34 Day Europe Trip with Tri-Star & Co-Pilot

[Birdfeeder]

We are leaving on Sunday for a trip to Iceland, Germany Austria & Slovenia. I am traveling with my Tri-Star and my Co-Pilot. (Oh - there will also be other people along in addition to my luggage.)
(I will be wearing an outfit for traveling, and therefore it is not packed.)

Here is my packing list:
1. Tri-star & Co-Pilot ready to go (inside front pockets hold extra plastic baggies. The water bottle pocket holds my inflatable travel pillow)

2. Large packing cube for main compartment: 2 button-up shirts, 3 tank tops, 1 tee shirt, 1 pair Supplex pants, 2 Supplex skirts (I don't wear shorts), 1 nylon robe/gown, 1 thin sweater. Above is a large pouch for holding documents. Medium packing cube for front compartment: 3 bras, 1 pair socks, 7 quick dry undies. Small packing cube for front compartment: 1 pair Finn Comfort sandals, 1 pair very thin shower sandals, vitamins.

3. Contents of Center Compartment. Top row: Spill proof pouch for "Liquids" & soap, shampoo bar (liquids will be placed in regular quart bag for TSA, then replaced here for the duration of the trip); Dry toiletries in medium TB pouch, packable towel. Middle row: Medium pouch containing laundry aids, extra tissues, collapsible cup, spork, Security purse. Bottom row: Small stuff sack for Kindle cable, camera charger, extra battery, adapter, etc., misc. pouch for sewing, safety pins, band aids, unbreakable mirror, etc.

4. Contents of Co-Pilot. Center pocket: small water bottle; front side pockets: TB wallet, camera, passport, small notebooks, dictionary, extra tissue, pens, Guardian Dual Function Light; Main compartment: Kindle in TB medium padded pouch, medium pouch for prescription meds (ask the pharmacy to put them in plastic bags), medium pouch for lib balm, hand sanitizer, aspirin, etc.

The Tri-Star weighs (at home) 8.62 kg (19 lbs). The airline's limit is 9 kg (20 lbs) for each bag. The main compartment of the Co-Pilot is pretty empty, so I have room for snacks or to transfer stuff if my Tri-Star weights too much at the airport.
(I'm pretty good at the clothes, but I still seem to need a lot of "things".)

[jeffmac]

Nicely done! I am impressed!

[dorayme]

WOW! I love your mini article, great details, great photos, great list, great luggage! This is going to be a great trip! I bet your travel friends/companions are going to be so jealous of how svelte your packing is. I wish you and your group an fun and enjoyable trip! Please come back and share pictures with us when you return!

[jeffmac]

Dorayme, you and I are browsing the forums at the same time far too often!

[dorayme]

lol, yes jefmac, true, true.

[misterN]

I look forward to hearing about your trip in a month!

[jannilee]

If you are spending any more than 3 hours in Iceland make sure you take a wind/rainproof jacket and a medium wt sweater. The temps there range from low to high 50's with frequent rain.

[Lani]

First off, exquisite! Great job!

OK a couple of things I noticed:

vitamins.

I personally don't like carrying vitamin bottles; they take up unnecessary space. You might want to transfer your vitamins into little medication-sized ziploc baggies. I typically buy a bunch of them (CVS carries them online here: Buy CVS Disposable Medical Bags online at CVS.com). Just use a Sharpie marker to write what they are on the outside. Unless it's a prescription, in which case I get the pharmacist to stick the label right on a baggie for me.

Security purse.

The multi-use person in me wonders if there's a way you can use your security purse to pack stuff in so it's not just sitting in your Tri-Star empty. It's too bad PacSafe only makes a huge honkin' bag strap; a thinner one that's completely detachable would make a perfect compliment to the TB Packing Cube Shoulder Bag.

I actually really like how you're using the medium pouches. I have some, but I don't have the ones with the clear sides. It's great that you can see everything in there; I might just have to do the same!

Thanks so much for sharing.

[Maria]

Great list and photos too! Impressive packing for such a journey. I too am the same when it comes to all the "things" I end up bringing. I do well with the clothing, but it's the little "things" that add up!

Safe trip!

[Shiva]

great pictures and what efficiency! very impressive. What is the long black pouch thing next to the German book in the Co-Pilot shot? It looks a bit long to fit in the Co-Pilot; hence my question. I have been toying with the Co-Pilot--find it perfect for some things, but a bit tight for the MacBook Air 11 and anything else.

[dorayme]

@Shiva, I think that's the Kindle in padded pouch.

[Birdfeeder]

@ Jannilee - I am carrying my jacket with me. I can use it for a blanket or a pillow on the plane. I hate the ones they hand out (if they're even still doing that). We'll be in Iceland for 2 days. Where I live, mid-50s is windbreaker weather. We get winds of 30 MPH, with occasional gusts of 50-60 MPH.

@Lani - yes, I had the pharmacist make labels and baggies for all my prescriptions. For OTC, I copied labels myself on the printer. I was planning to do the same with the last 2 bottles, but my printer decided to die this morning.

@ Shiva - yes, that's the Kindle in a medium padded pouch. It fits nicely across in the main compartment of the CP with lots of extra room (thanks, Dorayme).

[jannilee]

You should be fine with that. Are you flying Icelandair? Sounds like a wonderful trip. Slovenia is definitely on my shortlist of places to go!

[Birdfeeder]

Yes, we are flying Icelandair. With our Visa miles, we were able to get Comfort Economy tickets. I'm excited because I've never sat anywhere but economy before. We're allowed 2 carry-ons each! I am looking forward to seeing Slovenia too.

[moodle]

Nice! I'm going to Scotland for 8 days and taking the same two bags, so I better be able to make things fit