Packing like a Pro

That's fine and good, but it seems like a pain in the ass to pack and (most importantly) unpack clothing items that are folded into each other like that. It doesn't really seem necessary or useful to me :-/ He could've saved space by packing only 4 or 5 shirts instead of the 23402934823094 he stuffed in there.

Buzz Kill.

I'm mezmerized by the video and have now watched it three times.

If he was one of our family members, he wouldn't be allowed to go on our trip! I found the video irritating and where are his packing cubes? Packing cubes would make it so much easier to find things and TSA would appreciate him!

Two questions: 1. He got the bulk stuffed in, but what was the weight of all those clothes? 2. Where's his ipod, laptop, cell phone, camera, water bottle, guide books, gps, daypack, smart clothes for Paris, and ereader? I think the guy's a dud: graphic t-shirts, what looked like jeans, and he's probably wearing sneakers to boot. Can you imagine unfolding all that stuff to find a clean pair of socks?

I, too, am mesmorized by the video, and feel like I picked up a few pointers. Does anyone have a guess as to how large the suitcase is?

He's using the bundle packing method which can help you take more and wrinkle less. However....the downside is you have to unbundle everything to get one article of clothing, it weighs a ton, and you fall under the spell that just because you can pack as much as possible doesn't mean you have to.

As Frank II mentioned, this is the "bundle packing method", which I believe was pioneered by Doug Dyment at www.onebag.com. ¶ While it's an efficient way to pack a lot into a limited space it's not the most practical method. As some have noted, it's often difficult to reach a particular piece of clothing if it's bundled up with other items. After retrieving a piece of clothing, the "bundle" has to be re-packed in order to fit everything back into the bag. I imagine putting things back into each bundle after doing laundry would be a lot of work! ¶ I use a much easier "modular" packing system using several packing cubes and other organizers (one which is constantly evolving with each trip). It's not only much easier to retrieve items but also to replace and re-pack when it's time to change locations. I use the same method whether using an Air Boss (domestic trips) or a Backpack (international trips). Most people tend to use the system that works best for them, and I'm not sure the packing system depicted in the video will work for everyone. Cheers!

JER's first law of packing: "Things expand to double their size between the original time you packed your suitcase and when you have to repack to leave." How many times have I muttered under my breath, "Well, it all fit when I packed it, so why doesn't it fit now?" JER's second law of packing: "Packing dense is not the same as packing light." It's fine if you are needing or wanting to get the maximum amount of stuff into a particular suitcase - say, to keep your load within a carry-on sized bag. But it isn't packing light - your back and shoulders will let you know that, and trying to stuff the clowns back into the Volkswagen will confirm that packing dense has its own drawbacks. JER's third law of packing: "What works best for that guy might not be what works best for me, and vice versa." AKA YMMV...

We have managed to have wonderful multi-month trips to Europe without ever bringing "gps,laptop,ipod,water bottle or camera". Guess we are weird[INVALID] but life is a LOT lighter and equally as good.

I'm a total techno-geek. I MUST have my iPhone, iPad, HD video camera, a couple of extra iPods for RS audio tours, flash drive, batteries, chargers...and Chapstick.

I also travel with a Cellphone, Netbook, digital Cameras, GPS and other gadgets. The Cameras are essential as photography is a big part of my travels, and the other items are very useful travel accessories. I certainly wouldn't criticize others if they choose not to travel with technology. Cheers!

I loved Scott's comment to Anna "buzzkill". Since we are on the subject of packing light...I definitely need help in the area. I travel with my family of four with two kids and have not mastered the fine art of packing light. I want to - for our next five week trip. I am intriqued by R. Steves convertible backpack. I love the idea of being able to carry all our belongings on our backs. Does anyone have this bag and how much can you pack in it?

Kerry, it would work better if you started a new topic with your question....I traveled with the RS backpack for several years.....It is very roomy.....I was always more concerned with weight than "how much can I cram into this thing".....I'm female and learned that anything over 18# was too heavy.....I take only a few pieces of clothing that I can mix-and-match.....An extra pair of shoes or sandals, a book or two, some toiletries, my pill supply, etc.....it is possible to keep the weight reasonable and still have a great trip.....Figure on hand-washing regularly, or a trip to the laundromat every 5-7 days....If you are bored with your limited wardrobe, just think of it as a uniform and forget about it; you can dress up however you want at home....oh, yes, take a scarf or two for warmth and to add a little interest to your outfits.

Wow, that was interesting to watch, but does he really not need anything else (or is he hiding another bag somewhere!). Does he really not need any toiletries at all? I mean, I thought men were very attached to the razor they use and wouldn't want to risk having to use some cheap razor because nothing else is available. I try and buy a lot of toiletries when I get to my destination, but I still carry a few things in case I am a sweaty mess when I arrive & no shops are open. Watching this video made me very envious of people who don't have to carry medications and inhalers etc.

I think the point of the video is to demonstrate how much you can get into a smaller bag if you know how. It certainly wouldn't work completely for every individual, but it does provide a starting point. I, for one, don't travel with my "Old Navy" jeans, t-shirts, and flip-flops, but this does help me with packing undershirts, underwear , and other items that I don't mind being rumpled. I'm sure that he could have incorporated a small toiletry kit also.

Kerry....whether it's Rick's Convertible bag or any of the similar sized bags by other manufacturers, it can definitely be done. Don't think of it as "how much does it hold", think "what do I need." There's lots of information on this website about packing light and at other sites like www.onebag.com (while I don't agree with everything he suggests, it's a good starting point)....the more you do it, the easier it is.

Kerry, "packing light" does not mean stuffing 3000 t-shirts into a small bag, it means finding a way to bring fewer t-shirts. His bag might be small, but it's probably still heavier than it could be. And as others have said, the bundle packing method is really inconvenient if you need to take one item out of the bundle. So, I stand by my comments.

What the video does illustrate perfectly, is that the bundle method is GREAT for taking all your clothes to your mom's house for laundry day. Keeping his head in well-groomed shape would require another bag for toiletries.

Kerry, to answer your question, I find that it holds a bit more than a "normal" (with wheels) carryon of its size. With summer weight clothing you can comfortably hold about a week's clothes without having to do for laundry. If you want to do laundry you can go much longer, obviously. Shoulder season packing is always the hardest for me. If you're not wedded to the Rick Steves bag, ebags sells a couple of bags that are similar in style and that I like better: eBags Weekender eTech Convertible, and Motherlode TLS Weekender. Look for sale prices and you can get them for much less than the RS bag.

Using packing cubes with the RS convertible bag also helps it keep its shape, and be organized. We just returned last night from a 4 week trip to Europe. My husband used the RS convertible bag for the 1st time and was very happy with it. Although I have one, I decided not to use it because I have been having issues with my back.

Okay, we are committed to traveling light on our next trip. I just bought 4 of R. Steves convertible carry on's (on sale for $68.99 on irvs.com) myself, husband and kids for Christmas gifts. We will be in Europe for five weeks, but we will have washing machines most of the time; so we really SHOULD be able to do it!!!

Kerry, although you've already purchased the RS Convertible Packs, be aware that they don't work well for everyone. As they don't have an internal frame nor any provision for adjustment of torso range, the weight will likely be carried mostly on your shoulders. I'd suggest packing light! With numerous zippers, they're also a bit "challenging" to secure. Happy travels!

I tried the bundle method but gave it up. I like to be able to reach into my bag and grab a clean shirt/dry socks without having to unpack and repack every time.............It's also a good point that packing a huge amount of clothing in a small space isn't the same as packing light - better to be very selective on what you pack and leave a little extra room in your bag.

Thanks for the feedback. We will pack light, especially the kids bags. We won't do much walking with the bags on our backs; just getting around the train station/airports.

I have used this bundle method very successfully...on the way home... when I bought tablecloths at the french market, linens in Italy, scarves and shawls in Spain and still wanted everything to fit in my one bag. But, it is definitely a pain if you are trying to live that way!

Tooooo Funny!!! The video was done in humour and that's how I'll take.

the bundle packing method is really only a problem if you are going to be packing and repacking every day or every other day. if you will be in a place for a while, it shouldn't be a problem, since you'll probably put the stuff in the closet/drawers anyway, since one of the main reasons for bundle packing is to avoid wrinkling your clothes.