Section 1 of 3 - Prev - Next
All sections - 1 - 2 - 3

Archive-name: travel/travelite-faq
Last-modified: January 25, 1997
Posting-frequency: Monthly

Enliten Yourself! 

                  Welcome to the Travelite FAQ! 

The most up-to-date version of the Travelite FAQ is always available at
http://welcome.to/travelite. Please note that this main Travelite FAQ
web site contains more information than the basic FAQ. The FAQ is
archived at a number of sites on the World Wide Web, including the
Rec.Travel Library, the html-formatted FAQ archive at FAQs.org, and a
non-html format at the official news.answers archive. An abridged
version of this is available at the Flifo Travel web site.

An automatic archive of this text-only format is available at the following:
http://www.faqs.org/faqs/travel/travelite-faq/index.html
http://www.cs.ruu.nl/wais/html/na-dir/travel/air/travelite-faq.html

What's New?

I now have a "Featured Product" section in the FAQ that reviews a
product in detail.

Table of Contents

-Introduction and list of indispensable resources
-Finds of the Month
-Luggage: Types of luggage, recommendations.
-Featured product (travel pack).
-Toiletries
-Eliminating stuff you don't need
-Electrical Appliances
-Clothing: Selecting the right travel clothes, and how to pack them.
-More Helpful tips
-Resource List of reviewed and rated travelite-related
web sites

------

Who?
This FAQ works as a basic document for men and women planning a
non-business trip. Since I am in the U.S., many of my references will be
in the U.S. I will *try* to include metric measurements, but please bear
with me if I don't.

What?
This FAQ is designed to help everyone learn how to travel with the
minimum amount of luggage--preferably with just one primary carry-on
bag. (Yes! It can be done!) This FAQ will talk about the benefits of
traveling with a light load; how to travelite, as well as other
resources you can go to for further information.

When?
This FAQ is geared primarily for three-season travel (spring, summer,
fall). I don't want you to freeze in the winter.

Where?
As a basic FAQ, readers who plan to do some extensive camping ("roughing
it"), spend most of their trip giving business presentations to the same
audience, or spend most of their trip doing some equipment-heavy sports
(i.e. skiing) will probably find that Travelite has to be substantially
modified.

Why?
Why not? Seriously, though; the benefits of carrying all of your
possessions with you are tremendous. As it is, most people simply don't
know how, or don't think it can be done.

------

What Others are Saying About the Travelite FAQ:

John McManus, president of Magellan's:
"You are providing such a valuable service. Keep it up!"

Tony Leto of Lavi Industries (manufacturer of airline luggage sizers):
"I enjoyed  your web site.  As a long time, firm believer of the 'if you
can't carry it don't bring it' concept of travel I certainly could
empathize with your suggestions."

Helen Trillian Rose, primary moderator for
misc.transportation.air-industry:
"This is the best traveling light FAQ I've ever seen--and that's
impressive because I *still* haven't mastered it."

Doug Dyment, fellow pea-in-the-pod traveliter and self-described
"compleat carry-on traveler," on his web site (reviewed in this FAQ):
"The best Internet-accessible information resource that conforms to the
(pack light) philosophy espoused here is Lani Teshima-Miller's superb
Travelite FAQ...In addition to a great deal of useful information and
philosophy, it contains an abundance of links to other Internet
resources. The only thing I dislike about this document is that Lani
wrote it before I did! I try to console myself with the thought that she
also has to maintain it. :-)"

Peggy, via email from AOL:
"My public thanks to the author of this wonderful FAQ. IMHO, it's great!
We travel with our pooch, so packing light is a real necessity for us as
we promptly defeat all our hard work by adding the dog and her goodies.
However, it would be impossible if we didn't make every possible effort
to travel with just that carry on. To be honest, we've not quite got it
right yet. We've still got the carry on each and one check in, but with
help like this, we just may reach our goal on our next trip!" from
 "Cynosure" via email: "I have just printed out your Travelite FAQ and
want to applaud your effort. Not only are you a seasoned traveler but
also a terrific writer. You managed to distill the wisdom of others and
give the piece your voice as well."

"I'm a big fan of your Travelite FAQ," from Mark Langer, via email from
Canada.

 "Too funny: How to teach Americans to travel lite... ;-)))" from Lars
Bindzus, via email from Denmark.

------

Legal Stuff: Copyright And Dissemination

Under the Berne Convention, this document is Copyright (c) 1996, 1997
and 1998 by Lani Teshima-Miller, all rights reserved. Permission is
granted for it to be reproduced electronically on any system connected
to the various networks which make up the Internet as long as it is
reproduced in its entirety, unedited, and with this copyright notice
intact. Web sites are included. Individual copies may also be printed
for personal use. This document was produced for free redistribution. If
you paid money for it, not only did you do so unnecessarily, but none of
the money went to the person who did the work of producing the document.

 If you would like to include parts of my FAQ in your web site or FAQ,
please give me proper credit by including '"Travelite FAQ: How to travel
with just a carry-on" by Lani Teshima-Miller , (c) 1996."

 While you are allowed individual copies of the FAQ, that does NOT mean
my FAQ is in the public domain. To quote Jeffrey Knapp, "Lately,
spaghetti publishers have taken to exploiting FAQs and lists, often
publishing them without obtaining written permission. This is an abuse
of copyright laws, and threatens the continued viability of the FAQ
system which benefits us all."

 If you have a travelite-related web page that is not in the resource
list, or would like to email me with more travelite tips, please email
me.

------

Who Is The Author?

I have been active with Internet newsgroups for about seven years
(beginning in my days as a graduate library student), and have been
maintaining news.answers-approved FAQs for almost four years. I am NOT:
A professional travel writer; a business traveler; or a rough-it
traveler who carries a sleeping bag, tent and cooking utensils. Rather,
I consider travel (and the planning for travel) to be a serious hobby,
and these days, I fly over 30,000 miles a year.

A naturalized US citizen born in Japan, my years in adolescence and
adulthood have been spent living in the state of Hawaii. Most of my
travels until recently have been short--between four days to two weeks.
But having lived on the island of Oahu, which is 2,400 miles from the
nearest major land mass, it meant that any travel away from home
requires a fairly long-haul flight (minimum five hours). It also means I
can't travel with tons of clothing in the trunk of my car. In late 1997
I moved to Texas, where I currently reside. I have yet to travel by car,
but expect to keep my travelite philosophy and perhaps add a picnic
cooler to the back seat.

The purpose of this
Travelite FAQ is to provide free information to beginning travelers who
have never had the opportunity to travel with the minimal amount of
luggage. Some experienced travelers will think this information is
pretty basic--but there will always be novices among us. As an
Internet-primary document, I have reviewed web sites where you can
obtain merchandise or further information.

Acknowledgements:
Thanks go out to the following for their support and suggestions: M
Carling, who has attained the coveted "1K" Mileage Plus status on United
Airlines by flying over 100,000 miles in a calendar year (and who has
actually flown over 200,000 miles in 1996); Charles H. Drummond, for his
tips about electrical adapters; Doug Dyment, fellow pea-in-a-pod
travelite fanatic; Mats Henricson, maintainer of the "Universal Packing
List FAQ"; Mark Langer, who raves about MEI; Al Lutz, the Disneyland
Information Guide FAQ maintainer; fellow librarian Audrey Rice, who
suggested the digital egg timer; and Larry Stone, my "inside connection"
at United Airlines. Thanks also go out to the many individuals who have
added a link to their web pages. Many of them are listed at the end of
this document.

------

Introduction

My parents and I were always a suitcase family. I have fond memories of
my mother bouncing on the suitcases to get them to close. So when I got
to take my first solo trip in the early '80s, from Hawaii to the West
Coast at 19, I took one large suitcase for my 10-day trip.

The airplane landed at Los Angeles International. I had to catch a bus
to my friend's house. To do this, I had to go to the luggage carousel,
find and retrieve my suitcase, then walk out to the arrival area.
Oh--did I mention my suitcase didn't have wheels, and that I'm only
5'3"? There I was, lugging the heavy suitcase to the bus stop, auto
exhaust obscuring my path. As I looked up, I gritted my teeth and
proclaimed, "If god is my witness, I'll never carry lots of luggage
again!"
 ...hence I began my long journey to become a carry-on only traveler.

 The one thing that continually baffles me, is the amount of luggage
people carry when they vacation here in Hawaii. Hawaii! As I write this
in February, when the rest of the US Mainland is experiencing their
coldest winter, my air conditioned office is colder than the outside
(which is a clear, balmy low 80s F). My mind swirls every time I see
them at the airport. Suitcases!! People checking in their maximum
allowable numbers of luggage! Are they buying 500 cartons of
chocolate-covered macadamia nuts?

------

Advantages of Travelite v. Traveload

"Lost luggage."

For some, this phrase evokes nervous smiles and sympathetic nods. For
others, it's no laughing matter.

Most travelers I've encountered seem to fall into two categories: The
"bring everything you might need" traveload camp, and the "bring only
what you use" travelite camp. I've talked extensively with those that
fall into Group 1 to try to find out why they like to take everything.
Oftentimes, it is because they like to be prepared for all types of
situations. I can think of a few. How about losing your luggage? Or
having your luggage broken into? How about having to go to the airport
earlier than the traveliter, or having to wait around the luggage
carousel long after the traveliter has caught a cab (or better yet--the
swift train system for a fraction of the cost) to town?

What most people don't realize is that a seasoned traveliter is just as
prepared for most situations as the "traveloader." For example, a trip
to New Orleans to visit my in-laws a few years ago included attending a
wedding I did not know I was attending. Instead of going out and buying
a new outfit, I simply wore a set of black coordinates that I accented
with a pretty scarf and I fit right in!

Let's take a minute to look at some of the advantages of traveliting:

-Carry everything yourself.
-Don't have to tip porters.
-Don't have to get to the airport as early as the traveloader.
-Don't have to worry about your checked luggage ending up in another
city (or even another continent).
-Don't have to worry about someone
stealing your checked luggage.
-If you miss your connection, easily rebook yourself without worrying
about where your luggage will end up.
-Easily volunteer to be bumped on a full flight.
-Zip immediately off the airplane to your destination, instead of
waiting at the luggage carousel.
-Probably catch the bus or train to get someplace, instead of having to
pay more to catch a cab (and paying extra for your luggage).

Be aware however, that there are a few disadvantages:

-Depending on your length of travel, you will have to wash some of your
clothes.
-If the weather turns suddenly very bad, you will probably not have
packed severe-weather clothes.

...but then, would you have done this even as a traveloader?

------

Indispensable Resources For The Traveliter

There is a more comprehensive resource list at the end of this FAQ. This
section lists those that I feel everyone should at least take a look at.
Disclaimer: I produce this FAQ for free. I have not been paid by any of
the following for their inclusion here, nor do I get any commercial gain
from this listing.

If you decide to contact any of these places, please do me a favor by
mentioning that you read about them here on the Travelite FAQ! Thanks!

In the process of becoming a traveliter, I believe everyone should try
to get their hands on the following:

Magellan's: For More Comfortable, Safe and Rewarding Travel

Address: 110 W. Sola Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101 U.S.A
Voice:   800-962-4943; 805-568-5400
Fax:     800-962-4940; 805-568-5406
Email:   sales@magellans.com
URL:     http://www.magellans.com

Magellan's finally has its own vanity domain web site. They are now even
taking orders online, and their online catalog looks as comprehensive as
their print catalog. You may have travel-related stores in your nearest
mall, but Magellan's, IMHO, is the king of mail-order travel
merchandise. I've never seen any other place with more or better travel
"stuff" than these guys. They've got everything from money belts and
travel packs to collapsible water bottles and toiletry kits. They also
specialize in electrical adapters and converters.

 I have shopped with Magellan's these last few years, and their customer
service (both mail order and in person) are incredible (to a level I
thought was basically non-existent in the '90s). Drop by their store if
you're ever in Santa Barbara. I was a bit surprised at the small size of
their store, but it made perfect sense since they specialize in minimal
packing.

TravelSmith: Outfitting Guide and Catalog from TravelSmith

Address: P.O. Box 9187, San Rafael, CA 94912-9187 USA
Voice:   800-950-1600 (US); 415-455-8050 (International)
Fax:     415.455.0329
Email:   service@travelsmith.com
URL:     http://www.travelsmith.com

TravelSmith is once again back on the web, this time with their own
domain name. Their site is fully operational now, with many of their
catalog items as well as online shopping.

What Magellan's is to travel ",;stuff" TravelSmith is to travel
clothing. The folks at TravelSmith call themselves "the Gurus of Travel
Wear," and I have to admit their products are both unique and
impressive. For example, many of their outfits (for both women and men)
are lightweight and wrinkle-resistant. Their prices are a bit on the
higher side if you're used to other mail order firms like LLBean and
Lands' End, but TravelSmith outfits seem tailored for traveliters. Note
that there is some merchandise overlap between Magellan's and
TravelSmith, although it is minimal.

The Packing Book: Secrets of the Carry-On Traveler

Author:    Gilford, Judith
Format:    Revised, Paperback
Publisher: Ten Speed Press
Pub. Date: 1994, revised June 1, 1996
ISBN:      0898158214
Ordering information available at Amazon.com as well as other online
sites such as Book Passage, which also carries other travel-related
books.

This book well-capsulizes the travelite philosophy. I've bought copies
of these for my traveload friends, much to their appreciation. There are
other books on similar subjects, but hers touches the most bases. It
goes into far more detail about choosing luggage and clothing than I
have room for here, including shopping checklists. I use some of her
tips myself, and I recommend taking a look at it if you have a chance.

------

Luggage

Many readers may be flying as part of their travel. If this is you,
remember that the airlines limit the amount, and size of the carry-ons.
Some airlines are more strict than others on the size limitations,
although this seems to be more the case on very full flights, or during
the holidays when people carry lots of shopping bags loaded with wrapped
presents.

When you go to the airport, the airlines supply their check-in counter
areas with luggage sizers, which are metal frames in which you can
"test" your bag. Place your bag inside the sizer. If it doesn't fit, you
are supposed to check it in. Of course with travelite, the idea is to
avoid packing that much in the first place.

It is important for you to know what the size allowances are. The FAA
only specifies a maximum total dimension of 45 inches. Each airline has
slight differences. The maximum-allowable bag (I call it a "maxibag";
what Doug Dyment calls a victim of "creeping bloat syndrome" by the
manufacturers) for Delta, Northwest and United Airlines are 9" x 14" x
22", while American limits its carry-ons to 9" x 13" x 23". Supposedly,
this is the largest that will fit under your seat. To be honest, I have
never been able to stuff a maxibag under my seat; I usually end up
putting it up in the overhead. In addition, if you use the soft-sided
Cordura-fabric travel packs that I recommend to you in this FAQ, your
pack will end up larger than the above size if you stuff it! Here is an
easier way to remember the maxibag limit: 21" by 14 "by 7". Everything
is in multiples of 7! Handy, huh?

Being forced to use the overhead has some disadvantages. If you board
after others in your seating area, some people may have taken up all the
overhead room. Did you know that the overhead bin above you is not
reserved to your seat? If your maxibag is heavy, you may have to heave
it up into the overhead; something difficult if you are not tall. FAA
regulations apparently prohibit the flight attendants from heaving them
for you as well. Having to retrieve your bag from the overhead also
takes extra time if you need to leave the plane right away (e.g. for a
tight connection). On the other hand, bags that fit under the seat can
be used as an ottoman or foot stool (especially for short-legged folks
like me). If you have a little "flight bag" like I do (that includes ear
plugs, eyeshade, etc.), you might want to take that out before you stash
your maxibag in the overhead; your other option might be to use a travel
pack with a zip-off day pack, so you can leave the day pack by your feet
for easy access.

Most airlines limit you to two carry-ons. However, there are some items
that are not counted toward your carry-on allowance. These include
things such as umbrellas, cameras, and small purses. However, be aware
that large hefty camera bags and purses [yes ladies--you know what kind
I mean! I used to carry large purses with me that had three-year-old
rolls of Life Savers that magnetically attracted lint balls. I called my
purse "the Black Hole" because things got sucked in and I never saw them
again] do get counted as their own carry-ons, and not freebies.

If you are used to domestic travel in the US, you will be surprised that
the airlines tend to be stricter about this carry-on limit on
international flights. Apparently, carry-ons when weighed in pounds
aren't too heavy--but as soon as they get beyond our own borders, the
weight of our bags somehow convert themselves to kilograms--and whoa
nelly--cursed are those kilogram-heavy carry-on bags! If there is more
than one unit of them, down they go to the plane's underbelly!

Do keep in mind that "trying to get away with as much as you can carry
on" is not in line with the travelite philosophy. Those who overload
themselves in the cabin become nuisances to others. How many times have
YOU been hit in the face with a shoulder bag of someone walking past you
in the aisle? Seen too-heavy bags fall from the overhead bin onto a
passenger's head? Seen someone taking up more than a reasonable amount
of overhead bin space?

------

Duffel Bag

------

The traditional duffel bag with the hand strap and optional shoulder bag
has been an old standby for many years. There are a couple of different
types of duffel bags. There is the log, or sausage-type of bag that we
usually refer to as a gym bag (although I've seen all sorts of fancy
"gym bags" lately). These are tubular, with one long zipper across the
top.

Some fancier duffel bag models are now available from companies such as
LL Bean. These are designed specifically as carry-ons. Some have
C-shaped zippers on the top, making it easy to pack folded clothing into
the bag. Many of these types of bags have side pockets that can hold
toiletries or important papers. Eagle Creek's "Cargo Voyager" bags have
the added feature of zip-away backpack straps on the back of the bag,
allowing users to carry the bags hands free.

Advantages: These gym bags are usually very lightweight. Without too
many pockets or compartments, you won't forget where you put things. The
single compartment will also make it fairly easy to stuff with your
clothing. Things like rolled socks will find room fairly easily in this
bag.

Disadvantages: Many gym bags are not made of very hefty fabric. Carried
for long periods of time, the seams can fray pretty easily. Many of
these bags are also long and skinny, making it difficult to place under
the seat.

Important features to look for:

-Make sure the seams seem strong.
-Make sure the zippers do not seem too flimsy.
-Look for a little loop at one end, through which you can install a
little padlock (and lock it onto the end of your zipper).
-Look for a separate set of short handles in case you need to pull your
bag quickly.
-Look for detachable shoulder straps.
-Look to make sure the shoulder straps are adjustable.
-Shoulder straps should have a pad on it to protect your shoulder.

------

Shoulder Bag

------

The term "shoulder bag" can be used for many things, but in travel,
usually conjures images of the standard shoulder-strapped carry-on bag.
We've come a long way from the old Pan Am bag, though--those were little
more than the previous duffel bag, shaped into a rectangle and sewn with
faux leather (made from the hide of the elusive North American Nauga).

Some of the more common travel shoulder bags today come from companies
such as Lands' End, which is famous for its soft-sided cotton
briefcases.

Advantages: Since these are made with travel in mind, the construction
is generally better than duffel bags. They usually also have exterior
zippered pockets for things such as your plane tickets. They usually
also have small handles in addition to shoulder straps, which are
usually detatchable to stash out of the way.

Disadvantages: As is with all shoulder bags, you are limited to carrying
your bag only on one shoulder at a time. If you have a particularly
heavy load and are walking a distance, you might feel like you shrunk a
couple of inches when you reach your destination. If you do not want to
carry the weight, you would need a separate luggage cart.

Important features to look for:

-Make sure the seams seem strong.
-Make sure the zippers do not seem too flimsy (look for YKK zippers).
-Look for a little loop at one end, through which you can install a
little padlock (and lock it onto the end of your zipper).
-Look for a separate set of short handles in case you need to pull your
bag quickly.
-Look for detachable shoulder straps.
-Look to make sure the shoulder straps are adjustable.
-Shoulder straps should have a pad on it to protect your shoulder.

------

Garment Bag

------

Garment bags are meant to be carried on. They are supposed to sit
lightly in your overhead, or hang in a closet on the plane. The garment
bag is the standard piece of luggage for those traveling on business, as
it keeps clothes from wrinkling. Unfortunately, a goodly amount of
people abuse their garment bags in ways the manufacturers never intended
(or are willing to admit). This abuse comes in the form of stuffing them
so full that they barely snap at the bottom closures together.

Have you ever seen a traveler carrying a garment bag that looks so
stuffed the traveler might as well be wearing a red suit and a jiggling
belly? Garment bags, unlike any of the other bags listed here, seem to
expand exponentially when overstuffed. That is, when there are too many
items packed into a garment bag, it makes the bag very difficult to fold
over at the shoulder strap points. This causes the garment bag to look
like an A-frame house, where the two bottom ends are spread way out.

For the purposes of this FAQ, I do not
recommend the use of a garment bag as your carry-on. If you are
traveling and you must take one with you, use something like the
minimalist Eagle Creek Cargo Commuter Suiter , which fold in thirds and
fit under your seat.

Advantages: Airline personnel will usually never ask you to check in a
garment bag. Clothing will wrinkle less. You might have the benefit of
having a flight attendant hang your bag for you in the closet.

Disadvantages: Too easy to overstuff. Most models do not fit under the
seat. Limited to suits, dresses and other items that hang well.

Important features to look for

-Make sure the seams seem strong.
-Make sure the zippers do not seem too flimsy.
-Look for a little loop at one end, through which you can install a
little padlock (and lock it onto the end of your zipper).
-Look for a separate set of short handles so you do not have to rely on
your shoulder strap
-Look for detachable shoulder straps.
-Look to make sure the shoulder straps are adjustable.
-Shoulder straps should have a pad on it to protect your shoulder.
-Look for a clasp or clip on the bottom of your garment bag, so that you
can keep the two ends of the bag together.
-Make sure there is a handle or a hanger that will allow you to hang the
garment bag lengthwise in the airplane's closet.

------

Rolling Upright

------

The story I've seen in TravelPro's ads is that the inventor of the
"Rollaboard" (TM) is a former airline employee who combined a piece of
carry-on luggage with a luggage cart. For years, these rolling uprights
were the exclusive domain of airline personnel, who had you thinking it
was a status symbol.

These are the current darlings of the travel circuit. Unless you've been
in the rugged outbacks of Mars, you've probably seen these around. You
certainly can't miss them when you're at the airports. In fact, your
odds of tripping over someone's rolling upright is probably as high as
your walking into someone representing a religious cult who wants to
convert you or sell you magazines.

Nowadays, every luggage company has its own version of the rolling
upright. Some are soft-sided, some are molded. Some have extra straps,
clips and pockets. But all have two elements in common. The first is
that they all have two wheels, and the second is that they all have a
telescoping handlebar that extends lengthwise out of its body, allowing
you to pull it like a not-quite-yet-trained puppy.

One thing to be particularly careful about: Because of the popularity of
this style, many luggage manufacturers have adopted the
wheel-and-handlebar format to entire lines of luggage. Just because you
see these features, no longer means they fit as a carry-on bag. Also,
you need to inspect the bag carefully before making the buy. The handles
have to go somewhere when they're not telescoped out. Where do they go?
Is the casing for it on the outside (where it adds to the external size
of the bag), or on the inside (where it takes up precious packing
space)? Those with the casing on the inside usually have one big bump
sticking right up along the middle of the bottom. How hard will packing
be for you then?

Advantages: These bags are miracles for people with bad backs or who
have trouble lifting and carrying heavy items. Rolling uprights are
great if you intend to stay in metropolitan areas with modern amenities,
where all the streets are paved. This means going straight from the
airport to a taxi, to a hotel with a porter.

Disadvantages: While paved roads are fine, these bags are terrible over
unpaved paths. They are also rather inconvenient to lug up and down a
flight of stairs. They also do not do so well in public transportation:
They're awkward on your lap, take up a lot of room on the aisle, and
mark you as a tourist or traveler. Most of all, keep in mind that they
really are like dogs. That is, you keep it on a leash, and you get it to
sit and stay (and roll over when it goes in the overhead). But you can't
carry it under your arm or over your shoulder when its
paws--erm...wheels--get tired from the bumpy pebbles on the road.

 Don't know what to look for when choosing a rolling upright? Read
"Flight-crew luggage" from Consumer Reports (December 1, 1995 v 60 n
12).

Important features to look for:

-Make sure the seams seem strong.
-For soft-sided versions, make sure the corners aren't too flimsy.
-Make sure the zippers do not seem too flimsy.
-Look for a little loop at one end, through which you can install a
little padlock (and lock it onto the end of your zipper).
-Make sure the telescoping handlebar can be locked in place.
-Make sure wheels are easy to roll, and are not too recessed as to make
it difficult to lug up a flight of stairs.
-Look for a hook in the front to hang extra bags.

------

Backpack

------

There are two different types of backpacks: The rugged ones built for
serious outdoor camping/hiking, and the ones that carry your books to
class. Depending on their size, both could be used for travel. However,
some hiking backpacks use external frames, making them impossible to
carry on. To check them in, many people wrap them in a large plastic bag
to contain all of the various straps and things that would get snagged.

Bookpacks are a great way to go, especially if you can find a large one
to carry everything you need. Some of them have side pockets that fit
pairs of shoes or umbrellas. Most bookpacks comfortably fit under the
seat, and they do not have too many straps to get in the way. They have
the added benefit of being very comfortable to carry, because their
shoulder straps are almost always padded. Some models also have padded
backs for added comfort. Some even have waist straps, to distribute the
load on your back well.

Important: If you decide to use a backpack, here is my sternest warning:
Do not use a top-loading bag (the type with a cinch closure on the top
only). You've seen them--they saw a real boon the last two or three
years. The smaller ones were particularly popular with young women, who
used them as purses. These packs are very difficult to find things in,
because the opening is small and only at the top. You will end up
messing up your nicely packed stuff because you can't find this or that.
Use a bag with a fairly full C-shaped zipper all the way across the
front.

Advantages: Easy to carry, easy to clean. Comfortable to walk with for
long distances, easier to look casual in. Can serve double purpose by
being a day pack once you reach your travel destination.

Disadvantages: You look like a low-budget traveler or a college student,
and you can't really carry the backpack any other way besides one

Section 1 of 3 - Prev - Next
All sections - 1 - 2 - 3

© allanswers.org | Terms of use