I’m a big fan of packing carry on only. It gives me the peace of mind that I’m not going to show up at my destination and find out that my bag was lost (it’s happened before!) But how do you pack for more than a week in a carry-on and bring everything you need? Well I’m here to help I have listed below my favorite packing tips and hacks for bringing everything you need and nothing that you don’t.
Last year we traveled to Japan and visited both Tokyo and Okinawa. I needed to pack for city wear and beach/island wear. I was able to bring everything I needed for a two week trip in just my carry on backpack and a personal item bag.
The backpack I have been using for years and love was formally made by e-bags and called the motherlode. e-bags was bought out by Samsonite and they still carry the motherlode bag, with a few updates to it.
This backpack fits roughly 40-42L and can expand for more space or zipped up to be more compact. I like to leave it compact for the trip to my destination, and then expand it to add souveniers for the return trip. This bag zips all the way open so that it opens like a traditional suitcase, which makes it easier to access all of your things. There are lots of pockets and comfortable straps.
The reason I choose to use a backpack is because I can navigate stairs, escalators and cobblestones with ease, instead of trying to drag a roller suitcase around on public transportation.
Don’t get me wrong there is definetely a time and a place for a good rolling suitcase, and I have one of those too. However I reach for this backpack the most often. If you have an injured back, or knees, or are older and not as strong as you used to be, this backpack is likely not the best option for you though.
This bag fits in the overhead bins of most US airline carriers and a lot of European and Asian overhead bins. Do check the airline baggage measurements though when buying your place tickets. Some smaller Asian and European airlines will require that you check this size of bag ( this also includes roller suitcase carry on’s )
Now on to my favorite packing tips:
5,4,3,2,1 Capsule Method
This method is a good general rule of thumb for packing a capsule wardrobe for travel. Start with picking a general color family, and checking the weather at your destination. Then pick out 5 tops, 4 bottoms, 3 layering pieces, 2 shoes and 1 bonus item (like a dress). Make sure that all your tops can mix and match with all your bottoms. Pack a comfortable pair of tennis shoes for walking and a pair of shoes that will work for your destination and weather. Sometimes I will sneak in a pair of flip flops or slippers for the hotel, but these pack really flat, and I will wear the bulkiest pair of shoes on the plane, for more room in my bag.
Packing Cubes
I like to use compression packing cubes, not only do they compress a bit for more space but they are good for organization. I usually use a large one for all of my bottoms, one for my tops and a smaller one for a dress, underwear, and socks. Belts can be placed along the edges of your bag or rolled up. My toiletry bag holds all of my liquids, makeup and has a pocket for jewelry. This goes into my personal item bag for easy access at airport security. I find that folding my clothes and placing in the compression cubes works better for compression that rolling the clothing. If I need to pack more clothing items I will put the packing cubes in my bag and roll the extra items up tight and place in-between the packing cubes or at the edges of the cubes.
You can also stuff smaller items into your shoes (think socks, or undies, or what not)
Wear Your Bulkiest Items
Wear your biggest and bulkiest shoes and clothing to the airport. This makes more room in your bag and you can always remove your sweater or coat on the plane and stuff it under the seat. I like to bring a small foldable pair of slippers in my personal item bag so I can take off my tennis shoes on the plane and get comfier by putting on the slippers
Consider Natural Fabrics
Merino wool t-shirts in neutral colors work well. They are temperature regulating and resist odors so you can wear them a couple times without them getting stinky. I like to pack linen pants when appropriate for the weather, they pack smaller than jeans and are lightweight but also temperature regulating. If they wrinkle you can mist them down with water at your hotel and lay them out flat to dry less wrinkly.
Plan to Do Laundry at least Once
When we were in Japan we looked for a hotel that had a washer and dryer, and did a load of laundry in Tokyo. We also like to rent airB&B’s (in cities that aren’t overun by rentals…out of respect for the locals who have to deal with rising rent costs associated with too many airB&B’s) you can filter your rental search on VRBO or AirB&B by places that include a washer and dryer. Also a lot of hotels can set you up with a laundry service. You drop off your dirty clothes and they are taken out, washed and folded and returned to you.
Put heavier items at the bottom or base of your bag
This creates more balance in your backpack or if you are using a rolling suitcase it creates a more stable base.
Personal Item Bag
Plan out what you put in your personal item bag. I pack my liquids/makeup bag in my personal item for ease through security. Speaking of liquids I like to use refillable pouches as opposed to silicone bottles. The refillable pouches pack flat and take up less space so you can bring more. As you use the product in the pouch the pouch gets smaller and flatter, whereas the silicone bottles take up the same amount of space no matter how much product is in them.
I also pack my DSLR camera and extra lens in my personal item bag, again so I can pull it out easily at security. I also like to have my camera near me on the plane, and not have the chance of getting bumped or squished in the overhead bin.
I also pack a “cabin” bag for the plane. This is full of items that I want to use on the flight. I put chapstick, liquid IV electrolyte packets, hand sanitizer, undereye moisturizing patches, tylenol and ibuprofen, disposable toothbrush picks, a foldable brush or comb, sleep aides (benadryl, dramamine drowsy formula or melatonin) and a sleep mask. I also like to bring a collapsible water bottle. I carry it folded up and empty through security and fill it up at a water fountain by my gate. I find that for longer flights I need a lot more water to stay hydrated and the airlines only give you small cups of water a couple of times during your flight.
Another thing to pack in your personal item bag would be a tech bag. This holds your phone charger, a travel adaptor, a portable powerbank, headphones or ear buds and any cords.
Consider wearing compression socks to the airport, or packing a pair into your personal item bag. These will help reduce lower leg swelling that can happen while sitting for long periods of time, as well as help prevent blood clots.
If you would like more information on how to pack, or surviving long flights check out my other posts: surviving a red eye flight here, 15 items for your personal item bag here and mastering the art of packing light here. I also have lots of travel adventure posts to lots of locations located in the blog section of my website. www.thebeckeffect.com
Thanks for reading, I hope this helps and Bon Voyage.
Until Next Time- Becky
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