5 Tips for light luggage

Are you interested in travelling light? I've pulled together a few Planepack blog posts to help you get started with your light luggage: shape, size and weight - it's all there!

Hello new travel bag

Since 2010 I've been travelling with carry on hand luggage only. I've retired my first bag - a clam-shell opening, which I loved, but it's a little too heavy. I've been looking and researching the lightest bag I can find. There's been a flurry recently of good looking cabin bags on the market so I've had a few to consider. The trouble is, most of them weigh more than two, or sometimes three kilograms. As most airlines only permit you to carry on seven kilograms in your hand luggage, I'm afraid those gorgeous bags get a thumbs-down. So what did I find? Read more . . .

Arrive like a celebrity - with carry on luggage only

Samsonite Spinner: a review

Before buying my new bag, I researched the lightest possible carry on luggage that I could find. The Samsonite Spinner weighs in at a mere 1.5 kgs. This is an excellent option for anyone travelling with carry on luggage only: the average permitted carry on weight is 7 kgs. This means you can pack in an additional 5.5 kgs of clothes and toiletries.

The Samsonite Spinner conforms to the dimensions for permitted carry on bags. I recently wrote about the variation in size and weights permitted by airlines flying in and out of Australia. Check that article for current carry on regulations. Read more . . .

My Samsonite Spinner

Airpocket: the review

‘What’s this?’ asked Mr Petman, picking up my Airpocket from the kitchen island where I sat, admiring my new purchase.

‘It’s Airpocket,’ I responded. ‘It’s a small bag designed to fit into the plane back-of-seat-pocket so that you have all your essentials at hand. What do you think?’

‘Nice,’ said Mr Petman. ‘Means I can find my passport quickly.’

‘My passport,’ I countered. ‘If you like it enough, you might have to get your own . . . I like what it looks like. See: a zip and partitions, and . . .’ I could see Mr Petman’s interest waning. ‘And it’s made of neoprene. I bet you don’t know what that is?’ I challenged. Read more . . .

My Airpocket piggybacking on my Samsonite bag

What shape is your bag?

My sister recently asked me, ‘I have a dilemma: what kind of cabin bag should I buy? I see you’ve got one that’s a clam shape. I have an old one with a single zipped opening. Must I get something different?’

My advice is: research and buy the lightest possible bag that you can find - and make sure that it is a standard size cabin bag as permitted by all airlines for carry-on. Read more . . . 

What shape is your bag?

How much hand luggage can you carry on board?

As a rule of thumb, I suggest you carry on no more than 7 kgs in your hand luggage, in a bag which should measure 56 cm x 36 cm x 23 cm. But you may be pleasantly surprised by the generosity of some airlines that allow additional weight and luggage pieces.

Check out the list in this post - and always refer to the airlines' rules and regulations before you adopt my preference for flying with hand luggage only. Read more . . .

Carry on board the lightest bags

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Meet the author

I'm Slobodanka Graham, blogger, digital publisher, and light traveler since 1977. Here I am in London, packing my striped travel bag like a pro. 

Oxford Street, London, 1977

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