How to pack for carry-on only travel

I always click on blog posts and news features about carry-on packing tips. I’m forever hopeful that I’ll learn a new way to maximize space, find the most compact products, or discover a new way to make one outfit look like three. Packing is one of the hardest parts about travel, in my opinion. It’s the only pre-travel task that I truly dread. It has become somewhat easier the more I travel, and I now have a system that works pretty well for me.

(Advisory: This post is a bit female-centric. Sorry fellas)

What’s the big deal about travelling with carry-on luggage only, anyway?

There are a few reasons you want to avoid checking a bag at the airport:

• Many airlines now charge for checking luggage.
• You incur a risk of the airline losing your bag. The risk goes up if you have connecting flights, especially if one of those flights gets delayed.
• After a long flight, do you really want to find the correct carousel and wait with all those people crowded around it to retrieve your bag? No, you do not. You want to get the heck out of the airport and start enjoying your destination.

Start with the right luggage

Get a carry-on bag that is designed cleverly to maximize the space available to you. Spinner bags (four-multidirectional wheels) sometimes offer a bit less space, but in my experience, being able to push your bag beside you as you walk is way better than straining your arm pulling it behind you.

My Briggs & Riley Expandable Spinner has worked exceptionally well for me. I know, I go on about this luggage often. So often, I should be getting a commission from the brand (I do not, but if offered I would take it B&R!). The game changer is the compression technology that comes with this bag. Once you pack it in its full extension mode, you can scrunch it down to regulation size. Beautiful.

Consumer Reports has a helpful checklist of what to look for to get the greatest capacity in a carry-on bag.

Add a backpack and bucket-style purse

Generally speaking, airlines allow a carry-on bag and a personal item in the cabin. You can also get away with a purse in addition to those two items. I carry a bucket/tote bag style purse because it allows me to stuff a few extra things in it (usually a scarf, headphones, a snack, and my tablet).

I also carry a laptop backpack. I like the backpack because it keeps my hands free. In addition to space for the laptop, I am usually able to pack a few clothing items or small electronics in this bag as well.

Now for some random (but important) carry-on packing tips

Wear your bulkiest items on the plane (e.g., sweater, boots, jacket). If you’re really ambitious you can wear a few layers to save space in your luggage.

Use packing cubes to stay organized and to save space. If you haven’t used packing cubes for travel it’s probably because you can’t imagine why you need them. Why do you need bags inside of bags? Well, because you can pack clothing according to type, and place the cubes inside the hotel dresser in two seconds flat and consider yourself unpacked. They keep your clothes from wrinkling too badly, and allow you more space as there is less air between your items because they are compressed inside the cubes.

Choose darker colours that don’t show the dirt and take a dryer sheet with you. You can get at least two to three wears out of a dark-coloured shirt or pair of pants. If you do get a stain, spot cleaning on a dark colour works better than on something light. The dryer sheet in your packing cube or dresser drawer will keep things fresh smelling.

Pack a small amount of laundry powder for handwashing to make your packing go further. I never take more than three pairs of underwear, a few pairs of socks, and one workout outfit. I wash these if I’m away for several days and use my dandy over-the-bath clothesline to dry them overnight.

Get over yourself and wear the same outfit a few times (change up the accessories for variety) – You don’t need a different outfit or bathing suit for every day of your stay. Embrace minimalism and wear key items more than once. It took me a long time to get on board with this, but it really is the only way to do it.  No one will notice (or care if they do) that you have worn something more than once. This is especially true if you’re not going to see the same people every day, as is often the case on vacation! Other than your own wardrobe boredom, it doesn’t matter. Grab some ideas for how to transform one outfit into many different looks from this post on the Travel Fashion Girl blog.

No room for shopping/souviners? Pack a compact nylon duffle to use as your carry-on on the trip home and then check your regular carry-on. Yes, you might have to pay to check the bag, but it’s cheaper than checking it both ways. And, it’s not as big a deal to be without luggage for a couple of days at home if the airline loses it.

No room for toiletries? Sometimes on hot holidays, you need more than 100 ml of sunscreen or bug spray. Take a small amount to carry you through the first day or two and then buy a full-sized bottle at your destination. If you don’t use it all, it’s not that big a deal and if you want you can pack it in your bag if you plan to check it on your return flight.

Finally, upon your return home, take note of what you packed that you did not wear or use. Sometimes I pack what I call aspirational items (like that floppy sun hat I can’t bring myself to wear in my hometown, but somehow think I’ll feel fine wearing in Rome). Resolve not to pack these items on your next trip.

Got a killer packing tip I’ve missed? Share it in the comments.

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