Traveling and Overpacking: A Tale of Two Suitcases

![Overpacked suitcase](/api/placeholder/800/400) ## The Day My Suitcase Tried to Kill Me Let me tell you about the time my luggage almost committed homicide.

Melissa Ridge

5/8/20258 min read

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![Overpacked suitcase](/api/placeholder/800/400)

## The Day My Suitcase Tried to Kill Me

Let me tell you about the time my luggage almost committed homicide.

There I was, racing through Charles de Gaulle Airport, sweating profusely while dragging what can only be described as a small apartment disguised as a suitcase. My flight to Nice was boarding, I was in Terminal 2F, and naturally, I needed to be in Terminal 2D – which in Paris airport terms means "somewhere vaguely in the direction of Belgium."

As I attempted to haul my 49.5-pound monstrosity down an escalator (because OF COURSE the elevator was out of service), physics decided to teach me a valuable lesson. My suitcase, now seemingly possessed by the vengeful spirit of all the unnecessary items I'd packed, lunged forward. For one cinematic moment, I had the distinct choice: release the beast or join it on its destructive journey down.

I chose option three: perform an impromptu split while clutching the handrail with one hand and my runaway lifestyle choices with the other, screaming what I later claimed was "Oh goodness!" but witnesses described as "creative French-English profanity."

Spoiler alert: I survived. My dignity did not.

And that, dear reader, is why I'm now qualified to write about the art of not overpacking.

## Why We Overpack: A Psychological Analysis (By Someone With Zero Psychology Credentials)

Why do seemingly rational humans pack four pairs of heels for a hiking trip? I've identified three core reasons:

### 1. The "What If" Syndrome

What if I get invited to a surprise gala dinner with the royal family?

What if there's a sudden ice age and I need these shorts AND these thermal underwear?

What if I run into my ex and need to look FABULOUS?

This condition affects 99% of travelers and 100% of my suitcase space.

### 2. The False Economy Theory

"If I pack everything I own, I won't need to buy anything there!"

This naive notion collapses the moment you calculate the cost of excess baggage fees versus buying a toothbrush at your destination. When I flew to Bangkok with [Kiwi.com](https://kiwi.tp.st/IHgvmtaV), my excess baggage fee could have funded a small village for a week. Meanwhile, I was hoarding travel-sized shampoos like they were extinct.

### 3. The Identity Crisis Packer

"But who will I BE on this trip?"

Will I be Sophisticated Museum Visitor? Beach Yoga Enthusiast? Instagram Influencer Pretending To Be Candid? Off-Duty Celebrity?

I packed for all these personas for a weekend trip to Miami once. I came back with a sunburn wearing the same swimsuit and cover-up I wore on day one.

## My Infamous Overpacking Horror Stories

### The Great Paris Wheel Incident

Picture this: Me, attempting to wheel my oversized suitcase across cobblestone streets in Montmartre. The wheels made a sound like a dying tractor. Every bump launched my belongings into a new arrangement, creating what physicists call "maximum entropy" and what I call "why are my underwear now on top?"

After 30 minutes of this percussive symphony, a wheel dramatically detached itself with what I swear was an audible "I QUIT!" It rolled away down the hill like it was making a break for freedom.

I had to drag 48 pounds of poor life choices six blocks to my [hotel](https://hotellook.tp.st/eTR4sPTY). A French child pointed and laughed. His mother did not stop him.

### The TSA Incident We Do Not Discuss (Except Right Now)

Pro tip: When TSA needs to search your overpacked suitcase, they do not carefully refold your meticulously rolled clothing.

When my suitcase was selected for "random" inspection (though I suspect there was nothing random about selecting the bag that sounded like maracas when moved), the agent opened it and unleashed what can only be described as a clothing piñata.

As my belongings exploded outward like a tactical wardrobe strike, I stood there watching as seventeen pairs of underwear, nine tank tops I never wore, and a hair straightener I brought to a tropical destination with 100% humidity were displayed for all of Terminal B to admire.

The agent found the source of suspicion: a jar of peanut butter I'd forgotten was in there. "This is a liquid," he said, looking at me like I'd tried to smuggle weapons-grade plutonium.

"It's actually a spread," I mumbled, as he confiscated my $3.99 Jif while I repacked my $2,500 worth of luggage contents on a wobbly airport bench.

## The Turning Point: My Packing Revolution

My overpacking intervention came after a fateful trip to Japan, where I had to navigate Tokyo's subway system with what was essentially a body bag filled with clothes. As I blocked entire train cars with my luggage and became the villain in every commuter's story that day, I made a sacred vow: never again.

Instead of booking [airport transfers](https://kiwitaxi.tp.st/cI2Zkn9s) to accommodate my excessive baggage, I decided to accommodate reality instead.

## The Minimalist Packing System That Changed My Life

### Step 1: The Brutal Clothing Edit

Lay out everything you think you need. Now remove half. Now remove half again. Now add back one "comfort item" because we're not monsters.

For my trip to Barcelona using [Trip.com](https://trip.tp.st/LGkRYPEA), I packed:

- 3 shirts

- 2 pairs of pants

- 1 dress

- Undergarments

- Toiletries smaller than my pinky finger

That's it. And guess what? I STILL overpacked.

### Step 2: The Multi-Purpose Manifesto

Every item must serve at least two purposes:

- Scarf = blanket, fashion accessory, emergency towel, makeshift bag

- Phone + [eSIM](https://airalo.tp.st/YSJ1DHLl) = camera, map, translator, entertainment system

- Comfortable shoes = walking shoes, dinner shoes, "these still look decent enough for that museum" shoes

### Step 3: The "Can I Buy It There?" Test

Before packing anything, ask: "Is this item available at my destination, or am I traveling to a remote uninhabited island?"

Unless you're visiting the International Space Station, you can probably buy shampoo when you arrive. And it'll be an adventure! I once bought what I thought was conditioner in Italy but was actually olive oil hair treatment. My hair was fabulous, if slightly appetizing.

## The Ultimate Packing Hack: Rent What You Need

For specialized equipment, don't pack – rent! When I visited Amsterdam, instead of trying to fit a bicycle in my carry-on (I considered it), I used [BikeBooking](https://bikesbooking.tp.st/lzXnwZrC) to rent one locally. For ski trips, renting equipment at the resort saves you from looking like you're smuggling bodies through the airport.

Need a car but don't want to drive from home to another country? Use [Economy Bookings](https://economybookings.tp.st/bRR16EhB) or [QEEQ](https://qeeq.tp.st/fZzvdFjb) to rent one at your destination.

## What I Pack Now vs. Then

THEN:

- 17 outfits for a 5-day trip

- Full-size bottles of every liquid known to humanity

- A hair straightener (I have naturally straight hair)

- 4 pairs of shoes

- Enough medicine to stock a small pharmacy

- 3 books "in case I finish the first two"

- A travel iron (that I never once used)

NOW:

- Capsule wardrobe of mix-and-match items

- Solids instead of liquids when possible (shampoo bars, solid perfume)

- [Travel insurance](https://visitorscoverage.tp.st/YjSIozxi) instead of an entire pharmacy

- One pair of super comfortable walking shoes

- Kindle with 1,000 books weighing exactly 6.8 ounces

- The radical acceptance that hotel rooms have irons

## The Economics of Overpacking

Let's talk money, because overpacking isn't just a physical burden—it's a financial one.

When I flew to Thailand, my excess baggage fees were $75 each way. That's $150 I could have spent on [experiences](https://tiqets.tp.st/h8P2EGQI) or amazing street food. Instead, I paid to transport clothes I never wore.

And then there's the physical toll. After dragging oversized luggage through the streets of Rome, I had to book a massage to fix my back. That's another $100 because I couldn't grasp the concept that I don't need five pairs of sandals.

## The Freedom of Traveling Light

The first time I traveled with just a carry-on to a two-week European adventure, I experienced a kind of freedom I hadn't known before:

- No waiting at baggage claim, meaning I beat the taxi queue

- Navigating public transportation with ease

- Changing [train tickets](https://ektatraveling.tp.st/IsyRQNjP) last-minute without luggage drama

- Walking to my [rental car](https://localrent.tp.st/BWSEer3z) without looking like I was moving in

- Going straight from the airport to a [guided tour](https://wegotrip.tp.st/YVL5ihrF) without hotel detours

## Your Turn: The 5-5-5 Challenge

I now live by the 5-5-5 rule:

- 5 tops

- 5 bottoms

- 5 accessories/extras

Everything must mix and match. Everything must earn its place in my suitcase.

The result? I've never missed anything I didn't pack, I've saved hundreds on baggage fees, and my back sends me thank-you notes.

## The "But What About..." Questions Answered

"But what about special events?"

In seven years of traveling, I've needed fancy clothes exactly twice. Both times, I bought something locally, supported the economy, and came home with a better souvenir than a keychain.

"But what about weather changes?"

Layers, my friend. And [WeGo Trip](https://wegotrip.tp.st/YVL5ihrF) lets you book activities last-minute, so you can adjust plans based on weather instead of packing for the apocalypse.

"But what about my 17 tech gadgets?"

Do you need them all? My smartphone with a good [data plan](https://drimsim.tp.st/Y3raNHJt) replaced my camera, computer (for most things), and entertainment system.

## The Last Word on Packing Light

The secret to successful travel isn't bringing your entire life with you—it's bringing just enough to help you experience a new life temporarily.

Next time you're tempted to overpack, remember my Paris escalator split. Ask yourself: "Is this worth performing emergency gymnastics in public?"

If you take anything from this blog post, let it be this: The less you pack, the more room you have for experiences. And isn't that why we travel in the first place?

Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go empty half the contents of my weekend bag. Old habits die hard.

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Traveling and Overpacking: A Tale of Two Suitcases

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