first time packing a Carry on
When i packed my first Carry on for a two week Trip, i packed nine t-shirts into my bag and closed it with pride. About an hour after i got to my room, i pulled out three of them. Another two came out the next morning. Before i left for the airport, i had Four t-shirts and a whole new understanding of how packing really works.
two weeks of traveling does not require two weeks of clothes.
Three to Four days of clothes plus some laundry plans will get you anywhere on Earth in a 22 inch bag. Everything else in this article is detail.
Why Carry on only is worth the trouble
There are many reasons that carrying on is worth being disciplined to do. first, when traveling by air, you save 30–60 minutes in each airport. second, depending on the carrier you use, you save $30–$80 per flight. Third, your bag never gets lost. Fourth, when traveling through cobblestone cities and old European cities, you move faster. Fifth, there is something calming about having fewer things to search for when you travel – you always know exactly where your belongings are. The only trade off is washing a little bit of laundry in the sink once or twice. That’s the only negative.
Step 1: choosing the right bag
A 22 x 14 x 9 inch hard shell roller that fits the international air transport association (IATA) international Carry on size standards fits on every airplane. There are several advantages to using a hard shell bag: they protect your electronic devices, allow you to pack tighter because they maintain their shape, and stack better in overhead bins. Use a bag with Four wheel spinners, not a two wheel roller.
Hard shell bags i have used:
The amazon basics hardside spinner ($80) was a very capable hard shell spinner. The travelpro maxlite 5 ($180) was both very light and made well. Away and Monos bags (~$295) were the higher end options. Briggs & riley baseline (~$600) has a life time warranty and will last forever.
If you’re going to be hiking a lot while on vacation, staying in hostels, or have to use multiple forms of transportation, you may want to consider using a 35–40 liter backpack for travel (such as Tortuga, Osprey Farpoint 40, Cotopaxi Allpa 35L). Otherwise, a roller will probably be fine.
Your personal item: the under seat bag where your Laptop, charger and One days worth of Clothing live
I personally use the peakdesign everyday backpack 20l for all of my Tech related trips.
Step 2: using Compression packing cubes
Using Compression packing cubes, which are specifically designed to compress your Clothing so that it takes up about 60 percent of its original volume is key. I recommend using three medium Compression cubes for a two week Trip.
My Compression cube system:
Cube #1 contains Tops, underwear, and socks (it should be located towards the top of your luggage).
Cube #2 contains bottom items (these are heavier, so place near the wheels).
Cube #3 contains Layers and your “dress-up” clothes (you won’t normally wear these everyday).
Roll soft items (e.g., t-shirts, socks)
Fold structured items (e.g., button downs, dress pants, blazers)
No One who advises rolling all of your Clothing has ever tried to wear a wrinkly blazer to a dinner date.
Step 3: building your Clothing capsule
Mathematically speaking: you typically wear an outfit approximately every 1.5 days while traveling. Therefore you will need to do at least One load of laundry during your Trip. You will likely be able to reuse the same pair of pants three to five times before needing to wash them. So, with Four Tops and three Bottoms you have twelve possible outfits – way more than enough before you even think about doing laundry!
Warm weather capsule:
- top layer (5): two basic t-shirts that are neutral colored, One short sleeve button-down or polo shirt, One thin layer long sleeve, One “dress-up” top (silky blouse, linen shirt) for eating dinner.
- bottom layer (3): One versatile pant pair (chinos in black or olive green can be used just about anywhere), One pair of shorts or a skirt, One pair of leggings or jogging pants.
- layered pieces (2): One lightweight waterproof jacket that weighs under eight ounces (houdini jacket patagonia, pocketable parka uniqlo), One lightweight sweater for cooler nights.
- undergarments: five pairs of underwear, five pairs of socks, two bras if you need them, One swimsuit and pajama(s) (an extra large t-shirt counts).
- Shoes (2): One pair of walking Shoes that are broken in and comfortable to wear on airplanes. One other pair of nicer Shoes (flat Shoes, sandals or loafers).
- One rule breaker: One dress or blazer or jumpsuit — the piece of Clothing that makes you look like an adult dining at restaurants instead of looking like you are just another tourist.
Cold weather adjustments: replace shorts with an additional pair of pants. Add a base layer merino wool (long johns) layer. Swap packable jacket for a packable down (ultra light down uniqlo). Bring a hat and gloves. Wear the heaviest layer on the plane so you can save space.
Total weight of Clothing: eight to eleven pounds. Electronics and Toiletries will weigh another eighteen pounds bringing total weight to twenty pounds — below the maximum weight of twenty-two pounds (ten kilograms) that most airlines allow for carryons.
Step 4: Toiletries
The u.s. Transportation security administration (tsa) allows international travelers to bring liquids in containers holding no more than 100 ml/3.4 oz. These containers must fit inside One clear quart sized bag. Most countries follow this policy too.
Inside the clear quart size bag: shampoo, conditioner, body wash (if you prefer to use solid bars — solid bars aren’t counted against your liquid allowance), face wash, moisturizer with sunscreen, sunscreen spray deodorant sticks only!, tooth paste. Tooth brush, floss, razor, hair brush / comb tweezers nail clippers hair ties solid perfume (liquid perfumes eat up space in luggage — switch to balm!) prescription medications / pills in original bottles.
Outside the clear quart size bag: tooth brush floss razors brushes / combs tweezers clipping tools hair ties solid perfume pills in original bottles prescription glasses if you wore contact lenses while flying
Stop trying to take two weeks worth of every product with you!
Take small amounts of products such as shampoo, sun screen and moisturizers and buy larger versions at pharmacies at destination cities on day One of your Trip. It costs less than checking a bag would.
Leave home: hair dryers full-sized containers of anything any other product that can be purchased at any pharmacy at your destination city. Don’t leave behind new Shoes (they will cause blistering). White socks are bad idea for city trips because they turn gray after a couple hours. Underestimate laundry — a $5 hostel laundry half way through your Trip changes your math entirely. Forget power matters — bring a multi port USB charger so you’re not playing musical chairs with outlets every night. Panic items based on what ifs: umbrellas running Shoes complete first aid kit. If any pharmacy in your destination would sell it leave it at home.
Step 5: Electronics
Phone with adapter case if needed
Laptop or tablet (skip if pure vacation)
Universal travel adapter with USB-a ports and USB-c ports (epicka $25)
Portable Phone charger 10,000+ mah with built-in USB-c cable (anker)
Single charging cord per device no spares
Wireless headphones plus over-ear headphones if you cannot sleep on planes
Kindle (big weigh savings compared to paper books)
Camera if photography is important — otherwise use Phone now
Step 6: money and Documents
All items listed here must be placed in your personal item — not your roller. Losing your roller is an inconvenience — but losing anything listed here could be serious.
Passport in slim sleeve
Credit cards from two different banks (One in wallet; One hidden) One debit card $100-$200 emergency cash separate from wallet copies of passport vaccine card insurance policy details number emergency Phone printed copy accommodation details for first night useful at immigration; useful if your Phone is dead.
Step 7: little kit
Each of these items either always packs or earns their weight: earplugs and eye mask (for hostels; for planes; for hotels that get noise from streets); collapsible water bottle (hydaway 21oz); micro fiber towel for any chance of using hostels or hot springs; basic first aid kit band aides ibuprofen anti diarrheal electrolyte tablets antihistamines blister patches; packable day back that folds flat (osprey day lite matador freerain); zip lock bags carabiners pen for landing cards.
Step 8: daily routine
Pack the night before — not morning of the next day. Packing the night before catches the things you forget — packing the morning of creates the things you forget.
Wear bulkiest items on plane (jacket; sneakers; jeans) so you can save massive amounts of space in suitcase and remove jacket once seated on plane.
Last five minute check before leaving airport: make sure passport is inside personal item (check physically do not assume), Phone-wallet-keys charger adapters liquids bag must be accessible near top of personal item meds prescription glasses if you wear contacts on plane last bathroom stop.
Common mistakes still being made today
Packing for imagined Trip instead of real Trip — you won’t wear those high heeled Shoes. Bringing new Shoes and getting blisters. Buying white socks for city trips (gray within hours). Underestimating laundry needs — doing $5 hostel laundry mid-Trip changes your numbers completely. Forgetting power issues — bringing a multi-port USB charger saves you having to play musical chairs with outlets each evening. Panic items based on what ifs: three umbrellas two sets of running Shoes full first aid kit. If any pharmacy in your destination would sell it leave it at home.
When to actually check a bag
Carry-on purists? I am not One either. Check a bag for ski/snow board/surf trips — gear doesn’t fit into Carry-on. Longer than month long trips across dramatically different climates formal events requiring full suit trips with significant gifts or specialty equipment trips returning with much more than left with.
Printable checklist
bag: 22″ hard shell Carry-on roller personal item backpack Compression cubes day pack rolled inside.
clothes (warm version) : 2 tees 1 button down shirt 1 long sleeve 1 nice top 1 versatile pant pair 1 shorts/pants 1 leggings/jogger pants 1 lightweight waterproof jacket 1 sweater. 5 undies 5 sock 2 bras 1 swimsuit 1 set pajama(s). Walking Shoes comfortable enough to wear on planes nicer Shoes.
Toiletries (clear quarts sized bag): shampoo conditioner body wash face wash moisturizer w/sunscreen sunscreen spray deodorant stick only! Toothpaste toothbrush floss razor brush/comb tweezers clipping tools hair ties solid perfume pill containers prescription medications/pills in original bottles.
Electronics: Phone Laptop/tablet Kindle universal travel adapter portable Phone charger all cords rolled up together in pouch head phones.
money/Documents: passport credit cards from two banks debit card $100-$200 usd copies/digital copies passports vaccination records insurance info emergency contact info printed copy hotel reservation for first nights accommodations useful at immigration useful if your Phone is dead.