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This packing downsizing story was submitted by Lauren Thomas.
Nearly twenty years in the past, I went on my first massive worldwide journey to Eire. Sadly, our checked baggage didn’t be part of us till day three of the journey!
After I acquired again, I made a decision two issues:
1) I used to be by no means going to examine a bag ever once more, and
2) if I may make it three days with simply the garments on my again and a small purse, I may positively pack lighter.
Right here’s how I went from touring with checked luggage to touring commonly with simply an 8L private merchandise, whilst a plus-sized girl.
The Journey In the direction of Reaching My Packing Mild Targets
- 2009 (60L?) checked bag + 1 purse
- 2010 50L duffel + 1 purse (in hindsight, unsure how this acquired previous the airways)
- 2011 – 2019 42L backpack + packable day backpack (in bag) + 1 purse – rocked this combo for a very long time
- 2020 – 2022 28L backpack + packable day backpack + 1 purse
- 2023 – 2025 Both an 8L PacSafe Convertible OR 20L backpack if wanted to take laptop computer + 1L sling or 5L purse relying on journey
What adopted was spending the following few years slimming my load all the way down to a 42L backpack (the EBags Motherload Jr.).
Beginning out, I had no reference for learn how to pack lighter. To get all the way down to a carry-on backpack, I took quite a lot of improper turns and ended up spending some huge cash on compression packing cubes, particular journey garments, specialised toiletries luggage, and so forth.
All of this resulted in a really stuffed, very massive, and really heavy bag that I may get away with by no means checking – however it was not what I’d name releasing.
I’m additionally fairly positive I knocked out just a few folks when carrying it.
The Realization
After a dream journey to Japan in 2019 the place I used the baggage forwarding service, I knew I wasn’t touring as mild as I believed I used to be – and never as mild as I wished.
On this journey, I solely carried a small 18L backpack that I shared with my associate for a whole 72 hours till we had been reunited with our full luggage.
💡 The lightbulb went on.
I knew I may do higher so I went in search of assets. I discovered and joined r/onebag and r/heronebag on Reddit and totally learn by onebag.com the place I used to be launched to more practical packing methods and making a plan for laundry.
I purchased a 28L bag with the objective to take solely that bag plus purse and whereas I used to be capable of do it, the bag was nonetheless very full and heavy.
Enter HPL and Purse Packing Masterclass*
(*Purse Packing Masterclass is now taught in a condensed format as Baggage Freedom Specific.)
Reddit can be the place I came upon about Her Packing Listing. I instantly signed up for the HPL publication and was excited to hitch Purse Packing Masterclass in late 2022.
HPM revolutionized how I take into consideration packing.
Don’t get me improper, having light-weight, quick-dry clothes and decanting all of your toiletries into smaller containers is a part of the equation.
Nevertheless, shifting my mindset to figuring out my important objects and constructing a layerable, multi-purpose, trip-specific capsule wardrobe from objects already in my closet was a recreation changer.
Mainly, HPM taught me that my “good to haves” had been weighing me down.
My Particular Packing Mild Outcomes
I now journey commonly with both an 8L bag or a 20L bag when I’ve to take my laptop computer for work.
I’ve used the 8L PacSafe Convertible bag for just a few journeys from in a single day to as much as 5 days.
The biggest purse I personal is 5L. I’ve dreamed of doing a protracted weekend journey with simply the 5L bag however haven’t but had the chance.
I journey for work 3-4 instances a 12 months the place I take advantage of a 20L bag (to suit my work laptop computer) however take pleasure in touring with it under-packed and below 7kg!
Recap
Brooke’s ultralight packing class:
- challenged my assumptions about what I believed I wanted when touring,
- taught me key expertise to make massive packing selections simpler, and
- confirmed me I may simply pack for a full week in an 8L bag with a small 1L sling as a plus-size girl!
Thanks, Lauren, for sharing your packing transformation story with us – it is extremely inspiring! If in case you have a baggage downsizing story to share, please contact Brooke.
For those who’d wish to make personal-item-only journey a actuality, be part of the following Baggage Freedom Specific masterclass!
