Needed: Use of a scale to weigh luggage in Greenwich Village

[Ed Wetschler]

I often give advice on NYC, but now I need advice: How/where can I access a bathroom scale (or an old-fashioned drugstore scale) in the Village or Soho so I can weigh some luggage? I'm packing for a bush-plane trip; 25-pound limit. Many thanks.

[Evelyn Kanter]

The sneaky way would be to buy a bathroom scale, use it carefully and return it.

Best way to weigh is step on without the bag, check your your weight, then get back on cradling luggage in your outstretched arms or otherwise holding it with both hands so it's evenly balanced. Be sure the scale is in the same spot for the without/with, since different spots on the floor can register weight differently.

I use one of those handy little luggage scales from a travel supply shop Magellans, TravelSmith, REI. It just saved me from being overweight on a 35-lb max trip. Maybe Bed Bath and Luggage (er, Beyond) has one in stock or the EMS outdoors shop in Soho. Or invest in a feather-light bag.

[José Balido]

Evelyn, what a great idea!! How many times have I placed a bag on a bathroom scale and tried to squint under to see the weight, when the obvious answer was to hold the bag and subtract my weight! Pure genius.

[Ed Wetschler]

Permit me a non-travel comment: This works with dogs, too.

[José Balido]

Well, some of our dogs FIT on the scale... but that's another story. You and Evelyn have shaken everything I ever thought I knew about weighing dogs and luggage. Thank you.

[Evelyn Kanter]

The math doesn't always work. Remember, we writers are much better with word than numbers.