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Something to aspire to.....

I couldn't believe she got everything in here but she did. It's the large Le Pliage tote, W12.25" x H11.75" x D7.5". Wt 0.7 lbs.
https://youtu.be/ErPwLwccbDc

Posted by
279 posts

Wow, this has me thinking...what else can I leave at home?
Thanks for sharing!

Posted by
1967 posts

I love this! That is my daily purse and I have so many of them in different colors. My daughter and I did use these once when we went to London for 3 days. We had an apartment in Paris so left all of our other stuff there and just took these purses with what we needed and it worked well. But wow, this lady is impressive!

Posted by
2252 posts

Yeah, she’s impressive, for sure. I actually don’t think I take much more than she does but sure gets me to wondering why I haven’t tried to do this.

Posted by
26829 posts

Impressive amount of stuff in that bag, but I don't see how this works reliably if you're going to more than one city. Would you want to wear that entire airplane outfit (heaven knows it won't fit in the bag) for hours very time you change hotels?

Posted by
6227 posts

Oh no! Another bag I have to buy!!! 🤣

Seriously, great video! And I don't decry the lack of jammies - I never pack them. I just wear an old t-shirt and undies to bed.

Posted by
11247 posts

Admirable and maybe I could do it for a week in the summer with light clothes. I could not wear what she does on the plane and I hate having to squeeze my bag shut because it is so fully packed st the start of the trip.

Why not at least take a purse as a personal item and call the tote your carry on?

Posted by
13800 posts

So funny...I was just watching this the other day. Her clothes are all very squishable. I'd need more than that for toiletries, though. I laughed at her story about being 6 and having to help her mom with luggage!

I tried a trial pack in my LiteGear Day pack which is 17x12x10 when expanded and it fit but not comfortably. The dimensions according to the Longchamps site are : Dimensions : 12.2 in (L) x 11.8 in (H) x 7.5 in (W)

Looks like a lovely, practical bag. There are lots of tote choices out there. If I am carrying 3 days of stuff, I really need a backpack. More comfortable to carry. I am somewhat short.

Posted by
2665 posts

Wow! Now I have to rethink all that I'm packing. I thought I had packing light down right, but no way near this. Time for another test pack! But I know I'll never get that minimal nor do I really want to.

Posted by
1967 posts

I can vouch for these bags! I have about a dozen of them at least. So we’ll made and very durable. I even spilled a bottle of wine on my red one and it wiped right off! I also have the XL travel
Duffel bag which I love.

Posted by
4534 posts

Oh, I have the nicest tote, bought at TJ Maxx. Off to do a pretend pack. Let's see how much of my usual "stuff" would fit. And would I ever really leave the "what if" stuff at home?

ETA: it's a fail for me, at least for my usual multi city trips. And for practical things like socks and sunscreen and laundry sheets so I don't have to bring so many clothes.

Posted by
3776 posts

Every international airport has a store that sells these bags. I have it in 4 colors and have purchased them as gifts for my overseas friends and family. But, I use it as my day bag, not as a suitcase. Very impressive packing.

Posted by
2461 posts

I think this works best if flying to one spot and either staying out or moving by car. That way do not have to wear all those clothes moving from place to place. I sent it to my daughter who has tickets on Frontier to visit her brother in Denver and was put off by luggage charges as much as her admittedly inexpensive ticket.

@BigMike,
I have a body that is best to go commando only if traveling alone.

@BethFl,
Frontier airlines has specific bag size of 18” x 14” x 8” or less for Free underseat bag. Bags that work are Wandf 16” bag on Amazon.com. (The 18” bag can be overstuffed and NOT fit the sizer.). Also, RS Appenzell and Patagonia lightweight tote pack. I am sure there are other bags like RedOxx Mutt and longchamp has different sizes.

Posted by
11027 posts

I would pass out from overheating wearing all the clothes she 'wears on the plane'. Probably end up arrested for trying to roll down a window to get some air.

There a a lot of planes that I have been on that would not accommodate her bag under the seat.

No socks; no phone charger; no toothpaste ( did I miss it?) ;

Instructive on how to make do with less, but I have doubts it truly practical for the 'middle of the bell curve' that most of us inhabit.

Posted by
3961 posts

I have the large Le Pliage Tote & a smaller one that I used for work. The large Tote weighs about 7 oz. Never used it as a “shoulder bag.” Wonder what it weighs full? I can’t imagine carrying it on my shoulder for any length of time, particularly 2 weeks or longer?! Ouch! Perhaps use as a weekend bag?

Posted by
1336 posts

It's an interesting video. Basically a 17-18 liter bag. Didn't Sarah Murdoch do something like that a couple of years ago? Seems to me the key is an unstructured and squashable bag. By the way, she did have a phone charger, but not a laptop charger. I think the sweatpants and t-shirt were her pjs. But definitely no toothpaste or socks! I'd skip the laptop and sweatpants, add toothpaste a nightshirt and socks and more than 2 tee shirts.

Posted by
930 posts

those shoulder straps look SO uncomfortable to me. The Rick Steves HideAway tote for $20 is so comfortable on the shoulder and a great day bag when traveling -- we love to carry it to the Xmas Markets in Europe. It can also be used as a carry on or personal item and can pack more than this. Check it out in the shop section, there's a great video too.

Posted by
2742 posts

I have about 10 of those bags... and you can get a TON in them.. LOVE them, but... I am probably not going that hard core.

I have used them for short trips once I got to Europe and it works great!

I have tried a ton of totes and always come back to these Longchamp bags!

Posted by
26 posts

Oh, please! Longchamp bags are great, but I don't aspire to hauling around a big bag full
of wrinkled clothes and important items that I can't put my hands on quickly because they're lost in a black hole.

Posted by
7123 posts

Pro: I liked how she quickly tied her scarf to wear on her flight. I used that method to wear a scarf to the theatre this evening.

Con: It’s a bad idea to stress a zipper on any bag or suitcase to that extreme when heading off on a trip.

Posted by
26829 posts

There wasn't a water bottle in that bag, but I think you can carry one onboard in your hand--if you have a free hand.

Posted by
12172 posts

She did well. I liked the scarf she used. I also liked her plan for shoes, toiletries and wearing your heavy, bulky items on the plane. Personally, I'd eliminate all cotton (long sleeve tee, jeans, etc.) for better performance (less stretch and wrinkle, quick drying) as well as less weight and bulk.

Posted by
1967 posts

Carol—I too have looked but always come back to my trusted Longchamp.

Jean—true, I would not cram so much into any bag to stress it like that.

I also would not wear more stuff just to avoid packing. I do wear my heaviest on the plane, but within reason.

I sent the video link to our daughter and sons gf. Our daughter can pack sure light but the gf has never really had a need. Her only international trip so far was Iceland with us last year. However we have a girls trip to Munich and Salzburg in December so we need to pack light. She said she loved the ideas and needs more(ideas, not stuff).

Posted by
10177 posts

Interesting concept. Did anyone else get grossed out by tossing the bare toothbrush in with a bunch of other stuff?

Posted by
1075 posts

Cool concept. We are light packers but I prefer a suitcase as you can just chuck everything in it willy nilly a bit easier. Thinking about a trip I am planning where we are switching hotels every 2 to 3 nights, and I think it would drive me crazy to have to squeeze everything in like that each time. I also preferred to roll a suitcase instead of carrying a heavy tote on my shoulder.

Posted by
531 posts

She didn't mention weather at the destination. Based on her choices, it seems like she's going from a cold climate to a hot climate? Clothing may not be as thin and packable based on destination and time of year.

Things I didn't see in the vid:
- Covid self test/s
- Socks
- Multiple, proper masks
- Antibacterial gel or hand wipes
- Shower toiletries: shampoo, conditioner, bath soap/shower gel (the stuff in hotels--if they provide--can be hard on those of us with skin/scalp issues)
- For safety reasons, I will stick with a money belt and put it under my clothes vs. the bag she has that sits on the outside of her clothes
- Vitamins and other meds that many of us older kids need
- Recommend putting glasses in a hard case because the bag will likely get squashed in transit. Weighs a bit more, but better than trying to replace glasses during a trip.
- Toothpaste: I think I just saw a toothbrush and not all hotels provide toothpaste, as I've learned
- Don't think I saw a brush or comb??
- PJs: I can go either way on this and typically just sleep in whatever I'm wearing. I'm lazy like that.

I know you can buy a lot of these things at your destination, and her point is packing light to avoid paying the fee, but full transparency, she is missing quite a few things that most of us need.

Inspirational overall, and I continue to refine my packing list with each trip, but will stick with a backpack + day bag.

Posted by
8375 posts

Other than starting out with a smaller than usual bag, I'm not sure what was radically different about her packing from what has been beaten to death on this forum for years. It starts with your mindset. You either buy into traveling light or you don't. Or you travel in a style in which such inconveniences are irrelevant.

Posted by
13800 posts

Hahaha...Andrea!! Yes...bleech. And the sandals in there with the soles touching everything? I didn't realize I was such a germ-a-phobe!

Posted by
2665 posts

Ditto Jill. I started test packing yesterday. Now I'm adjusting my packing list a lot. Clothes take less room than all the sundry items I'm packing. Covid supplies and old lady supplies take a lot of room. Back to test packing to fit it all in carry-on size. No way do I want to check luggage, especially since I'm flying into Heathrow.

Posted by
676 posts

So I skimmed it again real quick, I did notice the 1st time no pajamas, I'm not a fan of commando though. No masks or alcohol gel so I suspect she just didn't take those as this was done 2 months ago, no toothpaste or deodorant, maybe she gets those at her destination? Or she doesn't sweat much and doesn't need the deodorant and can wear tops twice without washing? I wish I could do that. And no socks but maybe she wears and just forgot, or doesn't wear, I guess if it's warm and your shoes are comfy you don't really need to. She did carry a compact brush and I've used those, it works to brush but if you need to do any styling with a dryer they don't work well. I was amazed by only 1 scrunchie for her hair, I would lose it! And it looked like she either had 1 long cord for electronics or 2 cords, couldn't tell. And she did wrap her sandals in that bag which she said she uses for laundry too. I wouldn't want to use that bag if I had to do a lot of walking with it because of the straps, but if it's just to and from it would be ok. I look at those bags at the airport all the time (or did when I lived and traveled in Europe, it's been 10 years now) but I could never justify the price. Anyway, I'm going on a beach vacation in a month and I'm inspired to try to cut things down, we'll see how it works! We're driving so it's not really a big deal if I don't/can't. Oh, and yeah, I wouldn't wavy to wear that travel outfit more than twice so if I were going to more than one place I would want to wash at least the top.

Posted by
1075 posts

Regarding the socks, if she's wearing the boots on the plane, she has on socks. Her other pair of shoes is sandals. So maybe she washes the one pair of socks on the days she wears the sandals?