Why You Should Commit to the Carry-On and Tips for Making it Easy
The world is divided into two different kinds of people: overpackers and underpackers. If you fall into the first category, don’t turn away yet! Give me a few minutes to try and convince you that there is a better way to travel.
As you might already suspect, I am an underpacker. My measure of a packing fail: Coming home with even one thing in my suitcase that I did not need, use or wear during my trip. I do fail sometimes, but not often anymore.
Here’s how to pack lighter – all lessons I learned the hard way.
Start with an Attitude Change
It helps that I don’t really care how I look. I don’t mean I would travel in ripped or dirty clothes. But I don’t need to be the glammed up center of attention. In fact, when you’re traveling, the more you can blend in, the better. You’re less likely to be targeted by pickpockets and local scammers.
Spend a little time researching what the locals wear and try to pack like that. This is the lesson I learned when I wore my electric blue winter coat to Romania, a former Soviet block country where there were two colors of winter coat: grey and black.
So if you simply must be a fashion plate, try to pare down the clothes to a capsule wardrobe of items you can mix and match and pieces that will do double duty.
Use a Packing List
These printable packing lists will give you a feel for the things you’ll need. If the list includes something you don’t think you’ll need, don’t pack it. If there is something missing, make a note on the printed sheet so you don’t forget it.
Check the Weather Forecast
I make this recommendation because I live in Chicago. We like to say, “If you don’t like the weather, wait 10 minutes.” Here, the calendar might say May, but the thermometer might say March. Or July.
So check the forecast for your destination. It will tell you whether to pack a raincoat, sunhat, shorts, or sweaters.
Start Packing Early
If you have a spare bed, room, couch or some other spot to hold the things you want to pack, start a week early and put everything on the bed that you think you might want on your trip.
Then walk away.
Come back the next day and look it over. Is there anything missing? Is there anything you think you might not need on the trip? Make adjustments accordingly.
Then walk away.
Come back the next day with the intention of making choices. If you have two pairs of pants on the bed, take away one pair. If you have four shirts, take away two. And so on, until you have cut in half the things on the bed.
Then walk away.
The next day, it’s time to pack. Start with the pieces of clothing you absolutely MUST have with you.
If you run out of suitcase before you run out of clothes to pack, you get to make a choice: Leave something else behind or pay $40 or more to check a bag.
Buy Packing Cubes
I resisted buying this travel essential for years. Now I can’t believe I ever traveled without them.
Packing cubes are flexible pouches with a brilliant zipper system. You pack them with the clothes you want to take, and zip them shut. Then – this is the brilliant part – you zip a second zipper to compress the insides flat. (Think of it like your expandable suitcase, when you open that second zipper, it gives you an extra inch or two of suitcase space. When you zip it shut, everything inside is compressed.)
As a bonus, the clothes you lay inside the packing cube are much more likely to stay wrinkle free. I don’t know why. But it’s true.
Stick with One Basic Color
When I head to a Caribbean resort, that color will be white. But most of the time, it’s black – black pants, a black skirt, a black dress. Then I add color in the tops I will wear with the pants and skirt. Finally, I pack a few scarves and funky costume jewelry to dress everything up or down and add more color.
Wear the Heavy Stuff on the Plane
There are plenty of TikTokers and travel hacker influencers who will tell you to wear layers and layers on the plane to save suitcase space. Or to pack a pillowcase with your stuff and pretend it’s a pillow, not a suitcase, so it doesn’t count as a carryon.
While that might be useful info for travelers on uber-budget airlines that charge for anything that doesn’t fit under your seat, you really don’t have to go that crazy. Just use a little common sense.
If, for example, you’re flying from Florida to Colorado, you know you’ll need your winter coat, hat, gloves, hiking boots and heavy jeans. Wear the jeans and hiking boots on the plane, stuff the hat and gloves in the coat pockets and carry the coat on the plane rather than packing it in a suitcase.
I do this anyway because I’m always chilly on a plane. I’m always surprised when I see someone boarding a flight in shorts and flip flops. I would be blue by the time I landed!
Think Layers, Not Bulk
Thin layers are always the right answer, no matter where you are. Even a Caribbean vacation requires preparing for chilly evenings or overly air-conditioned restaurants. Layers are the answer to staying warm and packing light.
Make the Best Use of Your Under-Seat Bag
Finally, remember that you get not one, but two things to carry onto the plane – a bag that goes into the overhead and a smaller bag that fits under the seat in front of you.
Don’t waste the space in that second bag!
My go-to is a roomy backpack because I travel with a lot of electronics – laptop, Kindle, phone, ear buds and all of the cords and accessories they require. But those only take up two zippered compartments. That leaves two more compartments for other things – makeup bag, an extra pair of shoes, etc.
The other thing that works for me is a big striped bag that is super flexible. I can cram a lot into it and still stuff it under the seat. The downside of that is it is heavy to carry, unlike my backpack which easily distributes the weight across my shoulders.
Practice, Practice, Practice
I know. This isn’t easy. Especially if you’ve always been an overpacker. But practice will make perfect. Try it on your next quick weekend trip. That will give you a chance to see how it feels to only pack what you’ll need for 2-3 days, how much you like being able to lift that light carry-on bag and how happy you are not worrying about whether your suitcase will show up at the other end of your flight.
Just remember to pack one more thing: a credit card. That way, if you find you truly can’t live without something for a few days, you can head to the store to buy it.
Let’s Have a Conversation:
Are you an overpacker or an underpacker? What’s your favorite packing hack? Share with us in the comment section below.
I only take carry-on. My packing motto is if you pack enough clothes for a week, you have enough for 3 months. And for a week, you only need 3 changes of clothes, with an extra top for “good” wear and a couple of scarves. One pair of shoes, one jacket (with layers to wear underneath), 6 pairs of undies and 3 pairs of socks. I’d rather spend an hour in a laundromat than struggle up staircases with a heavy suitcase. If I need more, I’ll buy it and leave it, or donate it, before my flight home. The pure freedom of travelling light is worth more to me than having a wide choice of what to wear each day.
My good friend is about to go to Europe for the first time. She’s covered her spare queen-sized bed with “essentials”. I sent her your article. I hope she reads it!!
I’ll be the odd voice out here. I love to travel solo. I have arthritis that is severe and it limits my agility, walking with just a large purse is all I can do, especially when you need to walk a long distance on a layover. Last year I tried something new. I shipped my luggage round-trip. If you can get everything you need into 1 large suitcase it is more that worth it and the price is reasonable. You don’t have to haul around a suitcase or go pick up luggage, it is there at your room when you arrive. I am absolutely addicted to this service!!
Good point, Maggie. I’ve heard of this service — it makes traveling with bags easy and doesn’t even cost much more than checking a bag. Maybe I’ll try it one day and see how it goes.
I’ve been to Europe several times and only take a carry-on and a backpack. My electronics go in my backpack and my purse goes in my backpack before I get on the plane if I’m carrying one. If I go for two weeks, I take socks and underwear. but that is a very small zippered bag and takes up 6 inches at most. I wear the tennis shoes for running in the airport and I take sandals for.an evening out.. I have several dresses that roll up very small and one long sleeve shirt to go under each one of them in case while in Europe, I want to go to a museum or a church. I also take one small sweater for the plane,one pair of long pants and a couple of T-shirts or blouses, but my carry-on is very light. If I take a curling iron, it’s a European one and I never take a hairdryer. make up is always minimal so eyeliner mascara and lipstick doesn’t take any room. I took my boyfriend to Italy this summer for two weeks and he was aghast at how little my bags were and how light. I enjoy traveling, but I’m not lugging 40 pounds behind me. The travel cubes work so use them. They also make sheets of laundry detergent that you can use in the sink that won’t leave a residue. Enjoy the travel. The world is open soak it up.
I love to pack light! We went to Europe with only carry-on backpacks for six weeks. My strategy is one pair of shoes (low hikers, waterproof since we were going to be in wet or cold climates), which I wear on the plane.
Sometimes you have to run for your connecting flight, if you are delayed due to airline mishaps.
In my 35 liter travel backpack/bag: two short sleeved easy care polymer tee shirts, one long sleeve button down sun shirt, Tilley hat, skinny jeans for the plane, nylon pants for rainy days, plus one long sleeve zip-T neck and one fleece jacket (worn on the plane). Also, I bring only one extra bra, three undies, winter merino wool socks, short merino wool socks, two pairs very light summer socks and a minimal kit of meds.
We always do sink laundry. I bring small bottles of laundry soap, but you can use the hotel shampoo or soap.
For inclement or cold weather, I bring a down vest (packable), rain jacket with hood, rain pants and a small umbrella.
The hardest thing is the “bits and bobs” that one needs, like phone charger, cords, my face soap and hair products. I don’t wear makeup. I don’t bring jewelry except for the wedding ring. I bring a scarf and liner gloves and folding beanie hat. All fit into pockets in the rain jacket.
I had space left in my 35 liter pack for a self-stuffing backpack for day use, plus a nylon, self-stuffing cross body shoulder bag for museum days. I also bring an empty water bottle to fill at the airport. It’s amazing how little you really need.
All of this weighs in at under 15 pounds, including the backpack. I would never check a bag. I know too many people who had them go missing and I don’t like that stress.
i tend to travel internationally with an upgraded seat which comes with dedicated overhead space so I know I won’t have to check my bag. Anything small can fit under the seat.
We had one two week trip in Europe that we planned on our own, moved to a different B & B each night. We had a carry one AND a larger suitcase EACH and it was so much getting around everywhere, especially pulling suitcases over cobblestones. Now, 10 years older and wiser, if it won’t fit in our carry on or backpack for our month-long trip to Australia and New Zealand, it’s not going. Two pairs of shoes only, wear the largest. Mix and max neutrals, hand wash as we go.