A Beginner's Guide to Packing Carry On Only (Like Ever) Part 1

I’m writing this as I pack for my next trip. My clothes and essentials are strewn across the bedroom. To the casual observer, it may seem impossible that all these items can fit snuggly into my backpack without busting a zipper.

Hah! Little does the casual observer know of my personal obsession with organization and efficiency. Seriously, I get really passionate about packing. Nor does the casual observer know that there are not so secret ways to pack like a pro passed down from generation to generation of travellers by word of mouth, magazine articles, interpretive dance numbers and, well, mostly blogs. In this post, we’ll be giving you a summary of common packing practices as well as tips and tricks we’ve developed ourselves.

Packing a carry on only has so many advantages. So many. You save money by not paying to check luggage. Likewise, you have the freedom to fly budget airlines without having to pay for all the costly extras. You also have freedom on your trip itself, not having to lug a massive suitcase around or hang around a luggage carousel. Moreover, there is a certain satisfaction that comes with the minimalist travel style enabled by packing carry on only. You are not weighed down by possessions (both physically and otherwise) and available to enjoy your adventure more wholeheartedly, but let’s not get into that philosophical clusterfrick.

Trust me, once you’ve starting packing this way, you’ll never go back. And most likely, you’ll begin to develop your own packing tips and preferences. Please feel free to share them below, we’d love to hear them!

Now, let’s get down to packing.

There are two ways to start packing for a long trip in a carry on only. First, we need to reduce the amount of things we bring on a trip. Second, we need to efficiently pack the things we do take with us. In this first post, we'll focus on the former.

This is, in theory, the easiest place to start, though once you’re staring at the pile of things you think you need for a trip it might suddenly seem impossible. However, there are a few foolproof ways to reduce the amount of junk in your travel trunk, as it were.

1. Develop a capsule wardrobe. A capsule wardrobe matches a few pairs of pants with a few shirts, all of which are interchangeable. Therefore you bring more outfits with less clothing items. The bulk of what you pack is clothes, so this will significantly reduce the amount of stuff to pack. This way, you’ll still look cute (or handsome!) and not throw out your back lifting a giant suitcase. Plus, when you plan your outfits ahead of time, you’ll waste less time staring at your open suitcase every morning and more time enjoying your trip!
2. Only ever bring a maximum of two week’s worth of clothes. Even if you’re going on a longer trip, find yourself somewhere to do laundry every two weeks instead of bringing more clothes. This is a key travel tip, followed by veteran travellers. If you’re feeling ultra minimalist like a friend of mine, you can pack three pairs each of undies and socks: “one to wear, one to wash, and one spare” as she would say.
3. If you’re worried about having to re-wear eventually smelly clothes during the trip or between washes, you could invest in wool or natural fiber products. My personal favourite, Merino wool, is a fantastic natural fabric that does not pick up bodily odours, is stain repellent, dries fast, wicks away sweat, and much more! (Did you also read that in an infomercial voice?) It’s perfect for multiple wears, outdoor activities, and quick washes. For a full list of reasons why you should get yourself some Merino wool, check out the post declaring my undying love for it here.
4. For places with changeable weather, layering is key. It’s easier to pack 3 thin tops than one bulky jacket. If you follow the rule of thumb, 2 base layers, 2 mid layer, 1 top layer, you’ll be prepared for all temperatures warm to sub zero, all conditions rain or shine, and never have to pack a massive coat.
5. For many countries, you can skip bringing any disposables and just purchase them after you land. Small bottles of soap and shampoo, razors, band-aids, painkillers, toothpaste, you name it. You can even head to a thrift store and buy yourself a sweater or two, a coat, any item of clothing you don’t pack. Leave it when you head home, donate it to a charity or leave it at a hostel for someone else to use.
6. Last but not least, this tip is the absolute most useful way to decide what to bring or not. However, it does require some ruthless discipline. It’s simple; for everything you want to bring, ask yourself: “Is it necessary? Do I really need this?” If your answer is maybe, if you’re bringing something in case you might need it, leave it. You won’t need it, you probably won’t use it anyway, and you definitely won’t miss it.

Side note: Even though the whole point of this section is to bring less, it’s also ok to allow yourself one luxury item per bag. For instance your item could be a straightener, some fancy headphones, a spare pair of nice shoes. Any one thing you could do without but would enjoy having.

In Part 2 of this two-post series, we'll look at the second way to pack carry on only: efficiently packing what we've decided to bring with us.

This is all you need!

Gen