Let’s face it:
A well-packed carry one is one of a frequent traveler’s little pleasures.
Everything is present in its own proper place, with neither too much nor too little inside the bag, suitcase or other conveyance. Best of all, (apart from security checks) no one else will handle, maul, misplace, or otherwise disturb your personal items.
Why take only a Carry On while traveling?
Now, why should you stop with just a carry on?
What are some of the advantages to taking only what you can carry and stow with you? And how does one go about making this happen?
That’s what I’m here to answer.
It can be easy to default to packing a checked bag. You get more space and apparently, more flexibility.
But that’s not always the case.
Some of the benefits of the “carry-on only” life include:
- Less time waiting during your travels
- Lighter loads to carry
- Fewer (or no) baggage fees
- Easier to track your belongings
- Can be strangely liberating
While each of these points will vary depending on your personal preferences and travelling style, they’re a good summary of what you can expect from the carry on life.
Let’s take a closer look at how you can efficiently maximize your reduced space in a variety of different situations.
How to pack everything in a carry on
Now pay attention:
The first rule of packing everything in a carry on is to think small and strategic.
Some people think in terms of events and some think in terms of outfits. Focus on the bigger picture – what will you be doing? Where will you go and what will be expected of you?
After you have some idea about where you’ll be going and doing, it’s time to consider what type of carry on you will be taking.
Examples include backpacks, duffel bags, and two- and four-wheeled roller bags. They each have advantages and drawbacks, which should be considered before you start packing.
Packing everything in a carry-on backpack
In the case of backpacks and other soft-sided bags, packing can be trickier, as you don’t have the built-in structure and buffer that a roller bag or suitcase offers. During the main part of your packing in these bags, try putting rigid, bulky, and breakable items in the center and arrange your clothing around them.
Or, pick up a set of packing cubes to add a modular, rigid structure to your backpack!
Packing all your stuff in a roller bag
When packing a roller bag, have a backup plan if your wheels give out.
On a four-wheel bag, this may not be as big of a hassle, but if the wheels give out on a two-wheeler, you may end up carrying it for long periods of time.
Can you make that happen? It can be pretty annoying.
General packing tips
In any situation, some general tips apply across the board.
Space is at a premium, so investments such as packing cubes and vacuum bags deserve some consideration. Do remember that you are going to have to fit everything back into the bag if you use innovative methods of packing!
This repacking process can take a long time, so keep an eye on the clock when you have a set checkout time at your hotel or need to get to the airport for your flight home.
Finally, focus on multi-use articles, stay calm, and remember: it’s about the journey, not the stuff.
Heck, you can buy a lot of the small stuff (like toiletries) at a convenience store at your destination, or plan on doing some laundry either by having the hotel do it or doing it yourself in the hotel bathroom.
Specific tips for specific types of trips
Let’s dig down a little deeper now.
When you are facing a specific travel situation, it’s easier to find specific advice from people who have been there and done that.
I’m going to take a look at some common scenarios and how best to navigate them in the confined space of a carry on.
Packing for a weekend business trip (including how to pack a suit!)
Weekend business trips require smart and semi-formal clothing that:
- doesn’t wrinkle and
- doesn’t draw too much attention.
For these types of trips, it’s best to assume that you will be in business clothing all the time and pack accordingly (except for your relaxing time at the hotel).
Stick to cotton dress shirts and wrinkle-free blouses. These and your suit (if taking one) should all be folded vertically and rolled into loose, long tubes of fabric. This helps prevent wrinkles.
Go easy on your shoe choices and stick to absolute minimum that you are comfortable with using. I go with my more “formal” shoes for business packed in the bag (stuffed with socks and underwear, of course), and wear a comfortable pair of shoes like Allbirds for the travel time.
Don’t forget what you wear on the trip!
That’s another outfit to either relax into or wear in the trip. Consider wearing your suit jacket then or other clothing that might wrinkle in your bag. Many airplanes and trains will have a hook to hang your jacket up, or the flight attendants may be able to do it for you.
Just don’t leave them on the plane…
How to pack a carry on for 5 days
When you’re packing for five days, the rules change slightly.
Cotton shirts are still best as they don’t wrinkle as much and they pack well. More formal clothes and jeans should still be rolled vertically to save the most space possible. And put your sleeping clothes near the top – you’ll want access to them much more than that cute dress or pair of sandals.
For a five-day trip, it’s also worth considering (depending on your location) a swimsuit, jacket, boots, or other bulkier items.
To free up space, wear the heaviest articles you can on the way and don’t be afraid to leave things behind that are nearly used up or are disposable.
How to pack a carry on for 10-14 days
Ah, the long vacations of our dreams.
Everything that we’ve said about five day trips applies here as well with one important addition: pack more t-shirts and underwear.
While it may not be your favorite thing to do, you can wear that sundress multiple days in a row. Skip the second dress and fill that space with extra underthings. Remember to roll them and shove them into your packed shoes, so you’re maximizing the use of space.
Also, plan on buying some necessities at your destination. Generally, it will still be less expensive than checking a bag. With a little research and a great packing list, you’ll be set to go.
Important Rules and Regulations to Remember
Before we go, it’s important to always check the (very real and enforced) rules of the road. Here’s our quick cheat sheet of rules and regulations to remember:
- What are the current TSA regulations on liquids, gels, and spray bottles? See the handy table below!
- What are the carry on dimensions of your airline? Other airlines that you’ll be taking?
- If you are travelling internationally, what are the restrictions on your luggage?
- What is your backup plan for important medications, documents, and other essential items?
TSA Carry-On Regulations
| Electronic Devices (Note: Check with the airline for any restrictions on the use of electronic items during your flight) | Carry-on? | Checked bag? |
|---|---|---|
| Camcorders | Yes | Yes |
| Camera Equipment | Yes | Yes |
| The checked baggage screening equipment will damage undeveloped film in camera equipment. We recommend that you either put undeveloped film and cameras containing undeveloped film in your carry-on baggage or take undeveloped film with you to the checkpoint and ask the screener to conduct a hand-inspection. | ||
| Laptop Computers | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Phones | Yes | Yes |
| Pagers | Yes | Yes |
| Personal Data Assistants (PDA’s) | Yes | Yes |
| Personal Items (Note: Any sharp objects in checked baggage should be securely wrapped or in a sheath to prevent baggage handlers and security getting injured) | Carry-on? | Checked bag? |
| Cigar Cutters | Yes | Yes |
| Corkscrews | Yes | Yes |
| Cuticle Cutters | Yes | Yes |
| Eyeglass Repair Tools (including screwdrivers) | Yes | Yes |
| Eyelash Curlers | Yes | Yes |
| Knitting and Crochet Needles | Yes | Yes |
| Knives, round-bladed butter or plastic | Yes | Yes |
| Nail Clippers | Yes | Yes |
| Nail Files | Yes | Yes |
| Personal care or toiletries with aerosols, in limited quantities (such as hairsprays, deodorants) | Yes | Yes |
| Safety Razors (including disposable razors) | Yes | Yes |
| Scissors-plastic or metal with blunt tips | Yes | Yes |
| Scissors-metal with pointed tips | No | Yes |
| Toy Transformer Robots | Yes | Yes |
| Toy Weapons (if not realistic replicas) | Yes | Yes |
| Tweezers | Yes | Yes |
| Umbrellas (allowed in carry-on baggage once they have been inspected to ensure that prohibited items are not concealed) | Yes | Yes |
| Walking Canes (allowed in carry-on baggage once they have been inspected to ensure that prohibited items are not concealed) | Yes | Yes |
| Lacrosse Sticks | No | Yes |
| Pool Cues | No | Yes |
| Ski Poles | No | Yes |
| Spear Guns | No | Yes |
| Flammable Items (Note: Check with your airline to see if ammunition is permitted in checked baggage. If ammunition is permitted, it must be declared to the airline at check-in. Small arms ammunitions for personal use must be securely packed in packaging specifically designed to carry small amounts of ammunition. Ask about limitations or fees) | Carry-on? | Checked Bag? |
| Aerosol (any except for personal care or toiletries in limited quantities) | No | No |
| Fuels (including cooking fuels and any flammable liquid fuel) | No | No |
| Gasoline | No | No |
| Gas Torches | No | No |
| Lighter Fluid | No | No |
| Strike-anywhere Matches | No | No |
| Turpentine and paint thinner | No | No |
| Guns and Firearms | Carry-on? | Checked Bag? |
| Ammunition | No | Yes |
| BB guns | No | Yes |
| Compressed Air Guns | No | Yes |
| Firearms | No | Yes |
| Flare Guns | No | No |
| Gun Lighters | No | No |
| Gun Powder | No | No |
| Parts of Guns and Firearms | No | Yes |
| Pellet Guns | No | Yes |
| Realistic Replicas of Firearms | No | Yes |
| Starter Pistols | No | Yes |
| Tools | Carry-on? | Checked Bag? |
| Axes and Hatchets | No | Yes |
| Cattle Prods | No | Yes |
| Crowbars | No | Yes |
| Hammers | No | Yes |
| Drills (including cordless portable power drills) | No | Yes |
| Saws (including cordless portable power saws) | No | Yes |
| Screwdrivers (except those in eyeglass repair kits) | No | Yes |
| Tools (including but not limited to wrenches and pliers) | No | Yes |
| Wrenches and Pliers | No | Yes |
| Martial Arts/Self Defense Items (Note: Any sharp objects in checked baggage should be securely wrapped or in a sheath to prevent baggage handlers and security getting injured) | Carry-on? | Checked Bag? |
| Billy Clubs | No | Yes |
| Black Jacks | No | Yes |
| Brass Knuckles | No | Yes |
| Kubatons | No | Yes |
| Mace/Pepper Spray (Note: One 118 ml or 4 Fl. oz. container of pepper spray is permitted in checked baggage if it has a safety mechanism to prevent accidental discharge) | See note | Yes |
| Martial Arts Weapons | No | Yes |
| Night Sticks | No | Yes |
| Nunchakus | No | Yes |
| Stun Guns/Shocking Devices | No | Yes |
| Throwing Stars | No | Yes |
| Explosive Materials | Carry-on? | Checked Bag? |
| Blasting caps | No | No |
| Dynamite | No | No |
| Fireworks | No | No |
| Flares in any form | No | No |
| Hand Grenades | No | No |
| Plastic Explosives | No | No |
| Disabling Chemicals and Other Dangerous Items | Carry-on? | Checked Bag? |
| Chlorine for pools and spas | No | No |
| Compressed Gas Cylinders (including fire extinguishers) | No | No |
| Liquid Bleach | No | No |
| Spillable Batteries (except those in wheelchairs) | No | No |
| Spray Paint | No | No |
| Tear Gas | No | No |
Last Call!
As we said before, at the end of the day it’s about the journey, not about your luggage. Packing only a carry on can be a great way to smooth travels if done properly.
And it’s entirely possible, with a little creative thinking along the way.
Happy travels!
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