š¤ Them: āJulieā¦ how many bags are you flying with to manage so many cute outfit changes?!ā
š Me: It’s not sorcery, my friends… it’s one great suitcase + smart clothing choices + a few packing hacks!
But firstā¦ a checked suitcase, Julie? Not a carryon?!?
Why I checked a bag vs. taking a carryon
As someone whoās regaled the internet with backpacking videos from a number of trips to Europe and Latin America over the years, I think a lot of people were surprised when I decided NOT to bring my signature carryon 40L backpack to Europe and instead take a checked bag.Ā
And truth be told, knowing that Iād be overseas for a lot longer than Iād ever been before (16 weeks in total!)ā¦ I just didnāt want the challenge. While there were definitely times that I thought to myself: I overpacked just a bit, and there were certain things I didnāt wear often, and the baggage fees were annoying, and when the lift wasnāt working āgahhhh is my bag heavyā climbing up all those stairsā¦ Iām still happy I had all the apparel options I did, and that it wasnāt a daily struggle to squish and squeeze everything I had into a backpack!
For a trip of this length, and to this destination, the suitcase I had and the clothing amount I brought was perfect. (For future trips of shorter lengths and to other parts of the world, Iāll likely revert back to my 40L backpack.)
The clothing I brought and what (more-or-less) it cost me
I could tell youā¦ or I could show you! Let me walk you through my European wardrobe (literally), while I explain my style and spending choices. Plus, Iām sharing a few packing hacks along the way. (Click the YouTube video preview to play.)
My suitcase review: the “Monos Check-In Medium”
One year ago, I decided to gift myself with a new suitcase. I wanted something with a great warranty AND style, so I looked at both Away and Monos luggage, two brands with great reputations. Ultimately, I went with the Monosā Check-In Medium bag.
According to Monos.com, āwhen you want more luggage space but donāt want to go too big, the Check-In Medium is the perfect midsize case” ā and Iād have to agree ā this size IS perfect.
The suitcase, measuring 26.5ā by 18.5ā by 10.5ā, is not too big for me to maneuver or carry, while being big enough to fit everything I needed for my 3-4 month trip to Europe. And, it came in just under the airlines’ weight limit for flying EVERY time (typically, this is 50 lbs. in the United States, and ~22 kg in the EU. I believe the Check-In Large would be too big and heavy for me to handle, and possibly require oversized baggage fees while flyingā¦ Iām so glad I bought the medium!).
I love all its space saving pockets. Plus, the bag comes in a variety of colors ā I chose a distinctive pattern called Terrazzo, with a pearly white background with colored flecks. While my bag’s uniqueness helps me spot it immediately at baggage claim, smudges and dirt are more obvious, so I would choose a darker or more solid color next time. Check out the Monos Check-In Medium here.
