How to Pack Just a Carry-On

Sometimes the hassle of baggage claim, the fear of losing your luggage, or the exorbitant fees for a checked bag make you wonder if you can just travel with a carry-on. Follow these tips to become a carry-on bag traveling pro!

I’ve been traveling for quite some time and one of my proudest travel moments came when I went to Patagonia last year with only two backpacks as my luggage. I packed for the city, the country, hiking, nights out, 50 degree temperature fluctuations and a little bit of room for souvenirs in those two backpacks.

So if you don’t mind me saying, I think I have officially reached the equivalent of Olympic level travel packer and would like to share my wisdom with all of you if you’re looking at packing lighter on your next vacation.

Why just carry-ons?

People travel with only carry-ons for a variety of reasons, but for me the reason I always try to travel with only carry-ons is because I know my luggage isn’t going to wind up in the wrong country or left behind at my connection airport or lost somewhere in the abyss. It brings me peace of mind knowing that all of my stuff is with me all the time.

Additionally, I like doing just backpacks because it makes me more mobile. Some cities have a lot of steps, some places don’t have paved streets, some cities are entirely cobblestone roads, and I find it easier being able to carry all of my things and not having to worry about trying to roll a suitcase through various terrains. So my go to travel consists for longer trips consists of two backpacks, one on my front and one on my back with a purse shoved into one of those two bags.

Plane Size Matters

For international flights you can get away with having slightly larger carry-on bags than on smaller regional flights because the overhead bin space is going to be larger. And sometimes you may be taking both types of flights throughout your travels. That’s why I always suggest trying to pack for the smallest overhead bin space you will have access to. A good way to check this is to make sure you go to your airline and review their bag size allowances. These dimensions will give you a good idea of the size of carry-on you should be packing.

Picking the Right Backpack

Not all backpacks are created equal when it comes to traveling and it’s important to know what backpack suits your needs and your size. For me I travel with a 40-liter Northface backpack and a 20-liter foldable Eddie Bauer bag.

My 40-liter backpack I wear on my back and I make sure any time I am buying a new backpack that it checks several boxes. First, the backpack must have a chest and waist strap. Not only does this help distribute the weight of the backpack, but it ensures that I am able to carry heavier loads for longer distances. Second, the backpack must have a variety of compartments as well as a laptop sleeve. The different compartments are important because I can easily find the various things I place in the bag and stay organized. And third, the backpack must fit me. Someone who is 6’2 is going to be able to grab a much bigger backpack than someone who is 5’0. Therefore, it is important to try the backpack on in the store before you buy it.

For my secondary backpack, my 20-liter backpack, I also have a few criteria. First it must be packable. This way if I’m traveling and not immediately using it as my secondary bag it can easily be packed in another bag. Second, it must have multiple pockets. Like my primary backpack, I need my secondary bag to have a variety of pockets so I can keep everything organized. Third, it must still be spacious. In order to successfully travel with just backpacks I need to know that I have ample room to fit everything I need in both bags. I’m honestly always impressed how much stuff I can fit into my 20-liter bag and it definitely comes in handy when I buy more souvenirs than I had anticipated.

Mix and Match (Take Photos of Outfits)

One thing that really helps me is having a set of staples that I can turn into multiple outfits when I travel. Now depending where I’m headed those staples may change. I will say packing for warmer climates and packing for the city gives me the most room in my backpacks, but I have also successfully packed for outdoor adventures with just my backpacks. It all comes down to how much milage you can get on a single item.

One thing that helps me when deciding how many outfits I can get out of an item is to do a mini photoshoot before I leave. I lay out everything I’m thinking of taking and start mixing and matching. As I come up with new outfit combinations I take photos of what I’m wearing, one so I know if I like the outfit or not and two so I can see what my options are before packing to determine if an item is worth the space or not.

I also don’t have a set amount of tops or bottoms that I aim to bring like so many blog posts tell you and instead base it off of how many outfits I can get out of a single item. For example, if I need 6 tops to feel happy on the trip and like I have adequate outfit choices then I’ll bring 6 tops however if I feel I can get plenty of options with 4 then I’ll bring 4. I honestly depends on my mood when packing and how long I’ll be gone for.

Rolling Clothes

I’ve tried all ways of packing compactly, from normal folds to packing cubes to rolling my clothes and I have found that rolling my clothing allows me to fit more clothes in than any other method. While packing cubes can be nice to keep everything organized, I have personally found them to be somewhat bulky once they’re placed inside my backpack; however, when I went to Patagonia and had to pack for 50 degree temperature differences, hiking in the mountains and the city, I found that a mixture of rolling my clothes and using packing cubes allowed me to fit everything I needed into my backpacks.

Wear Your Heaviest Items on the Plane

One key thing to do is to make sure you wear your heaviest items on the plane. For example, when I have taken trips where I will be hiking I always wear my hiking boots on the plane. Not only are they my heaviest shoe weight wise, but they also take up a lot of space in my backpack, space that could be used for other items. The same goes for your tops. If you’re going somewhere where you need a sweater, then it might be a good idea to layer and wear the sweater on the plane. Not only can planes be cold, but again a sweater is going to be one of your bulkier items that you pack. The goal is to keep the weight of your bag down while maximizing your space.

Packing Toiletries

Now when I am at home I have set hair care items I swear by, a whole facial routine for morning and night, a plethora of self-care items for my Sunday night routines and love to wear makeup; however, traveling with all of these items can take up much needed space. So when I travel I opt to either buy some shampoo and conditioner when I arrive if I’m staying somewhere that doesn’t provide shampoo and conditioner or I just use whatever the hotel offers.

Likewise, I try to cut down on how many products I am using in my skin care routine and opt to take only the essentials. So instead of having a six step routine, I may only pack the most important two items. As for makeup, instead of packing my whole kit and caboodle, I opt for travel friendly options. Normally that includes a tinted moisturizer, mascara and a Fluide universal crayon which I swear by.

One thing that is imperative to pack as part of my toiletry set if I am traveling light is Febreze and detergent. Febreze is good for a quick fix if you were sweating all day and don’t have time to properly do your laundry and can help keep odors at bay until you are able to do your laundry. Likewise, I always pack small detergent packets that are thin sheets that you can use to do laundry in your sink. I normally opt for Tide travel packets, but there's many brands that you can check out. Just be sure to rinse off all the soap suds before hang drying your items!

Now that you have some of my biggest tips and tricks for packing light and packing just a carry-on go forth and get to saving! Say so long to exorbitant baggage fees and go explore without the hassle of luggage!