How much do you pack?

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I wear the heaviest/biggest pair of shoes that I'm taking.

This is what I do as well except if I'm going to a skiing destination as wearing those are not practical for airport travel.

I'm usually cold in airports and airplanes so I wear a jacket or easily removed hoodie (for security) then I don't usually have to pack an extra one (or I rarely do this)

 

[White Cat]

Carry on usually. Sometimes an over head. Never ever a checked bag. No matter what.

 

[sam_gordon]

There is a benefit to not worrying about a carry on. However, I can usually fit what I need for the first 24 hours in my backpack (that also has my electronics), so if my luggage is delayed, I'm ok. That being said, it depends on the trip. I usually have a shirt, underwear, & socks for each day. Shorts/pants I have no problem re-wearing, but try not to wear three times if I have the option. Especially if it's going to be somewhere hot/dirty. Then add in my toiletry bag. I try not to pack shoes, but sometimes I have to.

I can get about three days (maybe four) out of our carryon size luggage, 6-7 days out of our medium, and 10-12 days out of our large. BUT, if someone is travelling with me, cut those days in half. And if heavier clothes are needed, that takes up more space.

 

[dez1978]

You're overpacking. Leave 1 of the long sleeved shirts at home. Stick to 2 pairs of shoes, not 3, and wear the heaviest pair on the plane. Try to pare down your toiletries if possible. For example, you don't need to bring a gigantic bottle...maybe a travel sized would do of whatever it is. Pack 1 pair of jeans and wear 1 pair on the plane. 2 pairs of shorts, not 3. 3 pairs of leggings, not 6. Pack 1 or 2 laundry detergent pods so you can wash clothes part way through the trip if you need to.

Then instead of putting a carry-on bag inside your 28" large suitcase, just use that carry-on bag as an actual carry-on bag on the plane. Put your purse inside that.

If you use a hair dryer, leave that at home and use the one in the hotel room.

I need to check with the hotel about their hair dryer. I need a diffuser so it depends on what time of hair dryer they have if I need to bring mine or just the diffuser part. Curly hair is awesome lol. I don't bring the full size bottles of stuff, but I do need to bring 2 of the travel size conditioners. Plus like, 3 different hair products lol. Otherwise 5 min in the humidity and I look like a dang alpaca. I don't use a lot of make up so at least thats minimal. I won't be at the hotel long enough to actually do laundry this trip. Thats why we are staying off site this time. But I could prob totally do a medium size suitcase instead of a large.

 

[NannyBeBe]

I don't even know where my big suitcase is. I pack a pair of jeans for each two days, a shirt and underclothes for each day, and a pair of shoes. The only reason I pack shoes is in case my shoes get wet. I only pack basic makeup and a bar of Dove soap that I can use for bathing and my hair if I need to. I pack military style and can usually get it all in a backpack or very small suitcase.

 

[Welsh_Dragon]

Carry on and personal item for me too.

 

[slo]

I’m normally an overpacker but I did good this past trip. One shirt per day and 2 pairs of capris that I wore twice and a pair of jeans for me to wear home. Also, one pair of pjs. We were gone 4 nights

 

[KristaZ]

I'm a light packer - I always travel carry on only (less stress). I do throw a packable duffle in there just in case of over shopping, but it hasn't been an issue yet, including on 3 week trips in South America or Asia. For Disney, I generally pack 1 outfit per day (shirt, bottoms, undergarments). I've been known to pack 4 or 5 pairs of shoes, because I have a problem, but generally they're sandals so light and thin and only 1 pair of sneakers. I'll pack 1 sweater for cooler months to layer with each day - because I generally find I'm only wearing it in the morning or at night, it's fine to re-wear. I'll keep an eye on weather beforehand to decide if I want to add in a jacket as well (I go with a packable one that folds up into it's own pocket - I have both a rain coat and winter weight jacket that do this). I also keep an eye on weather to decide about pants vs. shorts up until the days before, but generally in the winter-time, I mostly go with cropped athletic leggings for the parks. Compression packing cubes are amazing for fitting a lot of stuff in a small space. I also generally go with solid versions of toiletries when possible to avoid issues with TSA (Lush makes some great shampoo bars for curly hair!), and I use re-usable travel size bottles for my liquid products that are musts for me. I also have quite the Minnie Ear collection, so I usually have a different pair packed to match each outfit for the trip.

 

[Colleen27]

I'm a minimalist, usually just carry on and personal item. I wouldn't bother with nearly as much cold weather preparation as you're listing - either long-sleeve underlayers or a coat would be enough for me. I don't pack hoodies at all; they take up too much space for too little utility. Flannels and packable jackets are much easier for traveling. I also never bring more than 2 pairs of shoes unless I need a specialty pair like hikers or riding boots. For normal city, theme park, light hiking, etc. I'd just pack my sandals and wear my tennies and that's good enough.

 

[MrsPete]

For a one-week trip, I use the 5-4-3-2-1 method:
- 5 tops, one of which is a simple black or white top
- 4 bottoms, one of which is basic jeans or jean shorts
- 3 pairs of shoes
- 2 dresses
- 1 jacket or sweater

In addition to these main clothes, nightgowns, swim suit /cover up and small clothes.
This fits in a carry-on along with electronics, toiletries and a few other necessities.

 

[disney4us2002]

I'm an overpacker too. I would much rather have extras that I don't wear then need something I didn't bring. Since you're traveling alone, just make sure you can carry, manage, or roll it all without assistance.

 

[lifesavacation]

I only pack a carryon and a personal bag. Doesn't matter where or how long I'm gone.

 

[Tburtschi]

I am generally an overpacker. I can't help it lol. Drives my husband crazy. He can pack for a week trip using his carry on and personal item. That only lasts me the weekend lol. But what really brings me to this question is that I have my very 1st trip where I am not taking kids or husband (YAYYYY!!) and Im curious how many bags that takes most people. I'm going to be gone 6 days. To Disney/Universal studios. My thought was I'd pack my big suitcase (like the 28 inch one I think) and throw a duffle inside that I can use as a carry on on the way home for the crap I know I'll buy. The unpredictibleness of the weather is throwing me off. Every one says bring a bit of everything, so I have t shirts I've made for each day, 3 long sleeve shirts for underneath in case it's cold. Leggings and a couple of pairs of jeans and a couple of pairs of shorts just in case. Then theres 2-3 pairs of shoes, bc rain, blisters etc. Hoodie, warmer coat, and toiletries. Is this too much? Should I try to go for a smaller bag? I'm flying SW so I get free bags and carry ons. I was just thinking I'd rather just have one big bag to deal with instead of a medium and a carry on. I would def throw my stuff for the 1st day in my back pack bc I know stuff gets lost.

I'm waaaaay over thinking this, but thats just what I do lol

We also overpack - even though laundry is available. Of course, flying in makes it more difficult to pack too much!

 

[fsjking]

We are going 14+ days in December and driving down. We'll probably take everything we own. lol

 

[scrump]

I generally avoid checking bags if at all possible, especially if it's just me and the kids traveling - last thing I want to do is struggle with luggage while having to watch small kids on my own. My kids are now a little older, but it was so liberating to pack light, that I never went back.

I have done 7 day trips to Tokyo Disney (traveling from the US) with carryon and personal bag. Whatever I can't fit in my bag, I just have to live without. I bring the daily basics, wear the heaviest things for travel days and keep my important things in a personal crossbody bag that I never take off.

One exception: for my Tokyo Disney trips, I do pack an empty duffle bag for all the souvenirs I bring back - that is the one time I check a bag lol.

 

[dez1978]

I struggle with toiletries. I have long curly hair, and I don't want to just put it up in a bun my whole trip and I am not great with cute braids. And I have stupidly sensitive skin so I never use the hotel products bc it never fails to make me itch. And not just a little itching, like the kind I end up with bruises from. So bringing enough stuff but remaining within the TSA limits for carry on is a problem. If all of us are going, I can break it up and put some in one of my kids bags, but I can't do that on my own. Is it still just 3 3 oz bottles?

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Is it still just 3 3 oz bottles?

3.4 oz

Have you tried getting an empty bottle travel kit? I usually see those in the travel size section of the store. Years ago I bought one and have been using 1 of the empty bottles it came with for sunscreen (we've taken it to Disney and Universal and the Lake and golfing, etc). I don't know if what you use for your hair or lotion is available in travel size but that's an option too. You can also find empty travel bottles that have a spray pump. I use another one for hand sanitizer these days (because we got bigger bottles for this already).

While I haven't done it I've seen people use contact lens cases for liquid makeup. Usually what takes up the most space for me ends up being my contact solution bottles because sometimes they are in weird shapes.

 

[phoenixconfidential]

We are overpackers b/c we like to have options. Plus with WDW, I am in the same boat that i feel like I sweat so much that i don't want to re-use bottoms. We are flying SWA so luckily get 2 checked bags each plus our carry on and personal item.

 

[BlueStarryHat]

We're pretty- I guess I'd call it average packers. 6 nights and 7 days calls for an outfit for each day, but extra socks and undies. Extra socks in case the pair you're wearing gets wet. Extra undies so one can change them out in case of Swamp Butt. We share toiletries and so divide them between our two suitcases. First aid stuff like moleskin and blister cream plus gallon-sized Ziploc bags goes in one of our backpacks, which we carry in lieu of purses because if they're small enough Southwest doesn't count it as a carry on. This upcoming trip we're only taking one backpack, which we'll take turns carrying in the parks, though. In our carry ons we have a change of clothes and some deodorant in case the airline loses our luggage so we have at least one clean outfit to wear. One pair of shoes each, well broken-in sneakers (my sister sneaks in a pair of flip flops too, because she finds them comfortable to wear on alternate days.) One pair of pajamas. Who cares if your jammies are getting a little dirty? All you're doing is sleeping in them.

 

[kdonnel]

We used to overpack but have transitioned into underpacking.

When we first started traveling, cruises especially, you had to bring so much stuff since you needed evening clothes. Now that cruises don't require formal or even business casual dress for dinner our packing has changed.

That change carried over into all our vacations and we bring so much less stuff.

Now we often plan to wear the souvenirs we purchase while on vacation.