Checked Bags to 8L Personal Item as a Plus-Size Woman • Her Packing List

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This packing downsizing story was submitted by Lauren Thomas.

Nearly twenty years in the past, I went on my first massive worldwide journey to Eire. Sadly, our checked baggage didn’t be part of us till day three of the journey!

Once I bought again, I made a decision two issues: 

1) I used to be by no means going to verify a bag ever once more, and 

2) if I might make it three days with simply the garments on my again and a small purse, I might undoubtedly pack lighter. 

Right here’s how I went from touring with checked luggage to touring frequently with simply an 8L private merchandise, at the same time as a plus-sized lady.

The Journey In direction of Reaching My Packing Gentle Objectives

• 2009 (60L?) checked bag + 1 purse
• 2010 50L duffel + 1 purse (in hindsight, unsure how this bought previous the airways)
• 2011 – 2019 42L backpack + packable day backpack (in bag) + 1 purse – rocked this combo for a very long time
• 2020 – 2022 28L backpack + packable day backpack + 1 purse 
• 2023 – 2025 Both an 8L PacSafe Convertible OR 20L backpack if wanted to take laptop computer + 1L sling or 5L purse relying on journey

What adopted was spending the following few years slimming my load all the way down to a 42L backpack (the EBags Motherload Jr.).

Beginning out, I had no reference for easy methods to pack lighter. To get all the way down to a carry-on backpack, I took plenty of unsuitable turns and ended up spending some huge cash on compression packing cubes, particular journey garments, specialised toiletries luggage, and so forth. 

All of this resulted in a really stuffed, very massive, and really heavy bag that I might get away with by no means checking – nevertheless it was not what I’d name releasing.

I’m additionally fairly certain I knocked out just a few individuals when sporting it.

The Realization

After a dream journey to Japan in 2019 the place I used the baggage forwarding service, I knew I wasn’t touring as mild as I assumed I used to be – and never as mild as I wished.

On this journey, I solely carried a small 18L backpack that I shared with my companion for a whole 72 hours till we had been reunited with our full luggage.

The lightbulb went on.

I knew I might do higher so I went searching for assets. I discovered and joined r/onebag and r/heronebag on Reddit and completely learn by means of onebag.com the place I used to be launched to simpler packing methods and making a plan for laundry. 

I purchased a 28L bag with the objective to take solely that bag plus purse and whereas I used to be in a position to do it, the bag was nonetheless very full and heavy.

Enter HPL and Purse Packing Masterclass*

(*Purse Packing Masterclass is now taught in a condensed format as Baggage Freedom Express.)

Reddit can be the place I came upon about Her Packing Record. I instantly signed up for the HPL e-newsletter and was excited to affix Purse Packing Masterclass in late 2022. 

HPM revolutionized how I take into consideration packing. 

Don’t get me unsuitable, having light-weight, quick-dry clothing and decanting all your toiletries into smaller containers is a part of the equation. 

Nevertheless, shifting my mindset to figuring out my important gadgets and building a layerable, multi-purpose, trip-specific capsule wardrobe from gadgets already in my closet was a sport changer. 

Principally, HPM taught me that my “good to haves” had been weighing me down. 

My Particular Packing Gentle Outcomes

I now journey frequently with both an 8L bag or a 20L bag when I’ve to take my laptop computer for work.

I’ve used the 8L PacSafe Convertible bag for just a few journeys from in a single day to as much as 5 days. 

The most important purse I personal is 5L. I’ve dreamed of doing a protracted weekend journey with simply the 5L bag however haven’t but had the chance. 

I journey for work 3-4 occasions a 12 months the place I exploit a 20L bag (to suit my work laptop computer) however take pleasure in touring with it under-packed and beneath 7kg!

Recap

Brooke’s ultralight packing class:

• challenged my assumptions about what I assumed I wanted when touring, 
• taught me key expertise to make massive packing selections simpler, and 
• confirmed me I might simply pack for a full week in an 8L bag with a small 1L sling as a plus-size lady! 

Thanks, Lauren, for sharing your packing transformation story with us – it is rather inspiring! In case you have a luggage downsizing story to share, please contact Brooke.

Should you’d wish to make personal-item-only journey a actuality, be part of the following Baggage Freedom Categorical masterclass!