When I was testing my "Tropical Travel Ultra Compact and Light Gear, from 90 grams. No bag!", for reports on how to do it see: Short version or Long version, I traveled with a friend and took the opportunity to compare some parts of our luggage and ask him some questions.
Here is my friend with his luggage. The bag on his shoulder is full of DVD's and CD's - "I got them cheap in Indonesia."
My friend's luggage was not selected for a A to B trip. Instead he had been traveling for some eight months through some twelve countries from Uzbekistan eastward to East Timor and then westward to India.
Upper collection of items is his medical kit, 1.8 lbs, 0.8 kg.
Two lover items, two aspirins and a small bottle of disinfectant is my medical kit - 0.3 ounce, 10 grams.
The upper collection is his toiletries, 3.3 lbs, 1.5 kg.
Lower row is my toiletries - 1 ounce, 30 grams?
His camera kit, upper collection. SLR, pocket camera and a video camera - 7.1 lbs, 3.2 kg.
Lower row my digital camera (represented by a passport) Sony T7, with video, some 10 mm thick, adapter, charger and video cable. Total weight around 0.5 lbs, 250 g.
Questions and answers
After we traveled together I sent an email to my friend with some questions about his luggage and he kindly responded.
He is using a time saving simplified type of writing (not yet standard in the European Union - imagine when you sit at the Old Folks Home and find out that you have been spending half a month on unnecessary pressings of the shift, full stop etc keys) and I mostly leave it as he wrote.
Links
One Bag Doug Dyment, a very good site. The Art and Science of Traveling Light. Listed advantages: Security Economy, Mobility and Serenity.
The human Swiss Army Knife, Eric, "carrying permanently about his body more than 1,000 useful objects." Sure a colleague!
There are many advantages of traveling light. See e g Mark Verbers site, a nice and extensive travel light site - but he doesn't suggest carrying all in the trouser pockets.
A very inspiring site, Ray Jardine's with "light weight backpacking" links at the end. He goes light on the trail - I go light on the roads. (I had a direct link here but it no longer works.)
To my "Man shrinks luggage to 1 ounce, 30 g!" Ultra Compact Travel Gear for the tropics from 1 ounce, 30 g, - all in the pockets - saves $$$. Clothes for freezing also goes into pockets. Accessories to keep you cool. Short version Long version
For my trip with all gear in a multi pocket vest see: Traveling super light, without a bag. A bold experiment?
Traveling this light is extreme?
Check out my extreme Stand Inside Wing Skate Sail, 120 km/h, 75 mph.
To my Skate sailing in wings, building plans and article available
Here I sail one of my Ice-Wing skate sails, on ice. The wing hangs on my shoulders. I wear ice skates. The front of the wing is transparent. Top speed is around 120 km/h, 75 mph.