I am a retired frequent flier, so now fly yearly the same amount I used to travel monthly but the trips are far longer trips of 4-6 weeks at a time. I prefer only carry on and have just changed my old carry on bag that used to be legal size to a newer bag that fits the new rules. I can get the same amount of stuff in the new bag however I just finished downsizing and have shaved 2 kg off my previous packing to getting my carry on bag to 8.1 kg. If pushed I could get down to 7 kg but probably would be moving one or two things to the personal bag and jettisoning a couple of nice to haves. Fortunately my luggage has been lost about 4 times in 40 years - 3 times on way home and once going somewhere; My luggage has eventually always showed up but you never want your luggage to get lost on the outbound flight! That’s why I always do carry on.
Getting our suitcase to a lighter weight was exhilarating. I can see that there are still many things that I can remove to bring the weight down even more, but I'm super impressed with your 8.1kg weight. We also don't like wasting time at the baggage carousel. So much better to pull it out of the overhead bin and be on our way! Thanks so much for watching! -Judy
Probably the BEST packing video I have ever seen!! Well done. I loved this one sooooooooooo much. Our last trip this past august was our lightest weight trip ever, and we STILL over packed. This video will help us get down to what we truly need. I will say though the one item I will never not take with me is a USB packable mini travel fan. I use fans on my face every single night of the year (even the middle of winter) to help me breathe. I’ll give something else up in order to pack that (to me) necessity.
Thank you so much for this huge compliment, Rebecca! And what's really empowering is that there's so much more I can see easily getting rid of if we need to drop more weight. Originally I was clinging to things because I liked them, but a bathing suit and a puffy jack that I haven't worn in more than a year? I'll buy something to wear if I absolutely need it, but they really have been so illogical to keep. I got rid of my bathing suit coverup in one of our recent destinations for the same reason. BUT if you really get value from something-and it sounds like that fan is worth it to you-then by all means keep it! When Kevin was pruning his items, we were prepared to actually let go of our wool blanket and Apple TV. It was only as I was going through my stuff that I was able to curate more because I prefer those items over some other things I was carrying! We're currently working on what the end of 2024 and 2025 look like so we have an idea of airlines we'll be using and what their weight restrictions are. I know I can easily cut one more dress, a few pairs of underwear, one Ripskirt, my hair styling tool, spices, and we'll be consuming our bar shampoo/conditioner and laundry strips as we go. I feel great knowing that I can see more to get rid of versus feeling that I need all the things! -Judy
I now have a strategy for weighing what I want to bring after watching your video. It was a lightbulb moment seeing items going into the plastic grocery bag. Previously I thought I needed to pack my suitcase, weigh, and remove items, weigh again, etc. I will be traveling next year to Australia and New Zealand and the airlines I am taking have a 7 kg weight limit for carryons.
Hi Linda, You can do it! I felt so empowered after we lowered our suitcase weight, and I'm actually motivated to trim even more. I can get rid of one Ripskirt, a couple of pairs of underwear (since I've also got bike shorts that can do double duty), my hair dryer, spices, I can remove a couple of our reusable storage bags, and we'll be consuming our bar shampoos/conditioners and laundry sheets. I'd even be willing to trim one dress if I necessary and we can eventually decide if there's some better solution to our Apple TV. I'm actually pumped to have this new freedom. Honestly, I wasn't ready until now, but it feels so great to be carrying less stuff! I'm so glad to hear that our method will help you! Thanks for watching! -Judy
@drewrichardson8789 Only on certain airlines. Some do and we have definitely been paying on many of them this past year. And we always worry about them getting lost and then being a hassle to recover or replace items. We also have encountered more than our fair share of stairs lately and having lighter bags helps with that. Thanks for watching! -Judy
Hi Deborah, Now that we've done this, I'm half tempted to downsize to a 21" international suitcase just so it looks a little smaller to some of the pickier airlines! But yes, we've been so happy! On this last flight, one of Kevin's whisky glasses got broken and his compression zipper got ripped off. Briggs & Riley is willing to send us a zipper to us overnight and pay to have it fixed for us. But we're in Morocco, so we have to figure out where we can have that done. They've already replaced his suitcase once because of a tear in the lining shortly after we bought it, so they absolutely live up to the hype of their warranty. Thanks so much for sharing your experience! -Judy
I LOVE your packing videos! I have the same suitcase and I find myself rewatching your other two packing videos all the time. Glad to see a new one. Great job!
Thank you so much! We are so happy to hear this! For the most part, Kevin's backpack hasn't changed much. He got rid of his sling for his camera equipment in the US and he was able to get a compartmentalized insert that fits into his backpack that protects all his tech. We got rid of my PacSafe day backpack and Kevin got a completely collapsible day sling that we use instead while we are taking video while we're sightseeing. We're always changing things up to optimize what we carry! -Judy
Thank you for a comprehensive and easy to understand video, y’all! I always enjoy and appreciate all your YT offerings and this one was no exception. Judy: which makeup bag are you using? We have similar makeup “supplies” and yours seemed to have endless room. 😊
Hi Anne, Thank you so much for watching and for this very kind comment! It means A LOT to us! I can't link to my cosmetics case because I bought it in a cosmetics store in Athens. The brand is called Annie Paris. If it helps, it's a flexible vinyl and the dimensions are 8" long x 5" tall, 3" wide. But the top is fairly loose and the sides are flexible, so it actually does hold quite a bit. I could fit a good bit more, but I don't! -Judy
Thank you so much for watching, BW! What a great compliment from you! We amazed ourselves at being able to drop so much weight from our packs, which have incrementally been growing (even though we've been ditching some things along the way)! -Judy
In addition to Asia there are some European carriers like Air France, KLM and TAP that have combined weight limits for personal item and main carry on... but I think you're right 10kg main pack plus personal item is about as far as one can go with downsizing.
@sbkpilot1 You're right. There are some airlines that will force us to pay, BUT a 10kg bag is one that they'll often let you carry on versus have to check, and knowing how small and light it is, I feel pretty good about trying to get through with it, whereas we've felt like we'd just be pushing our luck up to now. And there is more that I'm able to downsize. This was quite an empowering exercise for us. Now that we bit the bullet, there is more that we can do if we need and want to. We'll be looking at how tight the restrictions are for our carriers over the next year and try to adjust accordingly. Thank you so much for watching! -Judy
I really enjoy and appreciate your channel. I won't say I learn from it as my partner and myself also travel a lot but it's still good to see your experience and travels especially when I'm back home in London.
Hi Marius, Thank you so much for watching! One of the reasons we enjoy our channel so much is that we learn from our viewers as much as we're here to encourage others. So if you have recommendations or suggestions for us, we'd love to hear them! Not sure if you know that London is one of my favorite places in the world and the city that launched my love of international travel. It also is the place that inspired us way back in 2011 to be expats so we could travel more easily! -Judy
I think ziplock bags will work just fine, write on them, and extremely light weight. In terms for backpacks, I prefer Lesportsac due to the light weight, lightest I can find.
Great video guys! Oh Judy, I love my rip skirt also. I’m excited that you are in Morocco. That was another country we looked at. Can’t wait for your videos. You give great advice on where to stay, what to do and eat and how much everything costs! Is this your first trip there?
Hi Diana, Ripskirts are great! This is our first time in Morocco, and we weren't sure if we would regret how long we'll be here, but I already can tell you that I don't think we will! We're supposed to be in Marrakech for 21 days, have a three-day Sahara Desert tour, and then 16 days in Fes. But the Sahara Desert tour company is trying to get us to shift our dates. Not sure how well that is going to work. Marrakech is one of the most colorful places we have ever been, and the food has been affordable and fantastic. Thank you so much for the kind words. We really appreciate them! -Judy
Thanks for the inspiration. Over the past year of travel I have left behind a bunch of items just to reduce the weight. Some items were replaced if needed - 4 new tshirts, a pair of pants and replacement shoes but I’m overall down. I’m going to reduce down more for SEA.
Hi Erin, What's empowering is that after having gone through this exercise, I know there is more I could cut. I can get rid of one of my skirts, some of my underwear since I also have the bike shorts, my hair dryer, spices, we'll be "consuming" the shampoo/conditioner/bar soaps and laundry strips. We've been downsizing all along as well, but there seems to always be creep! I'm still debating on whether it's more practical to keep a second pair of sneakers (black) and ditch the hair dryer and some of these other things instead and have three pairs of shoes, especially for places where it's dirty or there's hiking. I have a few weeks here to figure it out, but I'm so excited to be traveling with so much less! -Judy
It is hard, but I'll tell you that I am actually so empowered right now that I can barely stand it! I truly think it helped us to go through our downsizing for retirement series to gain more detachment from what we carry. I now know that I can get rid of things like one of my skirts, some underwear, one more dress, my hair styling tool, spices, some of our reusable Ziplock bags, and I'll be consuming some of our extra bar soaps and laundry strips. It really has been a great feeling, so if you can do it, we are here to root you on! -Judy
@@FindingGinaMarie Thank you, Judy. I've been downsizing for a few years and am about to get rid of stuff again. It would have been easier to leave everything there and walk away. But that is not an option; it is dumping or giving away. I'm out of the US now, so it is even harder to dump or find people to give things to.
@boldmover We hear you and we totally sympathize. I’m also sure that when you’re back in the US, getting rid of stuff is the last thing you want to do when you mostly want to spend time with family or friends. Good luck and safe travels! -Judy
Nope, I won't even try. We have decided that we want our creature comforts even when we travel. So we pay for checked and the extra weight if needed for a carry-on. We will keep our home for aging in place, but when we do our extended travel, we will have smeakers for hiking, sandals for long walks and water shoes, and house shoes in Asia. I live on a budget throughout the year to afford to travel and I will be comfortable when I do travel. Just my thoughts. But again, I am keeping my home base and traveling for 5-6 months of the year and doing it all in budget.😊
Hi Eliza, in some respects it's as much about hauling heavier packs up and down a LOT of stairs lately. And we have been deterred on occasion from making short 48-hour trips because the extra luggage costs are sometimes equal to the cost of the discounted airfare. We're trying to weigh (no pun intended) how much we want to spend on flights versus what we want to be able to spend in our destinations. But we definitely weren't telling others that they need to lighten their packs and we wouldn't have listened to anyone tell us to do it. We needed to be ready ourselves. But for us, it actually feels very empowering. But you know what works best for you, and that is what's truly important! -Judy
@@FindingGinaMarie And one day we may be where you are, but at this point in our journey, we are still not full time travelers and we more than likely won't do any fast travel again. We made that mistake last year. A few days, numerous locations...ugh!! Burn out was awful.
@@elizaC3024 I can appreciate that so much! We've actually been hearing about people starting to pick up their pace because slow travel has been boring for them. I can't imagine it, but we also are working on the road and actually need extra time to balance working along with sightseeing and a few days of doing what I did for most of the day, which was just sitting down to enjoy a good book! Plus we do really like living in a place and even if we're still doing touristy activities, we have the opportunity to get into the rhythm of the places we visit and try to make a few connections when we can. We'll do a few days here and there because we don't always want to spend an extended amount of time in every city we visit. We have this tug of wanting to see more, but the reality is that it's not how we're wired. -Judy
Question and comment. Do you not have rain jacket and rely on umbrella only? Also I was surprised you ditched your packable puffy jacket. Comment: Because of you I will give merino wool one more chance. Only the brand you reco and start with one thing. Years ago I bought merino from one of those expensive RUclips insta “sponsored” brands and gave it away. To me it wasn’t non smell at all 😂 it was more like wet dog. But you have convinced me to try once more. Thanks again and a true victory to be so streamlined!!
Also. I hope it is not too indelicate to ask: what brand of bike shorts do you recommend? I too like bike shorts for everyday use for the same reasons you describe. Thanks. (I didn’t see on your “gear guide “ page
Hi Catherine, For the nearly two years we've been traveling, we've never needed a rain jacket and our umbrellas have served us. Of course, we are deliberately not traveling to places during their monsoon season. We've thought about purchasing them, but we've been doing fine without them! The last time I used my puffy jacket was in Scotland in April 2023. So yes, I have used it on occasion, but after Morocco we'll be heading to South America over the traditional winter months. It may be a little cold in March depending on where we end up, but we're going to try not to let that happen! IF we can get to Australia next September, that would be the first spot of potentially cold weather we'd encounter, and it doesn't make sense to be have my pack be overweight for an entire year because of something I might need a year from now. I really feel so much freedom from having lightened my packs! We do earn a small commission if you buy something from Wool& or Wool& Prince using our link, but they do not sponsor us and I approached them only after I had converted the bulk of my clothes to their brand after I was so impressed and obsessed with them. I truly have been super duper happy with their clothes, and that's how Kevin got on the bandwagon. I'm a lazy traveler, and if I don't have to wash my clothes after every wear when I'm in hot climates and they are breathable while I'm sweating, then I am very, very happy! Of course, everybody is different, but I hope you fall in love with them, too. We allow our clothes to air dry (which is very fast) and we use a mild detergent (why we bring laundry sheets that have no extra stuff in them). There are different weights between some of my dresses and shirts, which I actually like. My heavier dress that I sometimes sleep in is significantly warmer than the dresses I wore in Southeast Asia. I'm happy to help you if you have any questions. I've truly been very happy wearing them! -Judy
It's not indelicate at all. Thanks for the reminder. I just updated our gear list to include the Summit bike shorts (that double as undergarments, but are opaque and have pockets) and the Roam bike shorts (which are lighter and meant to function exclusively as anti-chafing underwear). So glad you asked. I'll be updating a few more items, so if you need anything else, let me know! -Judy You can sort by clothing to isolate those items, which is easier: 🚴♀️ Summit bike shorts: findingginamarie.com/gear#portfolio-039efead-a3ca-4a62-97d7-926ae28e8781-m1dvivp1 🚴♀️ Roam bike shorts: findingginamarie.com/gear#portfolio-039efead-a3ca-4a62-97d7-926ae28e8781-m1dxk4zm
@catherine8332 Wool& recently updated their website, and in their effort to make things more straightforward, I think they made things a little bit harder to find. -Judy
What about Kevin’s backpack? Did I completely skip,over that? We landed on Duravo for both of us. 5.7 lbs. & dimensions that’ll fit in all baggage testers. Are you not overly concerned about the dimensions?
Great question. We mentioned Kevin’s backpack in one of the edits that must’ve gotten cut. His backpack is exclusively tech and camera equipment, so we had absolutely no ability to change out anything in that. We think that the dimensions of our suitcases are absolutely fine. It’s really only ever been weight that potentially trips us up. We could potentially downsize now to the Briggs and Riley 21 inch international ZDX case, but it’s not any lighter, so it would be a big, unnecessary expense. I’m sure we’ve just gotten lucky, but no one has ever asked us to put anything in the sizers. We also have had such stellar warranty assistance from Briggs and Riley that we can’t imagine switching to any other brand. -Judy
You all have a wonderful series. I was planning to move to Portugal but this slow travel thing seems better. Just a question: EU has limits about not being able to stay more than 90 days without a visa. How are you getting around that?
Hi Gauravi, At one point we considered Portugal as expats as well! The only way we get around the 90/180 days isn't really to get around it. You leave Schengen when your time is up and either spend your breaks in non-Schengen European countries (we were just in for a month Albania and really enjoyed it) or by leaving Europe altogether (we currently are in Morocco) until we get our days back. The upside is that there are some interesting and lovely non-Schengen countries, but places like Croatia, Romania, and Bulgaria recently joined Schengen, so some of those places to shuffle to have gone away. There are also some very specific rules about visiting Poland and staying for a full 90 days as part of a unilateral agreement with the US but it's at the discretion of the border patrol agent as to whether they will allow it. You have to leave from there to a non-Schengen country without any layover, but it's all very tricky and something I personally wouldn't be comfortable testing. The good news is that there is an entire world out there to explore. We ended up spending seven months in Asia/Southeast Asia and had a fabulous time. We weren't sure if we would like it and initially were only planning to spend three months. Now it looks like we may go back again at the end of 2025, so you never know! In our early episodes, you can watch us weigh the expat full-time traveler dilemma and see how we decided to travel full time. You can cherry pick through our episodes to see how we got here. -Judy 🎥 Preparing for Full-Time Travel: ruclips.net/p/PLNT98lWfwdF0Hm94IeHJksaTV37AcdchX 🎥 Navigating Full-Time Travel: ruclips.net/p/PLNT98lWfwdF1PzikjO5wvLLMtOE1UkdvH 🔗 Here's a link to our ever-growing articles for full-time travelers (you can find it by going to our travel tips and then filtering by Nomads): 📝 Articles for Full-Time Travelers: findingginamarie.com/travel-tips/?category=nomads
I enjoyed this video as a good reminder to keep things to the basics. Unfortunately I can't wear wool - it's way too itchy for me. I feel every fiber like barbed wire 😞 Judy, which brand is that make-up eraser cloth you mentioned? I've seen them online, but not sure if they really work. Do you have to tug very much to remove eye make-up ( liner, pencil, etc.)? Thanks ~ Kat
Hi Kat, Below is the link to the makeup eraser I use, which is the actual Magic Eraser brand. I think it actually does work quite well. It's a type of microfiber and each side has a different "grip" to it. There are some times when I use a little soap to get what remains under my lower eyelashes, but I think those occasions are only when I skipped that part of my eyes. It does a great job with foundation and lipstick as well. I don't wear waterproof mascara, but it might not work as well on that. I'm actually quite a fan of mine. In fact, I accidentally left it behind in Japan and we went back to the hotel to retrieve it! The wool from Wool& is nothing like any other wool I've ever experienced, but if you are certain it can't work for you, I certainly understand. It has spoiled me for any other fabric, especially in the heat! But you know your own body best and what irritates one person is imperceptible for someone else. And you are right about keeping things to the basics. We have gotten rid of a lot of nice-to-have things that no longer serve us. It's nice to be prepared for every circumstance, but then you could easily end up with 50-pound bags, and no one wants those. Thank you so much for watching! -Judy 🔗 Magic Makeup Eraser: findingginamarie.com/gear#portfolio-039efead-a3ca-4a62-97d7-926ae28e8781-lradjf9o ⚙️ GEAR LIST: findingGinaMarie.com/gear
Hi Regina, Congratulations to you! 8kg is a great number! We know we can actually shave more down now that we released so much of our stuff. I immediately can see that I can get rid of one of my skirts, a couple of pairs of underwear, one of my tank tops, my hair styler, spices. and we will be consuming our bar soaps/shampoos. Kevin doesn't have much he can cut, BUT if I got rid of more, I could also carry the first aid kit in my backpack. We're excited to hop on a plane again! -Judy
At 56, I still carry a single backpack and an occasional tote/grocery bag. I also need to put my pack on a diet! 😂 One way I’ve avoided weigh ins is to carry the bag on three fingers in front of gate agents. I can do it, barely, but I’m small and they assume that means weak. I’ll let them think that.
Impressive! I need to get rid of our iPad the next time we are in the US, which will help tremendously with my backpack! But if you can get it down as what you have, you're doing amazing. I would love to travel that light, but I do like some of our luxury items! I have a fused disc in my neck and Kevin has one that is collapsed from an injury, so we try to be mindful of the weight of what's on our backs. I'm also short, so I don't have much of a back to carry it on, either! Thank you so much for watching! -Judy
Somehow, I missed the second half of your post. I love your hack! Hilarious. I tried to stand as tall as possible and don’t turn around when I’m standing in line so that they think that my backpack is smaller than it is. It helps that it has a lot of clean lines, but if they saw me holding it in front of me, they would probably question the size or weight! -Judy
It's crazy, isn't it, David? In one respect an airline exists for you to travel, but then they make it difficult and expensive to do! We know that there are a lot of airlines that have that low weight limit, and we now know that we can lower the weight of our packs even more. I can already think of several things I can still remove from mine and be happy and comfortable (and even take something of Kevin's to lighten his a little). If he weren't carrying tech and video equipment, his backpack could balance the load, which is what most people who aren't RUclipsrs or photographers would be able to do. We're planning for 2025 and we'll have a better idea of what airlines we'll be flying to know if we need to cut our weight down even more or whether we can focus on the discount airlines that have a higher weight limit without additional costs. Thanks so much for watching! -Judy
Hi Maria, I have to admit that we were pretty surprised ourselves. But what's even cooler is that I feel so empowered and know now that I could cut down what I carry even more. It's such a great feeling! I hope you are able to keep your pack light, too! -Judy
I am a retired frequent flier, so now fly yearly the same amount I used to travel monthly but the trips are far longer trips of 4-6 weeks at a time. I prefer only carry on and have just changed my old carry on bag that used to be legal size to a newer bag that fits the new rules. I can get the same amount of stuff in the new bag however I just finished downsizing and have shaved 2 kg off my previous packing to getting my carry on bag to 8.1 kg. If pushed I could get down to 7 kg but probably would be moving one or two things to the personal bag and jettisoning a couple of nice to haves. Fortunately my luggage has been lost about 4 times in 40 years - 3 times on way home and once going somewhere; My luggage has eventually always showed up but you never want your luggage to get lost on the outbound flight! That’s why I always do carry on.
Getting our suitcase to a lighter weight was exhilarating. I can see that there are still many things that I can remove to bring the weight down even more, but I'm super impressed with your 8.1kg weight. We also don't like wasting time at the baggage carousel. So much better to pull it out of the overhead bin and be on our way! Thanks so much for watching! -Judy
Probably the BEST packing video I have ever seen!! Well done. I loved this one sooooooooooo much. Our last trip this past august was our lightest weight trip ever, and we STILL over packed. This video will help us get down to what we truly need. I will say though the one item I will never not take with me is a USB packable mini travel fan. I use fans on my face every single night of the year (even the middle of winter) to help me breathe. I’ll give something else up in order to pack that (to me) necessity.
Thank you so much for this huge compliment, Rebecca! And what's really empowering is that there's so much more I can see easily getting rid of if we need to drop more weight. Originally I was clinging to things because I liked them, but a bathing suit and a puffy jack that I haven't worn in more than a year? I'll buy something to wear if I absolutely need it, but they really have been so illogical to keep. I got rid of my bathing suit coverup in one of our recent destinations for the same reason. BUT if you really get value from something-and it sounds like that fan is worth it to you-then by all means keep it! When Kevin was pruning his items, we were prepared to actually let go of our wool blanket and Apple TV. It was only as I was going through my stuff that I was able to curate more because I prefer those items over some other things I was carrying!
We're currently working on what the end of 2024 and 2025 look like so we have an idea of airlines we'll be using and what their weight restrictions are. I know I can easily cut one more dress, a few pairs of underwear, one Ripskirt, my hair styling tool, spices, and we'll be consuming our bar shampoo/conditioner and laundry strips as we go. I feel great knowing that I can see more to get rid of versus feeling that I need all the things! -Judy
I now have a strategy for weighing what I want to bring after watching your video. It was a lightbulb moment seeing items going into the plastic grocery bag. Previously I thought I needed to pack my suitcase, weigh, and remove items, weigh again, etc. I will be traveling next year to Australia and New Zealand and the airlines I am taking have a 7 kg weight limit for carryons.
Hi Linda, You can do it! I felt so empowered after we lowered our suitcase weight, and I'm actually motivated to trim even more. I can get rid of one Ripskirt, a couple of pairs of underwear (since I've also got bike shorts that can do double duty), my hair dryer, spices, I can remove a couple of our reusable storage bags, and we'll be consuming our bar shampoos/conditioners and laundry sheets. I'd even be willing to trim one dress if I necessary and we can eventually decide if there's some better solution to our Apple TV. I'm actually pumped to have this new freedom. Honestly, I wasn't ready until now, but it feels so great to be carrying less stuff! I'm so glad to hear that our method will help you! Thanks for watching! -Judy
But checked luggage is not charged for.
@drewrichardson8789 Only on certain airlines. Some do and we have definitely been paying on many of them this past year. And we always worry about them getting lost and then being a hassle to recover or replace items. We also have encountered more than our fair share of stairs lately and having lighter bags helps with that. Thanks for watching! -Judy
Briggs and Riley are the best. Expensive but worth it. Quality unmatched. I have. 3 bags and 2 different backpacks, depending on needs
Hi Deborah, Now that we've done this, I'm half tempted to downsize to a 21" international suitcase just so it looks a little smaller to some of the pickier airlines! But yes, we've been so happy! On this last flight, one of Kevin's whisky glasses got broken and his compression zipper got ripped off. Briggs & Riley is willing to send us a zipper to us overnight and pay to have it fixed for us. But we're in Morocco, so we have to figure out where we can have that done. They've already replaced his suitcase once because of a tear in the lining shortly after we bought it, so they absolutely live up to the hype of their warranty. Thanks so much for sharing your experience! -Judy
I LOVE your packing videos! I have the same suitcase and I find myself rewatching your other two packing videos all the time. Glad to see a new one. Great job!
Thank you so much! We are so happy to hear this! For the most part, Kevin's backpack hasn't changed much. He got rid of his sling for his camera equipment in the US and he was able to get a compartmentalized insert that fits into his backpack that protects all his tech. We got rid of my PacSafe day backpack and Kevin got a completely collapsible day sling that we use instead while we are taking video while we're sightseeing. We're always changing things up to optimize what we carry! -Judy
Thank you for a comprehensive and easy to understand video, y’all! I always enjoy and appreciate all your YT offerings and this one was no exception. Judy: which makeup bag are you using? We have similar makeup “supplies” and yours seemed to have endless room. 😊
Hi Anne, Thank you so much for watching and for this very kind comment! It means A LOT to us! I can't link to my cosmetics case because I bought it in a cosmetics store in Athens. The brand is called Annie Paris. If it helps, it's a flexible vinyl and the dimensions are 8" long x 5" tall, 3" wide. But the top is fairly loose and the sides are flexible, so it actually does hold quite a bit. I could fit a good bit more, but I don't! -Judy
Great video and I’ve never clicked on a video so quick in my life!😂
Thank you so much for watching, BW! What a great compliment from you! We amazed ourselves at being able to drop so much weight from our packs, which have incrementally been growing (even though we've been ditching some things along the way)! -Judy
It would be nice if you included your luggage and toiletry bags in the description box below for reference.
One of the best packing videos I have ever seen good for you guys for being able to downsize even more.
Thanks so much, BW! It was such an empowering exercise, and I know I can cut down what I carry even more, which is such a great feeling! -Judy
In addition to Asia there are some European carriers like Air France, KLM and TAP that have combined weight limits for personal item and main carry on... but I think you're right 10kg main pack plus personal item is about as far as one can go with downsizing.
@sbkpilot1 You're right. There are some airlines that will force us to pay, BUT a 10kg bag is one that they'll often let you carry on versus have to check, and knowing how small and light it is, I feel pretty good about trying to get through with it, whereas we've felt like we'd just be pushing our luck up to now. And there is more that I'm able to downsize. This was quite an empowering exercise for us. Now that we bit the bullet, there is more that we can do if we need and want to. We'll be looking at how tight the restrictions are for our carriers over the next year and try to adjust accordingly. Thank you so much for watching! -Judy
I really enjoy and appreciate your channel. I won't say I learn from it as my partner and myself also travel a lot but it's still good to see your experience and travels especially when I'm back home in London.
Hi Marius, Thank you so much for watching! One of the reasons we enjoy our channel so much is that we learn from our viewers as much as we're here to encourage others. So if you have recommendations or suggestions for us, we'd love to hear them! Not sure if you know that London is one of my favorite places in the world and the city that launched my love of international travel. It also is the place that inspired us way back in 2011 to be expats so we could travel more easily! -Judy
I think ziplock bags will work just fine, write on them, and extremely light weight. In terms for backpacks, I prefer Lesportsac due to the light weight, lightest I can find.
Can you also show us the other backpack that would have more of the electronics, please?
Hi BW, Yes, we can! We left it only out because we didn't think anyone would be interested in seeing it. -Judy
@@FindingGinaMarie Always…addicted!😂
Great video guys! Oh Judy, I love my rip skirt also. I’m excited that you are in Morocco. That was another country we looked at. Can’t wait for your videos. You give great advice on where to stay, what to do and eat and how much everything costs! Is this your first trip there?
Hi Diana, Ripskirts are great! This is our first time in Morocco, and we weren't sure if we would regret how long we'll be here, but I already can tell you that I don't think we will! We're supposed to be in Marrakech for 21 days, have a three-day Sahara Desert tour, and then 16 days in Fes. But the Sahara Desert tour company is trying to get us to shift our dates. Not sure how well that is going to work. Marrakech is one of the most colorful places we have ever been, and the food has been affordable and fantastic. Thank you so much for the kind words. We really appreciate them! -Judy
Thanks for the inspiration. Over the past year of travel I have left behind a bunch of items just to reduce the weight. Some items were replaced if needed - 4 new tshirts, a pair of pants and replacement shoes but I’m overall down. I’m going to reduce down more for SEA.
Hi Erin, What's empowering is that after having gone through this exercise, I know there is more I could cut. I can get rid of one of my skirts, some of my underwear since I also have the bike shorts, my hair dryer, spices, we'll be "consuming" the shampoo/conditioner/bar soaps and laundry strips.
We've been downsizing all along as well, but there seems to always be creep! I'm still debating on whether it's more practical to keep a second pair of sneakers (black) and ditch the hair dryer and some of these other things instead and have three pairs of shoes, especially for places where it's dirty or there's hiking. I have a few weeks here to figure it out, but I'm so excited to be traveling with so much less! -Judy
Oh my! This is a reminder for me. I am trying but am unable to meet the only carry-on status. It is hard.
It is hard, but I'll tell you that I am actually so empowered right now that I can barely stand it! I truly think it helped us to go through our downsizing for retirement series to gain more detachment from what we carry. I now know that I can get rid of things like one of my skirts, some underwear, one more dress, my hair styling tool, spices, some of our reusable Ziplock bags, and I'll be consuming some of our extra bar soaps and laundry strips. It really has been a great feeling, so if you can do it, we are here to root you on! -Judy
@@FindingGinaMarie Thank you, Judy. I've been downsizing for a few years and am about to get rid of stuff again. It would have been easier to leave everything there and walk away. But that is not an option; it is dumping or giving away. I'm out of the US now, so it is even harder to dump or find people to give things to.
@boldmover We hear you and we totally sympathize. I’m also sure that when you’re back in the US, getting rid of stuff is the last thing you want to do when you mostly want to spend time with family or friends. Good luck and safe travels! -Judy
Nope, I won't even try. We have decided that we want our creature comforts even when we travel. So we pay for checked and the extra weight if needed for a carry-on. We will keep our home for aging in place, but when we do our extended travel, we will have smeakers for hiking, sandals for long walks and water shoes, and house shoes in Asia. I live on a budget throughout the year to afford to travel and I will be comfortable when I do travel. Just my thoughts. But again, I am keeping my home base and traveling for 5-6 months of the year and doing it all in budget.😊
Hi Eliza, in some respects it's as much about hauling heavier packs up and down a LOT of stairs lately. And we have been deterred on occasion from making short 48-hour trips because the extra luggage costs are sometimes equal to the cost of the discounted airfare. We're trying to weigh (no pun intended) how much we want to spend on flights versus what we want to be able to spend in our destinations. But we definitely weren't telling others that they need to lighten their packs and we wouldn't have listened to anyone tell us to do it. We needed to be ready ourselves. But for us, it actually feels very empowering. But you know what works best for you, and that is what's truly important! -Judy
@@FindingGinaMarie And one day we may be where you are, but at this point in our journey, we are still not full time travelers and we more than likely won't do any fast travel again. We made that mistake last year. A few days, numerous locations...ugh!! Burn out was awful.
@@elizaC3024 I can appreciate that so much! We've actually been hearing about people starting to pick up their pace because slow travel has been boring for them. I can't imagine it, but we also are working on the road and actually need extra time to balance working along with sightseeing and a few days of doing what I did for most of the day, which was just sitting down to enjoy a good book! Plus we do really like living in a place and even if we're still doing touristy activities, we have the opportunity to get into the rhythm of the places we visit and try to make a few connections when we can. We'll do a few days here and there because we don't always want to spend an extended amount of time in every city we visit. We have this tug of wanting to see more, but the reality is that it's not how we're wired. -Judy
Question and comment.
Do you not have rain jacket and rely on umbrella only? Also I was surprised you ditched your packable puffy jacket.
Comment: Because of you I will give merino wool one more chance. Only the brand you reco and start with one thing.
Years ago I bought merino from one of those expensive RUclips insta “sponsored” brands and gave it away. To me it wasn’t non smell at all 😂 it was more like wet dog. But you have convinced me to try once more.
Thanks again and a true victory to be so streamlined!!
Also. I hope it is not too indelicate to ask: what brand of bike shorts do you recommend? I too like bike shorts for everyday use for the same reasons you describe. Thanks. (I didn’t see on your “gear guide “ page
Hi Catherine, For the nearly two years we've been traveling, we've never needed a rain jacket and our umbrellas have served us. Of course, we are deliberately not traveling to places during their monsoon season. We've thought about purchasing them, but we've been doing fine without them!
The last time I used my puffy jacket was in Scotland in April 2023. So yes, I have used it on occasion, but after Morocco we'll be heading to South America over the traditional winter months. It may be a little cold in March depending on where we end up, but we're going to try not to let that happen! IF we can get to Australia next September, that would be the first spot of potentially cold weather we'd encounter, and it doesn't make sense to be have my pack be overweight for an entire year because of something I might need a year from now. I really feel so much freedom from having lightened my packs!
We do earn a small commission if you buy something from Wool& or Wool& Prince using our link, but they do not sponsor us and I approached them only after I had converted the bulk of my clothes to their brand after I was so impressed and obsessed with them. I truly have been super duper happy with their clothes, and that's how Kevin got on the bandwagon. I'm a lazy traveler, and if I don't have to wash my clothes after every wear when I'm in hot climates and they are breathable while I'm sweating, then I am very, very happy! Of course, everybody is different, but I hope you fall in love with them, too.
We allow our clothes to air dry (which is very fast) and we use a mild detergent (why we bring laundry sheets that have no extra stuff in them). There are different weights between some of my dresses and shirts, which I actually like. My heavier dress that I sometimes sleep in is significantly warmer than the dresses I wore in Southeast Asia. I'm happy to help you if you have any questions. I've truly been very happy wearing them! -Judy
It's not indelicate at all. Thanks for the reminder. I just updated our gear list to include the Summit bike shorts (that double as undergarments, but are opaque and have pockets) and the Roam bike shorts (which are lighter and meant to function exclusively as anti-chafing underwear). So glad you asked. I'll be updating a few more items, so if you need anything else, let me know! -Judy
You can sort by clothing to isolate those items, which is easier:
🚴♀️ Summit bike shorts: findingginamarie.com/gear#portfolio-039efead-a3ca-4a62-97d7-926ae28e8781-m1dvivp1
🚴♀️ Roam bike shorts: findingginamarie.com/gear#portfolio-039efead-a3ca-4a62-97d7-926ae28e8781-m1dxk4zm
@@FindingGinaMarie thank you! I was looking in “bottoms” instead of underwear. Thanks again! Safe travels!
@catherine8332 Wool& recently updated their website, and in their effort to make things more straightforward, I think they made things a little bit harder to find. -Judy
What about Kevin’s backpack? Did I completely skip,over that? We landed on Duravo for both of us. 5.7 lbs. & dimensions that’ll fit in all baggage testers. Are you not overly concerned about the dimensions?
Great question. We mentioned Kevin’s backpack in one of the edits that must’ve gotten cut. His backpack is exclusively tech and camera equipment, so we had absolutely no ability to change out anything in that. We think that the dimensions of our suitcases are absolutely fine. It’s really only ever been weight that potentially trips us up. We could potentially downsize now to the Briggs and Riley 21 inch international ZDX case, but it’s not any lighter, so it would be a big, unnecessary expense. I’m sure we’ve just gotten lucky, but no one has ever asked us to put anything in the sizers. We also have had such stellar warranty assistance from Briggs and Riley that we can’t imagine switching to any other brand. -Judy
You all have a wonderful series. I was planning to move to Portugal but this slow travel thing seems better. Just a question: EU has limits about not being able to stay more than 90 days without a visa. How are you getting around that?
Hi Gauravi, At one point we considered Portugal as expats as well! The only way we get around the 90/180 days isn't really to get around it. You leave Schengen when your time is up and either spend your breaks in non-Schengen European countries (we were just in for a month Albania and really enjoyed it) or by leaving Europe altogether (we currently are in Morocco) until we get our days back. The upside is that there are some interesting and lovely non-Schengen countries, but places like Croatia, Romania, and Bulgaria recently joined Schengen, so some of those places to shuffle to have gone away.
There are also some very specific rules about visiting Poland and staying for a full 90 days as part of a unilateral agreement with the US but it's at the discretion of the border patrol agent as to whether they will allow it. You have to leave from there to a non-Schengen country without any layover, but it's all very tricky and something I personally wouldn't be comfortable testing.
The good news is that there is an entire world out there to explore. We ended up spending seven months in Asia/Southeast Asia and had a fabulous time. We weren't sure if we would like it and initially were only planning to spend three months. Now it looks like we may go back again at the end of 2025, so you never know!
In our early episodes, you can watch us weigh the expat full-time traveler dilemma and see how we decided to travel full time. You can cherry pick through our episodes to see how we got here. -Judy
🎥 Preparing for Full-Time Travel: ruclips.net/p/PLNT98lWfwdF0Hm94IeHJksaTV37AcdchX
🎥 Navigating Full-Time Travel: ruclips.net/p/PLNT98lWfwdF1PzikjO5wvLLMtOE1UkdvH
🔗 Here's a link to our ever-growing articles for full-time travelers (you can find it by going to our travel tips and then filtering by Nomads):
📝 Articles for Full-Time Travelers: findingginamarie.com/travel-tips/?category=nomads
@@FindingGinaMarieThank you so much for the detailed answer. Much appreciated. I love your videos because they are so specific and practical.
@@gauravipal5691 This warms our hearts to hear and is so helpful to us. Thank you; it's always our pleasure to help! -Judy
I enjoyed this video as a good reminder to keep things to the basics. Unfortunately I can't wear wool - it's way too itchy for me. I feel every fiber like barbed wire 😞
Judy, which brand is that make-up eraser cloth you mentioned? I've seen them online, but not sure if they really work. Do you have to tug very much to remove eye make-up ( liner, pencil, etc.)? Thanks ~ Kat
Hi Kat, Below is the link to the makeup eraser I use, which is the actual Magic Eraser brand. I think it actually does work quite well. It's a type of microfiber and each side has a different "grip" to it. There are some times when I use a little soap to get what remains under my lower eyelashes, but I think those occasions are only when I skipped that part of my eyes. It does a great job with foundation and lipstick as well. I don't wear waterproof mascara, but it might not work as well on that. I'm actually quite a fan of mine. In fact, I accidentally left it behind in Japan and we went back to the hotel to retrieve it!
The wool from Wool& is nothing like any other wool I've ever experienced, but if you are certain it can't work for you, I certainly understand. It has spoiled me for any other fabric, especially in the heat! But you know your own body best and what irritates one person is imperceptible for someone else.
And you are right about keeping things to the basics. We have gotten rid of a lot of nice-to-have things that no longer serve us. It's nice to be prepared for every circumstance, but then you could easily end up with 50-pound bags, and no one wants those. Thank you so much for watching! -Judy
🔗 Magic Makeup Eraser: findingginamarie.com/gear#portfolio-039efead-a3ca-4a62-97d7-926ae28e8781-lradjf9o
⚙️ GEAR LIST: findingGinaMarie.com/gear
Aegean Airlines 8 kg....made it phew but with a backpack to save weight
Hi Regina, Congratulations to you! 8kg is a great number! We know we can actually shave more down now that we released so much of our stuff. I immediately can see that I can get rid of one of my skirts, a couple of pairs of underwear, one of my tank tops, my hair styler, spices. and we will be consuming our bar soaps/shampoos. Kevin doesn't have much he can cut, BUT if I got rid of more, I could also carry the first aid kit in my backpack. We're excited to hop on a plane again! -Judy
At 56, I still carry a single backpack and an occasional tote/grocery bag. I also need to put my pack on a diet! 😂
One way I’ve avoided weigh ins is to carry the bag on three fingers in front of gate agents. I can do it, barely, but I’m small and they assume that means weak. I’ll let them think that.
Impressive! I need to get rid of our iPad the next time we are in the US, which will help tremendously with my backpack! But if you can get it down as what you have, you're doing amazing. I would love to travel that light, but I do like some of our luxury items! I have a fused disc in my neck and Kevin has one that is collapsed from an injury, so we try to be mindful of the weight of what's on our backs. I'm also short, so I don't have much of a back to carry it on, either! Thank you so much for watching! -Judy
Somehow, I missed the second half of your post. I love your hack! Hilarious. I tried to stand as tall as possible and don’t turn around when I’m standing in line so that they think that my backpack is smaller than it is. It helps that it has a lot of clean lines, but if they saw me holding it in front of me, they would probably question the size or weight! -Judy
Etihad has carry on limit of 7(!) kg.
It's crazy, isn't it, David? In one respect an airline exists for you to travel, but then they make it difficult and expensive to do! We know that there are a lot of airlines that have that low weight limit, and we now know that we can lower the weight of our packs even more. I can already think of several things I can still remove from mine and be happy and comfortable (and even take something of Kevin's to lighten his a little). If he weren't carrying tech and video equipment, his backpack could balance the load, which is what most people who aren't RUclipsrs or photographers would be able to do.
We're planning for 2025 and we'll have a better idea of what airlines we'll be flying to know if we need to cut our weight down even more or whether we can focus on the discount airlines that have a higher weight limit without additional costs. Thanks so much for watching! -Judy
❤💖
Hi Nikki, Thank you so much for watching! It felt like such an accomplishment, and I know we can actually cut even more! -Judy
🤯
Hi Maria, I have to admit that we were pretty surprised ourselves. But what's even cooler is that I feel so empowered and know now that I could cut down what I carry even more. It's such a great feeling! I hope you are able to keep your pack light, too! -Judy
As always, Enrique, thank you so very much for watching and supporting us! -Judy