Are you a minimalist when it comes to travel packing? Or do you overpack “just in case” you need this or that? For our recent 10-day trip to Vancouver Island, my husband and I packed only a carry on and a backpack each—and we had everything we needed. To simplify packing for your next trip, read on for 12 tips for travelling with just a carry on.

Confessions of a reformed over-packer

I’m often amazed at the number of bags I see people lugging through airports. Where are they going that they need so much stuff? Are they travelling to remote parts of the world where there are no stores or laundry facilities? Are they celebrities who need to change outfits several times a day?

In reality, they’re probably just normal people who haven’t yet realized that travelling with just a carry on significantly reduces the stress of travel.

I used to be an over-packer. Years of business travel has taught me the value of travelling light and I think I’ve got it down to an art. Several years ago, I heard someone suggest packing all the clothes you think you’ll need, and then taking half of them out and put them back in your closet. There’s a lot of wisdom in that thinking.

Benefits of travelling with just a carry on

If you’re not convinced, consider some of the practical benefits of travelling with just a carry on.

• You’ll save on checked baggage fees. With most airlines charging $50 to $100 for each checked bag, those fees add up quickly. Wouldn’t you rather have that extra money to spend when you reach your destination?
• You won’t need to wait around for luggage when you get where you’re going. Mind you, that strategy doesn’t work every time. On our recent trip, the airline made us both check our carry-on bags. But even if you avoid that more than half the time, you’ll be out of the airport and on your way long before the first bag arrives at the luggage carrousel.
• You’ll be able to manage your luggage on your own. This is especially important if you travel alone. Packing light with just a carry on means you won’t need anyone to help you, and you won’t waste time searching for a luggage cart.

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Tips for travelling with just a carry on

If you’re ready to take on the challenge of travelling with just a carry on, here are some tips to make it work.

What I packed for our 10-day vacation

Our recent 10-day trip to Vancouver Island was mostly vacation but I did need some dressier clothes for a couple of meetings and events.

In addition to essentials like travel documents, toiletries, my phone and tablet, and my reusable water bottle, here’s a list of clothing that I took for our trip:

• Pyjamas
• 10 pairs of underwear
• 5 bras
• 7 pairs of socks
• 2 pairs of shorts
• 2 pairs of capris
• 1 pair of jeans
• 5 t-shirts
• 2 dressier tops
• 1 jumpsuit
• 1 light cardigan
• 1 zip up fleece top
• Hiking shoes
• 1 pair of dressier shoes
• 1 pair of casual sandals
• Packable rain jacket

Tips to fit it all in a carry on

So, how did I do it? Here are my tips learned from years of business travel.

Wear bulkier clothes for travelling

I wore jeans, a t-shirt, a zip-up fleece top, and my hiking shoes for travelling. These bulkier items would have taken up a lot of space in my suitcase.

Plan outfits in advance

Think about what you’ll be doing during your trip and plan outfits based on your activities. Choose versatile pieces of clothing you can mix and match. Ideally every item can be worn with at least one other item.

Limit the number of shoes you take

I try to limit myself to two pairs of shoes—one to wear when travelling, and one other pair. For this trip, I did take an extra pair of casual sandals. Planning your outfits makes it easier to choose shoes that go with all the clothes you plan to wear.  

Plan to wear clothes more than once

Other than socks and underwear, most clothes can be worn more than once before they need to be washed. On our recent trip, we did a lot of hiking in hot weather. Even so, we were able to wear all our t-shirts and shorts multiple times.  

Apply the container theory

In her book Decluttering at the Speed of Life, Dana K. White introduced the container theory. In a nutshell, it’s about limiting your possessions to the size of your container. A container can be a bookshelf, drawer, or suitcase! If the container is full and you still have more items to pack, you need to make some decisions about what to leave behind.

Roll clothes

Rolling clothes is a great way to fit more in your suitcase, and it also cuts down on wrinkling. I carefully stack all my clothes in a pile, and then roll them. This takes up far less space than folding and packing them individually.

Consider packing cubes

I recently bought some packing cubes. They work great for small items like socks, underwear and pyjamas. I’m still not convinced they really save any space when packing larger items. Maybe I’ll have to try an experiment with and without the cubes to see if they make a difference.

Another simple trick is to pack everything you need for the first day in a single cube. You’ll be glad you did when you arrive at your destination tired after a long day of travel.

Plan to do laundry during your trip

Unless you’re on a deserted island in the middle of nowhere, you probably have access to laundry facilities during your trip. For longer trips, planning to do laundry can make it a lot easier to fit everything in a carry on.

Invest in a packable rain jacket

My packable rain jacket goes everywhere with me. It fits nicely in my backpack and takes up far less space than my other raincoats. 

Be realistic about what you’ll need

For every item, ask yourself if you’ll really need that item and whether you’d manage if you didn’t have it with you. If it’s a “just in case” item, think twice about taking it.

Choose e-books

Reading is a great way to pass the time on long flights, but books take up space. E-books are a great way to make sure you don’t run out of reading material. I load several books on my tablet to read during trips.

Be smart about toiletries

This is an area where my focus on sustainability has really made a difference. I’ve switched to bar soap, shampoo, lotion, and moisturizer, and toothpaste tablets. These items take up less space, and there’s no risk of them leaking all over your clothes.

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So with a successful 10-day vacation trip under my belt, my next challenge was to pack for a 5-day work trip to attend a conference with just a carry on. I’m happy to report that I did it! Watch for an update on that soon.

What’s the longest trip you’ve even been on with just a carry on? Do you have additional packing tips to share? Drop me a comment below to let me know.