I need packing tips

Looks like there are multiple flights in your itinerary, which presumably adds to
the concern about checking a bag.

But, unless you have some kind of access to laundry facilities during a 10 week trip,
I think erring on the side of more stuff vs less is the way to go. It's not like you
are going to have easy access to REI if it turns out you need something you
left out.

It does probably mean repacking your stuff multiple times along the way so that
your carryon has the necessities you need, and if your checked bag is delayed,
you have what you need to manage for a couple of days.

Hi Lane,

I’ll go down the route that you could just do carry on.

Plan on light layers, so I would leave the bulky sweater at home. I’ve used multiple 32 Degree long sleeve thin tops as singles or doubled up with contrasting colors & a lightweight necklace. Bring one of their bottoms for layering on the coldest days. The 32Degrees wash easily in the sink and dry overnight.

I just came back from Ireland, and I wore this lightweight sweater most mornings over a 32 Degree or another shirt. I ordered this on Amazon:
EVALESS Womens Lightweight Cardigan Sweaters Fall Outfits
Soft Wool Blend Knit Fabric, Button Knit Tops Layering Cardigan, Business Casual Office

If your down coat will keep you warm, you’re in good shape! For the Christmas Markets last year I had a cozy coat and just brought four of the 32 Degree tops, 2 bottoms, 2 pants and one long sleeve heavy t-shirt. A cute scarf will dress up the 32 Degree for a nice dinner.

Well, I get your point, Lane, and I empathize. Unfortunately, you are hampered by the fact that you live in a very warm climate, so your blood is probably a bit thinned out—at least more than mine is, living in a northern climate. For example, if it were me, I probably wouldn't take a fleece-lined hoodie, but instead, would bring a long-sleeve knit shirt that is a bit lighter, but that I could wear maybe a puffer vest over or a jacket if it got cold. Costco has some great sales right now on stuff like that, and it's very inexpensive. I don't know if they ship to Mexico or if they have them down there, but I would highly recommend some of their outerwear by 32 Degrees.

Edit: Here's one jacket that would be perfect for your trip. I wear stuff like this until it gets down to 0°. It is extremely lightweight, and you can wad it up and stick it in a very small pouch, just pull it out when you need it. This is ordered directly through 32 Degrees, and I'm assuming that they ship there. https://www.32degrees.com/products/mens-lightweight-recycled-poly-fill-packable-jacket

And I don't think the shoes would be a problem. I'm assuming you have some good sturdy hiking shoes. For shoes to wear around in the evening, get a pair of lightweight shoes that don't take up a lot of space or room. I usually bring a pair of Hey Dude canvas shoes, because those are very comfortable, I can walk for a couple of miles in them without any problem, and they're very lightweight and pack up pretty compactly.

Of course, the other issue is that you're gone for 10 weeks and may or may not have access to much laundry. Unless you're comfortable with the idea of washing everything in the sink, then I think that is the real sticking point here. You'll just need to bite the bullet and check a bag. But I still would be careful about bringing things that are too heavy and thick. Like I said, I wouldn't bring a hoodie, I would just bring a long-sleeve knit shirt that you can wear a jacket or a puffer vest over. Things like that. Layering is the key. I know you know this, and I know you've read it here countless times, but it really is the best way to pack for cold weather.

Uniqlo has some inexpensive cold weather thermal items and they are less expensive in Japan than here. Look at some of their ”heattech” items. In Japan, I bought gloves, a hat, scarf, and a thermal shirt to wear under my fleece jacket for hiking in the Japanese Alps.

I don’t think that you need a down jacket and a fleece hoodie and bulky sweaters. Ditch the bulky sweaters and get some lighterweight thermal layers. Maybe you could pick some things up as you leave Japan.

Thanks for the replies!

I am very comfortable washing out things in the sink, and I'm sure there will be at least a few genuine laundry opportunities, so I'm not worried about that.

@Jean, being of the male persuasion, I'll probably forego the necklaces and scarves. But I think I can do multiple layers of long-sleeve shirts rather than the bulky sweater.

@Mardee, we do have Costco down here, but they don't carry winter clothes, at least not to the extent you can find them in northern climes. And shipping clothes from the US to Mexico is prohibitively expensive because of tariffs. (Yes, they go both ways.) The 32 Degrees jacket you linked to is very similar to the one I have, except mine doesn't have the hood. I have the packable pouch, so it will probably make it into my luggage whether I do carry-on or checked bag.

@Laura, I love the idea of maybe picking up some additional thermal layers in Japan if I thinkn I'll need them. We don't have Uniqlo in Mexico, unfortunately. It's one of my favorite stores.

I won't give up on the carry-on option yet. When I pack, I'll do my best and see how it goes.

Layers are definitely going to be your friend. Not sure what is near you shopping wise, but if it were me I would go looking for thin layers made with technical fabric, typically available at outdoor type stores. Because they're made with wicking material they also wash and dry overnight very well. For really cold days, put on every layer you have and then peel back as the day progresses. Even though you don't anticipate rain, I suggest taking a lightweight water repellant outer layer which also acts as an insulator, especially if it's windy. You'll be very glad to have it if the "dry season" turns out to be not so dry.

You could also consider the option of going shopping along the way if you don't have what you need. Many a traveler have purchased a coat/sweatshirt/hat/gloves/umbrella when the need arose, and you'll be in places with plenty of shopping options.

Oh, and wear your heavy hiking shoes on every plane ride, that saves space in your carry on.

I think you have to take what you need. No matter the size of the suitcase. You most likely won’t be able to easily purchase something you left at home but need - because of sizing, unlike Ireland or Minnesota. However, you can easily wear multiple shirts at a time for the fewer days or nights that it’s really cold. If it truly will only get to about freezing on the coldest nights, then layers and your down jacket will most likely do you. I would not take a bulky sweater but might take the fleece lined hoodie, depending on how bulky it is.

I think the bigger question becomes how often you can have laundry done or if you have time to sink wash and time for things to dry. Then pack for the time in between.

And you are absolutely right about the practicality of slip on shoes in this area. Unless you are doing some hiking, I might be tempted to invest in just a good supportive pair of walking shoes that don’t need zippers or ties, in order to combine that functionality.

Having just finished an 8 week trip where I went from hot summer days to cold blustery days, with both beaches and lots of walking, I know it’s not easy. I did pack in a carryon size suitcase along with a backpack. But it was really tight. If you find you need a slightly bigger suitcase after weighing (no pun intended) your options, give yourself permission.

Jersey shirts, not woven.

No cotton anything.

Make sure your layers fit when layered, i.e. like a Russian nesting doll.

Briefly, you can wear some of your bulky layers just while getting onto the planes, then take them off and put them in a plastic bag --- I did this for years going carry-on to Europe in the wintertime.

I would be surprised if you needed thick socks, just warm ones, maybe merino.

Oh, and a down vest is a great thing --- you can start to feel unpleasantly stuffed to have a lot of layers on your arms, like you can't move freely.

I agree with everyone's advice above! I did Scotland and Iceland for 2 weeks each, carry on and backpack only:
Raincoat (windbreaker), baseball cap.
Packable puffer coat, knit cap and gloves.

Lightweight fleece, and performance wear jacket.
2 performance wear short sleeve tops, 2 long sleeves. Layer short over long when cold.
1 performance wear long pants, 1 fleece lined performance wear pants (these were life saver in cold wind/rain!)
Hiking boots and trail runners. You might try low boots/trail runners plus your casual slip ons, if you're not planning heavy hiking.
3 undies (wear 1, wash 1, spare 1), 3 hiking socks, 1 compression socks (for travel days), pjs.

(Above list includes what I wore on plane. On coldest days, I layered raincoat, puffer, fleece, short over long sleeve, and shed layers into my backpack as needed.)
Minimize toiletries to absolute essentials (use hotel soap for hand laundry). Travel size Febreeze (yes you can rewear stuff without washing, especially if you're not sweating much since it's cold out! Hang up worn clothes to air out overnight. Keep Bounce sheet in luggage for "fresh scent".)
Phone, chargers/battery, earbuds, adapter, paper copies of travel docs (digital backup on phone screenshots/cloud/email. I also had purse that fit in backpack, bras, Rx/meds, spare glasses, water bottle ;-)
Confession: I checked my bag because I packed a hiking pole, but I kept it carry on size as required by my tours. I would encourage you to try to stay carry on size for better mobility and challenge your packing skills!)
Love the idea of adding shirt/jacket layers as you go, especially if they're also souvenirs!

Have a great trip and come back with your trip report!

Another thought is that if you can get one or two of those packing cubes that use a
USB-powered vacuum pump to shrink the cube, that can give you some extra space.

Things like sweaters take up a lot of space. Pack more of the layers that are close to
your body and can wash in the sink easily (poly shirts and t-shirts), one or two insulating
layers, and wear your jacket when on the plane, and you can probably make it work, but
as I said, your level of preparedness will be a bit less.

Long-sleeve poly t-shirts under a fleece can do a pretty decent job of handling the wind
and keeping you warm. Also, a neck warmer is the best way to keep in body heat for
the least amount of extra packing space.

A thin, merino wool l/s top would be helpful, but you may not have access to one where you are located. uniqlo should have some thin wool sweaters.

There are so many smart travelers on this site. Lots of great suggestions. I'm not giving up on carry-on just yet. I will let you all know when I'm packed.

Thank you all for responding!

Last year we did a 7 week trip in Europe from skiing in Italy in March to summer weather in Paris end of April. We each had a 20” roller carryon and a carryon backpack. (With ski clothes and accessories). After skiing we shipped our ski pants, ski gloves, goggles, and a few other things home to lighten the backpacks.

If you travel with quick dry clothes and fleece, you can always wash things out in a sink and they are dry by morning. Avoid cotton and wool as they take longer to dry.

We are in Europe now on a four week trip and am always amazed at how many giant suitcases people travel with.

If you’re not trekking and doing a climbing expedition like I had in Nepal in 1997, which required a big duffel with specialized gear, I believe you could manage with carry-on. Is your down jacket a medium-weight, or do you look like the Michelin Man when you wear it, a super-heavyweight parka? Medium-weight, with layers underneath, should be adequate.

Layers should include long underwear, tops and bottoms, Polypropylene or wool. One or two tops, and one or two bottoms. A comment above about Uniqlo (they appear to have nearly a million shops in London) didn’t cost an arm and a leg when Our trip to London last November/December was super cold, and I hadn’t brought any of my many pairs from other retailers and brands from home. Check out REI, Patagonia, The North Face, Sierra Trading Post, Cabela’s, or LL Bean if you don’t have any.

Your sweaters should work fine, and probably just one or two of your lighter ones. A nicer sweater would be great if there’s a slightly more formal occasion or two during your trip. I presume you’re not planning on really fancy clothing in this trip … no jacket and tie, spit-polished shoes, or pressed trousers? I doubt the hoodie would be necessary, if you’ve got two or three layers under your coat, but then I’m not a real hoodie fan. Hat and gloves are necessary.

The thought about wearing your biggest, heaviest footwear on the plane is smart, if you’ve don’t have space in the carry-on. You might look into bringing a half-dozen heat packs, like Hot Hands or Grabber. They’re compact and heat up for hours when exposed to air (simply open the package), and can make a difference if you’re chilled.

Someone mentioned the USB-powered vacuum bags. A cheaper and lighter version is bags like these:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09MQJPXPG/ref=sspa_dk_detail_0?pd_rd_i=B09MQJPXPG&pd_rd_w=ocu1d&content-id=amzn1.sym.4adc092d-0184-45e6-8bd0-773f48fbf8ff&pf_rd_p=4adc092d-0184-45e6-8bd0-773f48fbf8ff&pf_rd_r=RCE62Y0N7NQTAMF3BHH0&pd_rd_wg=pOOWm&pd_rd_r=76c9c436-f160-43ae-bcb3-1602eb6cd1a5&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9kZXRhaWxfdGhlbWF0aWM&th=1

They have a one-way valve at one end of the bag; you just seal the top and roll the bag slowly until you've pushed as much air out as you can. We used them on our last trip (not necessarily this specific one; but same idea) and they worked very well. I'm sure they aren't as thorough as the vacuum type, but you don't have to tote a vacuum gizmo around. They weigh virtually nothing.

One caveat as you strive to achieve carry-on only: on the international airlines I've flown (to Europe, never been to Asia), WEIGHT matters too. Be sure to check the airlines you will be using. I've seen as low as 7 kg. Especially if you use any kind of compression, it can be easy to exceed limits.