Packing hacks: 5 days/1 day pack

As a woman I really hate those carry on packing videos made by men. Life is so much easier if you can fly in your professional clothes and happily reappear in the same outfit for days in a row. For some leisure time, just add a t shirt or two and a pair of jeans and/or shorts. Throw in a small dop kit/toilet bag and a bit of tech and you’re done. Day pack travel for a week or more – no problem!

While I’m relatively low maintenance, I’m not a minimalist. I tend to overpack a little for the ‘just in case’ moments, like thet time I went to a conference and spilled juice down my ‘good’ clothes before it even began!

But I hate the endless wait at the carousel plus the additional cost to check in luggage (hello post-pandemic Australian flight prices!), especially on a short trip. 

The challenge

My travel challenge this year is to fly with carry on only. A weekend away staying with friends interstate is relatively easy but add a couple of extra days and professional attire, as well as strict weight limits, it gets a little trickier. 

These interstate trips are just a warm up for the main event – will I be able to travel in SE Asia for almost a month with only carry on? Stay tuned!

The trip

Duration: 5 days/4 nights
Work (conference ) and play
Weather variable/ rain, sun, 13-28c 
Carry on luggage: Hedgren day pack 
Personal item: one small purse

Flying Australia’s strictest airline 

While the homeward flight was with Qantas (who have a more generous carryon allowance and a free checked in bag), my outward leg was on their budget carrier.

Jetstar is probably Australia’s most notorious airline when it comes to enforcing carry on limits. Most domestic tickets come with a strict 7kg (15.4 lbs) allowance, with both scales and a baggage sizer on prominent display at the gate. If caught exceeding the limit, they’ll hit you with a $50+ fee to check in your bag.

All Australian domestic airlines have a maximum height/width/depth limit of 56cm x 36cm x 23cm (with some variations of sizing by shape), while Qantas has a generous 14kg weight limit (if spread over two smaller bags), Jetstar, Rex and Virgin are half that. All allow an additional ‘personal item’ such as a purse, though if being picky an airline can include its weight towards the total allowance. Bonza the newest carrier in our skies, has an 8 kg limit.

The bag 

Instead of risking an international sized carry on wheelie bag, I went for my old faithful day pack, for 5 days of work and fun. 

My ancient blue Hedgren day pack, has been long discontinued. I have a sneaking feeling it was bought it in the late 1990s. While I’ve splashed out on flashier upgrades, none have the space and versatility of this old faithful. No padding means you can pack more in and it still fits beneath the seat in front. Being short (under 5ft 2), it makes the perfect foot rest on longer flights. When flying internationally, the front pocket fits my passport holder and liquids and gels bag perfectly for easy access. 

What I packed

Medium packing cube:
4 pairs trousers 
3 short sleeved cotton tops
3 t-shirts 
light cardigan
1 pashmina (scarf)

Small blue compression cube:
4 pairs underwear
1 bra
2 necklaces
vitamins
Dental splint

Loose items:
1 pair of sandals
toilet bag with all the usual things
Bluetooth headphones
glasses
Small umbrella
Work tote (rolled up as small as possible)
Phone charger
laptop (1.4 kg) and charger

Personal item:purse
money, phone, sunglasses, mask

I flew wearing sneakers, jeans and long sleeved top, going from 30+c to a chilly and damp 16c on arrival.

Did my cunning plan work?

No problems boarding. Total weight came in at 8.5 kg (it’s the laptop that pushed it over) but being a backpack rather than a suitcase it wasn’t weighed.

I didn’t wear 1 top and 1 pair of trousers but always like a spare because I’m essentially clumsy.  So more or less spot on packing.

This is the Tardis of day packs! Most surprised the quilted tote could squeeze in as though soft is a bit bulky. Although was prepared to wing it to use as my ‘personal item if it didn’t.  Exactly what I did on the Qantas flight home, after being gifted a bottle of wine and various other conference goodies.