8 Tips to Travel with Only a Carry On

Why traveling with only a carry on is a good idea

You’ll save money by avoiding checked bag fees, and have a better sense of safety by having all of your belongings with you, without the risk of the airline losing your bag. Minimalist packing also means less stress while traveling by having fewer belongings to keep track of, and easily being able to carry your bag from place to place.

Hauling luggage through the airport, into a cab, and through a new city is exhausting unnecessary work. We’ve all been there. Learning how to pack for a trip in only a carry-on sized bag or backpack will ease some of the stress of travel, as well as help, stay within a budget by avoiding costly checked bag fees. Below are some tips on how to keep your load light, and able to fit into a smaller bag.

Reuse Clothes During Travel

One rule I always follow when packing: lay out all of the clothes you think you’ll need for the trip, then put half of them back. Nobody is going to care if you wear that t-shirt 2 or 3 days in a row, and you don’t really need multiple pairs of jeans.

Pack Plain Clothes

Packing plain clothing items that can be rearranged into multiple outfits is ideal. This way, the number of individual outfits is maximized while still keeping the number of clothing items small. Remember: accessories are smaller than clothes! Spruce up the plain wardrobe with easily packed jewelry, scarves, or whatever else you enjoy. Ladies, keep your heels at home. Unless you are going on a business trip and will absolutely need them, they will only hog up space and make your bag heavier.

Sprucing up a plain shirt with one of my favorite scarves for a Harry Potter event!

Wash Clothes During Your Trip

For longer trips, wash your clothes when needed. You can purchase detergent at the location from a hotel or laundromat, or, wash your clothes in a hostel sink using bar soap or these travel sink packets! I love using this budget-friendly option, just be sure you have time to hang up your clothes to dry before stuffing them back into your bag!

Invest in Packing Cubes/Bags

Packing cubes and bags are huge space savers when attempting to pack in a single small bag. They keep everything neat and organized as well, so you do not have to dump your entire backpack on that dirty hostel floor to look for your favorite t-shirt! Check out these packing cubes.

Roll Your Clothes

Rolled clothes take up less space than folded clothes. Bulky items can become tightly compressed, allowing you to fit more items. Rolling also helps prevent wrinkles in your clothes.

Wear Your Bulkiest Items on the Plane

If you need hiking boots, a sweatshirt, or any other bulky items for your trip, wear them on the plane. This will free up some space in your bag for other items. Planes are often cold anyway, so this will help you keep warm.

Wearing my heavy coat on the plane headed to a cold destination!

Invest in Solid Toiletries

My favorite tip for travelers: look into solid bathroom products in order to not only save space but ensure that you do not run out of product during your trip due to the tiny TSA-approved liquid bottles for carry-on bags. Items such as bar shampoos and conditioners will also prevent spillage of the liquid forms of these products, saving your other items in your bag from an unwanted, gooey mess. I use solid shampoo and conditioner bars, bar soap, solid perfume, and solid deodorant during travel. Many of these products are packageless as well, meaning they’re better for the environment!

Pack in a Small Bag

If you’re worried about over packing, force yourself to pack light by using a small backpack or suitcase. I use a 45L backpack for all of my travels, even if I’m gone for a month or more! You do not need as much as you think you need, and if you forget something, you can always buy it later.

I carry an Osprey Lumina 45L women’s travel backpack, and love it! You can check out my review here!

Check out my backpacking planning guide for your next backpacking trip!

Other Packing Tips

Double-check with your airline on their weight restrictions for carry-on bags. Make sure not to go over it, or you may be wearing more clothes than comfortable on your flight!

Remember the 3-1-1 rule for liquids: 3.4oz containers (100ml) in a quart-sized bag, only one bag allowed per passenger. Items include shampoo, lotion, and toothpaste, as well as any other liquids, gels, or pastes. This is where solid products come in handy!

Keep your bag of liquids, as well as your tickets, passport, and ID within easy reach at the top of your bag. TSA will need to scan your liquids separate from the rest of your luggage, and no one likes to be that person holding up the line in security!

Most airlines allow a carry on bag for overhead storage as well as a smaller, personal item. I carry my important documents and fragile belongings (electronics, jewelry, a bag of liquids, etc.) in a smaller purse to stash below the plane seat. That way, I have my important or fragile belongings on my person so they do not get broken if my bag were to fall out of the overhead, or lost if the flight attendant needs to check my bag due to overcrowding.