We’ve asked a packing guru, Bobby Graham, to share her tips on how to travel for weeks with just 7 kilograms of luggage.
Yes, this is Bobby’s area of expertise – she’s mastered the art of travelling light without making compromising sacrifices along the way.
This is how she does it …
“We all love to travel. It’s an enriching and rewarding experience that pays us back many times over. But there’s one thing I don’t like about travel; lugging heavy bags.
I like it even less when my bags are lost by the airlines.
Once my bag went missing for six weeks. This was unnerving because the bag contained my late father’s ashes but that’s another story.
To counteract the inconvenience of missing luggage, I fly and travel with carry on hand luggage only.
My friends often ask, ‘How do you do that? You’ll have to teach us.’
These comments got me thinking – and Planepack took off. I now blog and podcast about flying and travelling with seven kilograms of baggage only.
Only seven kilograms, I hear you ask?
Yes, that’s correct: I pack and travel with everything I need for a three-week holiday with only seven kilograms. You too can do it, let me tell you how.
Plan your trip
The most important Planepack principle is to plan for your trip. I ask myself four questions:
- Where am I going?
- How long will I stay?
- What must I take with me?
- What will I be doing while I’m away?
Once I’ve answered those questions, it’s easy to pack accordingly. I also use a packing list.
Lay your clothes out on the bed. Match this t-shirt with that skirt and those trousers.
Next step, I use the lightest possible carry on luggage I could find. I recently researched and bought a new carry on bag at only 1.5 kilograms in weight (Samsonite Spinner). That means I can pack at least five kilos of clothes – plenty!
Pack a perfect light wardrobe
Packing light is an art – roll, fold, vacuum pack – you choose the style that suits you best.
But it’s your contents that determine how light or how heavy your bag is. I weigh, weigh and weigh again to get in under the average seven kilo carry-on limit.
I also research airlines’ websites for their particular weight restrictions before flying with them.
It’s important to remember that your handbag weight is included in the overall weight limit – unless the relevant airline has different rules. It always pays to check before travelling.
Carry on light luggage
I’ve cut back on things I take with me – no unnecessary clothes; fewer appliances; no nice-to-haves – just the essentials. I do still pack the killer necklace for an evening out though! My packing might be plain, but I like a little glamour. And that’s it.
Only seven kilograms on board – and best of all, my luggage never gets lost.
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Enjoy your light trip
My most valuable advice is to enjoy the trip and with one light bag only, you will. No heavy lifting of bags in and out of cars; up the stairs; into minute lifts; over cobblestones.
No more lost luggage. No more anxiety.
And best of all, no waiting at the baggage carousel for luggage that may or may not arrive. Exit the airport like a celebrity! Now isn’t that worthwhile?
Why not try it next time you travel? You never know, you too might become a liberated Planepacker.
Visit Planepack for more great packing tips and advice.
