Packing Carry-On ONLY for Southeast Asia: What's in our Bags?

We did 3 months in Europe with carry-on and backpack only. Choice of clothing vital. Most of our stuff was wash and dry. Wash it in sink, hang and dry by next morning. We did however try and book places with a washer every 3 weeks or so. It worked out better than we expected. Packing cubes helped me stay organized too.

Top tip for us frequent travelers is taking a pillow case. Makes the world of difference when changing accommodations regularly to have a familiar feeling against your face when sleeping. And takes up no room in your packing to boot.

I enjoy your channel. Lots of good content. We travel for about 4-6 months of the year and have been doing so for over 10 years. After much trial and error we now use a 2-bag system where the carry-on is 55x40x20 cm and weighs 8 kg or less. The personal item (under the seat backpack) is less than 40x30x20 cm and weighs under 4 kg. We use these as guidelines because a) they meet dimension/weight guidelines for most airlines worldwide although there are many airlines especially in Asia that use a 7kg limit. Some airlines are now even introducing a combo weight i.e. the carry-on and personal item bag (under the seat bag) cannot exceed a certain weight. (I have seen 12 kg from a couple of major airlines). And yes we have had our luggage tested in those dimension boxes and have had the carry-on weighed multiple times. In order to meet the 8 kg limit for our carry-on the bag should be super light (we use a bag that is now over 10 years old that weighs 1.6 kg). There is not a lot of sense in using a bag that is heavy when empty if you are serious about complying with airline guidelines. Some get away with non-compliance on dimensions and weight for most of the time - maybe never been checked at all- but I question this strategy. My guess is a lot of airlines especially in the budget category think Ryanair, EasyJet, Norwegian make a lot of their revenue from luggage fees and I anticipate that more and more will be checking dimensions and weight. Ryanair charges now for a carry-on but not a personal item. If your luggage exceeds the Ryanair carry-on dimensions you are forced to check it and a much higher rate than the carry-on fee. And yes I saw them checking recently when I flew from Gatwick to Malaga. This likely happens more frequently when the flight is booked solid and they know overhead bins will be packed. [[The aforementioned comments do not apply (at the moment) to US carriers as most don't impose weight limits for carry-on or ignore them and are also casual about dimensions]] Is it a challenge to only carry 12 kg? It was at first but we have become very efficient and happy traveling light. We resigned ourselves to doing laundry more often -and often in the sink. Thanks again for the content you produce. Happy trails!

Something that we always take is a strong nylon cord, about 20 feet long to use primarily as a clothesline. With that length you can find good places inside or out to tie it up. It scrunches up smaller than a fist, takes up minimal space.

I ggot an Away carry on bigger bag. I love it, but when I took it to Sicily, I couldn’t lift it in the overhead bin. A kind gentleman helped me. This time we are flying to Bangkok to get on a cruise ship and ending in Japan. Remembering my last experience, I did a lot of research and ended up with a Travelpro Maxlite 5 carry on that weighs only 5.4 lbs. It is smaller than the Away. I packed it today with 4days of clothes plus 2 pairs of shoes and it feels good, and I am able to lift it up over my head. I will also take a backpack to go under the seat. Because I’m 77 and the cruise is 18 days long plus 2 nights long in a hotel I am checking my Away medium bag. If this were not a cruise, I could take much less. I could get away with just one dinner outfit and the rest be very casual and comfortable. We fly out Monday, May 29

LOL 😂. Love that you mentioned lights in bedrooms. They are the bane of my existence. In Japan the hotel rooms were loaded with so many LED lights that I bought a roll of electric tape at a convenience store and covered them all up so I could sleep.

This may sound weird, but I love rubber bands. I roll some clothes and put 1 rubber band around the article. Then when I get to the Airbnb you can use them for so many things. Especially useful for closing up bags in the kitchen….chips, rice, pasta, etc, ect. I love your vids and I’m in Mexico for a month now, but plan on going back and selling EVERYTHING and do slow travel to Latin America.

If you wear glasses, not contacts, it’s great to take an extra pair of glasses. I once broke my glasses on a trip to Mexico, and it was great to have a backup pair. I also love to bring noise cancelling headphones for flights.

As an older GenXer, I get the biker shorts no bueno as workout shorts. #iykyk 😉 Bon voyage

RICK STEVES of RICK STEVE'S EUROPE taught us a lot 30 years ago and showed us how he packs to spend 3 months overseas. He is also from your part of the world the NW He typically only took ONE carry-on like you guys He was always saying that if you needed anything more, people all around the world all live the same way and use the same things in daily life, which makes perfect sense. So, if you find you need some drugs, clothes, shoes, you CAN buy them where you are going ! I personally try to use soft checked bag luggage because it can be squeezed to fit anywhere plus the LESS the carry-on weighs, the MORE I can put in it.

I just returned from Thailand 3 weeks and Kuala Lumpur for one week. You guys are doing it right! I did the same. However on ANA airline on return home thru Tokyo a 777 plane for economy - overhead my bag would not fit unless sideways. They found room in business class luckily. Good luck on your trip! There will be more traveling now with China opening up Monday! Thai people are so kind and friendly! Enjoy and I will watch your videos!

Totally agree with you: LESS IS MORE. On my last travel to Southeast Asia, I only had TOTAL 9kg (including the weight of the luggage itself) and it was like heaven and i loved it. Carrying too much will ruin your trips. For me, 2 pairs of shoes is PLENTY and (I'm a young woman, lol). The more you travel the more you'll learn the lessons😂. On my next trip to Asia, I plan to reduce the weight to TOTAL of 7kg, as less as possible.

We travel internationally twice a year. I truly appreciate your videos. I got the make up eraser, bar shampoo, and chest bag because of you. 😊

No beers 🍻 were harmed/downed in the making of this video. 😱 Good job. You have really refined what you travel with. I got Brian’s Osprey bag, after one of your previous packing videos. I love it. Very versatile. I also travel with the Away bigger carry-on. That two bag set up has really worked well for me. Can’t wait to see where you end up going in Southeast Asia! Cheers, and happy & safe travels!!! ✈️🚅🛺🛳️

I always take a lightweight down puffer. Works as pillow or blanket.

Great tips! Also, I just wanted to mention something: you have such a noticeable good chemistry between the two of you! Kudos!

Very helpful video. With the latest news coverage during the holidays of numerous airlines with checked bags piled up in various airports around the world, it reinforces the idea to ONLY travel with a carry on bag. Rick Steves would absolutely agree. I never check a bag. Less is more. The fact that you are travelling seven months with such luggage is a PSA for one and all. Incidentally, Brian, I commend any man (and respect) who will look over what his wife/female partner packs and brings! Very dangerous territory!! How you pack is also very good to show just how much you can pack into a small space. Safe travels!

Some people recommend a few S hooks - no space and always can hang stuff. I travel with a zip pillowcase and then make it a laundry bag when I leave.

I have a soft backpack style bag from Rick Steve's Europe Thru the Back Door shop I have used for the last 15 years. It has a expansion zipper that takes it out of the carry on size and compression straps to make it so nothing is loose inside. I have had a few gate agents question it, but it always fits in the overhead bin. I have a small roller bag for the ultra low carriers like Spirit and Frontier which fits under the seat that I use for short trips, but mostly I use the larger soft bag and then I have sling bag for under seat with my laptop and things and is also a day pack. Going through the airport I wear the sling back on a front side and the backpack on the back. I also like the REI shirts and I still have some shorts with zip on legs for if I have to have long pants. I have Teva waterproof sandals, but now I probably wear my Olukai mesh sneakers, aka slippa's 90% of the time. I don't think they are technically waterproof, but they dry quickly and I don't need socks. I heard a person advocate taking used clothes on trips and donating, or binning them so they don't go on the flight home, but I don't know if that works for continuous travel. I do like light weight things that dry quickly, so you can get by with three sets of clothing if you wash one set every day or two.

You guys are great, so practical and easy to understand (also, I love your subtle humour).