6 months with hand luggage?

How heavy your bag is will depend what you take in it ;-)

Its quite possible to travel with 7kg or less..I do it all the time.That could be for a few days,a few weeks or a few months.It doesn't make much difference.You just need to wash your clothes a bit more often...

The airlines probably won't weigh your bag,but of course it is possible.

A good thing about SE Asia is that you won't really need much for cold weather possibilities,unlike other parts of the world.Another good thing is that its easy and cheap to buy new clothes and throw things away as and when needed as you travel.And if you are going to the usual places there is plenty of cheap accommodation..no need for camping gear etc.

Its probably the easiest part of the world to travel light in.

Taking a 55l bag won't help you for the reasons you give because you can't check in your valuables and electronics so you have to have some hand-luggage. If you're not doing much on your travels and just laying by a pool then you can probably get by with just a couple of changes of clothes but your camera gear and electronics alone can weigh 7 kgs let alone sporting equipment. It's unlikely it will be weighed but bear in mind it's often a safety issue rather than an inconvenience. 15kg dropping on your head from an overhead bin or obstructing your exit is hugely different to 7kg.

Best advice is to lay out your stuff on your bed or floor and you'll soon see which size of bag you'll need. I firmly believe a bag can only be too small and never too big as a quality bag with compression straps can be made any size smaller.

Hey thanks! If I checked in a 55l bag the 7kg wouldn’t be an issue at all for hand luggage as I’d just have my passport phone and money on me. Don’t plan on taking any other electricals other than a kindle. I could fit everything into a 40litre bag but doubt under 7kg. Hence thinking if a 40 litre has to be checked in I may aswell get a 55litre and a small day bag can then be checked in under 7kg as hand luggage. I’m planning on only taking essentials and a couple of changes of clothes. 4 pairs of shorts 2 bikinis etc. I did think I could fit a little more in the bigger bag, which may be nice with being away from home for 6 months. Equally I always take only hand luggage for any 1/2 week holiday and don’t use half the stuff I pack!

No,it won't have to be checked in...unless you are very unlucky and they weigh your bag.Its extremely rare in my experience.

If you are around 7kg or a little over,then I'd go with the 40l.That's small enough to go as carry on,and will save you a lot of money on budget airlines.

You could get an ultralight weight fold up day pack for everyday stuff,that you can use when you are in a place (and goes in your 40 on planes...these things weigh next to nothing).

Alternatively,the 40 is small and comfortable enough to use as a day pack too.

Don't forget never to fill your bag, if your bag is full when you leave home, it's too small. You will buy all sorts of stuff with 6 months on the road and there is nothing worse than carrying several smaller bags along with your bigger one.

Thanks a million! Do you have any suggestions for the fold up day packs? I also saw the osprey 55 litre which has a 15 litre pack on the front which could be used as the day bag. I might buy this too whilst there is 20% off and then I can have a play with both to put my mind at rest!

This is my worry! Not sure I’d be able to half fill a 40 litre bag? I remember when I went to Thailand I was gutted as I could have bought home bags and bags of stuff and only hadn’t one small bag.

I’ve had a look and AirAsia charge around £15 for checked in luggage. Realistically how many internal flights will I be getting from Thailand - Laos - Cambodia - Vietnam - Phillipines - 6-10 max? So would save £150. Which isnt much over 6 months really. May be easier not to have to worry about 100mil max and 7kg baggage allowance etc for carry on?