Packing a carry-on is an art form, and frequent travellers will agree that it’s a skill worth mastering, especially when missing checked luggage has become a frequent occurrence.
Whether you’re a certified over-packer or a tech-savvy traveller who owns the latest smart luggage, learning how to pack your carry-on like a pro has some serious benefits. Not only does it help you avoid costly baggage fees, but you’ll also save time getting through security!
To help you as you pack, here are 3 practical ways to make travelling with a carry-on easier:
1. Plan your wardrobe
It’s tempting to bring every outfit you own with you on vacation — after all, you never know what might happen! But a well-planned wardrobe will save you time, money, and stress. By planning your wardrobe, you can be sure that everything you need is in one place, and you won’t have to waste time looking for things when you need them most.
With carry-on packing, travelling light is the name of the game; layering your clothes allows you to keep a variety of outfits with you instead of packing for one type of weather. It will also save space in your bag and help keep you warm if the temperature changes quickly, all without having to pack bulky items like sweaters or jackets.
Be strategic about your outfits; instead of choosing looks that match perfectly, select clothes with colours or patterns that go well together.
You’ll be able to create many different looks for yourself with fewer items by mixing and matching these pieces.
Having multiple shoes can save your feet but consume valuable packing real estate, so it’s ideal to pack around two to three pairs of shoes: for daytime, nighttime etc. Preferably, your bulkiest or most comfortable pair will be on your feet when travelling, so they won’t need to be packed.
Bonus tip: Since you’ll be mixing and matching pieces, bring cool accessories to help change the look of each outfit. Things like sunglasses, scarfs, or jewelry don’t take up much space, and can add a stylish touch to your outfit.
2. Consider using packing cubes for organization and compression
Packing cubes are a huge life saver when travelling with a carry-on only! These lightweight bags help you stay organized during your trip by keeping your items separate. They also free-up space and allow you to fit more into your carry-on by compressing your clothes and soft accessories.
There is no one right way to use packing cubes. Some people like to fold their clothes before placing them inside, but I find that rolling garments keep things compressed during transit and prevent wrinkles. When using packing cubes to organize your clothes, don’t be afraid to overload them because that helps activate the compression in the bags.
However, it’s recommended to use other packing tools for toiletries and electronics so that the cubes only take up space with garments.
These versatile cubes also make it easier for TSA agents to search your bags. If they want to quickly check through one of your bags, they don’t need to dig through everything—they can just look at the labels on each cube.
Here’s a video that shows you innovative ways to use packing cubes:
3. Choose essential toiletries
Whether you’re going on a business trip or taking a girls’ getaway, your favourite face wash and hair products will help keep your skin and hair looking great while you’re away from home. There are many small travel-sized containers for items such as toothpaste and even skincare available on the market, and these come in handy when you need to pack light.
Although many of us have gotten away with putting a regular makeup bag full of liquids through security, there’s nothing worse than being in line at the airport with a TSA agent that’s extremely thorough and makes you remove everything from your bag.
Review TSA and airport guidelines
To avoid causing a major Transportation Security Administration (TSA) headache, double-check your airport’s TSA guidelines because they can always change and remember the 3-1-1 rule of thumb for packing liquids.
What’s the 3-1-1 rule?
This is a rule by the TSA that each passenger is allowed:
- 3.4 oz items
- In 1 quart-sized plastic bag (typically about nine 3-oz items)
- 1 bag allowed per passenger
Here’s a handy infographic to give you more packing tips from the TSA:
Mastering the art of packing light can seriously improve your travel experience. Packing light gives you more space, more flexibility with your schedule, and the ability to change plans quickly if you need to. I hope you now feel like an expert at packing your carry-on. You only need practice now, and that’s the fun part!
Want to try your hand at travelling with your kids with only a carry-on? We’ve got some more tips for you.
Ready to share your own packing tips? Comment below!
Happy travels,
Monique
Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in August 2017 and has been updated for freshness and/or accuracy.
