<i>the carry on only crowd doesn't go winter hiking</i>

When you have that much specialized gear, a carry-on only would be near impossible, no doubt about it.

For normal activities in cold climate, layering allows you to still pack on the lightweight side.

And finding THE lightest weight bag is also very important.

Have a great time in NZ!

Oh I remember this article, the 3 nightgown lady. All she has is CLOTHES. Where's her "stuff"? Plus I HATE rolled clothes. I have never found that to be a room saver myself. I'm a dedicated neat folder/stacker.

Unless I'm going traipsing around Europe by train, I just don't get the obsession with a carry-on only strategy. I pack light, but I check my bag, and take what I need. That said, there are no nightgowns in my bag -lol!

<<<I just don't get the obsession with a carry-on only strategy.>>>

I mainly aim for that when I know I have short connections or little space at my destination...

Greece/Istanbul had 45 minute connections and involved sprinting across two airports. My bag wouldn't have made it, I barely did.

Africa had plenty of time for connections, but we had very little space in the vehicle for bags. We were asked to please just bring a small, soft sided bag (such as a duffle or a carryon size backpack). Stacking our 3 small bags in the far back really emphasized why that request was made.

For Antarctica, I think I have a short'ish connection, but I'm sharing a cabin with 3 other women. There simply is no space for a larger bag.


Carryon only helps when there are delays and I get moved to another flight or another airline. There's no wondering if my bag will get there as I have it. The size restriction doesn't really limit me much because of the bag I use (you can fit a LOT more in than you'd ever expect) but the liquids restriction is a complete PitA. I pretty much always check my main bag on the way home and carry anything fragile with me.

Carryon isn't any "better" than checking a bag, it's simply easier for some situations. I get really frustrated by those who seem rabid that carryon only is the ONLY right way to go and anyone who checks a bag is being ridiculous.

Actually, you can easily do carryon only for winter hiking. We have done that, but we do wear our hiking boots on the plane. We do a lot of backcountry backpacking, so each piece of gear is carefully thought out, especially when purchasing it.

Anyway, for regular trips we also do carryon only. DH is in Germany this week and even with Lufthansas 7kg carryon limit, he managed just fine. His bag had 2 suits, 4 shirts, 4 ties, socks, underwear, tshirts, and belt. He put his toiletries in his laptop bag, along with his running gear. His bag came in at 17.9 pounds fully packed.

Even DD managed carryon only for all of last summer while doing a study abroad term. I laughed when she packed, as she had 28 pair of undies.

For us, we just prefer to not deal with checking bags. Plus, sometimes you just cannot chance having your bag lost or even just late. Like DH this week, he needed his suit on day of arrival and was not in the mood to wear it on the plane. Some people don't like to carryon though, like my mother. So whatever works for each of us as we all have our preferences.

I don't get the carry on only thing either. I don't want to wash out my clothes nor do I want to smell. I often slop things on my tops, so I need quite a few. I want to have fun. We take one suitcase each, 22" which we check and one backpack on the plane. We are leaving for Scotland 5/16 and are in BC, so we can check two each if we want. We have the ones which roll in any direction so moving around is easy. And I can pick up either of them and put them anywhere.

<<<I want to have fun. We take one suitcase each, 22" which we check and one backpack on the plane. >>>

Anita, a 22" roller *is* a carryon size bag (I think 22x14x9 is a standard size for carryons). You simply choose to check it instead of carrying it on and putting the backpack at your feet.

If you don't have tight connections then you're kind of hitting the best of both worlds... you don't have to futz with the bag in the airports, but you also don't have a large bag to futz with during your trip.

Ok, then I made a mistake. Ours must be 26". They are bigger than the carry on size.

If you've flown much in the States, you'll understand the need for carry-on only.
Between fees for checked bags, lost luggage, short connections, delayed flights that leave you stranded but keep your bag hostage... you'll quickly learn to carry-on everything you need/want at the other end.

Never mind being able to simply walk off the plane, into a cab and go. No waiting for the baggage carousel, jostling for position to grab, what you hope, is your bag.

I've never heard anyone come home from a trip and say they wished they taken MORE!

PS: a 'carry-on' in the US is 22", in most inter-European flights it's 21".