Have I selected my capsule wardrobe? Did I use the Sudoku method. Wellllll … maybe.
But okay, I sort of cheated: I added one more pair of ultra-light pants since we are doing a week-long walk and I know I might get those pants too dirty to wear in public aside from the walks, and I added one more very lightweight top that may or may not be removed before I finally zip the backpack up. The colors you see in the photo are a bit off, but close enough for me not to tweak things. Boring? Maybe. But comfortable and a good variety for cold or more temperate weather. Of course you don’t see pjs, socks, and underwear in this photo. Nor do you see the extra pair of shoes that look a bit nicer in case we go out to something that feels like it calls for something other than the shoes I will use most of the time.
The things that cause weight issues aren’t these clothes (the row with the black and beige “shacket”, black pants, and gold-ish colored top on the right will be worn on the plane, along with the heavier pair of shoes I have). (And hey, Woolx, You are the “all of it” aside from the puffer jacket above!) It’s all the rest of the stuff I have to bring.
There’s the toiletries bag, but honestly I don’t bring all that much! I don’t wear makeup, and I don’t bring soap or shampoo. (Side note: I cannot believe what some women have to bring on a trip. The amount of “product” is astounding. Good thing I’m too lazy to bother with makeup!) But I do need toothpaste and our electric toothbrush and brushes (I carry both mine and Dan’s as it all fits into a case). I have a lightweight brush and comb, and a couple of barrettes and hair bands. There’s sunscreen and deodorant, of course, and … gosh it alljust gets heavier than you might imagine.
And then … we are going to places where we might be in wind and rain, so I have to add a rain jacket, rain pants, and a rain hat. I have to bring a little bag of things I hope not to use — like a trowel if I have to “create” my own bathroom (yeah, really), wipes, and fun things like that. It would be lovely if that bag never gets opened. I’m happy to say it didn’t when we did our Portugal walk, and our walks this time are shorter than those so I will remain hopeful.
Still, it just amazes me how heavy things are once I put it all together. I just might have to pull a few things out. Time will tell.
Maybe I’ll nix my wool scarf. I’m sure that will make the load much lighter. Heh.
And don’t forget the electronics, cables, adapters, chargers, and power banks!
Yep! That batch of stuff goes into my allowed “personal item” that should fit under my seat. I have a 20L Patagonia backpack that will hold that bag of electronic goodies, my iPad, my camera bag (one camera, two lenses), all necessary things like passport, license and the like, and medications. Plus a few other things I have to bring along — passing mail on to a brother I’ll be seeing partway through the trip, for one thing.
What is your method for packing the camera and lenses in the backpack? I am planning to get a new backpack for my summer travels, and ideally I could fit my laptop, noise cancelling headphones, camera and two lenses, cables, etc, and smaller personal items in it. I know that Poo eak Design has camera inserts that work with their backpacks. Or I might use my camera bag, which looks like a large purse, as my small personal item.
Hi Lisa,
I only bring my little Fuji X-E4 camera with my macro lens attached, and one zoom lens. They easily fit into an Altura bag I purchased (sadly from Amazon which I’m attempting to avoid — the bag has since been discontinued), and that, in turn, fits into my personal carryon which is a Patagonia Atom 20L tote pack. The Patagonia is then the little pack I use when we do our week-long walks, and the camera bag is either inside of it if it’s raining, or it’s in front of me so I can easily access the camera.
For flights my camera bag is at the bottom of the Patagonia pack. I also then pack my iPad, my cables and whatnot (the battery pack is supposed to be in the bag that can fit under a seat), my passport wallet and all that jazz, my AirPods, phone, medications, my empty, very squishable purse (for when I go out to dinner and don’t feel like lugging along a pack of any sort), a lightweight metal water bottle, and maybe a couple other small items.
I use the Osprey Sojourner 46L for everything else. It, too, is allowed as carryon most of the time. It *might* be nixed for a small flight we will have during our upcoming trip, but according to what I’m reading it actually still qualifies on that flight. I’m hoping!
Every time I look at Peak Design packs I kind of “ooh and aah” but then I realize they are just too busy for me. I do have one of their older versions of a sling bag and I’ve just never used it. It just isn’t right for my needs.
This is much more than you needed to read, I’m sure!
Thank you, Patty, that absolutely NOT too much. It’s very helpful.
My camera is a Canon dSLR and the big lens is a Tamron 400 mm zoom. I am not sure what the smallest camera bag I can fit it in is. I think I will bring the stuff the Peak Design store in SF , which will let me ask questions and try their gear out. Similarly …I will take the gear to REI.
Ah yes, your gear wouldn’t fit in this small bag. I moved to the mirrorless for most things: my hands appreciate it! I still have my Canon and I use it when we go on car trips here, but for overseas I just find the Fuji better for me. I do miss my Canon 100mm macro lens, though!
When we arrive early for concerts in SF we do visit the PD store: I enjoy drooling at some of that gear! Then I realize it’s just a bit more than I ever need these days. Both Dan and I WERE tempted by the packs, I do confess!