Most people approach packing like they’re preparing for the apocalypse. Three pairs of shoes “just in case.” Five sweaters for a weekend trip. Enough toiletries to stock a small pharmacy.
Then they arrive at the airport, struggle to lift their overstuffed bag into the overhead bin, and spend the entire trip wearing the same three items while everything else stays folded at the bottom.
Here’s what I learned after years of overpacking: the problem isn’t your suitcase size. It’s your packing strategy. With the right approach, you can fit a week’s worth of clothes in a carry-on and still have room left over.
Why Carry-On Only Makes Sense
Before we get into the how, let’s talk about the why.
You save time. No waiting at baggage claim. No anxiety about lost luggage. You walk off the plane and straight to your destination.
You save money. Checked bag fees run $30-50 each way. That’s $60-100 per trip you’re throwing away. Over a year of travel, that adds up to hundreds of dollars.
You stay mobile. Navigating cobblestone streets, climbing stairs, switching trains—all easier with just a carry-on. You’re not dragging a 50-pound suitcase through a medieval city center.
You pack smarter. When space is limited, you’re forced to think critically about what you actually need. This eliminates the “I might wear this” items that never leave your bag.
Start with the Right Bag
Not all carry-ons are created equal. The difference between a mediocre bag and a great one is how much you can actually fit inside.
Size Matters
Airlines allow carry-ons up to 22 x 14 x 9 inches. Use every inch. A bag that’s 20 x 13 x 8 inches might look sleek, but you’re losing valuable space.
The “bigger carry-on” strategy: Some brands make carry-ons that maximize the allowed dimensions. These bags hold 2-3 more outfits than standard carry-ons without technically being larger.
Features That Actually Help
Compression systems: Built-in compression straps flatten your clothes and create more room.
Multiple compartments: Separate sections for shoes, toiletries, and electronics keep things organized and prevent you from unpacking everything to find one item.
Expandable zippers: Some bags expand an extra 2 inches when you need more space. Perfect for bringing home souvenirs.
Smooth wheels: You’ll be rolling this bag through airports, train stations, and city streets. Cheap wheels break. Good wheels glide.
The Packing Cube Revolution
Packing cubes changed everything. They’re not just organizers—they’re space multipliers.
How Compression Cubes Work
Regular packing cubes organize. Compression packing cubes organize and shrink. You pack clothes into the cube, zip it closed, then zip a second zipper that compresses everything down.
The math: A compression cube can reduce clothing volume by 30-40%. That’s the difference between fitting 5 shirts or 7 shirts in the same space.
The System
Use different cubes for different categories:
- Cube 1: Tops (shirts, blouses, sweaters)
- Cube 2: Bottoms (pants, shorts, skirts)
- Cube 3: Underwear and socks
- Cube 4: Dirty clothes (bring an empty one)
This system means you never dig through your entire suitcase looking for one item. You know exactly which cube contains what you need.
Roll, Don’t Fold
Inside each cube, roll your clothes instead of folding them. Rolling prevents wrinkles and uses space more efficiently than folding.
Exception: Dress shirts and anything that wrinkles easily. Fold these carefully and place them on top of everything else.
The Capsule Wardrobe Approach
The secret to packing light isn’t bringing less. It’s bringing items that work together in multiple combinations.
The Color Palette Rule
Pick 2-3 colors that all coordinate. Everything you pack should work with everything else.
Example palette:
- Navy blue
- White
- Tan
With this palette, every top pairs with every bottom. A 5-shirt, 3-pants combination creates 15 different outfits.
What doesn’t work: Packing a red shirt, green pants, purple sweater, and orange shorts. Nothing coordinates, so you need more items to create complete outfits.
The 5-4-3-2-1 Method
For a week-long trip:
- 5 tops (mix of t-shirts, blouses, sweaters)
- 4 bottoms (2 pants, 1 shorts, 1 skirt/dress)
- 3 pairs of shoes (wear the bulkiest, pack 2)
- 2 accessories (scarf, hat, belt)
- 1 jacket
This creates dozens of outfit combinations while keeping your bag manageable.
Wear Your Bulkiest Items
Your heaviest shoes, thickest jacket, and bulkiest pants should be worn during travel. This keeps them out of your suitcase and frees up space for lighter items.
The Shoe Problem
Shoes are the enemy of efficient packing. They’re bulky, heavy, and take up disproportionate space.
The Two-Pair Maximum
Bring two pairs maximum. Wear one, pack one.
Pair 1 (wear these): Comfortable walking shoes that work for most activities. Sneakers, boots, or supportive sandals depending on your destination.
Pair 2 (pack these): Dressier option for dinners or nicer occasions. Should still be comfortable enough to walk in.
What you don’t need: Flip-flops “for the pool,” running shoes “in case I work out,” fancy heels “just in case,” hiking boots “if we decide to hike.”
Shoe Packing Tricks
Stuff them: Fill shoes with socks, underwear, or small items. This uses the empty space inside and helps shoes keep their shape.
Use shoe bags: Keeps dirt off your clothes. Cloth bags work better than plastic because they’re more flexible.
Place strategically: Put shoes at the bottom of your suitcase (the part with wheels). This keeps the bag balanced and prevents shoes from crushing other items.
Toiletries Without the Bulk
Full-size toiletries are space killers. A standard shampoo bottle takes up as much room as three shirts.
The Minimalist Approach
What hotels provide: Shampoo, conditioner, body wash, lotion. If you’re staying in hotels, you don’t need to pack these.
What you actually need:
- Face wash
- Moisturizer
- Toothpaste
- Deodorant
- Any prescription medications
That’s it. Everything else is optional.
Travel-Size Containers
Transfer your products into small containers. The 3-ounce TSA limit is actually plenty for a week.
Magnetic containers: These snap together, so you’re not digging through a toiletry bag for one specific bottle. They’re also leakproof, which matters when a shampoo explosion ruins your clothes.
Solid alternatives: Shampoo bars, solid perfume, bar soap. These don’t count toward your liquid limit and take up minimal space.
The One-Bag Toiletry Kit
Keep a dedicated toiletry kit that stays packed. When you travel, grab it and go. This prevents the “did I pack my toothbrush?” panic and ensures you never forget essentials.
Strategic Clothing Choices
Not all clothes pack equally. Some items are space hogs. Others are packing champions.
Fabrics That Travel Well
Winners:
- Merino wool (doesn’t wrinkle, doesn’t smell, regulates temperature)
- Synthetic blends (quick-drying, wrinkle-resistant)
- Linen (breathable, packs small, wrinkles are expected)
Losers:
- 100% cotton (wrinkles easily, takes forever to dry)
- Heavy denim (bulky, slow to dry)
- Anything that requires ironing
Multi-Purpose Items
The button-down shirt: Wear it alone, layer it over a t-shirt, tie it around your waist, use it as a beach cover-up. One item, five uses.
The versatile dress: Can be dressed up with jewelry and nice shoes or dressed down with sneakers and a denim jacket. Takes up less space than a separate top and bottom.
The packable jacket: Lightweight, water-resistant, rolls into its own pocket. Provides warmth without bulk.
The Outfit Test
Before packing an item, ask: “Can I wear this with at least three other things I’m bringing?”
If the answer is no, leave it home. Every item should earn its spot in your suitcase by working with multiple other pieces.
The Personal Item Hack
Airlines allow one carry-on and one personal item. Most people waste their personal item on a tiny purse. Don’t do this.
Maximize Your Personal Item
Bring the largest bag that qualifies as a personal item. This is usually a backpack, tote, or large purse that fits under the seat.
What goes in your personal item:
- Laptop and electronics
- Toiletries (easy access for security)
- Change of clothes (in case your carry-on gets gate-checked)
- Bulky items that don’t fit well in your suitcase
The tote bag strategy: A large tote can hold your purse inside it. At the airport, it’s your personal item. At your destination, use the smaller purse and leave the tote in your hotel.
Packing Order Matters
How you pack is as important as what you pack.
The Bottom Layer
Start with shoes and heavy items at the bottom (the wheeled end). This keeps your bag balanced and prevents heavy items from crushing delicate ones.
The Middle Layer
Rolled clothes in packing cubes go here. Place heavier items (jeans, sweaters) toward the bottom, lighter items (t-shirts, underwear) toward the top.
The Top Layer
Anything that wrinkles easily or that you’ll need first. Dress shirts, toiletries, electronics.
Fill the Gaps
Use socks, underwear, and small items to fill empty spaces. This prevents items from shifting during travel and maximizes every inch.
Common Packing Mistakes
Mistake 1: Packing the Night Before
You’re tired, you’re rushed, and you throw in everything “just in case.” Pack 2-3 days before your trip. This gives you time to reconsider items and remove things you don’t actually need.
Mistake 2: Bringing “Just in Case” Items
“Just in case it rains.” “Just in case we go somewhere fancy.” “Just in case I need a swimsuit.”
Most “just in case” scenarios never happen. And if they do, you can buy what you need at your destination.
Mistake 3: Packing for Every Possible Activity
You don’t need workout clothes, hiking gear, formal wear, and beach attire for a 4-day city trip. Pack for your planned activities, not hypothetical ones.
Mistake 4: Ignoring the Weather
Check the forecast before packing. If it’s going to be 75 and sunny all week, you don’t need three sweaters.
Mistake 5: Bringing Too Many Toiletries
You’re going to a city, not the wilderness. If you forget something, you can buy it. You don’t need to pack your entire bathroom.
The Laundry Solution
For trips longer than 5 days, plan to do laundry once. This lets you pack half as much.
Quick Sink Washing
Bring a small packet of detergent sheets (they’re flat and take up no space). Wash underwear, socks, and t-shirts in the hotel sink. Hang them to dry overnight.
What dries quickly: Synthetic fabrics, thin cotton, underwear, socks.
What doesn’t: Jeans, thick sweaters, anything 100% cotton.
Laundromat Strategy
Many cities have laundromats or wash-and-fold services. Spending $10-15 on laundry is cheaper than checking a bag.
The Packing List
Create a master packing list and refine it after each trip. Note what you used, what you didn’t, and what you wished you’d brought.
My refined list after 20+ trips:
- 4 t-shirts
- 1 button-down shirt
- 1 sweater
- 2 pairs of pants
- 1 pair of shorts
- 7 pairs of underwear
- 4 pairs of socks
- 2 pairs of shoes (wear 1, pack 1)
- 1 jacket
- Toiletries (travel sizes)
- Phone charger
- Portable battery
- Headphones
This fits in a carry-on with room to spare.
Your First Carry-On Trip
If you’ve never traveled carry-on only, start with a short trip. A 3-4 day weekend is perfect for testing your packing skills without the pressure of a long vacation.
Week 1: Pack for a weekend trip using the 5-4-3-2-1 method.
Week 2: Try compression packing cubes and see how much more you can fit.
Week 3: Implement the capsule wardrobe approach with a coordinated color palette.
Week 4: Take a week-long trip with just a carry-on.
After one successful carry-on trip, you’ll never want to check a bag again.
The Real Secret
Efficient packing isn’t about cramming more stuff into your bag. It’s about bringing less stuff that works harder.
Most people fail because they pack for imaginary scenarios. They bring clothes for activities they won’t do, weather that won’t happen, and occasions that won’t arise.
You don’t need to sacrifice comfort or style. You need to be strategic about what you bring and how you pack it.
The goal isn’t the smallest possible bag. The goal is bringing exactly what you need, nothing you don’t, and having it all fit comfortably in a carry-on.
That’s achievable for anyone willing to think critically about their packing choices and use space efficiently.
