My recent trip to PA for a week illustrated the need for more upper body strength along with culling the packing list. My packed bag weighed in at 23 lbs and as time went on I found myself having a little trouble getting it up around me and onto my shoulders. Time to start hitting the workout machine in addition to walking!
One other note: I didn't realize how unused to stairs I had become. I grew up in a split level and had been used to running up and down stairs all day, but that was thirty years ago. Now? No. snort. After two days of climbing stairs to get to my bedroom every time I wanted something and two days of touring I was sorta used to it again, viewing long flights of stairs with less trepidation. You know... the "I'm gonna fall down those stairs anyway so I might as well throw myself down now" type of feeling. I DID have a little soreness in my quadriceps muscles.
What I took in RS convertible bag:
hairdryer (never used, just air dried and threw in hair glue)
6 pair panties (only 3 used/hand washed at night)
3 bra (only 2 used and hand washed nightly)
beach towel, sun hat, and 2 bathing suits (plans changed-never used)
2 pair wool below the ankle socks (wore one, washed and re-wore)
Keens presidio shoes (walked 7+ miles one day in Philly and 5+ on another touring day)
2 flip flops (both used daily)
2 nice sandal (wore one pair once on flight, never unpacked other pair)
slippers
1 legging (wore on flight home as it was the only clean bottom)
6 shirts (wore 5 of them)
2 shorts (wore twice each and would have needed washing with dryer if worn again)
1 maxi skirt (wore once on flight and touring day of arrival)
Marmot precip rainjacket (never needed but would take just in case)
2 pair pj's (wore only one to lounge in before bed)
Personal bag: large Laurel Burch zip close bag contained:
electronics hub, cables for phone, tablet, and ecigs
E-cigs, extra batteries, wall charger
3-1-1 bag
tablet
snack bag
jewelry sack
Travelon small crossbody (I LOVE that bag!!!!) which contained:
cash/credit cards/id
phone
little lipstick case with mirror that held chapstick, colored Burt's bees lip shine, and a Aromas solid perfume stick
skinny bottle of ibuprofen
sunglasses
ecig
What I wish I had taken - my light gauze maxi skirt
I used packing cubes for almost everything to keep more organized and rolled all my clothing. My rolled shorts looked fine. The shirts that were mostly thin cotton looked absolutely awful while the synthetic ones had no wrinkles.
I tried to pack almost everything within the main body of the bag with only flat items in outer pockets so the bag wouldn't catch while trying to stuff it into the overhead compartment. Extra flip-flops went down into the back where the shoulder straps can be stored.
warning for ecig users: If you use a tank, it will probably leak on the plane due to pressure changes. I switched to a plain carto for use in the airports and wrapped the 1/4 full tank in a paper towel and put it in a plastic bag within my 3-1-1. There was evidence of leakage on the paper towel, so beware!
Our european vaca is getting closer so I guess it is time to start practice packing with the mindset what is the LEAST I can get by with?