Help me Please.... traveling heavy

Hi everyone,
I need some help here…As much as I would want it to be different…. I am not going to be able to pack light.
I am have several video projects going , so there is the not too small camera and tripod, and the lap top. And then there are the cloths for six months…including warm cloths for my stint in Kathmandu. Oct - December …

Any suggestions on how to do this? I had this same issue in Brazil, I became a master had hiding, disguising and lugging around my stuff, but that trip was much shorter and I wasn’t traveling as much as I plan to this time. …I will be taking mostly trains. How big of a bag can I get away with on the trains and be able to keep my eye on it? Are there places I can check my stuff in for the day so that I can look around without needing to check into a guesthouse?

I’m looking at possibly getting this bag .
Is it too big to put under my seat on the train? (ooh..I bet this is a dumb question!)
I appreciate any suggestions

bring the basics - pack mostly for summer for now. Keep some sweaters or warm jackets for later.

Buy sweaters when you are there and it starts to get colder.

SOrry to hear you have to carry around all that stuff! Travelling heavy is a real pain, but if you are only taking that backpack, you should be OK. It's hard to tell, but it looks like you should be able to fit it under you on the trains (which are able to fit the really oversized suitcases).

I guess my advice would be to examine everything you are taking and ask yourself "Is this ABSOLUTELY essential" or is there ANY possibility of doing without it." If you can, leave it behind.

That bag should fit under a train seat - especially if you zip off the "daypack" part, which you could use as a "pillow" or arm rest. And if you are carrying weight, a rolling bag like that is definitely the way to go.

I had a real whopper of a rolling duffel bag on trains on my last trip - much bigger than the bag in the photo -- and it did just barely fit under the seat when it was jammed full of stuff (which it was both going and coming as I was prevailed upon to schlep an unconscionable amount of stuff to relatives of friends when I went, and then I bought half of India to bring back with me!)-- but even though it was huge I could always manage to shove it under the seat. I was traveling 2-tier AC sleeper, so I don't know how much room you would have in another class. If you travel 3-tier, there are more people in a compartment, so more luggage has to be accommodated, but I don't think the bag you propose looks that bad.

This is the bag I carry to India (and everywhere else):

http://www.lesportsac.com/store/7385_3527.html

If you take all your clothing from here, you won't have a reason to buy any of the wonderful sweaters and shawls that you'll find in India -- and when you're done with them, you can mail the ones you want to keep!

Oh, train stations usually have a "cloakroom" or "left luggage" area where you can leave your locked case for a few hours -- but do not ever leave money, cameras, passport or other valuables.

I concur with wonderwomanusa. Leave some room for some purchases in india.

For the bag (backpack), the one you are showing is more weight (12 lb for empty backpack). Also the wheels may not greatly useful on the roads. Even in crowded train platforms, you may have lift and run for the trains. Also when you want to change platforms you have carry it over 50 odd steps of staircases.

Here are couple of options.
For longer periods of travelling (only 4 pounds 12 oz)
http://www.backcountryedge.com/produ...h/spectre.aspx

For shorter periods on the road (Only 2 pounds and 12 Oz)
http://www.backcountryoutlet.com/out...ry-G-Pack.html

more info later

I wouldn´t bother carrying around the cold weather gear , you should be able to find good stuff (used down or new wool) in Ktm easily.

Regarding volume : check out Eagle Creeks compression bags. I´ve used them for a couple of treks , works good , be careful with the slider for the zipper , thou´. The man in seat 61 has some pic´s that will give you an idea of how much space you can use in the Indian trains.

Always refer to ww in questions of style

Another point for your pack : I still sometimes miss my old framepack , because I could use it as a tripod on treks by attaching a clamp with a tripod screw to the frame and prop it up with my staff. You could work up something similar with the dragging handle.

Great tips on travelling light, including bag suggestions, at OneBag and Travelite. You don't have to utilize all of their suggestions, but some might help you cut down on your weight. You can also try Googling "ultralight backpacking." Again, you don't have to follow all the principles, adopting a few might be all you need. (Hint: don't start off with a pack that already weighs twelve+ pounds empty! Yowza.)

Wow! Thank you so much for the advice. I really can't get over how wonderful it is to spend days being worried about a situation, make a post on IM in the PM and wake up the next AM with suggestions of the generous knowledgeable IM'ers.

So... next question.
I love the idea of carrying a 4lb pack vs. a 12lb one. I was drawn to amount of space the heavy REI bag offered, but if I get the LONG Mountainsmith pack then the volume is probable close enough ( 5150 cubic inches vs. 5900 cubic inches)
The problem... I'm not long. I'm 5'4(ish) How important is it to get a pack that fits you?

I think generally if you are using a backpack as intended it's important that it fit you, unless you're wearing it only for short distances.

I found that when I used a pack when travelling, as opposed to actually backpacking, I usually didn't wear the thing anyway. That's why I switched to a rolling bag. At first I thought I was wimping out, but I got over that in about one nanosecond because I found the rolling bag a great solution. Anyway, who was I kidding? I'm well past the "backpacker traveller" stage.

The only downside to using a rolling bag, if it is one, is that it's so easy to transport a lot of weight, you may go overboard. Since I fully planned to go overboard with my shopping , a rolling duffel worked great for me. I also had to carry an amazing amount of stuff with me to India, which various friends asked me to take to their relatives scattered all over the place from Sikkim to Dharamsala. All these folks are Tibetans, so their idea of what it is reasonble to schlep seems to be based on transport by yak. Then, in addition to my own shopping, I had to bring back all the stuff from the relatives to my friends here -- aagghh!! Thank god for the rolling bag!

Some people also say the wheels don't work on rough Indian roads, but I guess I never tried rolling it in the boondocks because I never had any problem. Rolling it on gravel or sand would be difficult or impossible, but I never had occasion to do that.

Others have noted the supposed problem of using a rolling bag (particularly a heavy one) at railway stations, especially if you have to go up and down steps to various platforms. I have a one word solution to that "problem": porters

Jadeskirt, I see you are in Berkeley - have you browsed for bags at REI? I note that your first proposed bag was from the REI website. REI has a good selection of all kinds of packs and travel bags, and their staff gives good advice on backpack fit and the suitability of different bags for different tastes/travel conditions.

Another great place to check for name-brand luggage, bags, etc. is overstock.com, 50% off or less! I got two great bags from Samsonsite, one a rolling duffle (which is very ergonomic) to cart around all my yoga stuff when I teach, and it came with a smaller carry on, all for $99.

wonderwomanusa, that bag you suggested looks great! How much stuff can you put in it? Can you describe what your normal "load" would be?

thanks!

You could also check out ebags.com and baggageforless.com. Both have the rolling duffel I used for only $70. It's the Pathfinder Pinnacle 32" rolling duffel, which weighs 9 lbs empty.

I didn't get mine on line but I also got it for a cheap price, so I was a little worried that it would be flimsy but it's just fine. I hauled it around on trains, planes, in and out of cars and hotels, for a month, and it looks brand new!

There's simply no reason to carry a pack that doesn't fit you. There's such a variety in so many different sizes. If there is an outfitters near you, they will help fit a pack to you, including stuffing it with different weights so you can see how it feels fully loaded.

You'll spend a lot of time with your pack, it's worth it to do a little research and test them out to find one you like. Travel can be uncomfortable enough at times - there's no reason your pack should be, too.

>>wonderwomanusa, that bag you suggested looks great! How much stuff can you put in it? Can you describe what your normal "load" would be?<<

When I left for India, the bag weighed 14 lbs -- and only about one pound of that is the weight of the bag. Every time the bag gained five pounds, I mailed a package; I'm just not willing to carry more than that up all those stairs at the train stations!

It's washable nylon, and those outside pockets are great for putting a wet longhi, so that everything else I own doesn't mildew. They also hold books, sandals, etc.

And that plaid (mine's actually a red Madras-like plaid) would makes it easy to follow when the porter has it on his head!

I dislike backpacks, so this is the best I could find! And they're usually available on e-bay at far less than the retail price.

I am also interested in getting a bag like yours, Wonderwoman. I know it is super-soft-sided so I am wondering if you have ever had trouble packing anything breakable in it, and if you have ever checked it instead of taking it on the plane.