The older I get, the less I pack. It does irritate me slightly that the large backpack connotes a certain kind of traveler. I always feel slightly sheepish pitching up at a nice hotel with a dirty old backpack on my back. I shouldn’t, because, after all, I’m paying to stay there, but I always feel slightly frowned upon.
Via Lord knows where, I came across One Bag, a site dedicated to packing light:
Overpacking easily heads the list of biggest travel mistakes. Thus this Web site, offering exhaustive (some might say exhausting) detail on the art of travelling light, living for an indefinite period of time out of a single (carry-on-sized) bag.
I was immediately reminded of this wicked but pricey product from Puma–96 hours worth of clothing in a rolling bag.
DarrenBarefoot.com 
Sounds like what I took when I backpacked Europe. However, I’d add a bicycle cable lock to the list. If you plan to doze in airports, train stations, buses, trains or hostels without lockers, you can reduce bag theft by chaining your bag. It won’t prevent someone from rifling through it, but it will keep them from running off with it. Of course, some people prefer to connect the back strap like a chain — but it’s a pain to do, if you ask me.
I’ve also heard that Tilley travel socks and underwear are great — they dry in 15 minutes.
Yes, I was just going to mention Tilley underwear myself. “Two pairs are all you need to travel the world!” they claim. Unfortunately they don’t come in thong style.
We will be travelling with hand luggage to Africa for 4 weeks. I think this will be a challenge, but we are determined to go light. Picked up some good hints, Thx.