After 3 years of gradually packing lighter, ready to ditch the checked bag entirely for a 17-day, 5-city trip. Where does the jump get hard?

My wife and I have been slowly working our way toward this for three years. Every trip we've packed less than the one before. Carry-ons got smaller, checked bags got lighter, packing cubes have been a game changer. The last few trips, the checked bags have even come back from the airport under weight. The bag has stopped being something we need and become something we bring because we always have plus we figure more room for souvenirs to bring home.

This year we're planning a 17-day trip across 3 countries, 5 cities with 5 hotel changes. We’re looking at flights, trains, ferries, and a rental car that we’re sharing with another couple who is traveling with us. So this feels like the obvious moment to actually commit to less bags because I can already envision all the headaches 2 checked bags would create.

So we’re thinking 2 backpacks which are the legit weekender size bags plus carry-ons and we skip the checked bags altogether.

We're both genuinely on board. It’s not one of us dragging the other. But I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little nervous about the unknown here. It feels like there’s likely a gap between "checked bag mostly empty" and "no checked bag at all" so hoping to get some feedback there on if it’s as easy as folks say it is.

So my questions not specific to bag recommendations but more about any insights on making the change, tips on laundry best practices, how to handle shoes, or any outside the box recommendations that helped you all would be greatly appreciated.