I use the same principles I use for ultralight hiking: -Take only what you will actually use. "What-ifs" are heavy. We pack to lessen our fears and knowledge is the answer---and light. - Assemble a closely integrated layering system of clothing and color coordinate so it's all interchangeable. You can always buy more if needed. - Use the "three method" for clothing: one worn, one dirty, ine clean. Use items you can hand wash and line dry overnight. You can travel for months with the same items it takes for a week. Laundry is the difference. On a recent three week trip I used a laund once and an Airbnb had a washer which I used once. Everything else was hand wash and line dry. If the weather is good, walking sandals are great and no socks to wash! - Get a Kindle to eliminate book weight. I've gone to a small tablet to replace a laptop and that fills the e-reader niche too. Be careful on electronics -- they can snowball with all the cables and chargers, powerbanks, etc. I have a 4 port usb charger that takes care of everything for two people and needs just one outlet. It is 100~240 volt so it just needs an adapter for the local outlet type. - I carry my electronics, books and TSA liquids in my carry on "personal" bag which goes under the seat. Where they might weigh your larger overhead carry on, I have never had my personal bag weighed (yet). All said and done, a 10kg limit is a good thing for me as I use a backpack and who wants to haul more than that anyway! It's not hard to do. When hiking, I am carrying shelter, sleeping gear, cooking gear, essentials, food and water and my 3 day limit is 21 pounds, so taking just clothing, toiletries and electronics at 22 pounds is much easier. ... View more

Speaking of rentals, it looks like some of the van rental companies use rentals as a way to market their van builds. They rent a van to Kaleigh, she loves it, and has them build her one. I want to talk about the smallest vans. I built a Promaster City camper, and for personal reasons, have decided to sell it. I'm not finding a market for these little vans. It appears people are not aware of them unless they've rented one. Many of the rental companies have them because they are cheap to rent, they get 30 mpg (28 hwy rating), and they're fun and easy to drive. You can park them anywhere if you're on vacation in a city. Unlike a Sprinter, they fit in a parking garage and your home garage. And, they don't sit when you're not travelling. They can be your daily driver. But, nobody seems to know they exist. I think the car dealers hide them in the commercial van lot because they'd rather sell a more expensive SUV. So, what's your experience? Do you know what a Promaster City is? ... View more

It could be construed as an insult to car and RV campers by people who consider themsevles to be more "Hard core" backpackers and backcountry campers, I guess.  ... View more

Boots or shoes are great for taking care of your pet's paws, but not all canines will tolerate them and it usually takes them a bit of time to fully get used to them.  I tried a few times to get my dog into them and used to them all to no avail.   I will change my routes in the summer especially on warmer days as well as going earlier in the day.  I opt for shady trails or at minimum routes that have grass, sand, or dirt next to the sidewalk so my pup's paws won't get too hot.   I, personally, use regular cooking coconut oil lightly on the pads of her paws when they get irritated or excessively dry.  Usually this is during the winter with all the ice melt and salt on the sidewalks, but I've occasionally used it during the summer.  I would definitely consult with either your vet or at least a pet store on what types of products they would recommend to keep your pup's paws healthy and happy.   Good job on watching their paws.  Make sure you also inspect for grass and plant seeds/thorns that can get stuck in between the pads and toes. ... View more

Wow, this seems pretty cool. Has anyone here done this?  ... View more