Finally ditched the big suitcase for a 40L backpack after 6 months in Mexico

I used to roll a 28 inch checked bag everywhere, thinking I needed all that stuff. After a month in Oaxaca dealing with cobblestones and tiny taxis, I switched to a single travel backpack. The difference is crazy, I save about $50 a month on baggage fees alone and can walk from a bus stop to my place without wanting to cry. It forced me to cut down to maybe 5 shirts and 2 pairs of pants, which sounds hard but honestly makes laundry day simple. Has anyone else made a switch like this and found a specific bag that holds up well on long trips?

2 comments

2 Comments

angelamason20d ago

Honestly, I was the same. I used to pack for every possible situation. Then I got stuck on a packed train in Italy with that giant roller bag, and it was a nightmare trying to move it through the crowd. I had to basically drag it over my own feet. That was the moment I switched to a 35L pack. It's beat up now, but it's been through three continents. You just realize you never wore half the stuff you brought.

samward20d ago

Saw a blog post once where a guy tracked what he actually wore on a two week trip. It was like four shirts, two pairs of pants, and one sweater. He said he spent more time worrying about the "what if" outfit for a fancy dinner that never happened than just enjoying the trip. Your Italy train story is the perfect example of why that overpacking instinct is such a trap. You end up hauling a bunch of "just in case" stuff for no reason.