
How it worked:
Overall, it was colder than I thought it would be. I think the thermometer was about 5 degrees F lower than forecast when I packed. There was a lot of sitting around outdoors in the wind, in between calls to help pull on ropes. I was never too cold, but if I had more warm clothes I would have worn them.
Many one-baggers swear by a single pair of shoes. I wanted to allow one pair to get wet and have a day to dry. Plus, I find changing out of even very comfortable shoes a relief. And the oofos are bliss. I didn't actually wear them out of my room very much, but I loved having them.
I had plenty of tshirts and pants. With a couple of sink washes for underwear, I had enough stuff overall. (Things took nearly 24 hours to dry in the humidity aboard.) I wasn't hiking on the ship days, my socks didn't get used hard. I kept the thick and fuzzy pair reserved for inside - never to get wet. All of my pants and tops were compatible colors- mostly blues, with greys and purples - so everything could be worn with anything.
But what I definitely would have worn if I had brought them:
- Watch cap (beanie)
- Thin but cozy polyester long johns- they can make a big difference!
- Another sweater - more for variety, but also one day I could have stacked another layer
The only thing I brought that I didn't wear is the bathing suit, but I don't regret for a minute that I brought it.
Stuff
I tried to be disciplined about not bringing all kinds of things that would have potentially been useful but were not needed. I love my gadgets! I also like to be independent and ready for anything. On the other hand, for years I've had a minimalist toiletries kit that I actually added to for this trip. Apparently I've recently grown fond of the various substances I slather on different parts of myself.
Toilet kit:
Hair brush, toothbrush, flossers, qtips, nail clippers, small scissors, small mirror
Stick deodorant, bar soap/shampoo, lip sunscreen
Decanted into small liquid containers, small enough to carry on:
Face wash, moisturizer, shampoo, face sunscreen
(I bought sunscreen and toothpaste in regular size once I got there)
Laundry kit:
"Soak" brand soap packets
Rubber braided clothesline (can stick clothes through the braids, don't need clothes pins)
Medicines- didn't use everything but don't regret bringing:
Tylenol, Statin, Migraine treatment, eye drops, Claritin, Pepto bismal (I will always have that!)
Dramamine
Accupressure wrist bands for sea sickness
Thermometer, Covid test
Bandaids, blister pads, N95 masks
Electronics:
Phone, Ipad, Kindle, Boox ereader, 2 apple pencils for writing in ipad
Airpods (with removable "leash" to not lose them if fall out on airplane), Sleep phones, small bluetooth speaker (the last was unnecessary), second pair cheap but noise-cancelling earbuds
Universal adapter with USB-A and USB-C ports, 2 USB-C to USB-C cords, 2 USB-A to USB-C cords, apple watch charger, small power pack charger. I carry one set of USB-A and USB-C cords in the small bag, and the others in the larger bag. (I'm SO glad all my devices charge with USB-C - except for the apple watch)
Food - I dipped into these on travel days:
Kind mini bars
Dried edamame
Small metal water bottle- also used aboard
I bought in Sweden a small notebook and a ballpoint pen, and carried them around in my tiny waist pack to write notes the old fashioned way. I don't like typing notes on my phone, and I don't generally carry the ipad around with me during the day. (I have a bluetooth keyboard for the ipad, but haven't been bringing it lately. I write with a special pencil on the ipad, that's as satisfying as paper and less likely to get lost.) I’ll plan on paper notes again in the future.
A gadget I didn't bring and kind of missed is a monocular (is that really a small telescope?) I bought one a couple of years ago, its small and light, a good alternative to heavier binoculars, I may bring it to Antarctica.
I own a fancy good electronic camera, bought 6 or 7 years ago (and still on the market today). It weights a lot, and goes through batteries like there's no tomorrow. I haven't brought it on a trip for the last three years - it's just too big and heavy. But I think I'll want it for Antarctica. That's an argument for having a robust carryon on that trip, in addition to the big checked bag.
On this trip, packing light worked well. I think my MVP for everything was the ball cap. Without it, I might have been colder. And with the northern light always at an angle, it really kept my eyes from being bothered by the sun.
Edit to add:
I left out some things. Since this post is really a reminder for me, I want to capture it here.
Food: I always travel in my carryon with Gin-Gin individually wrapped hard ginger candies, my go-to for nausea. I also travel with some some cough drops, as I have a dry throat that often results in coughs.
I also pack in my bag a small container with tea bags (lemon-ginger and peppermint) and individual instant coffee packets. If I have access to hot water, I have coffee! And the tea is for soothing.
