So I'm traveling to Europe this winter (Yes I'm excited) and I noticed this trend with my family members, and along other people I know are traveling as well. My mother and sister are each taking a backpack, purse, and carry-on luggage onto the plane along with their checked in luggage, while my father and I only get a backpack.

Other times when we've traveled, they only weigh the backpack and I noticed that my mother and sister over all carry a lot more weight, though my dad has periodically been stopped for having his backpack overweight. Obviously he can't out his own daughter or wife to the airport security and claim equality, so he's fairly stuck in this predicament.

Any advice when traveling and having to deal with airport security and the whole "your carry on can't exceed 10 pounds" or whatever the weight limit is?

EDIT: Please don't write "pack lighter" I've heard that way too often