I used to think a big backpack was the only way to go

Caleb Scott · 2026-04-20T13:50:07.213088+00:00

For years I traveled with a 45L pack, thinking I needed all that stuff. Last month in Medellin, I had to carry it up five flights of stairs to my Airbnb and it nearly killed me. I switched to a 28L bag for a two week trip to Mexico City and it forced me to pack only what I actually use. Has anyone else made a big downsize and found it actually made things easier?

laura_knight545mo ago

Forget the stairs, think about the buses. My 40L bag got me stuck in a narrow aisle on a chicken bus in Guatemala for an hour while everyone glared. Downsizing to a 25L meant I could always keep it on my lap or under my seat. It turns you from an obstacle into just another passenger. That kind of freedom is worth more than any extra pair of shoes.

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the_kim5mo ago

That chicken bus story from @laura_knight54 really hits home. It's not just about the weight on your back, it's about the space you take up in the world. My big bag made me slow and clumsy in crowded markets, always bumping into people. Going smaller meant I could move through a place instead of just being in it. The bag stops being a piece of luggage and starts feeling like a part of you.

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emma3494mo ago

Let the bag shrink and watch how people treat you differently. @the_kim nails it about space you take up in the world. I went from a 40L to a 22L and suddenly locals stopped side-eyeing me in tiendas and started asking where I was headed. You stop being a tourist with a mountain on your back and start being just another person moving through their city. That shift in how you carry yourself changes everything about a trip.

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