Stratos 36L packed and ready to go
When I went to Europe last month, I brought along a small roller bag and laptop bag. Both were carry on items, allowing me to avoid any baggage headaches, and all things considered, they worked pretty well (in fact, that will be my standard travel setup when I start working). I had more than enough clothes to get me through the 2 weeks and all of the gadgets that I needed.
For my trip to China next week, I'm taking it up a notch (or is it down a notch?) and going with just a Stratos 36L. It feels like I now have substantially less space to pack stuff (I probably lost at least 10L), but since I'm taking fewer things, it is still more than what I need. I'm still probably packing a bit too much actually (a lot of people on travel forums swear by keeping it out when in doubt and just buying things you need along the way).
I've never had a serious travel pack before, but the rep at REI was extremely helpful in figuring out the sizing and everything. And she gave me a great tip on how to pack in order to alleviate any back pain; ideally, you want to pack the heaviest items as close to your back (center of gravity) as possible. This page on the Osprey website has a nice picture that shows how you should try to organize everything in your pack.
This is a good insight for backpackers of all experience ranges. A well planned trip doesn't necessarily require you to bring a lot of things. Bring only what is essential for your activities.
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