Packing Carry On For A Month – How To Travel Light
Mistakes We Made Finding a Carry on Bag
Confession time. Our storage room holds a secret. A huge bin jammed full of assorted carry on bags. It took us a decade to find the right carry on luggage. You can imagine how much money we wasted finding the best bags for travel.
A back pack carry on would seem to be perfect. The truth is it becomes a black hole. With the only entry from the top, finding anything you have packed resembles mining for gold.
A duffle bag has a wider opening so better to see what is actually in the carry on bag. However a duffle bag is challenging to carry by the handle or with a shoulder strap.
A hard shell roller suitcase is easy to move around the airport and opens with full viewing. Sadly it often does not make the cut off for weight requirements on some airlines. Some carry on roller bags take up most of the airline carry on weight restriction when empty!
Time and again we have seen people pulled aside to check their roller suitcases. You thought you were packing carry on only to have your luggage disappear.
More entertaining is watching travelers trying to jam their hard sided luggage into a measuring device or an overhead bin on a plane.
So what is the best carry on bag? After a decade of painful lessons learned this is what works best.
A soft bag, that can be worn as a back pack, used with a shoulder strap as a duffel or carried as a suitcase. Opening like a suitcase our gold mining days are over. We have never had an issue fitting it into a measuring device or getting it into an overhead compartment no matter how small the plane. It also meets the carry on size requirements of most airlines.
Save Your Money – Don’t Buy Packing Cubes
Gasp! Packing cubes are billed as the answer to how to travel light. I am cheap, no not even frugal, I am cheap.
Instead of purchasing packing cubes, buy a variety of sizes of good quality zipper-seal type bags. Weighing next to nothing, a traveler can easily see at a glance what is inside.
Besides that they are waterproof and the air can be squeezed out to save space. Did I mention they are affordable?
Pack extra zipper-seal bags of assorted sizes for everything from organizing gear, protecting your phone in the rain, storing snacks to using a bag as a makeshift glove when fixing a bike chain.
Either pack the bags by sliding them into one of the larger bags or rolling them and fastening with elastics.
You are welcome. Put the money you save on packing cubes towards your next trip.
Packing cosmetics – How much make up do you really need?
“Just my cosmetics alone fill up my carry on bag!” When I hear this from carry on only naysayers I will confess to cocking my head sideways like a confused puppy.
If this is you I have some packing homework for you. Buy, beg or borrow several contact lens cases or small travel bottles.
Fill them with your must-have liquid cosmetics. Use them daily to see how much of the liquid is gone at one week, two weeks and so on. My guess is you will be in for a surprise as to how little you use. Goodbye oversized containers!
Be sure to label the containers so that you do not end up using hair product as eye cream.
Due to airline liquid requirements you will need to get all liquids in containers no larger than 100 milliliters (3.4 ounces).
How Many Pairs of Shoes Should I Pack?
Let us all take a deep breath together now shall we?
You can not take six pairs of shoes and do airline carry on only. Unless you are prepared to fly wearing several on your feet at one time.
Homework time again. Find one pair of comfortable walking sandals and one pair of lightweight sneakers or runners.
Wear the heaviest pair of shoes on the plane. Sounds simple right? It will take some research.
Never buy a pair of shoes at the last minute before you travel. Your feet may never forgive you.
On the other hand be sure your shoes are in great shape. I made the mistake of packing a very comfortable and well used pair of sandals to Turkey and they disintegrated in Istanbul. Have I mentioned you should always pack duct tape? It makes a beautiful fashion statement.
If weight allows, ladies you can sneak in a thin pair of black flip flops which can work nicely with a dress or skirt or lounging by the pool.
Packing Carry On – The Ultimate Rule
Your carry on bag is an area of love and friendship for your packed travel items. Each article of clothing must be able to be worn with every other item in the bag.
If a piece of clothing doesn’t meet that requirement it is not suitable for travel carry on. Period. That is a hard and fast rule of how to pack for a trip.
Pick a color theme, I suggest something neutral and work from there.
How to Pack for a Trip – The Basics
Wrinkle free, lightweight, easy wash and quick drying
At least 90% of what you pack should fit that description. Your clothing will be tightly packed and need washing either by hand or in a washing machine, should you be lucky enough to come by one.
3 pairs of underwear
Nothing more to say. Buy hand washable and quick drying
Layer up
Rather than packing heavy warmer clothes think about multiple layers. Ladies think camisole, t-shirt, long sleeved shirt and rain jacket.
I like to take a thin down jacket that can be packed into its own pocket. Down compacts easily and is lightweight.
I did not take the down jacket to Africa but there were evenings I could have used it.
One sweater, fleece or hoodie
No you can not have all three. For me this item is the most precious of all carry on packing items.
I wear a long hoodie on the plane, as a warm layer, over my shoulders or wrapped around my waist. During chilly mornings on safari I used the hood.
Zip off pants
Some will wail and moan at the unfashionable thought of zip off pants. However, we highly recommend them for packing carry on successfully.
Zip off pants are great for cool day starts that turn into heat waves. Basically it is two for the price of one. Did I mention I am cheap?
Skirt or dress
I love a comfortable skirt that coordinates with any of the shirts I have packed.
If you need to attend dressier events a simple black dress can be the perfect answer.
Lightweight scarves
Change the look of outfits with lightweight, brightly coloured scarves. I pack three for a month.
Scarves weigh little and take up virtually no space. I wear the largest one on the plane which can work as a shawl or blanket.
A scarf can also be used to cover up in a church or temple, be used as a towel or protection from the sun.
Bring a lot of books to travel light?
That’s right packing carry on you can bring as many as you like. In digital form. I use my phone to read, Dave prefers his small tablet. We download the guidebooks we need as well.
Leave your wallet at home
Take only the cards that you need to travel. Getting rid of the weight of your wallet can be significant in getting to your packing carry on goal.
We always recommend the use of a money belt.
Get a Travel Purse for Packing Carry On
In a drawer in my bedroom hides another ten years of travel mistakes.
Finding the right travel purse apparently ranks with the difficulty of finding the meaning of life. Big enough to hold what I need on a flight but not so big as to look as though I am moving a house.
I do not want to be the traveler who has the strap of their purse slashed or a zipper undone. In all honesty I often wear a money belt but will have a small amount of cash and my phone in my purse. Call me cautious or a worry wart but safety is high on my priority travel list.
For the last six years I have been using a Travelon purse and loving it. The main zippered compartment locks, any cards carried in the provided slots are blocked from RIFD skimming and the shoulder strap can not be cut.
Our special tips for successful carry on packing every time
Always check carry on weight and size requirements for the airline you are flying on. Stick to the guidelines. Some airlines weigh each bag others don’t take a second glance. That can change flight to flight so play it safe.
Don’t be the last person on the plane. We are not suggesting you block the way of seniors and babies in strollers while boarding.
However try to be on the plane at the first possible time to ensure your carry on luggage has room available in the over head bin.
If you are close to your weight limit, put heavier items in your purse or camera bag.
Photography equipment is notoriously heavy. You can rearrange your items once you are on the plane.
Wear your carry on bag as a back pack when boarding
Your now carry on back pack appears smaller to airline staff on your back then if it is being wheeled or carried. Time after time we have seen those with rollers pulled aside to have their bags checked as we are invited on the plane with our carry on bags.
Leave the hair dryer at home
Many accommodations provide one if you absolutely need it.
Think of alternatives to liquids
Insect repellent wipes rather than spray. Make up remover pads rather than liquid face wash as examples.
Roll your clothes
If you pack wrinkle free fabrics this will be the best way to save space.
Put smaller items in the corners
Squeeze socks, underwear and scarves into the corners of the carry on bag. Empty space is a treasure in a carry on suitcase.
Compress larger items when packing carry on
For clothing you may use infrequently such as rain jackets, roll and then wrap with a few elastic bands to take up less space. We do this with our padded cycling shorts when not in use as well.
Make your items do double duty
Wear a pair of leggings on a cool night under your skirt or as pajama bottoms. A camisole can be an extra layer for warmth or a bedtime shirt. I use my cycling shoes as my walking shoes.
Are you ready to try a carry on? Or do you already enjoy packing carry on for your travels? We would love to hear your packing tips.
Mistakes We Made Finding a Carry on Bag Confession time. Our storage room holds a secret. A huge bin jammed full of assorted carry on bags. It took us a decade to find the right carry on luggage. You can imagine how much money we wasted finding the best bags for travel. A back pack carry on would seem to be perfect.…
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