6 months with hand luggage?

Hi all, I’m planning 6 months travelling around south east Asia and debating luggage size. I have read most people vote for a 40kg hand luggage size so I’ve purchased the Osprey Fairview. Now I’ve realised the 7kg allowance on airlines such as AirAsia. I’m wondering if they often check the weight as I presume my bag will be more than 7kg? If I have to pay for luggage each time will it be easier to take say a 55l bag instead of the 40l? Any advice would be greatly appreciated:-)

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?

Sure,if you are happy with checking in luggage,why not?

Just try not to carry too much weight ;-)You will regret it when you have it on your back.

Lighter bags means more comfort,less money spent,better safety too (you can keep a small bag near on transport for example,instead of putting it on top or under the vehicle.

Pack whichever bag you choose,carry it around for a few hours and see how it feels....I often see people staggering around with monster bags they can barely lift off the ground ;-)

May be easier not to have to worry about 100mil max and 7kg baggage allowance etc for carry on?

Exactly it's just unnecessary hassle. You've already been to Thailand so you have a good idea of what it's like. The SEA trail is mainly backpacking in name only, it's mainly a few steps to or from a ferry, taxi, bus etc there is very little actually carrying for long distances.

I remember when I went to Thailand I was gutted as I could have bought home bags and bags of stuff

That never changes !!

If you decide on the smaller bag,and want an ultralight weight daypack too...Sea to Summit make some good quality ones.

They are not suitable for trekking.Not enough support.But fine for light walking around a city,going to the beach or things like that.And easy to roll up into a little ball to carry in your main bag,or in your pocket.

Thanks for being so helpful :-) I’ll check them out now x

Ok,you're welcome!

I’ve had a look and AirAsia charge around £15 for checked in luggage

Sure,if you are happy with checking in luggage,why not?

People like to perpetuate myths but not all low cost carriers are out to fleece you, several do have a free luggage allowance.

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Virtually all airlines always check luggage weight to facilitate fuel calculations. Some will let you slide in terms of over weight but Air Asia is usually pretty strict and will charge extra if you're over. And with them, buying over weight allowance in advance is MUCH cheaper than at the check in counter.

I've taken Airasia perhaps 50-60 times in total,and I don't think they have ever weighed my carry on bag.

Perhaps if it looks well over the size/weight limit,they might do so....

I have always taken the view that I would rather have a half empty bigger rucksak than one that is too small

The big international carriers seem very lax about what they let people carry on board but may of the low cost "local" carriers are far more strict. I tend to avoid the low cost airlines where the costs escalate in front of your eyes - in Thailand I use Thai Smile (just make sure you book them on the Thai Smile site and not the Thai Airways site) or the train as the cost of taking my luggage with Air Asia was nearly as much as taking the train

Sure,too small is no good to anyone ;-)

I know what I need to carry,and I know I'm not going to go shopping much when I travel.So I use what I need,which happily has a lot of advantages.

A 20l would be too small for me,but some people travel with that....

Ofcourse the smaller you are, the smaller your rucksack can be :-D

i am only five and a half foot tall but my rucksack is 80 litres so your theory is not perfect

Was useful to have extra space when in Tanzania or Malawi where at the higher altitudes some warmer clothing was suddenly required mainly for the evenings

Thank you all so much. Would you recommend the Osprey Fairview 40l and get a foldable stuff backpack to put inside or the Fairview 55l which would still be the 40l and 15l daypack attached? Suppose it is essentially both the same thing right? I’d like the 70l backpack so the actual pack is 55l but doubt I’d need the full 70l.

You've already had all 3 answers depending on whom you ask. You're going to have to add additional criteria if you want even more different answers ;-)
If you're asking me ?, your last option is the best - you don't have to fill your bag but you've got the space if you need it.

Suppose I was wondering if I had to buy a foldable day back with the 40, if it was more cost effective to go with the 55. Which is essentially the 40 and a 15 day pack. However I’ve watched some YouTube videos and seen some people just take a normal day pack with them rather than a foldable and fit it in their (husbands) bag.

The 55 is just the 40 with a front pack attached.

For me,as I said,its a waste to have that extra.I don't need the space,and I don't want to check it in (which you would have to do with that).

It depends on you of course..if you need the extra space,and if you are happy to check in your luggage (and pay for that).

The extra price of the bag is not much difference.That's not where you save the money....

That other option...a normal day pack fitting into a bigger bag...is also an option of course.

But it kind of defeats the object I think.If your main bag is big,you don't need to fit the daypack inside it.You will need to check in the main bag,and you can carry the daypack as carry on.

The idea of the ultralight bag is that it weighs very little and rolls up very small,so its easy to transport even in a 40.Then you can use it when you are in places,without needing to carry the 40 around every day....

The daypack, irrespective of foldable or removeable, would always be hand luggage for me and not something to fit into my husbands bag. I don't carry a handbag on longer trips and there are are too many indispensables / valuables to risk losing in check-in luggage or pile-high luggage on ferries and buses.

I won’t be taking a handbag either, or straighteners, makeup, hairdryer etc. My thinking of it being able to fit inside would be if the airline only permitted one bag as hand luggage.

This could provoke an interesting debate about what to take and what to leave behind!!

Me again (sorry!!!) my 40L backpack is here and I love it. It should be plenty big enough! I’ve been looking at the packable daypacks to use as my personal item on planes and also for day times. However I am wondering if there is an issue with theft from packable daypacks as they look so flimsy. Does anyone have any suggestions?

What do you want to carry in there?

They can be slashed I guess.But I've never had anything stolen from one.I don't keep money,cards etc in there anyway..they are all in my money belt.

I have quite a few items from Pacsafe, maybe take a look on their web-site. Their bags are slashproof, lockable etc. I like the metrosafe sling backpacks, really comfy to wear front or back with easy access for you but not a thief. They also have a load of interesting gadgets to keep your stuff safer. The retractable cablelock has been a godsend to lock up cupboards / wardrobes etc if you're staying in budget accomodation.

just take normal precautions (see above) as far as planes go then I would not worry at all but on buses and trains do not leave it whilst you go to the toilet and when sleeping try and think where you put it.generally people in SEA are very honest and the time to be extra careful is on long distance tourist buses/vans and in the tourist hotspots

If you are carrying tablet/phone best not to advertise where it is

The retractable cablelock has been a godsend to lock up cupboards / wardrobes etc if you're staying in budget accomodation.

Clearly there must be budget and then something less (shoestring?) as cupboards/ wardrobes what are they???????

Thank you! I suppose I’d be carrying what you mention would go in your moneybelt. Money, phone, kindle etc. I’ll take a look at the Pacsafe it sounds like a good idea. I’ve also read the 55l version (42l and 13l daypack) has a lockable daypack and lots of people use it as carry on too so that daypack may be more sturdy thank a foldable one and could be stowed under the seat on flights.

Clearly there must be budget and then something less (shoestring?) as cupboards/ wardrobes what are they???????

Accomodation doesn't have to be dire to not have a room-safe, I've stayed in expensive places without one. So where are you going to leave your valuables ? The cablelock has proven invaluable in locking up any wardrobe or simply fastening any luggage to unmoveable furniture / fixtures. Most theft is opportunist, pick it up and run so it's just about prevention.

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