It’s usually a bit shocking when I tell people I only pack one carry on for long term travel, especially since my Instagram makes it seem like I travel with an entire mobile wardrobe. But it’s true!
*2024 UPDATE: Full disclosure, I wrote this post almost 10 years ago, and I definitely rarely travel with just a carry on since I travel full time, but the types are still very on point for anyone wanting to travel with just a carry-on!
All I use is a sturdy hardshell cary-on sized suitcase, and a whole lot of packing tricks and techniques that I’ve figured out during the last six months of full-time traveling.
Why do I pack so light? Aside from saving a ton on checked baggage fees, I also save a lot of time, and a lot of anxiety about people going through my luggage. Actually, that last part wasn’t even a problem until recently, where on two separate occasions I had a mini-drone go missing, and more devastating; a pin from my grandfather’s Ex Prisoner of War hat. Luckily it was just a replica, but it has now made me extremely cautious about what I put in my checked bags.
But anyway! Enough about my reasons why I travel with just a carry-on, and more about how in the hell I manage that! It’s honestly all about having a good bag, packing light, and accessories!
I’ve gone through a lot of suitcases, and am definitely guilty of suitcase abuse, but my current bag, is this design of Samsonite, that has given me no problems at all. It’s lightweight, spacious, easy to maneuver, and has built-in TSA-approved locks. More importantly though, it has two features that are essential to the art of carry-on packing — an expandable hard-shell, and zippered section separators.
The hard shell not only helps you optimize the actual area of space you have, but it makes it easier to squish everything down, especially when using the travel space bags. The zippered section separators make it really easy to organize everything, which is also key to packing a carry-on. Because otherwise your stuff is just going to get mixed into a big lump, taking up way more space than is necessary!
I also really like this rose gold one I found on Amazon below!
You don’t need a different outfit for every day that you travel if you’re aiming to travel with a carry-on only. You know you’re not even going to wear half of what you pack anyway! That’s why you should only pack basic essentials that you can mix and match, and use the rest of your space to accessorize.
So, keeping in mind that this tutorial is for long term travel (1-3 months), and for various weather destinations, here’s what I’d usually include:
– 3 basic tank tops
– 3 long sleeved shirts
– 3 “cute” tops
– 2 casual/loose pants
– 2 jumpers
– 5 dresses
– 2 shorts
– 3 bathing suits
– 1 jacket/sweater
– 15 panties
That may seem like a lot, but you’ll see how my technique of folding makes all of that take up hardly any space. Another reason to pack as minimally as possible is that you have room to buy clothing as you go!
TIP: If you find yourself over-packing, lay your clothes out across your bed, and take out anything that looks similar to something else. Or, to be safe, if your pile of flat clothing already looks high, force yourself to put half of it back.
The only accessory I pack from home is a basic black scarf that I use in case I’m cold, need to cover my shoulders to be more culturally appropriate, or even as a hijab (head covering, although it’s really not necessary to do that as a visitor in most places).
The rest of my accessories I pick up as I go. They’re nothing fancy or expensive, just little lightweight scarves, hats, and jewelry, all of which make it seem like I have WAY more outfits than I really do!
Scarves are really easy to pack, and you can usually roll up any brimmed hat, or just wear it on the plane. Since the actual outfit you wear is just basics, your accessories will stand out even more, and make it seem like you have more outfits than you actually do!
I’d say one of the most important things I’ve learned from traveling, is the best way to fold my clothes. My technique? Not folding your clothes at all. Not joking. I’ve heard of and tried the rolling technique, but it’s nowhere near as easy, convenient, or space-saving as my no-fold technique. Yes, I will admit that I learned it because I suck at folding, and every time I try, I’d end up with bulky mounds of clothes.
But by not folding, I end up with a super flat pile, and hardly wrinkled clothes! Some slight folding will be required for long sleeves and pants, but just remember, the goal is to make everything as flat as possible!
To do this just simply lay everything out flat, in an imaginary rectangle, which is the size of the inside of your carry-on. Any parts that go over the rectangle, fold in as flatly as possible, and try not to overlap anything. For example, for pants; lay them open and flat, and only fold the leg parts up, instead of folding the pants in half, then folding them over. Use this method to non-fold your undies, socks, and swimwear as well, so you’re not just bunching it up and shoving it in pockets.
If you haven’t heard of these magical bags, you are going to love me forever. Travel Space Saver Bags are like the storage bags you use a vacuum to suck the air out of and shrink your stuff, except no vacuum is required. Instead, you simply slide your clothing in the bag, close it, then roll the air out of it, so when you unroll it, it’s completely flat.
Guess what fits nicely in those rectangular bags? Non-bulky, rectangular-laid piles of clothing. So as if you’re not already saving space with the flat folding, you’re now going to squish the air out as well and make the pile half the size!
The travel space saver bags usually fit perfectly in my carry on. If I haven’t rolled out all the air, closing the hard-shell case also helps squeeze the excess air out! I usually use two medium space saver bags for packing, which you’ll find out why next!
Below are my favorite brands for travel compression bags:
I’m the most unorganized person on the planet, which is why I had to force myself to learn how to correctly organize my carry-on in order to even use it. If I didn’t learn this aspect of the technique, I’d probably spend over an hour unpacking and repacking every time I went somewhere. The goal is to know where your stuff is, and the two separate zippered compartments makes it really easy to do that.
In one side of my carry-on (usually the larger one) I put the bag of basic clothing, along with my bag of undies, socks, and swimwear. On the other side, in the smaller compartment, I put the smaller bag of accessories and whatnot, along with my small box of makeup, shoes, and hats. I try to only pack shoes that can be flattened, and that I don’t mind bending. Believe it or not, I do travel with a pair of high-heels (sometimes I have to look profesh), but again, they are ones I can somewhat flatten and bend.
Another organizing tip that I have, is to pack your space saver bags according to where you’re going, instead of dividing them into pants or tops. For instance, I had to pack for Jordan and Egypt, two places where I knew I should dress conservatively. And also St. Thomas and St. Kitts where I could wear whatever I wanted. But since I knew I wouldn’t be wearing the latter clothing for a while, I packed them at the bottom of the accessories bag so it was easier to see what I did have to wear in the two conservative countries.
I mean…how can you really miss your dirty laundry, right? It’s probably stinking up your whole suitcase and bunched up in any corners you can find to cram it in. My tip is to not do that. Instead, use the same techniques as above with a spare compression bag, to keep your dirty laundry from getting the clean clothes dirty, and keep them out of the way.
If you’re worried about your dirty clothes making your clean clothes smelly, bring along some dryer sheet in a plastic bag, and use them to layer in between your clothes.
Speaking of dryer sheets, if you ever put something on that you want to wear but it happens to smell really bad, rub a dryer sheet on it. I shit you not, you’ll smell so fresh and so clean in no time!
It took me a while to actually grasp the concept that just because I’m traveling, doesn’t mean I can’t do my laundry! Most countries do have at least washing machines, and even if they don’t, don’t forget that hand washing is actually a thing. What do you think those weird thin ropes are for in most hotel bathrooms? Hang drying your clothes after hand washing them!
I have several methods of doing my laundry when I travel long term, and it plays a major role in my ability to pack way less clothing.
Here’s some of my techniques:
– Find a local laundromat and do it yourself
– In some countries you can pay by the kilogram for people to wash for you (usually super cheap, especially in Asia)
– Stay somewhere (like an AirBnB) that has a washer and dryer, even if for only one night, just to use them
– Turn your bathtub into a washing machine with your feet
If you think you might need to do laundry during your trip, you can really use any soap, but if you specifically want clothing detergent, I recommend bringing eco-friendly detergent sheets.
Since I’m only using a carry-on, that means either way I’m only going to be allowed using liquids under 3oz, that fit in a 1oz bag. Since the rules are already in place, that makes it easier for me to limit myself to carry-on sized essentials like toothpaste, lotion, and my favorite hair product, and the rest I just pick up at a convenience store wherever I’m traveling to.
I also keep the TSA approved-sized bag of liquids in my personal item (AKA purse), along with a small pouch with my toothbrush, razor, and small packets of wipes.
Below are two magical products that actual work when it comes to getting wrinkles out! Wrinkle Release is ideal for carry on travel, but if you’re traveling with a bigger bag, a mini steamer is seriously the best!
– Save money on checked bags
– Save time with check in and bag pick up
– Avoid random people going through your stuff (I’ve had a mini drone and one of my grandpa’s replica war pins stolen from my checked bags)
– Avoid stress and strain on your body
– Be able to move around more freely and conveniently
– Spend less time digging through piles of clothes and re-packing
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