Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
A great example of not packing light.
The ultimate goal for packing light is being able to fit all your stuff into a single carry-on
piece of luggage—this generally translates to a 45 lbs to 50 lbs backpack. First, it will save you
any checked bag fees that many airlines now impose. Next, you never have to worry about the
airlines losing your luggage—which is a huge nightmare if you move locations often. If you
can't limit yourself to a carry-on sized backpack, I highly suggest at least staying under 60 lbs.
You should also consider keeping the weight of your fully packed backpack under 22lbs
(10kg). If you exceed this, you run the risk of exceeding the carry-on weight limit for many
budget airlines. Even if you don't plan on taking planes, I still suggest keeping your weight
around 20lbs for general comfort.
STAYING FASHIONABLE WHILE ON THE ROAD
I know that a lot of travelers become obsessed with trying to dress like the locals. Relax. It's
going to be okay. First, you have to accept the fact that you're never going to be as fashion-
able as a fashion-conscious local—especially when you're living out of a backpack. Unlike you,
they're not spending hours on their feet as they explore the city. If they were, they too would
trade their uncomfortable dress shoes and nice clothes for something more sensible.
On the other hand, thanks to the globalization of fashion, Americans and Europeans are
pretty much purchasing their clothes at the same chain retailers, so what you see being worn
on the streets of London and Paris is pretty similar to what you'll see on the streets of New
York and Chicago. Just like in the United States, you'll find H&M, Zara, Mango, Gap, Levis,
American Apparel, and Nike stores in just about any major European city. If you want some
more inspiration about European style, check out the website of the famous French depart-
ment store Galeries Lafayette (
galerieslafayette.com
)
. It's all in French and the clothes are
fairly upscale but a lot of the fashion is geared to the hip twenty-something crowd.
