Why pack light?

Something of a cult has emerged within the past several years around the whole idea of one-bag packing. Travelers who like to see how long they can go with just the bare necessities. There are as many arguments for becoming a carry-on minimalist as there are one-bag wanderers out there.  In my book "A Guy's Guide to 1-Bag Travel," I share what I think are some of the most compelling reasons:

·       If you need to change flights at the last minute, you can.  You know that thing where your connecting flight is delayed or canceled, but you could still make it your destination be jumped on a flight? And you’re standing there across the counter from the nice lady with the magic computer and she’s making loud clicking sounds with the keyboard, pausing, and then clicking again? And then in a low, conspiratorial voice she asks, “did you check luggage?” And how, if you say “why yes I did” she points you to join a group of huddled sad people who look like immigrants at Ellis Island who aren’t allowed in because they have typhoid or the wrong kinds of lumps on their heads? Ah, but if you answer “no ma’am I did not,” and she reaches down to the magic printer shelf and hands you a boarding pass and says “run, run to gate C 25 why aren’t you running already?”

·      No more lost luggage. They can’t lose your luggage if it’s with you at all times, and especially if – as will be my recommendation – it’s on your back. I travel a lot, and it seems that the airlines do a pretty good job getting luggage to its intended destination. But I have had the experience of misplaced luggage on a couple of occasions and it’s always a major headache. I pack pretty carefully, and if something is in the suitcase I probably need it, and waiting a day or even two days is super inconvenient.

·       No more busted luggage. If you pack so light you’re able to keep everything with you at all times, your bag will never leave your sight. You never have to wonder who’s handling (i.e., tossing or kicking or dropping) your personal things.

·       Save money, and lots of it. Checked luggage fees start at $25, and over the course of multiple flights we are talking hundreds of dollars. Upon arrival, the one-bag traveler has many more options for moving around the destination city. With 2 or 3 bags, an expensive taxi is really the only option. The minimalist visitor, however, can hop on a shuttle or train or city bus. Do the math yourself and determine how much you might save if you started traveling as a one-bag minimalist.

·       Save time at both ends of each flight. If you check in online ahead of time, and have the boarding pass on your phone, you can skip the whole weighing and checking of the luggage. And upon arrival, you head straight for the train or taxi and skip the 15 or 20 minute wait for baggage to arrive.

·       Cut out a lot of stress. If you’re at the airport with more than one piece of luggage, there’s always a small part of you that is worrying – do I have everything? Am I missing something? And even though luggage usually arrives to its destination, there’s that whole anxious waiting-for-luggage period. Jockeying for position, watching dozens of similar looking bags making their way around the carousel. Like parents picking up their children from summer camp, the worried look, the wondering “has something happened? Is every thing okay?” And maybe you’ve arrived early and so you’ll spend some time at a streetside café before you check in at your hotel. The cooler the city, the less cool it looks to enjoy your tiny cup of coffee surrounded by bags and suitcases. And upon checking into your hotel, the multi-back traveler has that weird moment when he is confronted by a helpful bellhop who wants to know if the gentleman would like some help with his bags. Sure, you’ve tried avoiding eye contact, but still they will offer. I always declined the offer, and wonder if that makes me look cheap or ill bred, but who wants that long awkward elevator ride with a stranger carrying your luggage to your room? The one-bag traveler never faces such a challenge. Nobody asks a guy with one small bag whether he needs help with that.


    Check out my guide to minimalist travel hacks and strategies at Amazon!