Traveling Light:: Part 1 – Luggage

All adventures have a beginning. And ours is in just 5 short days. As we travel through 11 cities in 4 countries over 5 months, we make the bold decision to travel carry-on only. We did it once before, but only for 8 weeks in Europe. This time, we’re heading to Southeast Asia, with one roller-board carry-on and backpack each. Since it took some strategy & planning, I thought I’d put together a blog series on this packing process.

Having the right suitcase & backpack were essential. My previous bag had one too many tosses down the luggage chute. It was time for an upgrade. I decided to boldly try a hard case, with spinner wheels. I turned to the luggage experts, Target. [OK, I really I just looked where I could afford.] And for $60, I had a 22″ Skyline Hardside  carry-on suitcase.

Additionally, I needed a backpack that I could carry well, and one that would hold my camera gear, because when we travel, we document. So we found a backpack by Kata, that specializes in travel media gear. I picked out this one, and haven’t looked back. This will be my second trip with this backpack, and I’m just a fan. It’s easy to carry, and quite accessible. The bottom half with all the camera gear keeps everything secure, but also is easy to get into. The rear laptop sleeve makes security a breeze. Probably my favorite feature [and most envied by my hubby] is the strap that allows it to sit nicely on my suitcase, without fear of falling over.

So there you have it! The only luggage that this American girl is bringing for 5 months in Southeast Asia! Up next, what in the world will I wear for 5 months?!

Find out how my packing system held up after 6 months on the road!