Packing Fail

It's SO hard! Without knowing your list, you might check what you have for toiletries, they are my #1 culprit. Very easy to leave shampoos, etc behind since hotels will have them; don't need a hairdryer; etc.. And I know nothing about hearing aids, but surprised that the charger is so heavy!

I've really tried to cut down on toiletries--and to take tiny amounts--
I've scoured these forums and gotten so many good tips!
Some things are hard--I take a special supplement that is powdered and has to be mixed with boiling water--but it also comes in gummies (of all things!) which are easier, BUT they are rather heavy. But I need them. Oh, well...

Could it be too many shoes? If you feel OK providing a list of your clothes, etc., I'm sure people would help you winnow it all down to get it lighter. It takes some time playing with it. How heavy is your suitcase empty? Some cases are inordinately heavy.

Can you (or your husband!) wear the heavy knit dress? the trade off with a lighter outfit might make the weight close to the limit

Of course this limits how much you might be able to bring home

Can you read books on your phone? I left my Tablet at home.
Can you leave a few shirts or pr of pants behind and wash in the sink?

Biz class gets you a 40 lb per person limit. :-)

How heavy is the luggage empty? A new, lighter bag may be a cheaper solution than Biz class.

I’ve been following Judy and Kevin on YouTube and they are full-time travelers. They sold all their belongings and travel fulltime. They each travel with a carryon and a backpack. In this video they show what they pack: https://youtu.be/yD-45hCjQl0?si=hHwmINgduQSn6vZ9

Their website is https://findingginamarie.com/episodes You might find some packing tips on their videos or website.

Perhaps a Scottevest vest or jacket, and the hearing aide charger could go in one of its many pockets? After all , they don't weigh the passengers, right?
Scottevest products have all sorts of pockets, including one for an iPad. The vests/jackets are expensive , but they have frequent sales. I actually have picked up a few nice pieces on eBay, that have only been used once or twice, at great prices. They do run small, so make sure you have the Seller include the actual measurements of the specific garment.
Good luck and safe travels.

One more point- with a Scottevest you could give up carrying a purse (I did) and add a small second backpack. Obviously, I don't put valuables in a backpack.
I hope I'm reading your post correct,y - you are bringing one backpack between both of you?
I also use a Bandolier phone case, the style with the small snap pocket. Bandoliers have a neck strap. A bit expensive, but holds up well. With Tap Pay almost everywhere now, my Bandolier phone case serves as my purse.
Good luck again!

Congratulations on being so close! And knowing what's really important for your health and comfort.
The suggestion about knowing the weight of your suitcases when empty is a big factor. I have a duffel and a backpack that each weigh about 1 and 1/2 lbs and the only way I can pull off the more stringent European weight limit is to use one of them, whereas my suitcase is fine for the dimensions but weighs almost 6 lbs empty.
The suggestion of using pockets is my go-to. If he wears a jacket with pockets his heavy charger can go in there and you can likely fit enough things in your own pockets to offset the tablet.
Do you have a luggage scale? I couldn't believe a plastic folder with printouts of reservations was more than 1/2 pound...
Good luck!

Thanks for all the replies and help! So many great suggestions that we will use Next Time!

I've gotten rid of the tablet (using phone kindle) and a few other items.
Biggest problem is still things we really need--hearing aid charger, etc.--and husband's wanting to bring things like his electric razor (!). I talked him into leaving his houseshoes and a couple of other things. I give up. May need to find a "travel charger" for the hearing aids.

Another problem is weight of luggage--6 pounds each for bags, 2 pounds each for backpacks. I pack a small crossover bag in my backpack.
We leave very soon, so I'm calling it a day. We will check one bag.

We were once flying out of Venice mid morning with a bunch of folks getting off a cruise ship. The poor husbands were attempting to each handle two full size suitcases that must have weighed 40 lbs. each. Those poor guys.

We travel with 21" Travel Pro ultra light swivel wheeled carry on bags. My wife has an oversized purse. And we never check them due to past airline problems. 10 kg. (22 lbs.) maximum weight is often allowed with budget European airlines.

We also gate check a folding personal scooter for my mobility challenged wife. She rides it up to the door of the airplane.

We can travel indefinitely this way. Most of the time we even return with some clothing that hasn't even been worn. We do follow Rick Steves' packing list somewhat with minor changes. But if we can travel unassisted this way, anyone can too. Those monster suitcases are simply not required.

6 lb carry-on isn't bad, actually, many are 7 or more. You could get new bags that are closer to 5 lbs at some point. Sounds like you are too close to your travel date to make any big changes? If not, I would be looking at a lighter charger for the hearing aids, and a lightweight electric razor or just use disposables. Check the shoe situation (are they lightweight? Can you get away with 2 pairs?).

Also check "what you really need" - can you get it at your destination? Can you do laundry (sink or hotel service or laundromat) and reduce # of outfits?

I would also be going crazy to be so close on the weight, so you are not alone!

Okay, you all are going to proud of us!
We've been working on packing this morning, got it down to 25 pounds each!
DH got rid of extra pajamas and the razor (duh!) and I jettisoned a couple of toiletries and a top.
We also exchanged some of our little storage/organization bags for even lighter weight ones, and a few other consolidations!
We made it!
And DH let me keep my long knit dress. It's our 40th anniversary and I want to dress up a bit for nights on board the river cruise.

We still need to look into a travel charger for the hearing aids. DH is going to carry it in his pocket. It weighs almost 2 pounds! But necessary (especially to my mental health!)

Biggest problem is still things we really need--hearing aid charger, etc.

That is surprising about the weight of his charger. I have a charger for my hearing aids, and it only weighs 4.1 oz. Plus I can get it down to 3.2 oz. if I remove the plug and insert the cord directly into a USB port.

That said, don't beat yourself up because you have to (gasp) check a bag. I think the carry-on movement sometimes gets a bit too much and we wind up depriving ourselves of things just to be able to carry-on. I usually choose to check a bag, especially if it's a non-stop flight, and love that I don't have to deal with a suitcase at the airport. I've never had to wait more than 10-15 minutes to pick it up and it's worth it for me not to have to struggle to get a wheeled bag into an airport toilet. :-)

Good job JBC. Your husband actually wanted to bring extra PJ's? I take one PJ bottom and wear shirts that I can wear during the day(rotate the ones that I sink-washed and use as PJ top when freshly washed).

It's not a crime to check a bag, just don't use that as an excuse to add more unnecessary stuff.

Flying Delta to Europe and KLM to Italy, we understood that medical devices do not count in your carry-on allowance --- my husband took his C-pap machine and it did not count, nor did a cane I had to take once. Maybe the charger would count as a medical device?

If the hearing aid is not a proprietary charger there are such as a USB-C (modern) or the older USB type devices then there are many available under "Travel Chargers".

One such another magazine* recommended as the best light weight one of the GaN breed:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09ZP8H1W2

*It came from Zdnet but I don't know how reliable they are nowadays. This particular charger was 4.5 stars on Amazon for what that's worth. It charges both USB types and is "0.27kg".

Edit: It also does the mechanical electric plug conversion for different countries. So, it's a charger built into a plug adapter. It's pretty small.

If you do end up checking a bag, make sure you pack the carry-on with the stuff each of you needs for a couple of days.

I think I'd do this even if carrying on both just in case one has to get checked.

Our suitcase, not his and hers.

Oh, I just saw your second post!

Congratulations! I will leave my first reply below so you can have a bit of a laugh. Between this trip and the next, pre-plan your next one. You will have learned a lot. When you see someone traveling with one bag, chat them up. I learned so much running around on trains in Italy.

Best,
Sam

It is not a fail!

It is a first try. If you have to check a bag, you have to. The last thing you want is to have your husband without his hearing aid, if unlike my ex, he wears it :) .

Just remember that when you get home and unpack, place things you used in one pile and things you didn't in another.

Each trip you will get better and better at the light packing.

Good luck and keep traveling!

I don't understand a two pound hearing aid charger. I have hearing aids and my overnight charger is 4 oz. Just weighed it. I have had aids for over ten years and have never seen a 2 lb charger. How long does the charge last. Are you sure you are not adding in a converter -- that you may not be need.

Are you doing a river cruise?

Reading this post got me curious about what an electric shaver weighs, that leaving it out would be a significant weight savings.

Mine weighs 8 oz ( including the charger cord). Granted a manual shaver will be less, but when the weight of some sort of shaving cream product is added, just what is the net weight savings?