Unless I have to carry my luggage during a trip, I don't make much effort to pack light!

If I have never been somewhere before, then there is no way of packing light, as I will pack for unexpected activities and all possible scenarios!

Might change my mind when I can no longer pick up a 50 lb suitcase!

Rick Steves can be my travel consultant but not my stylist.

It's just easier for men. I see that with my DH.

Women like more options, we also like to coordinate our foot wear to our outfits. One pair of flip-flops just won't do.

That said, bringing very little is fine when you are staying in one place as a base, but I can't imagine constantly washing things out if you are on the go.

I do wish I can create a capsule wardrobe with quick-dry clothing.

I cant even fit everything in a carryon much less a knapsack. I usually take a medium suitcase and a backpack for a week or more. It isnt clothes so much as other stuff.

I like his travel books.

Yes I don't recall him discussing shoes which are the bulkiest items in DH's luggage by far.

I don't know how quick drying, but travelsmith offers a 3-piece outfit with pants and reversible jacket and reversible tank top so you could get a few outfits out of the same pieces.

He's a he and probably on the extreme end of it. But the principle is the same, too many people overpack, especially on trips where they are mobile, taking trains, boats, etc. Unless you have an entourage and a porter with you at all times, don't bring three large cases, makeup case, a tote, and handbag with you, Keeping the luggage down in size, however, gets challenging with formal events and shoes and toiletries/styling --- and then in winter all bets are off.. I can't imagine that even he does not take that little when going on a cruise, for example.

My toiletries and hair stuff would fill a backpack all by themselves. The hot air styling brush is a non-negotiable, as is the handheld water pik 🤷‍♀️

adding… Rick Steves is an excellent fellow but clearly someone who does not care much about appearances. Which is fine—-for him, not me!

I pack light, but not that light.

Same - I usually bring a large wheeled case and a backpack, along with my purse and a pillow. My big suitcase is the most lightweight one I could find, and the wheels are spinners.

Rick Steves is a very cool guy and has many tips for travel. Haven't watched the video yet, tho. Hubby packs similarly to OP description - and usually just buys cheapo socks and underwear rather than doing laundry.

DH used to do 5-10 day business trips to Asia and take a "large" carry-on suitcase. He did get stuff laundered at the hotels. I would have needed a medium sized checked suitcase.

I saw that video the other day. First off, I think Rick looks just fine in his videos, what’s the problem? Second, I was surprised he just shoves his things like undies and socks, or cords and toiletries, into sacks with no folding or organization. That would drive me crazy. I love my very lightweight compression packing cubes, and because they are kind of translucent even my cords etc go in a small one, they are easy to see. And I find that folding even undies and socks saves space.

I think there’s a women’s equivalent on his website, I will have to check ti out.

Last gime DH and I went to Europe, two weeks, staying two or three nights everywhere, we each had a carryon suitcase and a daypack (well, I tucked my daypack and purse into a tote for travel days). We did stay at friends’ halfway through where I did laundry the first day, but it took teo days to line dry sufficiently!

We are going again soon, but still have to figure out when during our trip we will be staying with family, for laundry purposes.

I agree, Rick Steves looks fine, better than fine actually. Can't see what the issue is.

I do like to pack light and his practice of everything in its place makes sense. Airbnb's with washer/dryer have been a game changer. For longer trips in different time zones I like to start and end at a hotel, staying in Airbnb's mid-trip for laundry. I have no problem repeating the same outfit if it's laundered.

And I'd so much rather roll a bag than carry a backpack,

But all bets are off if I am driving to my destination, especially for shoes and jackets.

I like Rick. He seems down to earth and relatable.

I like him too-- I read many Rick Steves guidebooks in the olden days and watched many of his shows and appreciate the wealth of his experience-- but his clothes look like he's been sleeping in them and undoubtedly whatever he pulls out of that small case will look just the same.

I think his shirts look fine, some fabric that flows and doesn’t really wrinkle.

I like him, but he is a man. I doubt I could fit my makeup and other personal care products in his backpack. The playing field is not level…

I liked his common sense advice too but his minimalist knapsack packing isn’t how i like to pack. I don’t care for traveling with a backpqck. An extra pair of shoes, my hair and skin routine stuff would take up a lot of space in a small knapsack. I followed many of his recommendarions in the past. Recently however i started seeing reviews where travelers found hotels to be lacking in appeal. it seems he had not updated many of his travel guides so a lot of what was out there was dated and no longer reliable. i understand he has been busy working on updates to his travel books so people won’t be surprised by a sub-optimal hotel.

With all the reviews on the internet these days, I'm surprised people are still using guidebooks. They're out of date even before they're published.

I do use a knapsack when I travel, but as my carryon on the plane as it's great for holding electronics, sweater, other stuff, I can take my purse out or stuff it in there for the "one" carry-on item, and fits nicely under the seat....the rolling bag with the major stuff gets checked. I did buy a new travelpro bag and I really like it...rolls so easily, zippers are strong and secure, handle easy to operate....

Annie, I always seem to go back to Travelpro, especialy for a rolling carryon bag. They have a new version out and I’d love to see how it compares with current models. I like Eagle Creek too

I don’t own a backpack of any type, never liked how they hang or feel so naturally that kind of packing would be a non-starter regardless of capacity or style.The only circumstances I can imagine that would require me wearing one woiuld be if I was embarking on a long trek or some emergency evacuation and needed my hands to hold a cane or a child’s hand.

I had bilateral mastectomies in 2009. There's no way I would ever be comfortable wearing a backpack. I hate the way people who wear them are so clueless about swinging them into people standing near them. I try to stay as far away as possible.

I don't do backpacks either - the closest thing I would accept is a cross-body bag, which is what I use as my purse for air travel

I really do my best to travel light and often for a short trip can make do with just a carry on, but even then it's not easy. I need hair styling tools, lotions, potions, and goo lest I scare small children. I'm sorry/not sorry, but I have certain standards for my appearance and sadly that requires, you know, stuff.

Add in even one more pair of shoes and a few outfits and that carry on is now very full. Also, it has wheels as I'd far rather wheel something through an airport than carry it on my back like I'm treking Everest.

I just sling the backpack over one shoulder. They are set up well for travel. Ipad gors inthe back and there are zippers in the front for anything I may need to get to while en route.Definitely not glamourous!

I like backpack purses for travel, but not backpacks per se. It is just handy to have hands free.

There is no one answer to packing. It is different for every trip. Sometimes packing light is important and sometimes it is irrelevant. I don't get the obsession.

First, vacation is pleasure and part of that pleasure for me, is dressing for the occasion. I don't want to look schlubby and repetitive just to save on baggage fees or bell hops.

Also it is not always easy for me to just pick up something if I end up needing it. There are part of the world where shoes don't come in my size! So I can't get cute.

In the comments of the post, a Rick Steves tour guide has a video for packing light for women. But it was so wordy, spent forever talking about WHY to pack light, I gave up before getting to the particulars.

Ally, i hear you on hair styling tools. In 1989 I was flying hme from a fun trip to Yorkshire. At security in Glasgow, I was very suspicious apparently because, among other things, I did not pack a blow dryer or curling iron, and women always have styling tools in their bags. Well, I had gotten a body wave so that I wouldn’t have to worry about my hair in the wind and rain and long days, so not only did I not pack “normally”, I didn’t look like my passport photo! Anyway, this was less than a year after the terrorists blew up a plane over Scotland, so tiny things made one suspect.

Last time we went to Europe, I brought my little blow dryer, but everywhere we stayed, even little apartments, there was a blow dryer in the drawer. (most blow dryers, even my travel one, are not approriate for my hair, but sometimes I just have to make do.)

I’d never choose a backpack over a wheelie carryon, but that’s m; my back would not be happy. I try to pack light because I often travel solo and don’t have a travel partner to help me lift a suitcase. It’s difficult! A few times, traveling to Europe in winter, I’ve chosen to bring two suitcases because it felt necessary for cold weather clothing, but I always end up regretting it, and swear never again. I certainly like to look thoughtfully put together, but no one else sees me day to day, so I’ve learned packing less is more, and that mixing the same six or eight pieces works just fine . Most often I’m in Paris or other parts of France, where the most stylish women dress both casually and elegantly and embrace a natural look. I often get a keratin smoothing hair treatment a few weeks before traveling on a big trip, so that I don’t have to do more than brush my hair for it to look “not frizzy” - a real game-changer for me- but even then, I often admire the natural bedhead look so beautifully worn by French women.

It will never work for me. My skin care/makeup/shampoo & conditioner/hair care products plus the styling tool takes more room than that.

Men have it a lot easier! But even DH takes a large suitcase when we travel.

We each check one large suitcase (last time they were both over 50lbs, but the limit is thankfully higher in first/business class). We carry on a small carryon size rolling bag and the large Luka duffel. That thing holds a ton and sits nicely on the rolling bag. And then I have a small purse for wallet/passports etc.

He is starting to worry about the weight as we age. My suitcase is always around 60 lbs. I was looking at one of those trunk style suitcases but he's worried he won't be able to lift it off the airline carousel.