Best way to get things home?

Here's the collected wisdom of the Helpline on mailing things home from Italy (it will not be cheap)

click here for instant enlightenment

I use the mail service. The items usually arrive before I do.

Hate to burst Rick's backpack theory but if you see how his shows are made, he has a lot more "stuff" than a backpack. We used to buy a bag in Italy and check it.
Now we pack an empty bag that will collapse to almost nothing on the way over and then fill it up as we good.

ps--we start with more than a backpack. there is a recession going on worldwide, consumer purchases help us all!!

I use the mail service.

Here's another opinion on that: "Mail service in Italy has improved over the last few years, but even so, mail nothing precious from Italy." Rick Steves, Italy 2008

First, we don't buy a lot of extra stuff and less so in recent years. We carry an extra, light weight bag equal to about the size of one of the carryons. On the return leg all of the dirty clothes, extra shoes, etc. go into that that bag and is check. The good stuff comes home in the carryon. That bag also serves as the dirty clothes bag when traveling.

There are really only two practical solutions: bring it home with you in allowable checked luggage or leave it in Italy. All other solutions will be quite expensive.

Check with your airline and learn the maximum luggage allowance. If you can fit your stuff within that limit, you've got it made. Any other solution will cost you a lot of money.