Mastering the Art of Carry-on Only: A Comprehensive Packing Guide

Does anyone else absolutely love packing? I start packing for a trip weeks in advance, and my packing list gets started pretty much right after I book the flight. Packing early not only helps me channel my excitement for the upcoming trip, but it also helps ensure that I have everything I need (and nothing extra that I don’t). 

Before your trip even begins, you have the opportunity to set yourself up for success or failure with how you pack. Developing an organized packing routine is essential for anyone who wants to enjoy a stress-free trip. For me, part of a stress-free trip means not lugging around a ton of heavy bags or worrying about whether my checked bag will make it to my final destination. Because of this, I have decided to go carry-on only.

I’m packing for my trip to Spain right now, so I thought this was a great time to walk you through my step-by-step method to effectively and efficiently pack everything you need for a trip in a carry-on only. I promise that you CAN fit everything you need into a carry-on only, and simplifying your packing routine will save you so much time, stress, and back pain from lugging your bags to all your destinations!

Preparing for Packing

Researching the destination and climate

Before you start packing, do some research on your destination. Get an idea of what the weather will be like during your visit and come prepared. If you’re headed to Scotland in the fall, for example, bring a raincoat and maybe leave the bikini at home. You should also research the cultural expectations and/or appropriate dress code for your destination. Take into consideration if you will be visiting any religious monuments or countries that expect you to dress more modestly, so you can be sure you are respectful of the culture.

Creating a packing checklist

After you’ve done your research, it’s time to create your packing list! Start by listing out all the big essentials: clothing you know you’ll need (e.g. 3 t-shirts, 2 pairs of jeans, 1 swimsuit, raincoat), toiletries, electronics, and important travel documents. Once you’ve listed the big-ticket items, you can get more specific with random needs based on your destination. Be sure to differentiate between must-have items and want-to-have items so that you can easily see at the end if you run out of space, which items should be cut first.

Choosing the Right Luggage

Selecting an appropriate suitcase or backpack

Selecting the appropriate size and style of suitcase or backpack for your trip is crucial. I have two pieces of carry-on luggage that I choose between based on the type of travel. For city trips, I swear by my Away suitcase the Bigger Carry-On. I have the Original design, which is no longer carried, but this new and improved design is even better! For more outdoorsy trips, I use the REI Co-Op Trail 40 Pack, which is advertised more as a day pack but is the perfect size for meeting most airline carry-on requirements and still has enough room for everything you need.

The most important things to consider when selecting your luggage are weight, durability, and versatility. Every pound counts when you are carrying your baggage down a cobblestone street, so choose one that is lightweight before you stuff it full. Almost all luggage companies nowadays offer some sort of warranty, so I recommend going with one of those brands that have trusted durability and offer a warranty in case the durability fails. You should also ensure that it has all of the storage/organization features that are important to you. I think the compression panel that comes in Away suitcases is exceptionally helpful.

For this trip, I’ll be taking my Away suitcase. I will say that the dimensions of the Away Bigger Carry-On do exceed the allowed dimensions on most airlines. While I typically fly with American Airlines/British Airways and have never been asked to measure it, I am always worried that it may happen. If you want to be certain you won’t need to check it or get slapped with additional fees, go with the smaller version.

Packing cubes and organizers

Regardless of the luggage you decide on, you will absolutely need a set of packing cubes. I first got my packing cubes to help me fit 3 months’ worth of clothes into 2 suitcases when I went to be an au pair, and I can’t believe I was ever able to pack without them. Not only do they look satisfying and help keep you organized, but they really save so much space. You can stuff so much more into the compact packing cube without having everything explode all over the place the second you open your bag. They are especially handy if you’re using a backpack, so you can pull out the whole cube and not have to dig to the bottom of your bag to find that one shirt. I haven’t tried compression packing cubes yet, but supposedly they’re even better if you’re extra tight on space.

Building a Versatile Wardrobe

Mix-and-match clothing

If you’re trying to fit everything into a carry-on only, you’re going to have to make some sacrifices. That means not bringing a different pair of shoes for every outfit. You’ll want to select pieces that all go well together, so you can mix and match different tops, bottoms, and shoes to create “new” outfits without actually packing a separate outfit for each day. I think they’re calling this a “capsule wardrobe” now.

Basically, the idea is to find clothes of usually a neutral color scheme for easy coordination, but you can include a few pops of color too if you don’t want to feel too dull on a summer vacation. You also want to choose pieces that can be dressed up or down, such as a top that looks casual with jeans or shorts but can be paired with a skirt in the evenings or maybe a sweater that helps elevate your tank top for a night out. 

I’m not a fashionista in any sense of the word, so I won’t give too much guidance on this topic. My main tip for this is to try on all of your clothes before and take photos of each outfit combination, so you can easily remember while you’re traveling which items you paired together. This also helps you figure out if you have too many outfits or not enough.

Layering for varying climates

If you’re going to be traveling over multiple seasons or your destination has unpredictable weather, I suggest utilizing layers. Rather than packing a bunch of sweaters that you end up sweating in half the time, bring more shirts and lightweight tops that you can easily pair with a cardigan or pullover. It’s also a good idea to find a trusty jacket and/or coat that goes with everything. If it’s too bulky to pack, wear it on the plane! If you’re traveling to cold climates, you may want to bring two coats and fewer outfit options because you’ll be wearing a coat in every photo anyway, so having two coats will give you a bit more variety in your wardrobe. My go-to travel winter coat is a black down coat that easily rolls up into a compact travel bag.

Efficient Packing Techniques

Rolling vs. folding

Speaking of rolling clothes up, the rolling method has been an absolute game-changer for my packing routine. Most clothing will be more space-efficient when rolled up, with the exception of thicker items like bulky sweaters or denim. When rolling clothes inside packing cubes, you can just keep shoving the items toward the back of the cube to compress them further and fit a seemingly endless amount of clothes.

Some people also claim that rolling helps keep your clothes from getting less wrinkled, but this hasn’t been my experience even with very meticulous rolling. It also doesn’t matter how last-minute you pack your clothes, if they’ll be packed up for more than a few hours, they’ll be just as wrinkly as if you had packed them a week in advance, so don’t wait until the last second and risk forgetting things!

Utilizing dead spaces

Rolling also helps you utilize the space in your bag better because you can shove items to fit into the corners of the packing cube and not throw away that dead space. Other ways to make the most of your available space include stuffing socks and underwear inside your shoes or other gaps and packing smaller items into the corners of your suitcase. If you can split something up into smaller groups to fit in dead spaces, such as a box of granola bars, this will save you so much space!

Toiletries and liquids

If you are trying to fit everything into a carry-on only, it helps to simplify the toiletries you bring. Travel-size toiletries are your friend. Bring mini versions of items whenever possible, such as a hairbrush, toothbrush, or hair dryer if you need one. You will also, of course, need to transfer liquid/cream toiletries into travel-size containers to abide by the TSA regulations for carry-ons.

In my opinion, that is the hardest part about packing in a carry-on only. When I travel, I stick to the basics of my skincare routine and leave the rest at home. Everything gets transferred into travel-size containers that hold no more than the amount of product I need to last the trip. You don’t need to bring 3.4oz of moisturizer for a two-week trip. Instead, use a small 0.5oz or 1oz cosmetic jar to save space in your liquids bag.

For liquids that tend to leak, my favorite hack is to put a small square of saran wrap over the top before screwing on the lid to prevent them from leaking all over your other products. It also helps to store them in a separate sealed bag before putting them inside your liquids bag. I use this reusable, clear liquids bag that claims to be TSA-approved, and I have never had an issue with it as long as it is not stuffed full with the exception of in Canada as they require everyone to put liquids in the bag they provide.

Packing Electronics and Valuables

Organizing cables and chargers

When it comes to packing all of your various electronics and cables, I recommend keeping them all together and contained to avoid tangling. I store mine in a cosmetic pouch along with whichever plug converter I will need for my destination, and I keep this pouch in my personal item for easy access on the flight.

On the topic of electronics, I never leave for a trip without a portable charger. Especially if you use your phone for taking photos, your battery will drain quicker than you think on vacation, and the last thing you want is to be out in an unfamiliar place with no phone to look up directions or contact someone in an emergency. I recently got a new portable charger that has a built-in lightning plug, so you don’t have a long cable dangling around while you’re trying to still use your phone for photos and such.

Protecting valuables

To protect your valuables when you leave your luggage at your accommodation or luggage storage facility, I recommend carrying a small lock to secure the zippers if your bag doesn’t have one built in. You should also store important documents in a hidden or hard-to-access pocket. My Nordace backpack that I use as a personal item has a super handy hidden pocket on the back, so your passport doesn’t get swiped while you’re walking through the airport. I also think this goes without saying, but don’t bring anything valuable that you can’t easily replace, this includes jewelry or other sentimental items.

Unpopular opinion: I don’t use a money belt. You can place important documents or extra cash in a hidden pouch in your locked luggage while it is left unattended. In my opinion, a money belt is overkill and just screams “tourist/easy target” if someone sees you accessing it. Just be smart and aware of your surroundings in high-traffic areas (public transport, notable tourist attractions, restaurants). Don’t leave your wallet or phone in your pockets, keep your bag in front of you, and keep a hand on it at all times.

Packing Documents and Essentials

Travel documents

What’s the number one most important thing to bring with you on a trip? Your passport! Before you leave for your trip, make digital copies of your passport and other applicable travel documents on your phone. I keep a printed photocopy of my passport in my bag just in case. I recommend keeping your actual passport and documents hidden and locked safely inside your bag or safe if your hotel has one.

Medications and first aid

When I travel, I tend to bring the whole pharmacy with me. I am learning how to let go of this habit and be more carry-on-only friendly. Bring only the medications you really need, such as prescriptions, daily medications, and others you need often (e.g. ibuprofen). If you end up needing a medicine that you didn’t bring, odds are you can find it in your destination. I use this travel pill case from Amazon to keep everything in one easily accessible place.

Packing a small first aid kit with Band-Aids, alcohol wipes, and most importantly blister patches is a good idea too. Don’t go overboard. If you run out, you can buy more!

While a first aid kit can cure most of the usual ailments you may encounter on your trip, it’s essential to be prepared for unexpected accidents and illnesses. Check to see if your home insurance plan covers you while you’re abroad. If not, luckily, SafetyWing has your back on this! SafetyWing offers affordable travel health insurance for people from all over the world, while out of their home country. You never plan to get injured or sick while traveling, but best to be covered if you do. 

Final Checks and Tips

When you’re all ready to go, do one last run-through of your checklist before zipping up your luggage. If you tend to always worry you’re forgetting something, just remember that if you do, you can buy it there.

Lastly, you’ll want to make sure you have all the essentials for the journey itself, such as plane snacks, entertainment, and earplugs. For travel days, keep frequently needed items, such as your wallet and passport, in an easily accessible pocket and pack everything you’ll need during the flight in your personal item to avoid having to dig through your bag in the overhead bin.

Now you’re ready to head off on your next adventure and have a stress-free trip thanks to your organized packing! From finding the right luggage to creating a comprehensive packing list and perfecting your packing technique, I hope this post has given you some new ideas and tricks to be a more efficient packer for your future trips. Do you have any other packing tips or horror stories? I’d love to hear them in the comments!

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