A Complete Guide to Packing Light

Traveling with only a carry-on bag for a week long trip might sound impossible, but it’s not. Learning to pack light can completely change the way you travel. When you skip checking luggage, you save on bag fees, avoid long wait lines at the airport, and avoid the possibility of an airline losing your bags. Most importantly, you can enjoy your trip with less stress and more freedom.

The key here is to learn how to pack smarter without sacrificing the things you need. With the right bag and a simple packing strategy, you can easily fit everything into one small bag. In this guide, you’ll learn exactly how to pack light and avoid overpacking using a single carry-on.

Planning a trip? Grab my printable Carry-On Packing Checklist so you don’t forget a thing.

carry-on packing checklist

Why You Should Travel With Just a Carry-On

Traveling with just a carry-on and skipping checked bags doesn’t just simplify your trip. It completely changes the entire experience and gives you peace of mind. When you travel with only a carry-on, you save money on the ever increasing baggage fees that airlines charge, avoid long check-in lines, and eliminate the stress of wondering whether your bag will arrive at your destination.

It’s no fun sitting around the baggage claim carousel wondering if your bag is going to show up or if the airline lost it mid-trip. Rather, traveling light means moving through airports faster, easily making tight connections without worrying about your bag, and starting your vacation the moment you land without added stress.

How to Pack Light: Smart Carry-On Strategies

Choose the Right Carry-On Bag

The most important thing you can do is invest in a well-designed carry-on bag and pack it in an organized fashion. Not all carry-ons are created equal. A quality case deceptively holds more than it appears to. Look for one with adjustable compression straps, a rigid compression board, mesh pockets, and a zippered divider panel. Avoid anything made with cheap plastic or thin fabric that doesn’t provide reinforcement.

Use a Packing Strategy

You can fit way more in a carry-on bag than you think simply by knowing how to pack it properly. Compression packing cubes are key. These remove excess air when packing bulky clothes so they take up less room and keep things organized. Rolling clothes instead of folding them also saves quite a bit of room and helps prevent clothes from getting wrinkled.

Use a slim garment folder for structured pieces. They’re lightweight and keep wrinkled prone garments from getting creased and crushed. Finally, use a jewelry roll instead of a bulky case and pack toiletries in travel size containers. For items that you only need a pinch of like lotions or creams, use a contact lens case to save even more space.

How to Easily Handwash Clothes While Traveling

Many clothing items can easily be handwashed during your trip, which means you don’t need to pack as much. Bring a small contact lens case filled with concentrated liquid laundry detergent. It’s compact, leak-proof, and perfect for traveling. First, wash your clothes in the sink or tub.

Then to speed up drying, wring out each item thoroughly. Next, lay each item out flat on a dry towel and roll the towel tightly around it, creating a bolster shape. Stand and walk along the rolled up towel to press out all of the remaining moisture. The pressure from your weight helps the towel absorb the excess water, leaving your clothes nearly dry before you hang them up to finish air-drying them.

Choose Interchangeable Outfits

Instead of thinking in terms of packing outfits, choose interchangeable pieces in the same color palette. Choosing neutral colors with a single accent color works well in terms of being able to mix and match. It also eliminates the need for multiple pairs of shoes which take up a ton of room in your bag. Pack 1-2 smaller pairs and wear your bulkiest shoes on the plane.

How What You Wear on the Plane Matters

In addition to wearing your bulkiest shoes on the plane, dress in layers. When your goal is to save room in your suitcase, the airplane is your best packing tool. Wear that bulky sweater, heavy outer layer (coat, blazer, or jacket), and a scarf. If you plan on bringing a pair of jeans, wear them on the plane. If you need more than one purse, carry the one that takes up the most space. Anything heavy or bulky that can be worn should be.

The Ultimate Carry-On Packing Checklist

Stop guessing what to bring. Download my Carry-On Packing Checklist so you can pack smarter for your next trip.

Common Carry-On Packing Mistakes to Avoid

Here are a few of the most common mistakes travelers make when packing light and how to avoid them.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Avoid Overpacking

Packing “just in case” items is perhaps the biggest pitfall when it comes to overpacking. Don’t let anxiety and fear of forgetting something dictate what you pack. Pack for your actual itinerary eliminating anything you aren’t sure you truly need. Think of all the trips you came home from where you thought, “I didn’t even wear that!”

Avoid Bringing Too Many Shoes

Shoes are bulky, heavy, and take up a lot more room than clothes in a suitcase. Limit yourself to 3 pairs and wear the bulkiest pair on the plane. If your packed pair includes tennis shoes or boots, pack socks inside the shoes.

Avoid Overpacking Toiletries

Full size bottles are not typically allowed in carry-ons and are nonetheless unnecessary. Use travel size containers for your primary products and if you only need a little dab of something, e.g. facial cream, use a contact lens case to save room. Remember that most accomodations, even private rentals, will offer complimentary toiletries and you can always purchase others upon arrival.

Avoid Packing Single Wear Outfits

Focus packing on interchangeable core pieces that you can mix and match. Choose neutral tones with one accent color. Items that only work with one specific outfit do not belong when traveling solely with a carry-on. Do not pack for a “fantasy” version of your trip like fancy dinners and workouts unless you known you will be doing those things. Instead, stick to what you will realistically need and leave everything else at home.

Research Laundry Facilities Where You’re Headed

Many acommodations have laundry facilities for guest use in which case you can pack minimal basics like undergarments, shirts, and socks., This will save you room in your carry-on.

Dress in Layers on the Plane

Wear your bulkiest shoes and clothing on the plane. Think heavy sweaters and bulky jackets or coats. Pair outfits with hats, scarfs, and your largest purse or bag. Save room by thinking of the airplane ride as a way to wear more and pack less.

FAQs About Carry-On Travel

What size carry-on bags do airplanes allow?

Most airlines will allow you to travel with one personal item (i.e. purse or handbag) and one carry-on around 22 x 14 x 9 inches. Note that you should always check before flying as some of the cheaper budget airlines have tighter restrictions and different requirements.

Is it possible to pack a carry-on for a trip that lasts 1-2 weeks?

Yes, absolutely. The key is packing light and packing smart. Choose a well-designed carry-on bag and use packing compression packing cubes to create more space. Choose interchangeable outfits and wear your bulkiest items, especially shoes, on the plane.

What is the “5-4-3-2-1 Packing Method?” Does it actually work?

The method is simple. Pack a maximum of 5 tops, 4 bottoms, 3 shoes, 2 dresses, and 1 set of accessories. It definitely helps prevent overpacking while still giving you some variety especially if you stick with neutral colors a single accent color.

How to Travel for a Week With Only a Carry-On

A Complete Guide to Packing Light

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Why You Should Travel With Just a Carry-On