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About Report 1.

If you didn't come here via the main page the other reports are at http://sites.google.com/site/travelulcomp/

Shrink your luggage! iPod Nano size possible. It can go into your pockets!

I don't suggest that you bring your luggage all the way down to iPod Nano size. It looked like I could so I tried. But without too much effort and with little sacrifices in functions you can probably make your luggage much, much lighter.

Traveling light is not only a matter of light gear. Being able to manage without many things commonly in luggage and carried around town is as important. See those reports.

This is not for you if you can't stand the bewildered and devastated looks of the bellboys when you turn up at the hotel check in desk carrying no luggage that they can grab - and expect a tip when delivered to you room.

My definition of luggage: "That's what I take with me when I check out of the hotel.^"

Contents

The iPod Nano size luggage. Weight 1 oz, 30 g. All in the pockets - no bag! Lightest item: .01 oz, .31 g. What and where to buy, how to modify etc.

Are you bringing something in hard containers? E.g. Soap, tooth brush, malaria pills etc.

Why I am lugging around deodorant.

Some examples of how I made gear smaller.

Packing list

Deodorant. For about one week daily use.

Toothbrush part. Combines with.....

Shaver

Disinfectant

Aspirin

Thermometer, .31g, .01 oz.3. Carried so I know how far down in temperature my clothes go.

Padlock with wire to lock hotel cupboard.

Nail tool

Need a nose hair trimmer? I have a small equivalent which goes into the iPod Nano case. And it is very easy to make!

Some 10 Items, 1 oz, 30 g.

Most items are specialized. If you take standard items the volume/weight will be some ten times larger - that is a big difference! - when you travel compact.

Defaults like Passport, tickets and travelers checks are not included.

With luggage this size I may carry it even when walking around town to show to other travelers.

I also have miniature: Body temperature thermometer, .04 g, .0014 oz. Alarm clock (self made, goes into the ear, not yet perfected). I think it goes into the iPod Nano case. A pair of tweezers - not yet well working (haven't seen them for a while though - maybe I lost them). Both goes into the case .

Possible further reduction of packing list

If I would reduce luggage further I think items would go in this order: The deodorant, the lock with its wire, the aspirin.

Ultra compact luggage, except clothes, from some 1 oz, 28 g. How to achieve it.

In the Report you find information on where I found the gear, how I made or modified gear etc. Some of my gear has been gradually modified for compactness. When relevant I detail these variants. You may prefer the slightly bigger size, usually easier to achieve and use.

To shrink your essential luggage you need to know

Deodorant. In what varieties of containers to carry it. How to get it into the container. How to get it from the container to armpits. I think my application method uses less deodorant than "roll on". Brand and type.

Toothbrush part. Combines with ... to make a toothbrush.

Shaver. How to reduce size. Make and fit a handle.

Disinfectant. In what varieties of container to carry it. How to get it into the container.

Locking wire for hotel cupboard. How to make.

Nail tool, 1/60 ounce, 5 g. Anyone can make it

Nose hair cutter. What you can use.

In recent years I shrunk my luggage. Now it goes into this iPod Nano case.

Weight some 1 oz, 30 g.

As you can see everything you can possibly need is there: Toothbrush head, lock and wire for hotel cupboard, shaver, painkiller, deodorant (far right) and a bit more.

World's smallest luggage?

No, I read about a guy traveling with a toothbrush only.

Inner dimensions of case: 3.5 x 1.6 x 0.27 inches, 8.9 x 4.1 x .7 cm.

Volume .85 fl oz, 26 ml.

Copyright Anders Ansar 2008. Image may be used if URL, http://sites.google.com/site/travelulcomp/ , is included.

Taking traveling light to near 0 weight and volume! Thinking outside the "One bag only".

Long story short - you don't need all that you think you need!

And, if applicable, don't ask your mother if you can manage with this little!

What you need when traveling depends on how and where you travel. I stay in inexpensive accommodation. I eat in restaurants. I travel longer distances by air. Back pack travel without the backpack. Ambient temperatures mostly from very hot down to 61 F, 16 C.

Slim your luggage now! Before it is time to pack. Then it is too late.

You will save money, hassle and perspiration.

It is partly a Do It Yourself Project

You have to invest some of your time, partly it is a Do It Yourself, DIY, Project, and possibly money, to get compact travel gear. Also you need special knowledge. But once you have it you will travel much, much more comfortable.

I have tried to make combined sun and reading glasses. Those pictured you had to take off and rotate to make the change.

No good design so far. Also combined glasses are probably more prone to damage then separate ones.

Travel Ultra Compact stuff

Swiss Army Sunglasses - available?

Pen fishing rod

Photo maybe coming.

I saw this picture on Internet. Not sure they are in production.

Traveling Ultra Compact doesn't necessarily mean that you can't bring fishing gear.

I am aiming at:

Not looking stuffed with all gear in my pockets. If some need arises (especially if temporary) e. g. more body insulation or shielding from the sun I first try to use something freely and or easily available.

That's more sport than buying!

Straw men

I saw some pictures of men wearing big dresses stuffed with straw - they looked stuffed!. In Evelene or something like that in Switzerland?

If I find them again I will put a picture here.

It will take time to get your luggage in order. Maybe you want to test it by not using nothing else at home, say for a week, before traveling. Content of report lasts a lifetime!

Some 18 pages (letter size/A 4) with some 21 pictures/illustrations

You may start saving money already at check in for you next trip. Many airlines now charge for checked in baggage. Or because you don't need a taxi as your luggage is light, or because your negotiating power with taxi drivers is vastly increased - when you say you will walk to the main road and catch a bus they will believe you. Further savings are pure profit, many $$$, if you do some travel. And you may also save some US$ 150 now and then because you don't need a (new) back pack.

On payment, you'll receive the report as a Microsoft Word document attached to an email .

Buy at/go back to: http://sites.google.com/site/travelulcomp/ (Where also the other reports are presented.)

This is a Google Site. I have some problems saving changes - mostly slow connection here on the road. I looks like it is saving correctly - but sometimes changes are not saved or partly saved. I can't (yet) control tables widths and line spacing.

That said, for me Google Sites is a really great improvement, it is excellent! I can work on home pages in Internet cafes on the road. I just open the page and edit.

Previously I did need an Internet cafe computer with MS Front Page installed. Which is rare. Sometimes I managed to get it installed -before I moved on. Then I had to transfer the page to a friend who put it on my homepage.

Last modified Sept. 5, 2009.