CrazyGirl:
Sounds like a good solution once you have decided what are non-negotiables!
One item that I do not travel without and that is the NUMBER ONE most requested item FROM travellers:
Large plastic bags...either trash bags or dry bags (trash are smaller, lighter and cheaper)
They are good for packing damp/wet gear, for when it's wet (rain, dew, spray, mist, fog), for when you have to throw your bag onto a questionable surface, for segregating dirty laundry or messy boots and about a million other uses.
