We wanted to avoid baggage claim and any chance of lost luggage so we planned to pack for a two week trip in carry-on bags. Our trip has many transport points, including several ferries, so we needed to be able to easily carry everything.
This meant starting with bag that fit in the overhead of a plane. The big pile of clothes and needed accessories was reduced by volume to fit in the bag. With everything that fit crammed in the bag, it was too heavy. And then began an exercise like the scene from Apollo 13 where every item is review for weight and usefulness.
In the end we wound up with bags that we could carry and we'll make do with what we have.
