It pays to travel light with just a single carry-on suitcase. Not only will you avoid paying excessive airline luggage fees, but you’ll get through airport security faster with a stealthily packed, slimmed-down carry-on suitcase. You’ll also save time by not waiting for checked luggage and you won’t risk losing a single bag. Yay!
I can fit…PLEASE don’t go without me!
I should know. After traveling through Germany, The Netherlands, and France for ten straight days with a single piece of 19″ carry-on luggage, I managed to escape paying a single luggage fee, and jaunted around major European cities care-free with a very light load to carry.
How did I do it? With a little planning and a few frugal air travel packing tips you too can take flight without the extra cost and luggage weight.
Here’s how to pack a suitcase in ten simple steps:
1. Check the weather.
Living on the farm for the last few years, I’ve grown to appreciate the insanity farmers have for weather reports — Carl included. I call it ‘Weather P0rn’ ’cause the delight my man gets from barometric pressures, dew points, and capping inversions gives me cause for climatic disturbance.
Now, I’m not suggesting that you glue yourself to The Weather Channel (like Farmer Carl) before your business, holiday, weekend, or family trip. But being inclined to glance at a few weather forecasts will make it easier for you to pack for any kind of getaway. Check out Weather.com or WunderGround.com for meteorological updates at your destination.
I traveled to Europe in the fall, so I needed a good mix of warm and cold weather clothing. Yes, I packed it all in one carry-on suitcase.
2. Plan your destination events.
Visiting relatives, partying at swanky soirees, hiking up glaciers, or sunning your bum on the beach all require different attire. So pack only the clothing you need for your planned events — nothing extra! If you suddenly need a string bikini on a beach in Brazil then *cough* think twice about it, and buy it there.
My biggest events for Berlin, France, and Amsterdam included excursions to the Bodemuseum, Gemäldegalerie, Musée du Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, Centre Georges Pompidou, Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, and numerous national and war monuments. So basically I needed a pair of very comfortable shoes for viewing thousands of priceless paintings. I guesstimate I walked a minimum of 10km a day! Carl was thrilled. 
3. Limit footwear, embrace double-duty items.
Ladies sure love to pack shoes. Get over yourself! You only need two, maybe three pairs: walking shoes, ballerina flats, and perhaps a pair of sandals. Those kitten heels sure look cute, but fashion footwear isn’t comfortable to walk in and takes up a lot of space.
What’s a double-duty item? Cardigans, pashimina scarves, a neutral trench coat — anything can be dressed UP or down. I wore my basic Banana Republic trench coat nearly every day on my trip and I fit right in with the fashionable locals in Paris, Berlin, and Amsterdam.
4. Create a packing list.
I fully admit that I’m a list person. If you’re going away for ANY length of time I’d highly recommend you embrace the packing list — it will help you get organized and take inventory of the stuff you actually need.
Years ago I created this Printable Travel Checklist and Packing List for weary travelers.
Today I pack very little. Here’s my pared down packing list for Europe. Yeah, it looks like a lot but it all fits in one 19″ carry-on suitcase, minus the stuff I’d wear on the plane.
Clothing:
- 2 pairs shoes (comfy walking, sturdy ballet flats)
- 1 light nylon jacket
- 1 beige trench coat
- 3 pairs pants (blue jeans, nylon khakis, black slacks)
- 1 skirt (knee-length, black)
- 3 long sleeve shirts
- 2 short sleeve shirts
- 5 3/4 sleeve shirts
- 2 cardigan sweaters
- 1 thick sweater
- 1 black dress
- 2 tank tops, with built-in bras
- 2 scarves (1 dressy, 1 wool buff)
- 1 pair of PJs
- 6 pairs underwear, 1 bra, 3 pairs socks
- 1 pair black tights
- 1 bathing suit, goggles, swim cap
- 1 sling pack day bag
Toiletries, Odds and Ends:
- 1 Travel plug adaptor
- 1 iPod Touch
- 1 Canon PowerShot ELPH digital camera
- 3 GoToobs: shampoo, conditioner, moisturizer
- Toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, hand sanitizer, lip balm, sunscreen
- Travel makeup brush set, and travel-sized makeup
- 1 Diva Cup
- 1 Microfiber travel towel, 1 Salux skin towel
- 4 Ziploc bags, 2 laundry bags
- 10 Clif Bars
- 1 Europe Travel Guide with map!
Note: With the exception of my bathing suit, I used and wore EVERYTHING.
5. Pack neutral colors, light washable fabrics.
Pack a neutral color palette (brown, blue, gray, tan) to keep your wardrobe flexible and interchangeable. Opting for light and quick drying fabrics like merino wool and nylon over heavy cotton makes it easy to wash and wear your clothing quickly while keeping your suitcase light.
Peeking into my suitcase you’ll notice I’m a HUGE fan of Icebreaker merino wool clothing. These garments can be worn for days without any smell, plus they wash and dry quickly. Icebreaker is high quality stuff, and it ain’t cheap.
6. Pack outside your bag.
Dump your planned travel gear onto the floor and ruthlessly edit the nice to have items. Now do it again. And again.
Don’t pack directly into your suitcase — you’ll be tempted to cram in a few extra items and add volume. Seriously, you will.
7. Bundle, roll, shove, layer, tame.
I use a myriad of packing techniques to fit everything into my trusted carry-on. Here’s how to pack a suitcase in five easy steps:
Step One: Bundle.
The first step is to layer (or bundle) like garments together. Bundling can help reduce wrinkles while organizing all your similar clothing in an easy to access stack.
Step Two: Roll.
Roll each layered bundle into a tidy tube. Rolling a small bundle of clothing can save space in your suitcase and prevent your clothes from creasing. Because rolling doesn’t reduce the weight of your stuff, you’ll still need to be aware of how much junk you’re shoving in your trunk.
Since I wear a lot of merino wool and nylon fabrics, I never walk around wearing wrinkled clothing.
Step Three: Stuff.
Packing a second pair of shoes? Go ahead and stuff your socks, bras, and underwear into each foot bed. Shoes take up a lot of space, so be sure to use your soles and all surface areas. I like to stuff each shoe into a Ziploc bag to keep my suitcase clean and tidy.
Step Four: Layer.
Most carry-on suitcases have wheels and an extendable handle. While these are great features for hauling a$$ through big airports, they can make for uneven packing spaces. So embrace those awkward areas by layering your shoes and nesting your clothing rolls between these spots.
I always start by layering my shoes and pants into the bottom of my suitcase, between the handle slots.
I then take each clothing roll and layer them between gaps and spaces.
But what about my dress, nylon jacket, PJs, wool buff, travel book, energy bars, laundry bags, and swim gear?
Easy. I roll my dress, jacket, and wool buff and shove them in any available space. I like to roll and layer my PJs on top with my travel book for easy access when I arrive at my destination at night. Laundry bags, energy bars, and swim gear go into the top flap of my suitcase.
Step Five: Tame toiletries, organize electronics.
After boarding eight flights in Europe, I’ve come to the conclusion that airport security sucks when you’re carrying too many liquids and a clutter of electronics. The solution is to carry only the liquid essentials and stick your electronic gadgets in an easy to view Ziploc bag. Both the liquids bag and electronics Ziploc were accessible in my sling pack purse for quick security checks.
To save maximum space, consider buying some of your toiletries at your destination.
If a flight was super strict about boarding with one bag, I still had plenty of room to stuff my sling purse into my carry-on.
8. Wash and wear.
Do a little laundry for five minutes each night in your hotel room bathroom sink. A dollop of shampoo can do wonders to clean socks, wash underwear, and launder shirts. Use your shower to hang your gear to dry overnight. If you’re staying with family or have access to machines, go ahead and use your laundry bags to keep things organized.
9. Invest in travel-sized bottles, brushes, towels.
Leave your full-sized shampoo and cream moisturizer at home. Do yourself (and airport security) a solid by investing in quality travel-sized reusable bottles that won’t leak. I love my super handy GoToob travel containers since they’re leak-proof, fun to use, and gorgeous.
Go ahead and downsize your hair brush, toothbrush, and makeup brushes too. This inexpensive travel makeup brush set was a huge space saver (and skin fixer) in airports and anywhere else I needed to powder my nose.
Most hotels in Europe offer towels to travelers. In Paris I was somewhat shocked (but mostly horrified) to find a single tiny towel hanging for both Carl’s and my use. Thank goodness for my microfiber travel towel — it got me dry fast without adding a lot of suitcase weight.
10. Wear your heaviest shoes, sweater, and jacket.
If you wear it on the plane, you won’t have to pack it in your suitcase.
My travel wear consisted of a trench coat (fashionable around the world), blue jeans, tank top (with shelf bra), thin wool shirt, light wool sweater, and a blue scarf. Summer travelers won’t need as many layers, but I was thankful for my clothing choices on long-haul flights and short jaunts. Some flights were freezing, others were hot stuff.
Your Turn: How do you pack your suitcase? What’s the biggest excess baggage fee you’ve been charged?
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Your Two Cents:
Often (especially if we are going to see family or staying in one locating in the states) we ship stuff to the house/hotel. Any cost associated outweighs the hassle.
Consider yourself lucky to be able to wear a tank with a built in bra & my husband’s shoes woould NEVER take up that little space…
I travel with a small child, so one (2 or 3) carry on bag will not cut it. As a consequence, I try to only need to check 1 bag to minimize costs. That bag has the heavy, bulky, &/or wet stuff. My husband gets a carry-on bag (in the past it held diapers & such, I am hoping that next time when we fly to Vancouver in June that my son will be toilet trained.) I carry the electronics & other valuable items. My son gets 1 bag allowance as well – 2 books max, 1 toy that does not have multiple pieces, 1 stuffed toy, 1 blanket (though the blanket is usually under the plane in the big bag with clothes for 3).
Snacks, adult books, etc. find their way into the mix…
IMO, there are two types of luggage, carry on and lost.
We took our kids to Europe for a month in the summer of 2008 when they were 7 and 14. Each of us took a standard carry on bag and we still took too much. My husband also took his computer bag as he was working for a few days in Munich, and his clothing had to include a jacket, shirts/ties/slacks/dress shoes for meetings. Twelve days of the trip were on a cruise so the rest of us also had to have a dressy outfit for the 2 formal dinners. We each took about one week of clothing (all mix and match) and we washed everything at the end of weeks 1,2,3 and arrived home in our last clean outfits at the end of week 4.
We were on the cruise portion of the trip on days 7 and 14 so the first two laundry days happened in the ship’s laundry room. We were in Munich on day 21 and found a laundromat where you could drop off your clothes, go sightseeing for the day and pick them up later all folded.
We follow similar rules: everything is rolled, everything must go with at least 3 other pieces, and everything in colours that can be washed together (no sorting!). When packing for a couple or family, don’t pack your toiletries individually. By that I mean, no you don’t take 4 types of shampoo for 4 people. Agree on one type and share. Same for sunscreen, toothpaste, floss etc. To stay within airline limits you may need to divide the pile of little bottles between two bags, but the fewer items you need to collect up every time you change hotels the better.
I do have a question about your list above though. For a 10 day trip, why the need for 10 shirts, when many were merino and each could be worn for multiple days? I didn’t have any merino tops in 2008 but we each have several now so I anticipate we’ll need only 3 or maybe 2 carry on bags for the four of us when we head for Europe again in the summer of 2012.
@JMK You asked the question I feared the most — Why so many shirts? The answer lies in my armpits since I … ummm … sweat a lot. On a normal day I will sweat through three shirts by just sitting and typing. I’m talking serious sweat here, not light perspiration. I blame my father’s side of the family for this laundry-inducing gene. So yeah, while traveling, I’ll change my shirt several times in a single day just to stay dry. Merino is awesome. Blush. Sigh.
Hi Kerry, I love your blog.
I want to point out the ballerina flats pictured are also a double-duty item: the rubber comes off to reveal a leather slipper you can wear inside the hotel room. Kind of like galoshes of days of yore.
@Teresa You’ve got a keen eye for dual purpose ballerina flats! Indeed, my flats are are two-in-one shoe made by Patagonia. Love them.
My Christmas wish list includes one of these jackets by Scottevest http://www.scottevest.com/v3_store/Essential_Jacket_Women.shtml.
Planning to travel to several cities across Canada for 1 week with my laptop bag, this jacket, & a down vest that will double as a pillow for the plane. My laptop bag will have space for my clothes.
Oh my gosh… that is incredible… probably the best packing I’ve ever seen! thanks for the tips… will be sure to use when I’m off to Palm Springs in 10 days…
carehanna.blogspot.com
That dog is precious! Too bad that don’t provide tips like this on the airport and airline websites. (Of course, they’d likely lose out on extra baggage fees that way.)
Awesome packing post!
what about using a wicking-breathable fabric jersey as an under layer, instead of T shirts? Are you using cotton T’s? I’ve switched to wearing my mountain biking jerseys while sitting at the computer, doing video editing…Some of them have pockets, good for iPod, etc…
http://www.bontrager.ca/model/08722 and they wash easily & dry quickly!
Great ideas, Kerry! I travelled to Europe for six days with only my carry-on. Every cm. of space was utilized!
Folks are gonna’ think that this is nuts but I’m sharing anyway. I did NOT want to fly undies home so I packed very old pairs and threw them out at each days’ end making room for a couple of souvenir clothing purchases. (Yeah, I know…)
Also, my replaced knee triggers the security sensors EVERY time. I’ve never been asked at either a North American OR European airport but I have a physician’s note outlining my health condition, medications (that are always in their original containers), and my left TKA. Hope I never have to take extra measures to ‘prove’ my disability!
I am hopping on a plane tomorrow to fly across the country and I already resorted to paying the extra check bag fee. But now since I’ve read your post I’m going to edit everything and try to pack it all inside a small carry on.
I will be staying for 7 days at my location, but I think I can manage it. Plus since it costs $25 each way to check a bag, it’s well worth trying to save the $50.
Thanks for the excellent tips. I will be using the checklist for sure!
@Carrie With a little luggage editing I am CERTAIN you can save that $50. Besides, the feeling of NOT being bogged down by extra baggage is priceless.
I totally understand the sweating issue Kerry. Unfortunately, I have a reaction to pure wool so thinking merino is probably out for me
Anyone have other suggestions?
I have the most trouble with my feet and have found copper-bottom socks at Marks Work Wearhouse that are AWESOME. They come in white and black, short and long and I have some of each.
I am going to use as many of these tips as I can for my trip home at Christmas – taking a 16 hour train journey north with hopefully one medium suitcase and a computer backpack. Where I get off there is no train station, not even a waiting area, so wearing my heavier clothes will definitely work!
I don’t fly alot so I don’t incur baggage fees, but I am flying tomorrow to Puerto Rico and then taking a cruise. What I try to do when I travel is wear old socks or underwear so that way after you wear them once while on vacation (maybe while exercising) you can then throw them in the trash rather then taking them home. I also take just enough toothpaste, shampoo, and deoderant for my vacation. I throw the containers away on the last day so I am not lugging all those items home with me.
My husband and I love packing in carry-on only. We’ve done two 3-week trips to Japan using only carry-on luggage and it works out great. My husband has also fallen in love with quick-drying clothes and travel wear in general and is lucky that he can incorporate them into his regular work wardrobe. Now almost all his shopping is at stores like MEC or REI.
One of the things I always ask myself when deciding what to pack is “what would I do if this item were lost/stolen/broken?” If it would be easily replaceable at our destination, then I reconsider bringing it along and consider purchasing while we are there instead. It also helps to know your destination a bit too. We take an annual trip to Seattle and stay in the same hotel each time. I know they supply each room with shampoo, conditioner & soap so I never bother to bring these along on our trip.
Since we now have a baby we’re wondering if we’ll be able to continue packing so light each time. But we’re sure going to try!
Wow, so cool packing to save and safe in the same time
Thank you for your idea sharing.
regards,
Zoe
zoedebtstory.com
Wow – that’s some very impressive packing! I avoided my first excess baggage fee this year by just doing the carry on. Mind you, they still made me gate check it (and then busted the handle..grrr) since there wasn’t enough room on the plane.
Hi Kerry and thaks for all the good tips. I would add that we bustier women take an extra bra. It’s hard enough to size a bra in the US let alone Europe. I’d also recommend a small sewing repair kit.
Again good job!
I do one more thing. I pack my carry on within a another bag and then have an extra for laundry while travelling, and then anything that comes home. I’ve traveled for up to 2 weeks with 2 children this way. It’s totally possible, and takes tons of stress out of the equation.
That’s a great list, thanks! Any chance that you can do a post about putting together a frugal yet fashionable basic wardrobe? I need a total wardrobe overhaul after being in maternity clothes the past few years. I think you would be able to offer some great tips on basics that do double-duty for work/home/outings/etc.
That is highly impressive! I was glad to see that we share the clothing-rolling technique. I always wondered if other people did that. I’m only in high school, but I have been on +- 50 flights…No wedge heels for me. In terms of my list, I always pack double-duty shirts too. Being a teenager, tank tops are acceptable wear, so I’ll use it as a beach top one day and wear it under a thin shirt the next. Also, I quickly realized that make up is not a necessity – just cover up. Less liquids! One time it does not pay to travel light is when you have to take your whole life with you. Immigration = luggage. Fact. Still, we’re just talking two full size suitcases here. It’s amazing how compact things can be if they have to! Glad to see such practical and detailed suggestions!
If you’re travelling with kids you may need to take a car seat and you can put your car seat in a car seat bag that lo and behold offers lots of extra space and they don’t charge you for taking a car seat. In fact, they won’t even charge you for the car seat if you don’t have a kid! Last trip I took, I borrowed my friends car seat bag and filled it with the curtain fabric I bought and wasn’t charged for the extra bag! Tee Hee.
I pay the extra fee of $25 for an extra bag, take medical supplies like latex gloves, childrens’ vitamins, children’s eyedrops, bandages etc with me on my travels. I usually travel to countries that may need these items. Find a medical clinic and donate. All clothes, shoes, scarves etc are given to the locals that I have meet. Voila! No return luggage other than your purse, passport and airport reading!
When travelling on a tour, which I do frequently, one is often packing and repacking almost daily.
I have found that extra large ziplock freezer bags come in handy. I can fit a top or two and a lightweight skirt in one. It doesn’t get wrinkled with the constant moving about of the
other stuff. I also use the bags for underwear, one for used and one for clean. If you push down on the bag you can create a vacuum pack. Less room again. I started travelling years ago with a 29″ bag. I am now down to 24″
which I have taken to Australia and South Africa. I still had room for purchases.
Where did you buy your patagonia 2 in 1 flats? I looked on line but having trouble finding them.
Thanks, Lynn
Jennifer, My husband & I traveled with our 2 babies, my son turned 1 on the trip and my daughter was 2 1/2, in Europe with 2 bags that were carry-on for 3 months backpacker style. Each baby had 3 outfits, my husband & I had 2 each. So one outfit on, the others in the bag. we shared one bag & the other was for the babies and their diapers. We kept my daughter in diapers for the trip because I thought it would be easier than locating toilets for her if we tried toilet training. We had fleece jackets/rain jackets/swimsuits and maybe something to sleep. We were in the mountains & at the beach. It worked well. You can do it, just be open. the babies did not need much and their clothes take up little space. Good luck & enjoy!
I love this list. Will be super helpful for when I finally start travelling around. Also helpful to be male so I don’t really NEED a billion changes of clothing. My comfy shoes are a pair of Black DC sneakers, they can mirror as fancy shoes (they are currently work shoes at a semi-fancy hotel and nobody has given me heck over it). Plus I wear lots of lightweight clothing like T-Shirts (doesn’t matter the weather)
Oh, you know all my tricks and a few more! I’ve always considered light packing essential for my exciting hobby of travel by hitchhiking. Every ounce counts when it’s on your back.
The fine balance between carrying as little as possible yet having all that you need is an art and an essential skill. Thank you.
These principles also transfer to bike touring, and probably other sports.
My mom always packs this way and I never believed it worked. I’m terrible when I have to travel for business and can totally fill a carry-on even for an overnight trip!
At my new job, I’ve had to travel more than I have in the past and I’m already tired of packing/unpacking just to pack again! So I’ve decided to keep my carry-on packed by picking outfits that travel well (read no ironing!) and when I get home, they get washed and put back into the suitcase. Sure it may take a few pieces out of circulation but hey we all have too much clothing anyway right! I wonder if any of my business associates will notice I always wear the same things! LOL, of course I can mix it up with different coloured scarves or jewelery.
I also limit my make-up and toiletries to one small clear travel bag so I can just pull it out to go through security. The two things I have the most trouble with are my hot air brush which I use to straighten my hair and shoes, for some reason I always feel the need to bring more than one pair. I usually wear dress boots and bring shoes that will work with casual wear.