In this article, we will guide you on the 12 essential bag manufacturer questions to ask about their manufacturing process and technologies before buying. With the answers to these bag manufacturer questions, you will determine if a bag maker can give you a good deal or not. You'll also learn a little more about their packaging technologies and solutions. If you're interested in learning about mistakes to avoid when designing your own packaging, check out our article here where we round up the top 10 mistakes companies make when creating packaging dielines.
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Here are the questions you should ask you flexible packaging supplier or flexible packaging company today.
Q: What Minimum Order Quantity Can I Place for Packaging?
At Carepac, we give our customers two choices for the minimum quantity orders they can place. If you are ordering digital printed bags, we allow a minimum order of as few as 100 pieces. (yes 100 printed bags!)
In addition, when ordering the plate printed bags, the least number you can order is 5,000. If you want to know how much your order will cost you, we have an Quick Quote to give you your price.
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Unlike most of our competitors, who do not allow a fully customized bag, we will let you choose your unique design to suit your taste and budget. When you pick from set sizes, you may pay more for features you do not need, making your bags more costly in the end. Whether you're looking for flexible beverage packaging, sustainable food packaging, flexible food packaging, flexible plastic packaging, or flexible cosmetic packaging, this is important.
At Carepac, we understand your products may be unique, needing unique packing, or you may have a special request from a client to package for them in a particular way. That is why we allow you to choose your design, and then we customize your bags.
Q: Are Your Bag Making Raw Materials and Practices Approved?
Carepac uses only FDA-approved materials.
Q: How Many Bags Do I Need to Buy to Get to XX Price Per Unit?
Do you have a specific amount to spend on bags? Are you thinking about the cost of your bags per unit? Whatever you have in mind regarding the cost of your order, we have a solution for you. Using the Carepac Instant Online Calculator, you will know the estimated cost of your order or your price per unit.
Q: Does Your Company Offer Help With Design Services? If So, May I Ask the Fee?
Carepac does not charge a consultation fee for your art. We offer free consultation and art setup support for our customers.
Q: How Soon Can I Have The Bags in Hand from the Provider?
When placing your order, you can choose if you want the bags done in 15 or more working days, depending on the urgency of your order. However, this may not be inclusive of the shipping time, which may depend on your location and the shipping company.
Q: What does Production Time Include?
Production time includes the time we take to complete making your bags. The time it takes for the order to leave our premises and get to your door is not included.
This is because we may not control the shipment of your order since that largely depends on the efficiency of the shipping company. As you order your bags, we advise you to factor in freight time so that you do not run out of supplies awaiting the bags to arrive.
Q: Can I Talk to Your Representative about My Order? Is All Communication Through only?
Carepac understands your design is important to you and that you want it done right. We, therefore, offer free consultation so that you can explain what you want to our designers.
Our bags experts are always available to discuss your order to ensure you get your art right. You can call, , or visit our offices for a free consultation with them.
Q: Do I Need to Have an Art File to Get a Quote from Your Business?
An art file may help us to give you a more accurate quote. However, even without an art file, you can get a free estimate using our quick online calculator.
Q: What Type of Format Should My Pouches Design Be in?
Industry best practices demand the use of Adobe Illustrator for the best results. You may use other formats like Inkscape, Photoshop, EPS, SVG, and Canva, but they do not give the best results.
We also advise you to use vector files do not lose configuration when enlarged or minimized. They produce uniform results on big and small pieces. Here are some of the design mistakes you should avoid.
You're basically setting yourself up for the perennial check/don't check your luggage argument. Some are terrified of having a bag lost or delayed, despite the slim chance of this happening and will only ever do carry on.. Some are happy to accept the very slim chance of a lost or delayed bag and will check their bag for the convenience of being able to pack more, and not have to do laundry every other night.
Pretty much everyone here will say that large suitcases (like the 28") are not appropriate at all if you are going to be using public transportation (like trains or buses) on your trip.
We always check our bags on flights, and manage just fine on trains with our 24/25" bags, plus day bags. You just have to be able to manage them yourself, lifting them up or down on the trains. There's no right or wrong, only what works best for you.
Because you don't need that much capacity. Because the bigger the bag, the greater the temptation to fill it with stuff you don't really need. Because the more stuff you have, the heavier the bag gets. Because the bigger and heavier the bag is, the harder it is to manage on your own.
Because you will have to get on and off public transportation (trains) quickly. Because you must be able to do that without getting help from anyone else.
Because there may not be elevators where you stay and you may need to carry your bags up and down stairs.
The only time I check a bag is if I'm forced to do so because the plane's overhead bins are too small even for an international size 2-wheeled bag.
It all starts with your travel wardrobe and a light weight carry-on bag. I have two 22" wheeled carry-ons that weigh between 5 and 6 pounds and two international ones that weigh between 4 and 5 pounds. Whichever one I use, if the fully packed weight goes over 22 pounds, I take things out until it doesn't.
Obviously, you have to wear something, so you end up actually packing less than the total number of garments you take. In my case, I always wear lace-up boots when out and about, on trains or changing locations. I never pack them. Many times they've kept me from turning an ankle or falling on slippery cobblestones or rough terrain.
I'm now 75 and will be 76 by next summer when I go to Ireland and Wales for a total of 5 weeks. I pack for a week and do laundry as needed along the way. I travel solo. I appreciate and will accept help when offered, but I don't count on it. Amusing for me is that the offers of help have increased as my hair has gotten grayer, at least in Europe. ????
This is sort of like the train vs plane discussion. Its all preference. I've traveled for weeks with a carryon and a back pack (I'm 65). But sometimes I just say the heck with it and check a bag. If I were trying to do your trip my preference would be to not check a bag. Either way your trip will be very enjoyable.
If from the airport, with carryon only, you will reach your hotel about an hour sooner if you take a taxi. At the end of a long international flight that means something to me. Might cost you $25 to $50 more than the bus. But how much are you spending on this trip?
Here we go.....
Your choices:
1) Size--check in/carry on
2) Wheels/no wheels
3) If wheels, two wheels/four wheels
YOU DECIDE.
You will get all types of responses from those who think just taking a carry on is absurdely ridiculous to those who think traveling with wheels is a sin against humanity. And everything in between.
There are pros and cons to each. Think about when you will be transporting your bags and what is necessary. Then decide what you would feel comfortable with. There is no right answer except the one that is right for you.
Here's what you will have to consider:
1) How will you be traveling from each point A to point B?
2) How much handling of the bag will you be responsible for? If you are taking public transit, you will have to carry/lift the bag on and off. If underground you may have to carry the bags up and down stairs. In some places it may mean walking a distance on rough surfaces and/or up and down hills.
3) If you decide to take a smaller bag, can you make do with taking less? Some can, some can't.
My only suggestion would be not to have four rolling bags. Make your "under the seat" bag something you could either put on your back or hang from your shoulder for those times you have to lug your bag up and down. (A trolley sleeve on them as well makes it easier.)
And I agree with James, sometimes it's just easier to take a taxi than try to deal with public transit. Especially with luggage. But not always.
One important thing to keep in mind for the Swiss trains: I was just there and the only luggage storage option was the racks up above the seats. None of the trains we were on had the nice luggage racks I have seen in pictures at the end of the train cars. So, in addition to getting the luggage on and off the trains, make sure you are able to lift the suitcases up over your head and that it’s small enough to fit on the overhead racks. Luckily, I was traveling with my bro in law who could lift our 26 inch suitcases up. I could not. For this sole reason, I am downsizing to a 22 inch suitcase for my next trip to Switzerland in June. And even the 22 inch will be a bit of a struggle for me to lift overhead. I am working on my arm strength. ???? And I’ll be checking the 22 inch and carrying on a separate smaller bag.
So you want one bigger bag that holds most of your clothes and items - your “suitcase”, in whichever style you prefer. Then you want one smaller bag that goes under the seat, holds essentials for the flight and ideally doubles as your walking around day bag during the trip. If you prefer a very small day bag, then it can go inside a slightly bigger under seat bag for the flight.
For the bigger bag, the debate is whether to make it a carry on that goes above the seat on the plane or a checked bag - one that gets checked into the airline and you retrieve at baggage claim.
Your decision on this depends on how likely it is for your bag to get lost if you check it (tight itineraries, changing airlines, multiple stops all increase the risk). Your airlines rules around size and weight - some are very strict on what size bag could be carried on so you might prefer to check a bag to have more room. Be sure to confirm size and weight limits on the airline’s website.
I prefer to carry on everything but am not dogmatic about it - there are some trips where checking a bag makes sense for me. The key is to not bring too much even if you check your bigger bag. You will still need to lug it around with you and lift it on trains, and manage it in small rooms.
If you choose to check your larger bag, you do want to make sure your absolute necessities are in your carry on. Bags do get delayed. Rarely are they actually lost forever, but you still might not have your items for a few days. So have valuables and necessities with you on the plane. That would be necessary medicine, expensive things, things you will want ASAP off the plane like a toothbrush.
After many trips I actually pack exactly the same for a short (ok not for just a weekend) or a long trip. Mix and match.... Coordinating colors that can all be washed together. One white item for example will require hand washing only... Try laying out the clothes in as many "outfits" as you can identify... Are you missing something like a colorful scarf that dresses things up, but doesn't add much weight or volume. Lay out the clothes and exactly as much "product" (pills, toiletries, etc) needed for the trip and see how much space they take up. That may change your choices of clothes, and your thoughts on the size of bags you need. I strongly recommend a comfortable backpack since it leaves two hands free for money, cup of coffee, and lifting the other bag. Pack your bag and drive to a park and take a walk around for 15 minutes. How does it all feel? And, almost everything you forgot can be bought in Europe if it becomes necessary except particular pharmacy items (Ibuprophin, for example, comes in 20 pill blister packs, not 500 caplet bottles) but the cruise ship store may have them also. You don't say when the trip will be, but the mountains can be cool and rainy at any time of the year, so be prepared for that, not just for the cruise.
CissyK, we've done what you are doing: river cruise with a few extra days in Switzerland. We each checked a wheeled 24" bag plus a carryon. Since you are in one place the majority of your trip (your ship cabin) its not as important to minimize as if it were all an independent trip. Besides, we ended up buying 10 lbs of gouda, and a couple of bottles of wine on the cruise, so we needed the room. Yes for the days on your own, its a bit of a hassle, but manageable. You'll only be making only a few journeys on your own.
Many people here advocate carryon only, because it makes a quicker entry and exit, and travel between destinations is easier. But in this case, the ship is doing most of the work. People also want to avoid the "lost luggage" thing, but that doesnt happen as much as it sounds. Just dont pack it full. You also might be able to get a load of laundry done while still in Switzerland.
Take note that many European air carriers have a weight limit on carryon bags (some around 8 kg) that make it difficult to pack a whole trips worth of stuff just on a carryon.
I just wanted to add that you should make sure to buy a light weight suitcase. I have a travel pro that I love. I bought it after I struggled on trains with my former suitcase and realized I could drop five lbs without packing any less with a lighter suitcase. Mine is 22 inches and have found that and a back pack very adequate. I usually carryon but did check coming back from Greece so I could take home bottles of wine!
Also, I think two wheels are much easier to maneuver in Europe. The only time I wish I had the four wheel version is going on the plane where they excel.
I’m going to tell you a secret, but don’t let it out as it will eliminate so many threads on this forum……..
There is no one right way to pack.
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There are some basic guidelines that can be useful. Don’t pack more than you can personally handle yourself. Be able to lift your carryon into an overhead bin or rack. The more public transport you use, the easier it will be to travel with smaller sized bags. You can buy almost anything you might find yourself needing there so bring what you know you need, not what you “might need.”
It sounds like you have a great trip planned. Enjoy!
I pretty much pack like Lo, including the weight. I aim for 20 lb., but in the end might go slightly over. You should and must be able to handle your luggage by yourself, at least fairly easily. You never know what will happen to force you to handle it alone or add on your partner’s luggage to the mix.
This being said I usually check my carryon wheeled suitcase as I prefer not having my luggage with me in the airport. When deplaning from an international flight, I find my luggage is arriving in baggage claim at the same time I am (except CDG, which I try to avoid). Carryon all your necessities and a change of clothes, just in case your luggage is delayed. Don’t be afraid to check your bag unless you have an unusually short layover and you are not staying in the area for a couple of days, which it sounds like you are. In my skis (not my luggage) were delayed several hours due to a connection we had to run to make, but they arrived at the mountain by midnight. Since then, with a lot of international travel included, no issues.
So…the only reason I see for not having a larger bag is your ability to handle the extra size and weight.
I’m going to tell you a secret, but don’t let it out as it will eliminate so many threads on this forum……..
There is no one right way to pack.
Carol, you're breaking the oath!
Another secret: You don't have to carry on a smaller bag. I would suggest (see Lo's post for reasons) two bags light enough that you can handle them easily, but big enough that you can pack everything you want or need. And then feel free to check one, two, or more of the four bags you and your hubs will have.
Or not. Stan and I have chosen to each have one small backpack and one "personal item," and wash clothes as we need to. We prefer to carry on, but aren't dogmatic about it.
In fact, I once had to check a bag in Naples. The other choice was to discard an old but beloved camera and lens. We were flying from Naples to London. It was the day after the subway bombings in London, and security was definitely on edge. We had spent about a week in one place on the Amalfi coast, so I had brought my old SLR 35mm camera, with a couple of extra lenses, one of which was large. The Italian equivalent of the TSA agent took one look at the long lens, and said "No."
The airport was packed, and I had to repack my bags so I could zip my "personal item," which at the time was just a tote bag, run down to the check-in counters, and throw myself on the mercy of the people standing in the long line. It all worked out, I'm pleased to say.
But I digress. (As usual.) Just be sure you can handle the bags for an extended time should you need to, and be flexible.
And have a great trip.
It may take you several trips to find the method that works best for you, and even then packing styles continue to evolve.
My first international trip was with a tour company that would portage the luggage from the bus to the room and back to the bus. I took a 30 inch bag and a small carry on bag as a day bag. I only packed the bag about half full so that I could buy some wool sweaters. I ended up getting my bag from the bus to my room myself because I wanted my "stuff" before dinner. Then I started taking it down to the bus in the morning to make sure it didn't get left behind. I learned that any large souvenirs could be shipped from the shop directly home and if they couldn't be I didn't want them. Too much hassle carrying those things around! I got plain sick and tired of dealing with that dang bag all the time!
My next trip was a Rick Steves tour. I read all of the packing advice here on the forum and decided to go carry on only. I use an Osprey back pack and a cross-body Tom Bihn messenger bag. I have a lot less stress doing it this way. I also don't want to be stressed by someone else's bags so, if you are traveling with me, you can only bring carry on. (My Mom now brags about being a carry on only traveler. She is less stressed because she no longer brings super dressy clothes to wear to dinner and she can blame it on me!) My brother-in-law is 'allowed' to meet me at a travel destination, but I refuse to travel to or from an airport with him due to this rule of mine.
To be clear, I don't pack this way because somebody else says. I do it because it works well for me.
So, my advice is to read between the lines on this thread and try to figure out what might work for you. Then, modify it for each trip that comes after.
I can't travel to Europe carry-on only because of the non-clothing items I need for my summer-long trips. I take very little clothing and only the pair of shoes on my feet. (I realize many travelers--especially other females--just cannot manage with only one pair of shoes.)
This is something that rarely comes up when we discuss packing: What are your clothes going to look like after being squished into a suitcase for at least 12 hours? That depends to a great degree on the fabric content. Polyester is indestructible but very uncomfortable if you encounter hot weather, so it's not suitable for my trips. (Back in the s I took a lot of polyester, but summertime Europe is a lot warmer than it used to be.) I always end up with some clothing items that come out of my bag in a wrinkled mess. They need to be unpacked, hung up and usually also misted to eliminate wrinkles before they are worn. This is a fairly minor task if you have only a few clothes in your bag. It is a royal pain if you are a heavy packer and have this extra step to perform at every stop. First, you may not have enough hangers or hanging space for all the wrinkled clothes. Second, you'll have to repack everything before you move on. It gets really annoying.
Taking a mix-and-match wardrobe is very, very important. 4 tops and 3 bottoms creates 12 different looks--and that's before you add a scarf or warm layer into the mix.
My current paradigm-the smaller Travel Pro Maxlite wheeled Carryon if I'm traveling on a European carrier, who have lower size and weight limits. A JansSport bookbag for my personal item-cheap, durable, and easy to carry. Be careful not to hit the people behind you when wearing a backpack. We try to do carry-on only but sometimes my husband brings the larger checked bag. There are fold-up small duffles(ours came from LL Bean) that you can pack and check on your way home, when lost luggage will be less of a problem. We put dirty clothes in ours.
A problem with carry-only: your liquids are limited to what you can put in your 3-1-1 bag. It is possible to find soap that can be used as shampoo and solid foundation which don't have to take up precious space in the 3-1-1.
I completely agree that there’s not one “right way” to pack for everyone. But, I’ll answer your question: “ Is it really a lot of trouble to check a bag? I know it means a wait at the airport but what other reasons would we NOT want a larger bag?”
We took our first trip together in our ‘50’s to Europe to celebrate our 25th anniversary. It was a Rick Steves tour, and they emphasized only bringing a carry on suitcase; they even gave us a RS suitcase in the tour price. I’ve been to Europe 11 times for 3-week vacations since and traveled globally numerous times for work for a week. What seemed like such a hindrance was actually fantastic & freeing; I’ve never checked a suitcase for 17 years….and always wear clean clothes.
Vacation time is prime valuable time, and I don’t want to spend extra of it in the airport. When you’re taking public transportation, it’s easy to board the bus or tram. Trains are a breeze - usually can put your carry on suitcase on the rack above your head. Lots of train stations are a flight of stairs down & up to reach or double to transfer to the next line. Often that’s 5 -10 minutes to transfer.
But the best reason is that it gives you flexibility for unexpected opportunities on flights. Anytime the gate announces they need some volunteers for X amount of money to take the next flight, it only applies to passengers who didn’t check a bag. We volunteered once at JFK to take the next flight to Seattle, and they gave us two $ AMEX money cards! Others who checked their luggage were ineligible.
Last thought - you will get the travel bug for further travel, so it’s nice to have luggage that will work for future trips, too.
With my carryon and personal item combo (both legitimately sized to comply) I can summer and winter trips, carry a nice pair of shoes, sports coat and slacks along with the daily stuff. and that provides for more options where I am going.
Or I can carry a complete fly fishing outfit with out the nice clothes.
Some airlines put a weight limit on carryon (Turkish Air its 8kg) but not on the personal item so I get more flexibility by putting all the heavy stuff in the personal item.
And if I buy a bunch of booze, I can always check the carryon if need be.
BUT! occasionally I just get lazy in my packing and don't feel guilty checking a bag; especially if its a 1 or 2 country trip.
You really can't do wrong.
Is it wrong to get so excited when I see I have a ton of responses?!? Cause I LOVE all the great advice and can’t wait to check here on my lunch break ????????????????
We have some luggage pieces that are different sizes and I’m going to try the “packing it now advice.” Want to get an idea of how many clothes we are looking at and how they pack. I’ll do toiletries and shoes and the whole shebang.
I didn’t even think about the steps going to and from street to trains so that’s good advice, too. I can handle a carryon for that but at 5’2” the larger bag might be unwieldy. If we check a bag, hubby might have to deal with that one.
I also like the idea of mixing our clothes in the bags. Good thinking!
Thank you all so much. Lots to delve into. Glad I can experiment a bit before we leave next June
For me it always is dependent upon two things 1) the weather and 2) how much I plan to buy.
My general packing rule is one rolley checked luggage, inside of that is my rick-steves classic backdoor bag with all of my clothes (this bag is awesome btw--- its held up for many trips and a lot of bad treatment), and then depending upon the weather I'd have a rolley carry on and my camera bag. If things get too tight I take the rick steves bag out and have a huge suitcase for things I may buy, or the hardshell carry-on for things I may buy (depending what they are). This has always worked for me. This is my usual "Europe" plan.... My carry on has anything super important and maybe one change of clothes - so electronics, cleaning supplies (like in this case during covid-times), masks, etc.
However, if I were going to Asia it would be a different ballgame. I hate having a lot of luggage there- its miserable. In that case I'd take one medium to small sized checked bag and that is it. At one point I was actually able to fit enough for 4 weeks in China in one small carry-on hardshell. (that is a bit extreme - 3 pairs of cotton pants and underwear sets and t-shirts I didn't mind throwing out)... BUT- if the weather is going to be hot as a hell inferno and your clothes all cotton and you don't mind washing in the sink- it works great... that of course doesn't work if its colder where you are going in Europe.
I agree with other posters in checking out if you can lift your luggage or not. I've had some amusing times where I've had to ask people to get it up on a train (in Germany and also England). In England I'm surprised the lady didn't break her back- it was a friendly old woman who was like "here toss it" .... :0 I can lift about 30 pounds in a luggage without twisting myself but past that it gets dicey.
Yep...lots of opinions on luggage. We travel with 22" suitcases which we check because each suitcase often weighs 27 pounds or more. We also each have a carry-on with essentials...and a small backpack with items I will need for the long flight. We are "doing well" traveling with 22" suitcases, because we used to travel with 24" suitcases. I am not at the point of doing only carry-on (baby steps). And, on our last trip, my suitcase was "lost" for almost 48 hours! So, I will be sure to have even more "essentials" in my carry-on bag when we take our next trip.
You are wise to be thinking about how you will deal with suitcases on your cruise + land trip so far in advance A carry-on size will be much easier when you are in Mürren and Amsterdam and Lucerne. Many of the smaller independent hotels' rooms are quite small and there is barely enough room for two-22" suitcases.
Carrie: On our trip to Switzerland, we never put our suitcases in the overhead bins. They were either in our "seating area" or under the seat. So, while it's good that you are working on increasing "arm strength," you may not need to lift your suitcase. Besides, potato chips do not weigh a lot!
Adding a couple of thoughts. Yes, you can get almost anything (but not everything) you might need in Europe. However, you may be shocked at the prices. Prescription drugs are way cheaper than in the U.S., but otc meds are really expensive. Once, on a Tuscany trip, I experienced a horrendous allergy attack. I ran through my supply of sudafed and had to buy some at over $1/pill. Another time, I forgot my ibuprofen, taken daily for bad knees. It was only available in 12 packs, which I had to keep buying, 2 at a time, because the pharmacists didn’t want to let me have more. I figured out that I spent more than $40 on it. At home I had a bottle that had cost around $15 for 500. Also, you should be aware that otc meds are available only in pharmacies. I don’t think you can get even an aspirin elsewhere.
Personally, I have no interest in doing laundry by hand. I take enough underwear for a week; and then I go to a laundromat or get it done.
I am able to fit everything I need for a trip into my 21” checked bag and a carry-on that fits in the overhead bin. That includes a fair amount of clothing (at least 5 tops and bottoms, sleepwear, cosmetics, footwear, rain gear, outerwear, at least one pair of shoes besides the ones on my feet, other items depending on destination and season). As others have advised, my essential papers, electronics, meds, a change of clothes, and something to sleep in go in my carry-on. I can’t imagine needing a 24” bag, much less a 26”.
I’ll make sure we drop some OTC meds in our packs. I have no intention of doing my own laundry in our little cabin on the boat….I do enough of that at Home!!!! I’m gonna be on Vacation!! ????????????
I would love to get it all in a carry on but I just don’t think I can. I’m thinking of making hubby bring the larger check bag and a back pack while I do a carry on and a back pack. Not a super huge checked bag but bigger than a carry on. That might be the best compromise I can do!
But I’m going to try it and see where I get. I might surprise myself! I guess my next question is going to be about packing cubes!!
Personally, I prefer to check bags. Making sure there's a place on the plane for a big carry-on, gives me anxiety. This has been validated because every flight I've taken recently has reached critical carry-on mass well before everyone has boarded. Do you want to take the chance of a forced checked bag or plan in advance?
That said, I still take a carry-on sized bag and try to stay around 20 pounds. Last time, we were gone 21 days and did laundry once. I plan for that mid-trip. Wearing one pair of very good shoes and taking a pair of flip flops was not a hardship. I brought a "picnic" kit in a small cooler bag with some soft plastic wine glasses, a wine opener, a wine stopper, knife, cutting board, simple utensils and small plates. Very handy on trains. At the risk of sounding like a commercial, I really like my Rick Steves wheeled backpack. It is small enough to carry on but also convenient for trains and public transportation. It is sturdy, has a good footprint, holds a surprising amount but make sure you watch the weight distribution when you pack. If you have to go over rough distances or it is wet, the backpack feature is handy. (Venice was easy!) Following the advice of a tour guide friend, I spray it with waterproof, teflon coating before trips and that helps.
I'm not as concerned about "losing" time at bag check and I haven't lost a bag, yet. After a long flight, I'm never moving too quickly. I'm not into competitive travel and everything usually shakes out fine.
Do what works for you. It will evolve over time to suit your body and travel needs. My short friends and those with bum shoulders always check.
Everything has been said, but not by everyone. :-) So let me add my 2cts worth on a few side aspects:
Backpacks: Don't just choose for weight. Choose for comfort. Does it have a padded waist strap, and padded shoulder straps? Does it fit your size and body shape perfectly? A light backpack is not worth its weight if it's so uncomfortable your back or your shoulders hurt after an hour.
Shoes: Wear the heaviest ones you are taking on your trip. We always take hiking boots, and it saves us half a suitcase to have those on our feet instead of in our luggage.
lots of people here prefer basically two carry ons
That's a great way to make friends on a plane right to begin with. You will immediately have something to talk about with your neighbor when they find that you have already occupied all the space in the overhead bin that was meant for three passengers. ;-)
Keep in mind also that airlines do have different rules on carry on luggage. I have seen people having to check one piece of their carry on at the gate because they wouldn't let them in with all their stuff.
On our trip to Switzerland, we never put our suitcases in the overhead
bins.
@Carol: You were lucky the train wasn't too crowded. If it's crowded, the conductor may make you free up all space in the seating area. And not all trains have enough space for suitcases under the seats. So you may end up being required to lift them up to the overhead bin; I've had that happen more than once. Lucky you if you find a fellow passenger who is tall and helpful.
Anna is right that some of us utilize the carryon and the personal item in our packing system. However, on the airlines I fly, mostly BA these days,(but Delta, American, Iceland Air, Air France,SAS in past) the personal item is much smaller and has to be placed under the seat in front so it doesn’t affect bin space. Also, one should always pack as if they end up only with their personal item. However, when packing both items should be planned simultaneously, IMO. I can fit my change of clothes in my 12x16x5 PI, plus electronics, meds, documents, financials, snacks, etc. if I am not sure I will check my wheeled carryon, I will have the extra clothes packed in a long narrow cube that I can easily pull out if gate checked and fit into my personal item. I could travel indefinitely with my PI.
A pilot friend, who traveled with his family often (obviously) said never to have one large bag, but have smaller ones you can easily lift and handle alone. For example one small wheeled carryon, backpack, crossbody…assuming here one is checked.
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