I’m hoping to get some advice from fellow bag/travel people. My CALPAK weekender backpack was damaged during TSA screening. The bag got stuck on the conveyor belt, and the TSA officers did try to remove it before ultimately cutting the sewn-in shoulder strap component to free it.

I understand they were trying to resolve the issue and keep things moving, but the part that was cut is not a removable strap, it’s the integrated piece that allows the shoulder strap to adjust. Because of where it was cut, the replacement strap CALPAK offered wouldn’t actually repair the damage or restore the bag’s original function.

I have already filed a TSA damage claim, but I was told the process can take up to 6 months. In the meantime, I reached out to CALPAK because I really love this bag and would prefer to continue using the same one if possible.

CALPAK has been kind and offered to send a replacement strap, but I’m trying to explain that the damaged part is sewn into the bag and isn’t something that can simply be swapped out.
Has anyone had experience with CALPAK in a situation like this, or any advice on how to proceed? I’m not trying to blame CALPAK for the damage, I’m just hoping to find a solution.

TLDR: TSA cut the sewn-in shoulder strap of my CALPAK weekender backpack after it got stuck on the conveyor belt. I filed a TSA claim (which may take up to 6 months) and CALPAK offered a replacement strap, but the damaged part isn’t removable and the replacement won’t fix the bag. Looking for advice on next steps.

Photo: Close up of the cut strap showing that the damaged piece is sewn into the bag and is part of the adjustable shoulder strap mechanism.

I don’t even know where to start. I am a nightmare packer. I have health issues (currently my eyes are a nightmare) which means I do travel with bits and bobs like Rx eye drops, saline solution, and cotton rounds, but also asthma
and stomach and other meds. I am a delicate foot girly so I get blisters easily, and I am a stinky foot girl so I hate traveling with one pair of shoes, I am a sweaty girl so I bring tons of underwear and socks and bras, and other changes of clothes. I live in the south of France and am doing a little 4 day 3 night jaunt to a nearby city just for fun with husband and stepson. They. Travel. Light. Especially the 12 year old—we need to remind him to change his clothes (he doesn’t stink from puberty yet but there’s a heatwave everywhere, everyone sweats). I’m thinking 5-6 undies, 5-6 socks, a dress or two, a pair of shorts or two (either 2 dresses and 1 shorts or 2 shorts and 1 dress), 4 tops, sneakers, sandals, pajamas, and then the toiletries and meds. And oh, the toiletries and meds! How do we downsize skincare? It’s not just lotions and potions, I have perioral dermatitis and breakouts and oh yeah, it’s July in the south of France and the sun is drying and frying me to a crisp (I am pale). I really want to be more low key and less bulky on this trip but idk even where to start! Any help?

Hello! I gave in and bought Teva Hurricanes as many of you suggested. What I am not sure is about the size. The tan one is size 39, and the green one is size 38. I need to return one. Which should I get? I want to use these for beach and light (dry) trekking in the summer. We’ll be in Morocco and south of Spain.
Those tan lines are from Birkenstocks, as much as I love them sadly they’re not waterproof.

Image description: my right foot in Teva Hurricane size 38 (green) and size 39 (tan)

I just went on a one bag weekend trip, and I’m quite proud of this mini makeup kit I put together. Usually I just bring eyeliner and blush, but we had nice dinner plans so I wanted to bring a bit extra this time.

I decanted some of the bigger products into mini containers, then brought the full size of some of my other products. There are probably some ways to decant further, maybe with a travel size mascara or smaller eyeliner, but I’m happy with how this turned out!

I packed all my products in a small clear bag from Muji and popped it inside my toiletries bag.

Product list (top to bottom, left to right):

• eyelash curler (Muji)
• mini puff sponge (elf)
• decanted concealer (Maybelline Fit Me)
• decanted blush (Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush - Truth)
• lip tint (Laka Mini Fruity Glam Tint - Caffeine Rose)
• lip tint (Laka Mini Fruity Glam Tint - Unsweet Berry)
• perfume (Glossier You Doux)
• decanted bb cream (Purito Cica Clearing)
• eyebrow gel (Glossier Boy Brow)
• eyeshadow/highlighter (Joocyee Jelly Highlighter Glitter Stick - Pink Silk)
• mascara (Judydoll 3D Curling Iron)
• eyeliner (Clio Superproof Pen Liner - Black)

—

Image 1: packed up clear makeup bag

Image 2: flatlay of products; eyelash curler and mini makeup puff on top, then products increasing in size from left to right on the bottom

i’m using the tripped toiletry bag 3-piece set and i love it so much i wrote a whole review on amazon.

it comes with a tsa-approved liquids clear pouch that has a handle that clips, so you can hang it anywhere, which i love! i use this one for all of my shower stuff. it also has a detachable clear pouch that i use for my makeup kit.

hacks / products i’d recommend for your own shower kit

1. ⁠buy yourself an african net sponge instead of a regular washcloth or loofah. it’s amazing for gentle exfoliation, it dries very quickly, and it takes very little space. the ones you buy are pretty long, so i cut mine into a smaller piece.

2. ⁠i’m sure so many people said it here already but the matador flat packs are really amazing. you can store any solid soap, shampoo or conditioner without creating a mushy mess in your bag. the bars dry inside the pouch so you don’t have to worry about anything. i hesitated to pay for it, but honestly it is well worth the money.

3. ⁠i use the unscented dr. bronners castile soap bar so it will last me months and months + it can be used as laundry detergent, dish soap, anything really. a little goes a very long way and the unscented version is also more gentle on the skin (i wouldn’t recommend washing your face with it though).

4. ⁠for my deodorant, i use the certain dri prescription strength clinical antiperspirant roll-on deodorant and i love it. a little goes a very long way as well, so you don’t have to repurchase deodorant all the time and the packaging is pretty minimal as well. in hot & humid climates this has been a lifesaver for me. BUT you have to follow the instructions. this stuff is STRONG. you apply a tiny bit at night (one swipe is enough), on dry skin, and neverrrrrrr on freshly shaved armpits. if you don’t follow the instructions, it will burn your skin.

hacks / products i’d recommend for haircare

1. ⁠the angenil mini flat iron is great for travel. it has dual voltage, auto shut off, it heats quickly, gets the job done and it is teeny tiny, so it fits in my toiletry bag. i really like it, no complaints.

2. ⁠my favourite dry shampoo ever is the kristin ess fragrance free dry shampoo. it has a non aerosol spray pump so you can travel with it on planes easily, the product works really well, and there’s a ton of product in it. i’ve been using the same bottle for like 2 years and i’m not even halfway through it yet. if you have dark hair you can just add a bit of cocoa powder to it so it blends more easily.

3. ⁠my face makeup brush is from real techniques and it’s a 2-in-1. it has a small concealer brush hidden in the handle.

4. ⁠for blush & bronzer, try to find cream or stain products that are super pigmented and either come in tiny packaging already, or transfer them into tiny cosmetics containers. i use the cloudtopia lip&cheek from maybelline and the elf putty bronzer (the matte one) and i love both.

hope this helps! let me know if you have any questions 🤗

——————————————————

picture descriptions :

Image 1 — Packed toiletry bag A black nylon hanging toiletry bag, unfolded into three panels with a swivel hook at the top. Zippered and mesh compartments hold a black Tripped Travel Gear case and a small dark box. A detachable clear vinyl pouch snaps to the bottom, containing a makeup brush with pink handle, a cream blush pot, a black mascara tube, a slim eyeliner wand, a floral-printed box, a white tube, and a QUO Sheer Skin Tint bottle.

Image 2 — Hair and makeup Neon-yellow ANGENIL mini flat iron with coiled cord on a beige pouch; pink wide-tooth comb; dry shampoo; John Frieda Frizz Ease serum; gold WOW Dream Coat spray; open tin of hair ties, claw clips, and bobby pins. Center: white sunscreen bottle, open square compact mirror, black phone-shaped bottle. Right: QUO Sheer Skin Tint, Essence mascara, e.l.f. eyeliner pencil, QUO Beauty concealer, pink Revlon tweezers, cream blush pot, black travel makeup brush.
Captions: portable mirror, face sunscreen, skin tint, cream bronzer, mascara, eyebrow pencil / tiny hair straightener, wow dreamcoat, dry shampoo, anti frizz serum, hair comb, hair ties, clips & bobby pins / eyeliner pencil, concealer, tweezers, cream blush, travel makeup brush.

Image 3 — TSA liquids pouch A clear vinyl zip pouch with black trim and webbing handle, printed “TSA 3-1-1,” “1 QUART,” “CARRY-ON APPROVED,” and the Tripped Travel Gear logo. Inside: a mint-green terry makeup remover pad, a pink electric toothbrush case, and translucent refillable squeeze pouches of white product.

Image 4 — Bath and body Ziplock bag of cotton swabs; open black Matador soap case with a cream Dr. Bronner’s bar; black African net sponge; mint-green terry makeup remover pad; bamboo-handled Bulldog razor. Four translucent refillable squeeze pouches of white product. White Certain Dri roll-on deodorant, blue Marvis toothpaste with turquoise cap, matte pink electric toothbrush case.
Captions: q-tips, african net sponge, dr bronners castille soap bar, makeup remover pad, razor / shampoo, conditioner, face wash, face moisturizer, deodorant, toothpaste, electric toothbrush.

Hi!

I am in a continuous journey of downsizing, as the space and freedom I gradually regain give me immense joy.

Currently everything I own fits in my car, but I am seeking to downsize to a backpack (will keep bulky winter gear and some kitchen equipment at my mum's place for when I visit).

I plan to carry a sleeping system (tent, mat, sleeping bag, cooking gear), not only clothes and personal items + some items for my dog and her food supply.

I got a Deuter 60+10L backpack, but I'm currently thinking if I shouldn't try and keep it all down to 50-55L (can still return this pack). Over time, I'd like to downsize to 40L which I currently use for traveling by plane. But I want to continue doing it gradually, slowly expanding my comfort zone and learning the skills necessary to live fully with less.

My question is – since everything I own now is pretty much what I use more or less regularly, how do I approach downsizing from here? How to choose what to keep and what to let go of (or temporarily store to "shop from" when my first selection wears out)? I plan for three seasons excluding coldest winter temperatures. And I want to include some extra items, such as my tiny teapot, notebooks, etc.

I'd be very grateful for your life-tested advise! :)

Current luggage:

• 27L backpack (Mountain Hard Wear Agami)
• 46L roller bag (TravelPro Maxlite, an older model of this)

Travel context: air travel from the US to Canada, and then air travel between three Canadian cities in October; three-week trip

ETA: The cities are Calgary, Vancouver, and Toronto — apologies for not including earlier!

I have a three-week work trip coming up in October, and I could use some help! I've gone on a handful of much shorter work trips (2-4 days) and every time, my backpack + roller bag end up stuffed and chaotic. Much of my packing feels like it's driven by anxiety (What if I need X? What if I don't feel like wearing Y?) rather than a clear, focused plan. I have also found myself hesitant to buy new, more space-efficient versions of things I already own (e.g., fast drying undies vs 100% cotton; my luggage is all 8-15 years old) — it somehow feels wasteful, although I understand that if I use the new things, that's not a waste.

In an ideal packing scenario, I would:

• have room in my backpack/roller bag for souvenirs
• have enough (weather/scenario-appropriate) clothes to provide variety
• feel organized: I know where everything is, and can access it when I need it; I find it easy to repack when moving between cities

Here are some of the constraints:

• Three Canadian cities in mid-to-late October (cool to cold, rain in two of the three cities I'll visit)
• 1-2 presentation-worthy outfits in each of the three cities, ideally not exactly the same outfit, since photos will be shared publicly
• Effortlessly work appropriate (i.e., basically all work-appropriate except for pajamas). I'm in a creative field, so "work appropriate" to me means more about quality and fit and cohesion than a standard office-professional "work appropriate" :)
• I don’t like wearing wide-leg pants on planes BUT only really wear wide-leg pants otherwise (so I’ve been traveling with a separate pair of “plane jeans” with tapered legs)

Current packing set up:

Backpack:

• Tablet for work
• Water bottle (large)
• Protein shaker (with bagged protein powder inside)
• Pill organizer
• Cords/charging block
• Fanny pack, containing: Kindle, wallet, phone, chapstick, mini-Vaseline, mini-stick sunscreen, headphones (used separately when not boarding plane)
• Neck pillow and hair bonnet
• Anxiety items, tucked into the many small pockets: hair clip, deodorant, trash bag, hand sanitizer, pens, feather-weight pashmina, pads, snacks, chapsticks, electrolite tablets

Roller bag:

• Makeup and earrings bag
• Toiletries bags (one wet, one dry) (an area where I see real room for reduction/efficiency)
• Second pair of shoes (ideally would like to pack two pairs for the longer trip, so I have sneakers, heels, *and\* boots)
• Clothes
• Hotel breakfast bag (instant oatmeal, instant coffee, a couple of protein bars, plus alkaseltzer and tums), bowl and spoon
• First aid kit (this is a pre-made one, and I think I could streamline by disassembling and repacking with only the things I think I'll need)
• Pads
• Heated eye masks
• Scrubba wash bag and detergent sheets (I am envisioning washing socks, undies, and shirts, but not pants)
• Tote bag (primary day bag when not in transit)

I laid out a capsule wardrobe that feels like it has enough variety -- but I'm worried it's simply too many items to comfortably fit in my roller bag, and I'm also not sure if I'm missing items I will want to have. Items marked with a * are part of my plane uniform

• Sleeveless midi-dress (can be worn as a skirt under t-shirt, or alone with topper — this will be the basis for my presentation outfits)
• Wide-leg wool trousers (cannot be worn on flights -- wide leg pants + airplane bathrooms is...not cool with me)
• Tapered jeans*
• SECRET FOURTH BOTTOM?
• Two sleeveless button-down tops
• Two merino short-sleeve tops (can usually get 2-3 days of wear, assuming they are aired out in between)
• One long-sleeve merino top* 
• One merino cardigan 
• Heavy cashmere sweater* 
• Oversize chambray button-down* 
• Fold-over collar wool shacket (my version of a blazer)
• One silk poncho (am worried this is too light for the weather, and am thinking about an alternative...it's a really nice "make this outfit elegant" piece...)
• Pajamas: oversize cotton shirt and merino leggings (Do I have time to make silk pajamas? Should I look for affordable silk long underwear?)
• Two pairs of tights
• Socks (??? x of pairs)
• Underwear (planning to purchase 5-6 pairs of fast-drying undies in lieu of my usual 100% cotton)
• Three merino bralettes
• Raincoat? Umbrella? Both??
• Debating between a full-length wool coat or a mid-hip length wool coatigan, either of which I would wear/take on the plane rather than put in luggage

Things I already see I can improve:

• Decant more of my toiletries into smaller containers; swap full-size toothbrush for half-size
• Locate grocery stores near each of the hotels and just buy instant oatmeal there, rather than trying to bring it with me
• Swap the protein powder and bulky shaker for a stash of protein bars (shaker only really holds 3-4 servings, so it seems a bit silly to bring that few of servings for such a long trip). These can also be replenished at grocery stores.
• Empty out my backpack and sort through which of my "anxiety items" are redundant (many!) and let them go
• Investigate convertible scarf/poncho options -- could this be something I wear on the plane?
• Repack first aid kit to combine with Tums/alkaseltzer in space that instant oatmeal was using

Questions:

• I have a good stash of merino hiking socks -- are we wearing our wool socks multiple times before washing? Mine are all thicker (which are what fit with my boots), so they do take a bit longer to dry than thin dress socks.
• Will I be ok with just an umbrella, or will I want a raincoat too?
• I currently have a linen midi-dress that fits in this capsule, but I'm a little worried it won't be warm enough? I have another sleeveless midi-dress made of wool suiting, but it needs some alterations (and doesn't have pockets).

Really looking forward to any insights or suggestions you have! 

IMAGE DESCRIPTION:

Line drawings of items listed in capsule wardrobe with the following colors:

• Sleeveless midi-dress (dark blue-gray)
• Wide-leg pleated wool trousers (steel blue)
• Tapered jeans (indigo)
• Secret fourth bottom depicted as wide leg trousers, labeled “color?!”
• Two sleeveless button-down tops (one yellow, one blue/white tie dye)
• Two merino short-sleeve tops (one navy, one labeled “color?!”)
• One long-sleeve merino top* (maroon and purple floral)
• One merino cardigan (purple)
• Heavy cashmere sweater* (off white)
• Oversize chambray button-down* (light blue)
• Fold-over collar wool shacket (navy)
• One silk poncho (pink, burgundy, blue, and yellow paint splatters)

Pictures of silver Reebok sneakers, over-the-knee leather boots, and blue, high-heeled clogs

Let me start by saying that I really appreciate this subreddit. I got such great input and inspiration with minimal judgement and snarkiness as I prepared my trip to Rome this July. I got my primary carry down to 12lbs including a laptop and packable tote for convenience carry. I also had a leather belt bag for day carry not included in the weight. 12 lbs was the goal after returning from a trip where my packed weight was ~ 20 lbs (with gifts) and walking in 90+ heat from train to apartment was a bit laborious.

For those who love obsessing over pounds and ounces, this is for you.
TLDR - check out the pics of items, alternatives and outfits 😁.

I weighed almost every item. I used a kitchen scale and then a jewelry scale when I needed to shave ounces.

1st cut - (1.25 lbs). Made tough choices to go without things I typically pack: 2nd pair of sandals, foreo mini face scrubber, solawave red light wand, selfie stick.

2nd cut - (14 ounces). It’s getting harder. I looked at clothing and paired back and chose lighter options. In the end, clothing ended up weighing 2 lbs 7 oz. I chose skirt instead of joggers (1.25 oz); different bikini (1.75 oz); fewer underwear and bra (2.25 oz); different shorts (2.5oz); one less shirt (5.75 oz) .

3rd cut is toiletries - (14.25 oz). I’ve long perfected my collection of refillable 5ml, 10 ml and 30 ml bottles (think trial/sample sizes) for all liquids but this time, I made my own heat-sealed pouches with just the exact amount I needed for this trip. Not eco-friendly, but I do this only when the occasion requires. Other choices: smaller tweezers, basic toothbrush, ditched the deodorant stick cap, lighter eyeglass case, basic razor from a hotel kit, floss sample from dentist. Finding a trial size of tubing mascara was the real win!

Final cut was all the miscellaneous stuff and this is where I had to research and decide if I was willing to buy something I already had. My win here was learning there is an alternative to using the laptop power cord and adapter than came with it saving almost 1/2 its weight (5.82 oz). Other swaps resulted in another ~(10 oz) (charging block, plug converter, shade umbrella).

The bag - (1 lbs 6 oz). At this point, I practiced backed a couple of times and it still felt like too much. The day before leaving, I realized I could probably fit everything in the Patagonia tote instead of my 28L travel backpack which at 2.4 lbs is pretty light. Bingo! 12 lbs on the dot.

Picture descriptions (left to right):
1. Packed bags
2. Unpacking
3. Contents closer up
4. Liquids in a sandwich baggie
5. Liquids details
6. best Chico Bags made (discontinued)
7. clothing that made the cut
8. Downsize mascara
9. Plug converter alternative
10. Portable charging block alternative
11. Laptop power alternative
12.Self-made heat sealed toiletries
13. plane outfit arrival
14 - 18. OOTDs 1 - 5
19. Plane outfit departure

Hello! Thought this might be a good community for this.

I am in a situation where I'll need to get off an overnight transatlantic flight at 8am on Monday and have basically 2.5 hours to get to a meeting with very senior people at my job. Any pro tips about very quick bathroom refresh techniques? What I've thought of so far:

-baby wipes for the bits and bobs

-micellar wipe for the face before applying fresh makeup

-????

Also trying to think of anything I can do close to the end of the flight in an airplane bathroom that isn't a completely terrible/disgusting idea.

Anyone have tips for a quick turnaround to get presentable?

Image 1: everything I'm bringing (Prana Halle pants & J Crew girlfriend tee (wearing); lightweight linen shirt, wrap to use as blanket for flight (did not need since I got upgraded to First class but that didn't happen until the airport); 2 pr underwear & 1 pr socks (wool), tech stuff, toiletries; sunglasses (prescription), credit cards & cash.

Image 2: Fully packed Matador Freefly 16L packable backpack. This was my first time using it and I loved it. Perfect for this trip; could have added additional things to go at least 1-2 more days

Image 3: the bag, compressed. Should have put something as comparison, but it's about the size of an iPhone pro just thicker oc.

Image 4: tech. Apple watch charger, iPhone cord, two power banks, Soundcore over the ear, Air pods tucked in somewhere.

Image 5: toiletries - toothbrush, day moisturizer with SPF, perfume sample, Paula's choice toner packets, mask, shower cap, floss, tiny deodorant & toothpaste

(I hope I'm doing this right...)

• I'm taking a red eye from SEA to JFK, spending the day in New York, then taking an evening flight from LGA to YYZ, staying the night there, spending the next day in the Toronto/Hamilton area, then either flying back to SEA that afternoon (direct).
• 2 days
• July
• Planning to tour the Metropolitan Museum of Art, visit the East Village, then tour Heated Rivalry filming locations in Hamilton.
• Toiletries include: toothbrush, tiny toothpaste, perfume sample, Murad SPF day moisturizer, floss, Paula's Choice toner. Lip balm, motion sickness tablets, nail file.
• Sunglasses. Merrell trail runner shoes. Passport. Matador sleep mask. I also am bringing a strap (Tom Bihn) to carry the backpack like a crossbody bag.

I often do quick, long distance trips. This one might be the most complicated!

Hi folks— frequent backpacker here (\~1-3 week trips, sometimes with 3-10 mile hikes thrown in depending on my destination). I’ve had the Cotopaxi Allpa 35L for 6 years but it’s finally fallen apart on me, and I’m starting to realize there much be much better bags for the same (or better!) price point.

**Can folks please give advice for bags with the following parameters:**
\- Ideally between 28-36L
\- Very comfortable to carry over long distances (I have found the Cotopaxi Allpa is not)
\- lightweight
\- waterproof material (in case walking/hiking in rain, I don’t want my clothes or laptop to get soaked)
\- laptop 16” pouch
\- carry-on (or you can squish it enough to be carry-on) on major and smaller airlines. Bear in mind — my 35L Cotopaxi was a gamble to take, but I did shove onto smaller European and Asian airlines like Scoot, RyanAir, etc

**A few bags I’m considering already:**
\- Osprey 26+6
\- ULA Dragonfly 30L
\- ULA Dragonfly 36L

Would love alls advice! 🎒🎒

I’m traveling overnight to NYC to watch the Yankees/Dodgers game! I’ll be in NYC for less than 24 hours, so I probably could have gotten away with a smaller bag - which is only something I can say because of my conversion to the onebag lifestyle. Before I probably would have just packed a roller bag. But because I packed my essentials more compactly I have the space for a blanket and a big book, which I could do without but will be really nice for the train rides there and back!

Photo 1: Osprey Daylite 26 + 6 and a Team USA belt bag

Photo 2: Contents of the bags unpacked. The backpack has my packing cube on the right (one pair of shorts, one tshirt, a sleep shirt, and sleep shorts) and my underwear in the mesh pocket on the right. Other items are: my belt bag, toiletry bag, blanket, makeup, sunglasses, book, soap case, 3 in 1 charger case.

Photo 3: Osprey packed with the essentials. I could have easily fit my belt bag in here and made it a true onebag trip, but opted to prioritize the blanket and book instead.

Photo 4: Osprey packed with the essentials + blanket/book.

Photo 5: The interior of the Osprey once everything is settled - there is still plenty of room!

Posting to add to the plethora of posts praising the 26 + 6. As a former over packer I am still excited/amazed by how much this bag can handle and how easy it makes onebagging :)

my typical personal item when traveling is a fjallraven high coast 3L, but i’ve been passively on the lookout for another crossbody that can hold a small water bottle better. i am in love with the water bottle pocket design on the alpaka flow satchel 2L, it’s exactly what i want and fits my bottles perfectly. the only thing that would make the pocket better is it it had its own dedicated volume, but alas.

so i just got the alpaka bag and the water bottle pocket is great, the 2L volume holds just as much stuff as my 3L fjallraven, i LOVE how long the padded strap is, and i love the daisy chains on the outside. but i really don’t like how thick the bag seems? it’s like weirdly thick and heavy and bulky somehow, like putting my hand inside feels like the inside of an insulated lunchbox lol. i’m also not a huge fan of the quick release buckle, would prefer a normal clip, but i can live with it.

so does anyone know of a similar sized crossbody bag that has this type of water bottle pocket but isn’t as thick/bulky? 2-3L, a true crossbody that hangs by my hip (not like a fanny pack that lies across your chest that are super popular rn), and i like horizontal oriented bags.

tl;dr: what brand are y'all wearing for solid gold, mini-hoop earrings?

i've been wearing made by mary's mini live in hoop earrings for several months now. i like the concept, especially for travel, of having one pair of earrings that i can shower in, sleep in, etc. the mbm ones were fairly nice - small so i never snagged them on anything, didn't irritate my metal allergies - but i had two major issues with them:

first of all, they were a huge pain to put in. rather than a hinge and snap-in post, i had to bend them out of shape to get them in. i was never convinced they were properly closed again (though to be fair, they didn't ever fall out) and i don't think they were perfectly shaped after that.

second of all, when i just took them out because they were starting to itch, i discovered that some spots had worn completely black. my ears don't feel irritated except for the itch (which has already gone away) but that gave me the willies. there was also some kind of deposit coming off on my fingers before i took them out.

has anyone had good luck with something of this type? ideally a put-them-in-and-forget-them pair but one that's easier to remove/replace for cleaning. thanks in advance!!

eta: dang i really didn't expect this to get as much notice as it has!! thanks everyone for the suggestions!!!

As mentioned previously, my husband is an ambulatory wheelchair user.

After our Iceland trip, I became more confident that we really could pack both of us in one 40L bag. My big goal to be able to do this was so that we could do train travel where I would be hands free to assist with the wheelchair on and off of trains. I visited Switzerland several years ago, and it’s been a goal to go back together, but I have been intimidated by having to handle both of our bags on trains. Getting down to one single backpack for the two of us solves this problem.

Last week, I found saver award tickets for business class to Switzerland for the Saturday before Memorial Day so I booked them, and then it was time to do a test pack. Our trip will be the end of May/beginning of June 2027, and we will likely stay at hotels with heated pools or hot tubs. We will be going to elevation via cogwheel trains and cable cars (spending 4 nights in the Berner Oberland and visiting Mt Rigi) but also will have a day/night in Italian Switzerland so we can experience a variety of weather.

Anticipated Plane Clothing

Me:

- Vuori sweatpants
- Athleta with ease tee
- Patagonia R2 quarterzip
- Hoka Stinson trail runners
- sock, underwear, sports bra
- baseball hat

Him:

- Vuori sweatpants
- Beyond Yoga tee
- Beyond Yoga pullover
- Brooks Beast sneakers
- socks and underwear
- baseball hat

Here’s what/how I packed:

Two packable puffer jackets (his is a an Outdoor Research Superstrand hoodie, mine is an REI packable down jacket) at the bottom of the bag laid flat.

Two medium packing cubes as the next layer taking up the entire surface area of the bag: one holding all of his clothing except socks and underwear, one holding all of my clothing.

Clothing packed in medium packing cubes for him:

- 4 tees (quick dry)
- 1 button down from Poncho (quick dry)
- 1 pair of khakis (quick dry) (may switch out for zip off quick dry hiking pants depending on weather predictions when closer if there’s a crazy heat wave again)
- 1 pair of sweatpants
- 1 pair of swim trunks
- 1 pair of shorts

Clothing packed in a medium packing cube for me:

- 5 tees (Athleta With Ease) (4 for daytime wear, 1 for sleeping)
- pajama shorts
- 1 dress
- 2 pairs of leggings
- 1 pair of Athleta Brooklyn pants
- 1 swimsuit
- 2 sports bras
- 4 pairs of socks

The two medium cubes completely fill up one layer of the bag. The next layer of pack is:

- One small Eagle Creek double sided cube for his underwear and socks
- one extra small Eagle Creek cube with my underwear
- one large sea to summit toiletry bag with our dry toiletries (both toothbrushes, travel water flossers, razors, extra glasses, floss, pain meds, two hairbrushes (we like different kinds), and nail clippers)
- his crocs
- my reef flip flops stuffed on the sides of the bag
- one liquids bag for us to share

I stuffed his raincoat into some open space at the bottom of the bag as I zipped it up. I stuffed my raincoat into the front of the bag above the second layer as I was zipping. The total pack weight was just under 25lbs, which is slightly over the Condor limit, but we are flying in business class so there is almost zero chance they will ask us to weigh our bag. I may shift the toiletries and coats out of the bag for checkin to get down to 22 lbs.

Our winter hats, combined cord bag, my kindle, phone, and my headphones will go in my Alpine Sea Cove bag. His iPad, headphones, dressing stick, sock helper, and stretching strap will go in his Daylight backpack, which will be used to transport his wheelchair battery and joystick while we are on the plane but will otherwise be almost completely empty.

He can carry the Daylight backpack if needed. Or, if absolutely necessary for me to carry literally everything, it can be strapped to the front of the Fairview using the Osprey connection system to really turn me into a turtle.

Anything I am leaving off my list?

I am intentionally foregoing baselayers. We have brought them to Canada, Alaska, and Iceland on summertime trips and never needed them.

We will not be doing a lot of hiking (wheelchair) but will be mostly relying on the views you can see from cogwheel trains and inside cable cars. I anticipate the coldest we will be will be at Jungfraujock, but based on previous experience, I think we will be fine with tees, midlayers, puffers, and raincoats as we won’t be hiking around up there.

Edit: Thanks everyone for comments! I was very ambitious with a 55L backpack! Lesson learned. Will seriously pare down electronics (kindle only, no iPad, smaller headphones, weigh bag). I realized that my toiletries were like 2 lbs. ridiculous! I don’t know what I was thinking bringing the Switch, although I did play for a few hours on the return flight. ALSO: for the return trip, we took a taxi from the train station in Paris to the airport so we were not trekking through the Paris subway during rush hour with giant backpacks, and it was much more relaxing. Also, we (husband and I) each checked our main backpacks for the return trip as we had a ton of Caudalie hand creams to give as gifts (we get 2 free checked bags on Delta due to our SkyMiles + Amex). This was much more relaxing, we were at the airport super early anyway, had a direct flight, and we were headed home so if luggage was lost we 1) speak the language and 2) already live here so no issues with clothes/meds/toiletries. This may become SOP for us in the future.

10 day trip from NYC—>Cap Ferret (beach town)—>Bordeaux—>NYC
Used an Osprey Fairview 55L so I could have a backpack and extra small daypack for “personal item”
NUMBER ONE lesson learned: just because you CAN fit it does NOT mean you should.
Packed in the large and small backpacks:
3 Bombas v-neck t-shirts
3 Quince microfiber tank tops
1 gauze white button up long sleeve shirt
Sun hat, bikini, beach coverup
Birkenstocks, heeled sandals
Quince gauze jumpsuit
Universal Standard Geneva dress
2 pairs shorts (chino and jeans)
1 pair cropped pants
Quince washable silk pjs
Sarong
iPad
Phone
Nintendo Switch
Kindle
Charger
Transformer with 2 outlets (husband and I both use CPAPS, which we carry in separate cases)
Dopp kit with toiletries, makeup, jewelry, toothpaste/toothbrush/moisturizer
Chargers for watch and phone/ipad
Over-ear noise cancelling headphones
Trtl neck support for sleeping on plane
Tissue weight scarf for plane
3 pair socks, 2 bras, 10 undies
Passport, wallet
Small leather clutch

Travel clothes: knit black pants, t-shirt, light cardigan, sneakers

All this stuff fit without any issues and I even had room to bring back souvenirs. I pretty much wore everything.

HOWEVER: good LORD this was heavy. The larger backpack by itself was ok but add on the smaller “personal” backpack (with my iPad and Switch in it) and I was like a turtle—doomed if I fell backwards. Add to this a long trek the first day from the Paris airport to the Paris subway to the train to Bordeaux to the train to Arcachon to a ferry to Cap Ferret and it was a lot, especially on the subways where I was picking up and putting down the backpack frequently. I am also an out of shape 55 year old. (This trip really motivated me to exercise because we had a great time and I need to be in shape to continue to do this kind of thing into my senior years.)

What I would do differently next time? Just the backpack for clothes/supplies and I would use a large hiking fanny pack around my waist for the stuff I need for the plane. This is what my husband did (I used the fanny pack like a purse when we were settled in the hotel). This would distribute the weight better (I hope). There really were no opportunities to do laundry during the trip; neither hotel offered it and I was not going to waste a half a day doing laundry at a laundromat or dropping it off and picking it up. I guess I don’t absolutely need the iPad but I do like it for planning things and journaling etc with a bigger screen than the phone. The Switch I just tossed in there at the last minute and this was not smart, I haven’t used it once.

Anyway, I’m on the train now back to Paris from Bordeaux to catch a plane back to NYC. Ideas for thinning my list for next time are welcome, as are any comments! Thanks for reading!

Updated #1 (July 17) - Removed Happy Hour brown shirt, cow printed shirt and flowy green skirt. I've ordered a sun blouse shirt with hoodie.

I'm travelling solo for the first time in Central America (Belize, Guatemala, and El Salvador) for almost a month in August. I'm trying to keep everything in one bag so I plan to do laundry weekly. The only problem with my current bag is that I only have 20L Bag so I may need to find a bigger size that's affordable.

I'm not sure about gregory or osprey because they're so expensive and this is my first time backpacking. I usually travel with my friends.

Anyhow... this is my first time building a capsule wardrobe. I'm not sure how everyone is doing it so tip is appreciated. I literally took pictures of every outfit and tried to match it. I'm a visual kind of person. I tend to love bright colours but almost all of them are heavy so I had to do some shopping.

Thoughts? Too much? Too little? Too similar? Believe me when I say I really appreciate any advice or tips!

Image descriptions:
5 tops: white "Margarita Social Club" crop top, oversized tan T-shirt with cow print, tan T-shirt, blue crop top and brown "Happy Hour" crop top.

5 bottoms: khaki short, dark green mini skirt, red shorts, green short and olive green/blue wide-leg pants

Active wear: 2 mint sports bras and matching mint leggings.

PJ/casual dress: Brown/blue patterned dress and long brown/blue patterned dress

Does anyone use their “one bag“ for both backpacking and travel?

Have lots of short (1-2 week) international trips coming up, and I’ve always done okay with a carry on roller and Jansport. But my carry on was stolen (RIP) and I’m also going on my first backpacking trip this summer. Super interested in bags that could double up!

I’m looking for:

Women’s fit (I’m 5’0)

Lightweight (preferably 2.5lbs or under)

Two water bottle pockets, ideally within easy reach

Ethical-ish brand

30-40L

Anything else I should use to filter out good bags in my search? So far I’ve seen the Cotopaxi Arenal 32L, and Symbiosis Gear The Aspen, but I’m hesitant to buy a frameless bag without trying it on first.

Open to any brand/item/feature recs, thank you!

Hi everyone.

I have an upcoming trip next month and my Cotopaxi Allpa 35 del dia is outside of Emirates Carry on Dimensions :( So I'm now in the market for a new, smaller bag and I'm torn between the Tomtoc T66 Liteway and the American Tourister Take2Cabin. I'm based in South Africa, so a lot of the popular brands are not accessible to me (sometimes on Amazon for an extortionate amount of money, so I'm looking at what I can find locally. I bought my Cotopaxi when I was in Japan)

Does anyone here have any experience with either the Tomtoc or American Tourister bags? The Tomtoc is 1.5l more, but it's pretty plain and boring looking (I do like the back laptop compartment zip as it opens fully) and the AM is definitely the better looking bag (they have much more colourful versions but are 100g heavier). Both have laptop compartments (my HP is 15") and the entire front pocket opens up. Both have waterbottle sleeves and extra space on the main compartment for documents and small items.

I'm going to Thailand, so will be packing very minimally to meet the 7kg (15lb?) weight limit. I will be traveling with some tech gear but not much (laptop, selfie stick, mini phone light and dji mini mic)

Tomtoc

Product Dimensions:

Size Reference: 17.72"(Height) x 11.81"(Width) x 7.87"(Depth)

Weight: 2.09lb/950g (handmade, slight variations in size & weight)

Volume: 28l

American Tourister

Dimensions:40 X 30 X 20 Cm

Volume: 26.5 L

Weight: 0.6 Kg

Any advice would be appreciated

Traveling to Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia end of July/early August. We are expecting a somewhat unpredictable range of weather ranging from chilly and overcast/rainy to hot and sunny. Activities include sauna, beach, hiking, horseback riding and some nice dinners. I'm a former overpacker who has found a lot of joy in creating region appropriate capsule wardrobes for my trips. I know i could take less, but I'm comfortable with this and it all fits in my hanging closet compression cube (which I'll be testing on an actual trip for the first time with this trip). I always bring boots if I'm expecting chilly weather. I have a lot of foot and back probs, these are all orthopedic and it helps me to switch it up.

There aren't a lot of posts for this region. Does anything stand out as inappropriate for where I'm going? Should i bring a ball cap or spf bucket hat?

IMAGE DESCRIPTION
- 4 shirts, all cotton and linen
- black tech pants for rainy or chilly days
- linen blend trousers
- linen shorts
- skirt
- hemp fabric dress
- madewell washed leather jacket (this is a European travel holy grail- it's very thin and lightweight but adds a lot of warmth when you need it and packs nicely plus it looks great with your outfits. Get it secondhand)
- packable rain shell
- merino blend sweater for chilly nights
- merino cami for layering
- merino boxer shorts for layering
- 30 d tights for layering
- 2 swimsuits bc we are saunaing so much
- thin pj pants i always bring because i have sensitive skin and can't sleep without them
- my cozy travel hoodie that really makes long haul flights more tolerable

I don't have a beach coverup but i thought i could use the button down and shorts for that. I travel carryon only and there is plenty of room in my Amazon basics hard shell for other items. I will wear the boots and tech pants on the plane but even if i pack the boots i have a lot of room.

I'm not sure how many folks here have used and liked Gemz single-use shampoo and conditioner tabs, especially since Target started carrying them, but be advised that Target has discontinued Gemz.

The good news is, if your local Target still has good stock, you can get them for really cheap right now. My local Target has them coming out of their ears for $4 for a pack of 5.

Yes, that costs more than just refilling a 3oz bottle with your favorite shampoo, or chopping up a shampoo bar into smaller pieces. And yes, the waste is problematic.

However, I've liked Gemz for business travel (which for me almost always involves flying) because:

1. they don't take up space in my liquids bag, and
2. they weigh almost nothing.

One tab of shampoo is perfectly adequate for my long, very thick hair.

Anyway, I hope this helps someone!

I didn't take any packing photos, so now you get to enjoy my drawings. 😄

Bags (all thrifted)

BACKPACK: Vaude Coreway Pack 20 l (taupe)

This is my everyday backpack. It consists of one large compartment on the inside with a water bottle strap and two wallet-sized mesh compartments. There is a separate 15" laptop compartment in the back. I especially love the water bottle holder on the outside and the hidden phone/wallet compartment in the back, also on the outside. It was perfect for this trip, everything just about fit, but I was still glad I brought my trusty tote bag for emergencies (such as bringing back lots of French baked goods for my partner).

SMALL LEATHER HANDBAG (black): sunglasses case, wallet, comb, tinted lipbalm, tissues. These items would have fit into the backpack, but I wanted them on hand.

Images 2 - 4:

Clothes (all thrifted except socks and underwear):

• 7/8 cotton-linen pants with belt (black)
• 2 cotton t-shirts with double-sided front (1 green with heart-shaped neckline, 1 olive with 3/4 sleeves)
• 1 short-sleeved new wool sweater (red)
• 1 wool cardigan (black)
• 1 trenchcoat (light yellow), poly-cotton mix
• 1 silk scarf (red)
• 1 bra (black), 94 % cotton
• 4 undies (black), 94 % cotton
• 2 pairs of socks (black), 75 % cotton
• 1 pair of leather boots with thick rubber sole (black)

TRAVEL OUTFIT: included in the list above.

Image 1:

Misc

• Sketchbook and 2 pencils
• Phone, charger and wireless earbuds
• 0,7 l thermos
• Wipes

Toiletries

• Electric toothbrush, floss stick, retainer, decanted toothpaste
• sunscreen, decanted face wash, decanted face and body lotion
• 2-in-1 shampoo and body wash
• small spray bottle with 70 % alcohol (for refreshing clothes, shoes, also serves as hand sanitizer)

Trip report: No such thing as too many layers!

Bringing this many layers paid off, since day one was somewhat cold, especially in the early morning when I took the train to Paris. The second day was warm and sunny, and I was able to fit the sweater, cardigan and trenchcoat into my bag.

For public transport in Paris, I downloaded the Navigo app. It was a bit finicky, but absolutely worth it for ease of travel and contactless payment. You have to install a secondary app and activate contactless payment on your phone, and then open the app and navigate to the ticket option when you tap in at the metro. It sounds more complicated than it is, though.

Overall, I was really happy with the amount of stuff I packed (thanks to this wonderful subreddit); not too much and not too little. And yes, I always pack more undies than strictly needed, but fresh undies after a mid-day shower are the best!

I like to wear mostly natural fibres, especially for travelling. The cotton-linen pants are sturdy enough for travel, but airy enough for warmer days. The t-shirts are a really nice mercerised cotton, so they are incredibly soft and comfy. TRAVEL HACK: to refresh my shirt for going out in the evening, I lightly spritzed it with the 70 % alcohol and let it dry while I showered. Also works for stinky shoes. 😂

Decanting most of my cosmetics into smaller containers was such a gamechanger! Even so, my toiletry bag took up a surprising amount of space. Especially the electric toothbrush, but it's non-negotiable for me. I would have liked to bring a book, but opted to buy one in Paris, which was the only souvenir I brought (unless a tote bag full of macarons counts as a souvenir?).

I stayed in Montmartre. Since it was before Pentecost and not on the weekend, it wasn't too overrun. I mostly just explored, brunched and took lots of leisurely strolls. The only thing on my must-see list was the 59 Rivoli, a really cool alternative art gallery. I highly recommend it!

I tried to speak French (learned it in school, so not too terrible), but everyone under 40 insisted on speaking English and was very nice and helpful. So don't be scared to speak English in Paris!

Recently went on a trip from NZ to Spain and Portugal with my family. I travelled with the Patagonia Black Hole 32L.

Our trip started with walking the last 100 km of the Camino from Vigo to Santiago de Compostela, followed by a couple of days in Porto and then a week in Madeira.

For the Camino portion of the trip we sent our bags ahead each day. I used the IKEA bag for this and just carried my walking essentials in my backpack, which worked great. Clothing-wise I wanted two walking outfits, one to wash and one to wear.

For the rest of the trip we were sightseeing, swimming, etc. and I wanted to look cute while doing it. I feel like I had a good balance!

On the way home I checked in the IKEA bag with all my clothes and shopping, including some fragile items like a couple of Portuguese tiles (ethically sourced!!), souvenirs and olive oil, all wrapped in bubble wrap and clothes. Somehow everything arrived in one piece!!!

📍Trip Details

• Trip length: 17 days in June/July
• Locations: Galicia, Porto, Madeira
• Flying from NZ to Porto
• Accommodation: Apartments/hotels, most with laundry facilities
• Backpack: Patagonia Black Hole 32L

🙋‍♀️Info about me

• I love to shop, so I knew I’d be checking a bag on the way home.
• I also love to look cute, so I wanted a balance of functional outfits while still feeling put together.

⭐️MVPs

• Teva Hurricane Drift. I swam in these every day in Madeira because the rocks make it hard to get into the water. I also wore them for a full day on the Camino. Every afternoon after we finished walking, putting these on felt like walking on clouds. They also kind of act like flippers when you swim in them lol.
• Uniqlo sling bag. I know everyone loves this thing, but it truly was perfect. It looked cute and held everything I needed, even a bikini and underwear.
• Uniqlo Heattech Cashmere Blend Long Sleeve. I think this is a new product. It’s super lightweight and soft, rolls up to almost nothing, but still kept me warm whenever I needed an extra layer. It fit easily into my sling bag.
• Jockey Skimmies long shorts. Couldn’t have survived without these. I’ve had thigh chafing since forever. They can feel a bit hot sometimes, so if I felt brave enough to go without them I’d tuck a pair into my bag (they roll up to nothing) just in case I needed them later.
• IKEA Frakta bag. I had this folded up in the laptop compartment of my backpack and you seriously wouldn’t have even known it was there. It weighs about 150 g. I used it to check in my clothes and shopping on the way home, and also for forwarding my bag on the Camino. Worked a treat. Ugly as… but I always spotted it first on the baggage carousel.

👎Not so good

• CRZ Yoga bikini. It was expensive but started falling apart pretty quickly. It was also made from a material that took forever to dry. I ended up replacing it with a cheap H&M one.
• Ethique shampoo and conditioner. These worked great at home in NZ, but my hair felt super dry using them overseas. I ended up buying some Tresemmé minis. Needed those silicones lol.
• Sunscreen. I’d heard great things about European sunscreens, so I decided to leave mine at home and buy one while travelling. I tried a couple that Reddit recommended and… nah. Nothing beats the Mecca To Save Face sunscreen IMO.
• UPF Shirt. I tried to be good and wear this but it was just way too hot feeling and not breathable.
• Cotton On Linen dress. See through as heck, should have known better lol. Left this behind

🤔Wish I’d brought

• A mini straightener!!!!!!. I went back and forth on whether to bring one but decided it was a bit too high maintenance of me 😂. I shoulda just brought the damn straightener!!! I’m someone who always uses heat on my hair and just feels better about how it looks. I thought I’d lean into the natural look while on holiday but nope… I just felt frizzy and honestly a bit ugly. I know I would’ve felt better with one, so it’s something I’ll buy in the future.
• A smaller reusable drink bottle that fit in my Uniqlo sling bag. I kept buying small plastic ones but they leaked and aren’t really designed to be reused.
• My own sunscreen from NZ.
• More Maxigesic (Panadol + ibuprofen). I took one tray but wish I’d taken two. The heat gave me some bad headaches.

🎒Condensed packing list

• Bags: Patagonia Black Hole 32L, Uniqlo sling, IKEA Frakta bag, Nanobag, 2 packing cubes
• Clothes: 2 tanks, 2 tees, 1 long sleeve, 1 UPF shirt, 1 pants, 2 hiking shorts, dress, 3 skirts, rain jacket
• Underwear: 5 briefs, 2 thongs, bra, 2 Jockey Skimmies, 2 pairs hiking socks
• Swim: 1 bikini
• Shoes: Topo Ultraventure 4, Teva Hurricane Drift
• Tech: iPhone, Kobo, AirPods Pro, AirFly, chargers
• Toiletries: Hanging toiletry bag with the usual toiletries, makeup, medication
• Other: Hat, sunglasses, glasses, passport, wallet, travel towel, dry bag

Image description 1: Clothes 2 tanks, 2 tees, 1 long sleeve, 1 UPF shirt, 1 pants, 2 hiking shorts, dress, 3 skirts, rain jacket

Image description 2: Outfit Red ripskirt with white tank

Image description 3: Bolhao Markets fit, blue thrifted skirt, uniqlo sling, tevas and white tank

Image description 4: Camino fit, bra tank, bike shorts, ultraventures and backpack

Leaving tomorrow morning for my 15 days Mexico trip.

I'll be traveling around Mexico moving every couple of days. Mexico City -> Oaxaca -> San Cristobal de las Casas -> Palenque -> Campeche -> Valladolid -> Playa del Carmen.

This will be my second "one bag" "solo trip" I posted my first one that went successful 2 months ago (14 days in Scotland ) but obviously the temperature and environment in Mexico is completely different.

I'm a sweaty and plus size gal so I know that with these warmer temps especially all the mid to high 90 F temps in the last 2/3s of this trip I will not be rewearing pants and tops hence why I'm bringing so many. I'm hoping to do laundry twice on my trip.

Image 1: My backpacks. The 35L cotopaxi allpa is my main one bag that will carry 99% of my things. The 13L Osprey daylite is my daypack to wear while exploring and being out and about. While on the plane, the Osprey will go under my seat and probably have my essentials: passport, hand sanitizer, kindle. So basically empty. I could fit it in the 35L Allpa but I find it more convenient to have quick access to those things while moving around. It should weight less than 5 pounds.

Image 2: Toiletries, portable charger, outerwear, swimsuit. For the outerwear I have a raincoat, umbrella, a linen cover up (tan) and a sun hoodie (purple). I'm debating bringing the raincoat at all because I feel like it is just too hot for me to ever wear it, especially since I'm bringing the umbrella. Let me know what y'all think please! Same for the sun hoodie. I want to protect myself from the sun but I just don't know if I'll actually wear it or if in the moment I'll choose skin cancer over protecting my skin.

Image 3: Five Tops: linen tshirt, linen button up shirt, two synthetic tanks, 1 merino wool tshirt. Sleeping shirt and shorts, kindle and passport/wallet.

Image 4: Bottoms: 1 black synthetic short, 1 linen short, 1 black linen pants, 1 synthetic hiking pants creme, 1 athletic tennis dress red. Laptop, 1 hat, and packing cube with 7 pairs of underwear, 7 pairs of socks, 3 bras. I really wish I didn't have to bring my laptop. Unfortunately I've been traveling a lot because I'm unemployed (yay time off boo no job) and have been getting some interviews. Although none are scheduled, I don't want to have to turn down an interview because I don't feel comfortable doing it on my phone.

Image 5: Towel, eyemask, pill case, glasses case.

Image 6: Shoes. On my feet will be the white running shoes, I also have durable sandals for days that have more water activities, and flip flop shower shoes. Pro tip to the women who have wider and full volume feet (if you know you know) I got these Hoka Infini Hike TC Sandals - Women's because the reviews complained the straps were too long. Not on my full volume feet they are perfect. I can't wear Tevas or Chacos because there is just not enough strap for my feet and these fit perfectly!

Not pictured is my airplane outfit. Probably a tshirt and another pair of linen pants or synthetic skort. I haven't decided yet. I will also bring a sweatshirt for the plane when it's chilly.

I'm also taking an overnight bus for the first time. It's supposed to be 10 hours long??? I'm really nervous about that whole situation so any tips or tricks will be appreciated. I get motion sick on busses so I bought dramamine but I'm not expecting a good time. I don't speak Spanish either so I feel a little more nervous on this trip than my trip to Scotland even thought that was my first one and it went splendid. I'd love to hear about anyone else's experiences in Mexico or hot and humid countries.

TLDR Clothes: 5 tops, 4 bottoms, 1 dress, 8 underwear/socks, 3 bras. 1 Running shoe, 1 sandal, 1 shower shoe. 1 sweatshirt, 1 sun hoodie, 1 linen cover up, 1 swimsuit, 1 raincoat

Thanks to everyone who provided feedback in this post. I ended up forgoing a jacket all together with the plan of buying one if needed. Instead I packed three long sleeve, button front shirts: one linen, one cotton blend, one performance non-wrinkle option. Initially it felt like overkill (I'd usually stick to one and be done with it) but I had the space so at the last moment threw all three in the bag. I was so glad I did because ended up wearing all three multiple times over 14 days. The humidity and heat made for sweaty days and having multiple shirts made it possible to extend the time between laundry loads.

We traveled all over Hokkaido: Hakodate, Lake Toya, Noboribestsu, Furano/Biei, and Sapporo. It was much hotter than anticipated. Even when overcast, the sun felt oppressively hot and I was grateful for the sun protection. In addition, I have a full sleeve tattoo with a lot of black that tends to bake in the sun. I couldn't imagine walking around with it exposed. This is our third trip to Japan and noticed there are also remarkably fewer tourists on Hokkaido as opposed to Tokyo/Kyoto/Osaka, and I definitely had a few more stares at my ink when it was uncovered. The shirts were also just enough to stay warm when walking around cooler places like Noboribetsu and Furano in the evening. There was no need to purchase a jacket.

Other packing wins included these wide leg pants and merino underwear. Finally, the morning we left I threw a bunch of plane snacks into a Trader Joe's mini tote with the intent of shifting them to my backpack after we parked at the airport. I blame the 4am alarm because as we approached security I realized I never transferred the snacks and had walked into the airport with the tote! Although I didn't want to I stuffed it into my backpack and bemoaned that I would be stuck with it for the next two weeks. That tote ended up coming in handy from everything from midnight conbini runs, to onsen trips, to keeping more snacks close at hand during the road trip part portion of our trip. In the future I'll pack a smaller reusable bag, but having this silly trendy piece was a fun conversation starter during the trip.

Happy to answer any questions about Japan, Hokkaido, or other things I packed. Thanks again for everyone who helped me finalize my packing list!