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“You’ve gotta be kidding me? That’s all you’re taking?” My friend was bewildered when I showed up for our trip to Florida with just one piece of luggage.
After years of traveling, I’ve come to one conclusion, packing light is the ultimate way to travel. Although we miss it, this isn’t the 90s. The good ‘ol days when airlines were bundling their prices and including meals and free checked baggage are over. Oh what a life that was! *insert liquor pour and nostalgic sigh*
I know it may be hard to believe that you can cram all you need for a trip into one little suitcase. But take it from a city-hopping-carry-on-only-stan, it’s possible. Packing light for travel is the best. Going carry-on only (when you can) saves you time, stress, and means no more reading the fine print when you book a flight. It’s an even bigger bonus when you’re traveling solo. When you’re by yourself, your luggage becomes that pesky, grade-A clinger, and unfortunately, you’ve gotta take it everywhere you go. So, the lighter you can pack, the better.
If you’re used to throwing your whole life and the kitchen sink into your suitcase, it can be hard to cut back. Additionally, it may seem impossible to figure out how to start narrowing down to the essentials. But what if I promised you a way to pack light without compromising all the cute outfits? Today, I’m getting on my soapbox and spilling all my secrets. I’ll be showing you how to pack a carry-on only. Keep reading to see what’s worked for me and my steps on how to pack a carry-on. Don’t forget to stick around to the very end to get all these goodies wrapped up in an easy carry-on packing list that you can print and use for your next trip!
Hey girl! Looking for more travel tips! Check out these posts:
- How to Take Your First Solo Trip
- The Beginner’s Guide to Finding Cheap Flights
- 33 Fun Things to do in Barcelona, From a Local
Table of Contents
Know the Rules
Packing a carry-on is a careful balancing act of bringing all you need and complying with airport, TSA, and airline rules and requirements. Packing light for travel is more about being strategic than anything else. This is impossible to do without first knowing the rules.
Each airline has their own guidelines for carry-on luggage. These regulations can vary in the size and dimensions of bag you’re allowed to bring; and also the weight and price. Some airlines include a free carry -on bag with your ticket, while others require you pay for your bag. It’s important to check your airline’s baggage regulations before or when you’re booking your flight, so you will be prepared.
For those that are wondering, TSA stands for Transport Security Administration and is an agency with U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Aka, you don’t wanna mess with them. If you don’t live in the United States, a Google search of your country’s equivalent rules and regulations should give you what you need. The TSA restrictions for travel are specific, so you’re gonna wanna lean in close. In order to easily pack light and not piss off the big bosses, I’ve highlighted two major TSA/airport rules below.
Liquids
All liquids must be in containers 3.4 oz. or less. Some airports require that you then put all 3oz. liquid containers into a quart-sized plastic bag, and pull it out when you are going through airport security.
What to bring vs. what NOT to bring
I can’t write about how to pack a carry-on without including what NOT to bring. Your expensive full-sized hairspray? Nah, girl. Alcoholic beverages? Eh, yes and no. Antlers? Absolutely! The rules of what to bring in your carry-on vs. checked bag seem like they would be pretty easy, but you’d be surprised. There is a long list of prohibited items. And the list gets even more detailed for international flights.
Bonus tip: If your airline has a weight limit for carry-on luggage, these luggage scales come in handy for a quick weight check before you leave.
The Best Packing Methods
The Rolling Method
When it comes to how to pack a carry-on only, every bit of luggage retail is important and you gotta make the most of your space. While some people swear by rolling their clothes, others can’t leave the house without packing cubes. There are tons of methods that claim to be the best for packing light for travel and optimizing space. Let’s take a look at a few.
One way of packing that many travelers love is the rolling method. If you tightly roll each item of clothing into your suitcase, you can get a more compact fit within your suitcase. This allows you can optimize the nooks and crannies and saves you space. The rolling method is a fantastic option for grab-and-go because your clothes can stack and store on top of each other. This makes it the best option for maximizing your space and seeing your options more clearly. You can also save a ton of room for bringing souvenirs home.
Rolling your clothes can keep your outfits crisp and wrinkle-free for when you slay it on the town. And it’s particularly best for synthetic materials like polyester and nylon. The downside to the rolling method is that it doesn’t work so well for bulkier items like thick sweaters and jackets.
The Folding Method
You’ll probably see the folding method on every “how to pack a carry-on” list. It is the most common method for packing. Since you most likely fold your clothes while doing laundry, the folding method makes packing faster and easier. All you gotta do is transfer your clothes from drawer to suitcase and you’re pretty much good to go.
Now, as easy as the folding method is, there are two major drawbacks to using this technique. Firstly, at first glance, you can’t see what you packed. This means you’ll have to take everything out in order to see what you brought. Secondly, it’s not the most space-efficient. Stacking folded clothes on top of each other leaves space and gaps on the sides. You can fix this by making sure to fill in those gaps with other things in your suitcase. This will help fill those spaces, but it doesn’t fully maximize the entirety of your suitcase or leave much room for bringing anything home.
To combat this, I would suggest blending the folding method with a Marie Kondo style method. Using Marie’s popular folding technique, you can fold your clothes with visibility while taking advantage of the extra space.
Packing Cubes
Okay, so now it’s time to pull you over to the dark side. *Insert maniacal laugh* muahahaha. No, but seriously. Packing cubes are by far my favorite way to pack. Like, um, someone come get ya girl cause I’m obsessed. Whenever anyone asks me how to pack a carry-on, I can’t help but yell “PACKING CUBES!!!” At first glance, I can see why people may not understand the hype. They look like a jumbled mess of nylon, zippered bags spilling out everywhere. They’re not for everyone, but they have certainly changed my whole travel life!
So what’s to love about them? Oooohhh honey, let me count the ways. For me, they make organizing a breeze. There are a variety of sizes, shapes, and types. You can group things together and dedicate certain cubes based on activity, color, type of clothing, or any category you choose. And once you get a good system going, you can pack and unpack in minutes, without overthinking. They’re beneficial for packing light because you can take as many cubes as you need and don’t have to spend too much time sorting through your belongings to find what you’re looking for. If you struggle with overpacking, packing cubes can help you prevent overpacking. If everything you want to bring doesn’t fit in your designated cube, you’ll know it’s time to cut back.
Plan Accordingly and Keep it Simple
Once you know your specific airline’s luggage regulations and decided on the packing method that’s right for you, it’s time to choose what to bring for your trip. Packing light for travel doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice style. But bringing too many items isn’t the move either. There’s a balance, my friend.
Clothing
When selecting which articles of clothing you want to bring, I find that choosing either by activity or trip length is best. You want to be smart about it and keep it simple. Your destination’s season and weather will also help determine what you need to bring. Either way, sticking to lighter fabrics likes cotton and linen won’t weigh your bag down. If you’re traveling during winter, layering and packing a foldable jacket or coat, like this one, is a great way to stay warm. If you bring a heavy sweater, bring one that is versatile and can be worn with multiple outfits.
Another way to keep things light and simple is to plan your outfits in advance and mix and match as much as possible. For example, let’s say you’re going on a five-day trip. Instead of bringing five pairs of jeans (one for each day) don’t be afraid to bring 2 pairs, wear them multiple times, and mix and match them with different tops. If you’re a little grossed out about wearing something more than once, I totally understand…and I got you! I love this mini travel clothesline. Do a quick hand wash of your light shirts or dresses and throw them on this line to dry. It’s smaller than a dollar bill and can hold a lot of clothes.
I also love to pack what I call “one-stop outfits.” These would be your jumpsuits, rompers, overalls, dresses. Versatile and cute! Something like this or this is so easy and they take the brain-work out of outfit planning. You can wear a dress one day and wear that same dress the next day layered with a blouse or sweater to make it an entirely new outfit.
Shoes and Accessories
The same versatility rule goes for shoes and accessories. Try to keep your accessories simple and avoid bringing heavy jewelry or bags. Simple stud earrings or lightweight hoops always do the trick for me. Packing a foldable or canvas bag or a Fanny pack for the day is a great idea. They’re light and don’t take up too much room in your suitcase.
When packing shoes, choosing shoes that are comfortable, lightweight, and durable is a must. Workaround what your feet need. You’ll want to wear your heaviest pair of shoes on the plane, like boots, and save the lighter pairs for the suitcase. Mix and match those babies! The shoes you bring when traveling should be multi-use. If you’ve got a pair of sneakers, plan your outfits around them. You can create tons of combinations around just one pair.
Toiletries, Makeup, and Skincare
Packing light for travel is not the time to put on your best full face. Simplify your makeup and skincare by using multifunctional products. You’ll want to bring enough to cover your needs and feel confident, but not so much that you’ve got an entire compartment dedicated to toiletries and beauty.
Dial down your skincare routine to as few steps as possible, while still maintaining the effectiveness. Instead of your 10-step nighttime routine, maybe pair it down to 4-5 steps. Take advantage of travel-size products where you can. If you use a popular brand, chances are, they’ve got travel size options. Neutrogena make-up remover wipes are one of my tried and true products so I was thrilled when they came out with individually wrapped packs. They’re so easy to throw into your bag rather than take the whole thing.
When trying to learn how to pack a carry-on, keeping your makeup as minimal as possible is best. Multipurpose products where you get the most bang for your buck are super travel-friendly. I like to stick to an easy concealer, tinted moisturizer, mascara, and a multiple, like this one. The multiple can act as my eyeshadow, blush/bronzer, and even lipstick. Badabing, badaboom, 3 products in one. I can’t say enough good things about this easy, sheer lipstick and cloud paint blushes from Glossier. The best thing about these products is that you can easily pop them in your bag and do a quick touch-up when you need to zhuzh it up throughout the day.
Cameras, Books, and Miscellaneous Items
Remember when I said bringing too many items is not the move? This applies to your cameras, books, and other miscellaneous items. We all want those bomb travel photos from our trip that we can post on Instagram, but remember, we’re learning how to pack a carry-on, so you’ve got to plan accordingly. These are the times where I kiss my DSLR camera goodbye and pick up my phone or a lighter camera.
You can do a lot with these phone cameras these days, especially if you’re an iPhone user like me. Bringing just your phone or a lighter camera is a double whammy on saving space because you don’t have to worry about bringing your bulky camera battery chargers. My favorite lightweight, travel-friendly camera is the GoPro. Man, this thing can capture all your awesome underwater shots and daring adventures and it’s super lightweight!
When it comes to entertainment, I try to go digital where I can. For example, I like to bring my electronic reader or a light paperback book instead of a heavy hardcover book. Remember, every ounce matters when you’re traveling light. My Kindle and I have been in a serious committed relationship since 2009 and we’re still going strong. If I could, I would bring my laptop everywhere! However, these are the times where I opt for my trusty iPad in lieu of my lovely, but heavy, laptop.
Leave Designated Room When Packing Light for Travel
So far, we’ve covered how to pack a carry-on when it comes to airline rules, packing methods, and clothing. But now you may be wondering “um, this is all good and great, but what if I want to bring some cool souvenirs home from my trip?” This is where I would remind you to leave some designated room in your suitcase to bring stuff home and choose what you bring wisely.
Not all souvenirs are made equal. As much as you love that 5lb hand-made ceramic mug, you’ve gotta back away slowly. Put the heavy duck-shaped paperweight and pick up the unique vintage scarf instead. Try to stick with items that are not only lightweight but are unique to the destination. There are tons of quirky, one-of-a-kind pieces you can pick up in almost any place you travel. Check out thrift stores and eccentric, off-the-beaten-path gift shops to find them.
So there you have it! Now you know how to pack a carry-on and all my secrets for packing light for travel. Drop any questions you may have in the comments below.
Hopefully by now you’re feeling good and ready to cut down to a carry on only. Are you kinda wishing you could have all the tips in this blog post organized into one handy, nifty checklist? Well, your wish is my command!
I’ve bundled this post into a downloadable and printable checklist to help you pack light for your next carry on only trip. Click here to get it. And go rock that trip!
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