Travel Packing Tips: How I Pack Carry-On Only

First and foremost, I am a carry-on-only girlie!

I have had my luggage lost before, so now I am always prepared for anything in my carry-on and personal item. I do occasionally check a bag, but if it doesn’t make it to my destination, I want to be prepared to survive without it for a few days.

Over the years, I have learned that packing light doesn’t mean packing less thoughtfully. It means being strategic about what you bring, where you put it, and how many different ways you can use each item.

Here are some of my favorite travel packing tips.

Start With the Right Bags

First, you want a carry-on suitcase that fits your airline’s size requirements. Always check your specific airline’s dimensions before you travel because they can vary.

Next, you will need a personal item that fits underneath the seat in front of you.

For me, that is a Swiss Gear backpack. (paid link) I love this particular backpack because it has numerous pockets, a dedicated laptop compartment, and a TSA-friendly design. I can fit a surprising amount in it while still being able to slide it under the seat with room for my feet.

The key is to make your personal item work for you. I want everything I may need during the flight—or anything I absolutely cannot afford to lose—to be in that backpack.

What I Pack in My Personal Item

Here are the things I typically keep in my backpack:

• Prescription medications
• Personal electronics and chargers: phone, iPad, Kindle, camera, laptop, headphones, etc.
• One complete outfit
• Swimwear and flip-flops if I am traveling somewhere tropical
• Snacks for the plane ride
• Kleenex
• Mints
• Passports and other important travel documents
• Dramamine & Sea-Band as I am prone to motion sickness
• A small travel purse

The extra outfit is especially important to me. Since I have had luggage lost before, I don’t want to arrive at my destination without at least one clean outfit.

I also recommend keeping your medications and important electronics in your personal item rather than your checked luggage. Those are things you don’t want to be separated from.

Roll, Roll, Roll!

When packing your carry-on suitcase, roll your clothes!

I can fit so much more into my suitcase when I roll my clothes instead of folding them. I don’t worry too much about wrinkles because most destinations will have a steamer or iron, and if you are traveling somewhere humid, many wrinkles will disappear on their own.

I do recommend folding your clothes neatly before rolling them. This keeps everything more organized and makes it easier to see what you packed.

When loading your suitcase, start with the bigger, bulkier items on the bottom and then fill in the smaller spaces with lighter and smaller pieces.

Think of it as a game of Tetris!

Scale Down on Shoes

Shoes are one of the biggest space hogs in your suitcase, so this is where I really try to limit myself.

Choose outfits that can be mixed and matched with the shoes you bring. For most trips, I need about three pairs of shoes at most—and that includes the pair I wear on the plane.

Generally, I wear tennis shoes on the travel day. You are often doing a lot of walking in airports, and a comfortable pair of sneakers can also be worn for excursions once you arrive.

I usually bring one additional pair of shoes that can be dressed up for dinner and worn with multiple outfits.

Since I generally travel to tropical locations, I also bring flip-flops for the beach.

That’s it!

You probably don’t need five different pairs of shoes for a weeklong vacation. Pick versatile shoes that work with multiple outfits and activities.

Bonus tip: Use the inside of your shoes for storage. I put socks, or other small items inside them to make use of every inch of space.

Packing Cubes: Love Them or Leave Them

Packing cubes are great when using a full-size suitcase, but I actually find that I can fit more into my carry-on when I don’t use them. For that reason, I usually skip packing cubes when I am trying to maximize my carry-on space.

When I use a larger suitcase for road trips or a checked bag, I do love packing cubes and these are the ones I use here (paid link). I will roll my clothes and put them inside the cubes to keep everything organized.

I also use packing cubes for things other than clothing. They are great for travel games, accessories, miscellaneous items, and all those odds and ends that tend to get strewn throughout your suitcase.

So, my advice is: don’t automatically assume you need packing cubes just because everyone on social media uses them. Try packing with and without them and see which method gives you more usable space.

Make Your Personal Items Work Double Duty

I take a small travel purse and place it inside my backpack while traveling.

I also fold up my beach bag and place it in one of the outside zipper pockets of my carry-on, along with my flip-flops. These items are easy to grab once I arrive without having to dig through my suitcase.

I use the top outside zipper pocket of my carry-on for toiletries.

I keep my toiletries together in a quart-size zip-top bag. I prefer slider bags because I find they hold a little more and are easier to open and close.

For liquids, I have a little trick that helps prevent leaks: place a small piece of cling wrap over the opening of the bottle before putting the lid back on.

I also put my stick deodorant and stick sunscreen in this pocket since they aren’t considered a liquid when flying.

This setup has another benefit: if I end up having to gate-check my carry-on, I can quickly empty this outside pocket into my backpack.

That is exactly the kind of little bit of planning that makes travel much less stressful.

Make a Packing List

This may sound obvious, but make a packing list!

I organize mine into sections so I don’t forget important items:

• Important documents
• Electronics
• Toiletries
• Medications
• Clothing
• Shoes
• Miscellaneous

I also like to create an outfit packing list. This helps me make sure everything I bring can be mixed and matched.

Instead of thinking, “I need seven outfits,” I think about how many tops, bottoms, dresses, and shoes I can combine to create different looks.

This also helps prevent the dreaded “I have nothing to wear” feeling when your suitcase is somehow completely full!

Don’t Forget the Swimsuits

If I am traveling to a beach destination, I usually bring two to three swimsuits.

Why?

Because there is nothing worse than putting on a wet swimsuit.

Having a couple of options allows one to dry while you wear another. Swimsuits are also small and easy to pack, so this is one area where I don’t mind bringing extras.

Wear Your Bulkiest Items

If you are bringing a jacket, cardigan, boots, or another bulky item, wear it on the plane instead of packing it.

You can always take it off once you are on the plane.

This is one of the easiest ways to create more space in your suitcase without leaving anything behind.

Bring a Foldable Tote

A lightweight foldable tote takes up practically no space and can be incredibly useful once you arrive.

It can become your:

• Beach bag
• Shopping bag
• Day bag
• Dirty-laundry bag
• Extra carry bag

I love anything that serves multiple purposes, especially when I am traveling with limited luggage. Many Caribbean grocery stores do not provide bags or charge you for the bags.  Plus bringing a reusable shopping bag creates less trash on an island.

Keep Important Things Accessible

My personal rule is that anything truly important goes in my personal item.

That includes medications, electronics, identification, travel documents, and anything else that would be difficult or expensive to replace.

I also recommend taking photos or digital copies of important documents before your trip and storing them somewhere secure that you can access if needed.

Don’t Pack for Every Possible Scenario

This one can be difficult!

Look at your itinerary and pack for the activities you know you will be doing.

If something unexpected comes up, I can usually make what I brought work. And if I truly need something, I can usually buy it at my destination.

Think in Outfits, Not Individual Pieces

One of my favorite ways to avoid overpacking is to think in complete outfits.

I want pieces that can be mixed and matched so I can create several outfits from a relatively small number of items.

A few accessories can also completely change an outfit without taking up much space. A scarf, belt, lightweight cardigan, or statement earrings can give your basic travel wardrobe a whole new look. Don’t pack expensive jewelry!  Leave it a home.  I wear a fake wedding ring and leave my original at home as I would be heartbroken if I were to lose it while traveling.

Bring a Few Zip-Top Bags

I always throw a few extra zip-top bags into my suitcase.

They weigh practically nothing and can be useful for just about anything:

• Wet swimsuits
• Snacks
• Small toiletries
• Jewelry
• Souvenirs
• Anything that might leak

You never know when one will come in handy!

Don’t Forget the Little Comfort Items

For longer flights, I like having a few small things that make the journey more comfortable.

Depending on your preferences, consider:

I also recommend bringing an empty reusable water bottle through security and filling it once you are inside the airport. Most of the restaurants past security will fill your water bottle with ice for free if you ask. 

Leave a Little Room

Even when traveling carry-on only, I try not to fill every single inch of my suitcase.

Leaving a little room gives you flexibility. You may buy a souvenir, pick up something you forgot, or simply need extra space when repacking for the trip home.

My Biggest Packing Tip

My biggest tip is simple:

Carry-on-only travel is not about seeing how much you can cram into a suitcase. It’s about being intentional with what you bring.

Pack versatile clothing. Limit your shoes. Keep your important items with you. Plan for the unexpected. And, most importantly, leave the “just in case” items at home when you can.

Once you get the hang of it, you may find that traveling with less actually makes your trip more enjoyable, not less.

Happy travels—and may your luggage always arrive when you do!

I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links that could earn me a commission at no extra cost to you. Everything listed in this post are my tried and true staple travel items.