Updating our Travel Gear (and introducing our Level 8 bags)
We’re halfway through a month-long trip through Spain. It’s been our first major trip together since the beginning of Covid (ie. almost 2 years ago).
It’s also marked another change in the way we travel.
The above was us when we started travelling full-time in 2014 (Lissette had her own backpack that you don’t see in the photo). There’s no doubt we overpacked. But at the time we had no base/no home and Lissette was still working (she had 2 computers just for work, along with notebooks, files…)
By the 2nd year (2015) we had changed our gear, dumping the backpacks for 2 oversized suitcases along with 2 slightly oversized backpacks (like student backpacks, but slightly bigger). It was still a lot of stuff but it was easier to manage. But then we started getting charged for overweight luggage (because of the suitcases) every time we got on a plane…
It was only in 2018, after a year of living in Croatia, that we decided that we had to travel much lighter. It was then that we replaced the oversized suitcases for a couple of Samsonite carry-on sized rolling suitcases. Everything was carry-on sized so we no longer had to check in baggage. It made a huge difference to the way we travelled. But we still thought we could do better. The major problem was that those over-sized backpacks were good in carrying our stuff from A to B but they weren’t comfortable for everyday sightseeing. We had to pack a couple of bicycle-courier type sidebags for that (Cocotte, made in Quebec, is a great brand if looking for something like that).
On this trip we’ve replaced our oversized backpacks with 2 new, top-of-the-line, normal-sized backpacks. They’re by Level 8 and they’re easily the most modern travel equipment we’ve used with independent laptop departments, lots of pockets for organization, padded straps…. What we especially like is that the backpacks are durable for carrying our stuff from place to place but also light (they’re made with some kind of ultra-modern, water repellent Polyester fabric) enough to use as daypacks while sightseeing. We’re 2 weeks into our trip and they’ve already changed the way we travel. We’ll be doing a detailed review of them after our month of travel.
Judging from what we see when we travel, packing (and travel gear), is something people struggle with. We see people lugging huge suitcases and wonder if they’ve packed their entire wardrobe. They pull them up stairs at train stations and lug them through the cobblestoned streets of Europe’s old towns. They no doubt pay huge penalty fees for overweight luggage when getting on flights. We used to be guilty of the same. The thing we’ve learned is that lighter is always better.
How do you travel? And how has your travel style evolved with time?
Related: A Review of our Level 8 Backpacks
While I was reading your note I was laughing remembering our first trip to Europe back there in 1984, my wife and I, each has two full suitcases, we traveled by train from London to Paris, from Nice to Genoa and from Rome-Florence-Venice to Milan, by that time we were compulsive buyers so each day our bags were heavier and always they were wider than the train’s aisles. The following time we went to Europe was 23 years later with one full bag each and a hand bag (still a lot), I decided next time I was packing myself and it reduced a lot, year after year we have been reducing and right now for 5 years we have been traveling for one month each time with a carry-on each and a backpack, yes, the difference is BIG, we look at our travel partners each with a full suitcase and ironing shirts and pants on a daily basis and we thank God for what we have learned.
By the way, due to work issues we had to postpone our trip from April-May to September-October if possible. Say hello to Lissette, continue having a good time in your trip through Spain.
So true Carlos, it’s so much easier the less you have. We’re constantly doing it lighter as well and even on this trip we’ve learned about a few things we didn’t need. So even lighter the next time…
Sorry to hear about the postponement Carlos. Stay safe and maybe we see you sometime in the Autumn.
I’ve done much the same journey, inspired by Tynan in particular, who travels in a very minimalist fashion (see for example: https://tynan.com/gear2022/)
In particular, switching to wool underwear and then washing it quickly in the shower with baby schampoo has proven to be a game changer. I only bring 2 socks, 2 boxer briefs and 2 t-shirts regardless of how long I’m away.
Very true. It’s also important to remember that there are 2 sides to underwear 🙂