Packing and travelling with two cabin bags for a family of four
I’ve just returned from a five day family trip to Vienna. The four of us — two adults and two kids — packed all the things we needed in two cabin-sized backpacks.
A few people have asked how we do it so I’ve written this article as it might be helpful for others wanting to do something similar.
We’ve travelled and packed like this for similar trips before; Bordeaux (2022), Lisbon (2020) and Bilbao (2019).
We enjoy the freedom of packing and travelling light. To land in a new country and jump on a bus or a train carrying just the stuff we need is a wonderful feeling.
It’s not for everyone, but it is for us.
Packing like this means we need to be mindful and considerate. Compromises are needed — no room for a change of footwear — but these feel minor.
From past trips I can’t remember a time when any of us felt we were missing something we’d not packed. Our trips are to European cities with much the same shops as the UK. If we’ve forgotten or need something, it’s comforting to know we can find it. Staying in Airbnb’s provides all the home comforts we need (hairdryer, towels, washing machine etc).
In Bordeaux last year the weather was warmer than expected. The kids spent hours each day playing in the water mirror and so we picked up a some swimming shorts and quick-dry towel from a Decathlon store.
The bags
The two rucksacks we use both pass the EasyJet and Ryanair cabin size baggage allowances, but with Ryanair we purchased the additional Priority Cabin Baggage when booking.
Osprey ‘Stratos 34’
The Osprey bag looks, feels and is much bigger than the North Face, but a mesh and curved back eats up some of the space inside. This bag holds the majority of the clothes we pack.
Bag size: 34 litres / 59cm x 36cm x 27cm
Packed weight: 9.5kg
The North Face ‘Big Shot’
I’ve had this North Face bag for nearly 20 years and it’s still going strong. I love it. This bag holds most of the other stuff we take; toiletries, books, games, toys, electrical things.
Bag size: 33 litres / 54cm x 33cm x 20cm
Packed weight: 6kg
Packing list
I made a note of stuff this year as I wanted to write this post. Things that pack small and double up are essential.
As an example my daughter has a waterproof jacket with detachable inner fleece jacket. With a t-shirt or top this is enough to keep her warm in pretty chilly temperatures.
Wife
- Denim jacket
- Denim shirt
- 1 x pair of trousers
- 3 x tops
- Swimming costume
- Socks and underwear
- Coat
- Travelled in: Jeans, top, cardigan, New Balance trainers
Me
- 4 x t-shirts
- 1 x pair of shorts
- 1 x par of walking shorts (that double as swimming shorts)
- Socks and underwear
- Waterproof jacket
- Travelled in: Jeans, top, fleece, Salomon trainers
Daughter (9 years old)
- 1 x pair of joggers
- 1 x leggings
- 1 x pair of shorts
- 4 x t-shirts and tops
- Swimming costume
- Sports t-shirt and shorts
- 1 x pair of pyjamas
- Socks and underwear
- Sports t-shirt and shorts
- Waterproof jacket
- Travelled in: Joggers, t-shirt, fleece, trainers
Son (7 years old)
- 1 x pair of joggers
- 1 x pair of shorts
- 1 x football t-shirt
- 2 x football shorts (double as swimming shorts)
- 1 x pair of pyjamas
- Socks and underwear
- Travelled in: Joggers, t-shirt, hoody, trainers
Stuff
- 1 x medium quick-dry towel
- 1 x small quick-dry towel
- 2 x bedtime cuddly toys
- 4 x passports
- 8 x boarding cards
- Uno card game
- 2 x journals and pencil case
- 2 x books
- 2 x magazines
- Shower gel, 2 x deodorants, shampoo, conditioner, moisturiser, face wash, face wipes, sun cream, sudocrem, vaseline (all travel size)
- 4 x toothbrushes, 2 x toothpastes
- 4 x pairs of sunglasses
- Hairbrush and bobbles
- Guidebook and map
- First aid kit; Calpol, paracetamol, ibuprofen, antihistamines, plasters, tape, tick remover, blister plasters, ear plugs
- 1 x power bank
- 1 x headphones
- 2 x European adapters
- 1 x iPhone charger and cable
- 1 x nightlight
Packing the bags
What goes in the Osprey bag
I layer up clothes and make tightly-folded bundles, one for each of us. My wife and my own clothes go at the bottom of the Osprey bag, one bundle on top of the other. This takes up half the bag.
The kids bundles then go on top of each other and takes up most of the other half of the bag. I fill the gap between both pairs of bundles with the large and small quick-dry towels.
The last remaining space at the top of the bag is filled our swimming stuff in a bundle. My waterproof jacket goes on top, filling the last space.
What goes in The North Face bag
This bag has a laptop sleeve which is good for the magazines, books and journals.
The three remaining coats go in the bottom of the bag, each rolled up to take up less space.
The electronic stuff go in next; power bank, adapers, phone charger, nightlight. The pencil case follows.
Next go the bags of liquids (1) toiletries, (2) make up, (3) first aid kit.
The tons of remaining space is nabbed by the kids’ cuddly toys for night time.
That’s it, all packed.
Reflections
We didn’t miss anything from this recent trip, rather we’d packed things that weren’t worn or used (swimming gear, towels, football shorts, pair of shorts, pair of joggers, uno).
The temperatures in Vienna were 18°c, so pretty warm. I wished I’d have changed two things:
- Swap my fleece for a packable Patagonia puffy jacket which is lighter and cooler with the zip open
- Everyone — literally everyone — wore darker colour jackets, so I felt very conscious of my bright red waterproof jacket. It felt like a beacon of being a tourist. I’ll be swapping it out for future trips
If it sounds exciting or interesting I’d encourage you to give it a go.
If you’re struggling to convince a partner or family to travel like this, why not pack like this for yourself on a next trip and see how it goes?
