Test Pack and Tips

First Test Pack

I skipped the compression cubes for this pack. Fully loaded my Tumi Rollerback weighed 29 lbs. which will be important when I fly from Malaga to Lisbon.

I used the MarieKondo method to fold the clothes except for underwear and bomba footies which I rolled. The footies were then put in the pair of shoes I packed to reduce space.  Personally, I think this made things "bulky" in the bag. 

Second Test Pack

For the second test pack, I folded the clothes but used a modified MarieKondo fold focusing on making them as small as possible. This video was the inspiration for the folding: https://youtu.be/852o47p4dNY?si=dVBrMVzI-x4ITx2-

I used the large packing cube. This method was less bulky but didn't really buy me any additional space.

Third Test Pack

I still used the modified folding method to make the clothes as small as possible but used the medium compression cubes. I put pants/shorts in one compression cube and shirts in a second compression cube. I was able to compress the shirts more than the pants/shorts. I'm going to travel with the compression packing cubes because they give me the option to compress even if I don't use it. With this method I was able to (1) I put 2 additional rolled t-shirts in the suitcase - although not currently in a compression cube; and (2) put more into the personal bag.

The personal bag compression cube contains: 1 pant; 1 short; 3 shirts; 2 underwear.

Some Tips - From an email I sent a friend

So…the first thing to keep in mind is that you can likely have laundry done.  Particularly if you are in one place for several days. I’m spending between 4 and 7 days in each location so that gives me an opportunity to do lots of laundry. Plus I’m known to drop food on my chest so I’m planning on more shirts than I probably need but anticipating that I will want one shirt during the day and probably something dressier for evening.

Know the weather. Unfortunately, I must plan for a wide range of weather. From mid-60s with rain to low-80s with sun. So, layers will be important although I’m not very good with layers.  I’m planning on bringing both a light jacket/blazer AND a light rain jacket with a hood.

Compression cubes versus Regular Packing cubes: I’ve gone back and forth. I repacked AGAIN this morning (removed the collapsible hiking sticks) with the compression cubes. I’m pretty sure I’m going to stick with the compression cubes. In part because I don’t actually have to compress them, and they behave just like the regular packing cubes. I filled a medium size one with  (2) and shorts (2) that I was only able to partially compress but some compression is better than no compression.

How to pack. Thin people have the advantage of being able to army roll their clothes which makes everything really small. Also easier for men with their knit t-shirts which are really easy to army roll and is what you see in ALL the video tutorials. I watched a video on the MarieKondo fold (which I’m now using for my yoga pants and shorts in drawers and works well in that approach. I used that approach when I originally test packed the suitcase, but I found everything was bulky especially pants. This morning, I folded everything “normally” using compression cubes and it doesn’t feel as bulky and I’m pretty sure I can throw my rain jacket in the bag now.  I also think I can put another shirt or two in the compression cube with shirts.

I’m sure I’m bringing too many toiletries. A couple of tips I found AFTER I had already bought things was shampoo and conditioner bars (they don’t count toward your liquids limits) and travel pouches for liquids (That would have been a huge win and I’m still flirting with switching to them because my toiletries bag is HUGE. In part because I need to use my aveda products or my hair does crazy. Okay I just ordered them from Amazon for delivery tomorrow.) Of course, most hotels have products if you don’t want to pack our town.

My Personal Bag. I posted here https://noumena12.blogspot.com/about the Personal Bag I’m carrying on. Because that is my personal item, I need to pack a “purse” in my personal bag. I wanted to take my Travelon Anti-theft Classic N/S Crossbody, Black even though it is fairly large. Because of the anticipated rain, I wanted a purse large enough that I can fold my raincoat and put it in the purse. I have a bunch of stuff that I’m bringing that I “need” on the flight (ear plugs, wipes, etc)…again probably too much. So instead of packing them in a separate bag I have them packed in the purse which I’ve put in the personal bag. Once I’m on the plane, I can take the purse out, take most of the stuff out of it (which is all in small plastic bags) and put it back in the personal bag where the purse used to be. I’m also traveling with my BAGSMART Electronic Organizer,Travel Cable Organizer which I’ve probably put too much stuff in. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get it and the purse in the bag, so I’ve got it hooked on the bag with a carabiner right now.

I’ve watched house and hours of YouTube videos…here are some of my favorites…there are plenty more out there:

https://www.youtube.com/@TravelTipsbyLaurie

https://www.youtube.com/@ThickGirlzGuide

https://www.youtube.com/@alysmalls

https://youtu.be/Hi5otBySMak?si=lvf6GfkrG95sFbca

 And I forgot to mention...

Plan on wearing your bulkiest clothes on the flight. I'm planning on wearing my jacket/blazer and even possibly my raincoat if I can't get it into a bag.