Japan travel: The pros and cons of using carry-on bags & the usefulness of larger luggage
...or 'how to fit big knickers in a small bag & still have room for souvenirs'!
(originally published in 2017 - not updated)
Baggage is boring, right? For most, it’s just a means to an end - a vessel to bung some things in and head off on an adventure. The more I travel (and the more I travel with health and mobility issues) the more I have become obsessive about packing and its importance in the entire travel experience.
I hope my experiences and thoughts on packing for travel might be useful. I’ll focus on luggage practicalities for travelling specifically in Japan in Part 2: Luggage tips for travelling in Japan - packing, access, accommodation + transport practicalities.
Luggage Tips & Packing for Travel
Not all allowances are made equal.
As economy flights have become increasingly popular and other airlines have started to become ultra competitive, it’s become common for check-in luggage to be charged at extra cost. Most flights allow cabin baggage, so using this as an alternative is useful and can save some money. Be aware though that some airlines do not automatically include cabin bags on their very lowest rates.Planes, train or automobiles - check the restrictions.
So, be sure to check the details of this in addition to any size and weight restrictions before booking that bargain flight - you may just find that other than sticking some clean knickers and a toothbrush in your coat pocket, you’ll have no option but to pay significantly more for a small bag. Likewise, trains, buses and ferries have limited room and certain services also have luggage restrictions (Eurostar or night trains for example).Getting around the bulk - washing on the go.
We don’t do fancy meals and socialising that require smart clothes and extra shoes; our stuff is practical and as such, a capsule of easy wash, quick dry, comfortable (aka 'boring') clothes is the thing. Staying at places with washing facilities means this is easy - having self catering or an economy hotel with washing and drying facilities is high on my list of essentials for accommodation.Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want to spend lots of time washing but it’s no hardship to stick a load in during a well earned nap/rest/bath/recovery time or preparing a meal back at the accommodation. So, for the last 10 - 15 years, we’ve relied on cabin sized luggage for most of our trips and have found them perfectly adequate for a fortnight’s travel.
Benefits of carry-on. Cost, security, time and mobility
Efficiency & freedom.
The benefits of using hand luggage only are numerous - not only saving money but also being as efficient space, security and time wise as possible. There’s generally no queuing to check in, no waiting for luggage at the other end. If travelling by rail, you have the benefit of being able to hop on and off trains without going through the frantic attempt to find secure room for cases and then having to speedily dig them out from under a mountain of others when you reach your destination.Saving time.
If you’re cutting transfers tight, having the flexibility to take stairs or escalators and not being tied to using laggy lifts can be useful - being able to jump on trains, ferries and buses without being hindered by large luggage may avoid delays and, from bitter experience, being asked to wait for the next bus due to lack of room.Safety.
Small means the extra benefit of having no problems keeping it safe and near on overhead racks or under seats on most modes of transport and the ability to fit in the cheapest bracket of hire car *.(*we had issues some years ago when we were travelling through Germany - our larger than usual, but by no means excessive, baggage didn't fit into the fantastically economical hire car we had arranged & remained in full view on the back seat).
Comfort & mobility.
Most of all, comfort is key. There is no major heavy lifting and awkward twisting and they are generally easy and lighter to carry. Backpack types can be carried on the back or the front, ergonomically distributing weight and resulting in more comfort, less strain and leaving hands free for grabbing handrails or walking aids etc. I’ve also seen some cabin-sized backpacks with wheels that seem appealing but I’ve not tried them as of yet as I’ve been put off by the potential extra weight and space lost inside due to the mechanics.Carry-on restrictions, there and back plus rules for medications
Liquid restrictions.
The downside is that liquid, cream and gel regulations for carry-on luggage can severely limit the arsenal of toiletries, cosmetics or even foodstuffs that can be packed.Essential medical or dietary liquids.
As far as liquids that are to be used during the trip for essential medical purposes or special dietary requirements, the volume restriction does not apply but medical evidence in the form of a doctor’s letter or copy of prescription is necessary. Travelling with medication is a minefield and in my experience, different airlines may have local rules regarding carrying some items in the cabin, such as Epipens for example.With such variation, it’s always best to thoroughly check protocols well in advance of travel and where taking items into the cabin is medically essential, considering the carrier carefully before booking your cheap tickets.
Coming home - don't forget the return journey!
Additionally, don’t forget that these rules restrict what can be brought back as souvenirs, so no alcohol or those interesting, liquidy, foodie items from the local market. The exception to this is duty free, presented in a sealed security bag with proof of purchase. However, the rules become quite complicated when using connecting flights or other modes of transport across different international zones...once again, this one is best to check up on carefully before travelling.Getting around the issue.
Relying on amenities provided at the accommodation or buying necessities there (if easily available) gets around this issue but there are some products out there that may be useful, such as solid shampoo bars, to pack if necessary (Lush do some really nice ones). Travel goods shops and student adventure or gap year websites have an interesting array of useful ideas.How to keep things compact. Maximising space with Vacuum Bags. Pros & cons.
Until our most recent trip, we had used the same cabin backpacks for years but due to size restrictions on our recent trip, in addition to fine-tuning some practicalities, we recently moved on to using American Tourister 3 Way Boarding Bags.When we bought our original small cabin backpacks, they were the only type available but there's now a wide range of styles and sizes available in the UK . Fairly light, with good padding to the areas in contact with the body, the only original downside was the lack of straps inside to keep things from slipping around and causing bulges beyond the maximum size limit allowed. I bought some webbing and buckles and went full-on DIY by sewing some in, which helped to a degree but wide-elastic loops may have been a better option in hindsight.
Our new bags have elastic retention straps which make packing more efficient and secure plus they have a sleeve that secures them to the handle of the larger cases, making things more ergonomic when transporting the lot together.
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| Elastic straps = less wrinkles |
Travel vacuum bags.
To help alleviate this issue and to maximise space, I used travel vacuum bags, which can be purchased cheaply from supermarkets or pound shops (usually only around the main travel season). Different than the usual vacuum storage bags, which need suction to compress items, these are like heavy duty grip-seal plastic bags - stick your clothes in, partially close with the small plastic tool provided and then roll from the bottom to top to eliminate any air and compress the contents.Benefits.
There’s definitely a knack to getting it right, which generally involves having to kneel on the rolled up bag and contents to stop any ingress of air whilst fiddling to close the bag completely. Once the technique is mastered, these are a real boon to space saving and keep items clean, protected from any liquids or inclement weather and fairly wrinkle free.Carefully folded and packaged, I have found clothes washed during a trip will straighten out quite nicely without having to iron. Likewise they are great at containing smells, so are amazing for compacting and transporting dirty laundry which you don’t really want to mess around folding up; it really is amazing how voluminous dirty underwear can be - and that’s not just because I’ve got to the big knickers stage in life!
The down-side.
However, if moving around on a trip and needing to unpack and pack frequently, I find that the longer prep and packing time becomes a drag and that, if you’ve got clothes for more than one person and are not super organised enough to arrange clothes needed by day, pretty much every bag needs to be opened to access the contents and then repacked and sealed. It’s a bit of a faff. Until recently, this was fine but a bit frustrating. Of late though, the contortions and energy needed make it a little harder for me to cope with and the benefits do not outweigh the negatives enough for me to use them beyond the smelly, voluminous laundry. For that they are essential!Packing cubes.
On a trip to Ikea just before we left for our 2017 Japan trip in January, I noticed packs of packing cubes in the Family range. With a membership card, I think they were around the £5 mark for a pack of 4. Given the fact I have seen them at least three times that price elsewhere, I thought they might be worth a try. Luckily, they fitted our new carry on luggage perfectly and I was really pleased with their effectiveness and ease of use...I’ll talk more about both in my next post.Larger luggage
Sometimes it's unavoidable.
You may need or want to take larger luggage on your trip. Although I’m keen to travel with hand luggage only, and with my finely honed, obsessive and ninja packing skills could probably achieve that for a long haul trip, we usually end up taking hold luggage to give us the flexibility to pack the restricted items that cannot be carried in the cabin and the chance to bring souvenirs back.I use the same packing rules and don’t fill the space because it’s available, keeping the weight down to around 10 - 11 kg for easy handling and the option to add as the trip progresses. Another bonus is that the case can take most of everything, with only the essentials needed for the flight or journey being packed in one cabin bag between us; where there are multiple flight transfers together with associated increase in tiredness and physical discomfort, the fact that there is little to lug around and keep an eye on eases physical burden, mobility issues and extra worry.
The one to choose is the best one for you.
There seem to be all sorts of cases out there and it’s hard to choose which is best. Personally, I use a compact Antler, medium sized, soft-sided case. I find the slight give in a soft case helps when stowing it in a restricted space and I’ve also found that having four spinner wheels rather than two aids physical handling and allows ease of use on escalators and in tight situations - Japan springs to mind again - I’ll discuss this more in part 2. Consider where you are going, where you will be actually handling your luggage, your mobility and what type of transport you'll use - plus your needs for your return trip.Maximising use of fold-up luggage & cabin bags.
If the hold allowance is 2 pieces per person, I usually pack a fold-up holdall, sturdy enough for checking into the hold on the way back (in case of extra zealous shopping sprees) and, when visiting Japan, I usually flat-pack the second, unused cabin bag to use for clothes and essentials during the the visit as we move around from place to place. We then utilise their efficient luggage forwarding service for the case/s.Packing fragile items.
Taken out of commission at the end of the visit when we’re re-united with the cases, the second cabin bag also serves as a sturdy ‘packing cube’ for fragile (ish) items in the holdall for the return journey; the other benefit of big knickers is that they make awesome shock absorbers when used as packing around the fragile items! Who said getting older doesn’t have its plus points!
Disclaimer: all items mentioned were chosen and bought according to individual requirements and views are personal opinion. No input or products were received by suppliers. No affiliate links are used.