Angela Killian

There are so many benefits to carrying-on. You don’t have to worry about the airline losing your bag. You will also be able to leave the airport quickly without having to wait for luggage. It is a pain having to schlep your carry-on through the airport for connections, but it is so much more convenient once you reach your final destination. Especially on trips that require a lot of boat/train transport. You will be so happy to only have one small bag, trust me.

So how do I fit everything I need into a carry-on? These are some tricks that I live by…

1- Choose a comfortable backpack

The suspended straps and padding make it super comfortable to carry, even when it’s stuffed to the brim. It has a million little compartments, zippers and pouches to easily store all your stuff. It even has one mesh bottle holder on each side. There’s also a handy padded built-in laptop/iPad compartment with an easy-to-access zipper so you can easily remove the electronics- this is so convenient when going through security

My favourite is the High Sierra Swerve – It comes in a variety of colours and is reasonably priced too!

2- Know exactly how many bags are allowed with each airline you will be flying

For example, Spirit only allows one personal carry-on for free. This free carry-on is actually smaller than the normal sized carry-on. If you want a real carry-on, they charge extra. Spirit aside, most airlines allow one small personal item (like a purse or briefcase), one carry-on and one duty-free bag. If you are allowed one carry-on and one personal item, be sure to utilize both bags! You can always rearrange once you have arrived to your final destination

3- Make a list

Count how many days you will be traveling and plan for 1 daytime + 1 night time outfit for each day. Now cut those numbers in half or into a third. For example, if you are going to be gone for 14 days, bring 3-4 daytime + 3-4 night time outfits at least, 7 daytime + 7 night time outfits at most. Personally, I tend to wear the same outfits over and over again when traveling. If you are in a different city every few days, you can get away with re-wearing things. Nobody will notice, except for your social media followers.

4- Choose ONE colour scheme

I always go for black/grey and avoid white. Dark colours won’t show dirt and are easier to keep looking fresh throughout your trip. Make sure most pieces can be mixed/matched with all others.

5- Choose clothing that is wrinkle-resistant

I try to stay away from anything that’s 100% cotton. No matter how I fold/roll cotton items, they always come out wrinkled. I don’t always have access to an iron so I try and reduce wrinkles as much as possible! Anything with a little bit of stretchiness most-likely won’t wrinkle. Think lycra/elastine/spandex, polyester, rayon, lyocell…anything with stretch!

6- Choose underwear wisely

Bras take up a lot of space so I only bring one and will wear it on the plane. Avoid packing clothing that requires different types of bras. If you MUST bring a strapless bra, invest in a strapless swimsuit top that can double as a strapless bra! That way you have space for a swimsuit AND strapless bra.

I recommend packing half the amount of underwear you will need. Underwear tends to be very lightweight and small, but it does add up. Choose underwear that is cotton/lace as it dries very quickly. I always wash my delicates in the hotel sink. If you do this first thing when you check-in, they will be dry by the next day.

I’m nearly always in sandals, unless it’s cold out so I rarely need socks. For workout gear, I will pack one pair and wash them along the way. For cold weather socks, I will wear one pair 3-4 times. Sounds gross, but if it’s cold out, your feet won’t be sweaty/smelly anyways!

I pack all of the above in a plastic grocery bag along with an extra plastic grocery bag. The first bag will help you to not lose your underwear in your overstuffed bag, and you can use the second bag for dirty laundry.

7- No more than 3 pairs of shoes

Unless I’m going to the city, I mostly just wear Rainbows. For beach destinations, bring one pair of comfortable sandals and one pair of dressy sandals. I wear my athletic shoes on the plane to save space. You don’t need more than 3 pairs of shoes on ANY trip!

8- Leave your bulky wallet at home

When travelling, you only need the essentials- credit and debit cards take up very little space. Invest in a tiny wallet that will hold your cards and some cash.

9- Bring snacks sparingly

I am vegetarian so I always bring protein bars. Depending on where I’m traveling, it can be challenging to get enough protein. Especially in Asia! I never bring snacks that I know I can buy in the destination e.g. nuts, chips, candy. You can also stock up on snacks at duty free in the airport, or sample some of the local snacks once you have arrived.

10- Don’t skip the instant coffee

No matter where I’m going, I never leave without Starbucks Via. They are tiny, lightweight and a real lifesaver! You simply mix them with cold or hot water/milk and enjoy. In a pinch you could buy a cold milk from a mini-mart and make your own latte to-go! Many coffee shops will give you hot water for free so this is friendly on the budget as well! I bring teabags as well because they are small and lightweight, but they aren’t as versatile as the Starbucks Via.

11- Wear all of your heaviest items on the plane

Planes are notoriously dry and cold. Think layers. I usually end up wearing my fitness clothing on the plane since athletic shoes are too bulky to pack. It’s not exactly chic, but you will be comfortable and this is a great excuse to buy a cute new workout outfit. If your final destination is cold, definitely wear a scarf on the plane. It can be used as a pillow, facemask and blanket. I wear my sarong as a scarf on the plane.

12- Bring a sarong

I never leave home without this for beach destinations! It can be used as a skirt, blanket, scarf, head wrap, shawl and towel. They dry extremely fast too and you can easily shake off any sand. On hot days in the sun, I also use a sarong to cover up my shoulders. They are super light and take up very little space.

13- Pack collapsible reusable bags

You will be able to take these out once in your final destination and distribute your belongings more evenly. Just remember that you’ll have to get everything back in one bag when you fly! This bag can be used as a beach bag, daytrip bag, etc. It will also come in handy when carrying consumables such as snacks and toiletries purchased in your final destination.

14- Bring Ziploc bags

These can be used for so many things when you travel- waterproof bag for money/phone, coin pouch, etc. They are small, practically weightless and super handy!

15- Embrace your natural beauty

Leave those huge eyeshadow pallets at home. Instead, opt for one daytime and one night time eyeshadow. Bring only the basics and try to stay away from any liquid makeup which can be messy if it spills. Plus, it also adds to your liquid allotment. I pack all of my make-up into a small cosmetic bag. The smaller, the better!

16- Get a mani/pedi before the trip

Opt for a gel/dip mani/pedi just before you leave. Your nails will hold up for two weeks and you won’t need to bring any manicure supplies! If you will be gone longer than two weeks, I recommend not getting gel/dip unless you’re absolutely sure you will be able to find a salon with that service where you will be travelling. This is an added expense, but it’s fun to try new salons.

17- Pack toiletries sparingly

Don’t bring enough toiletries for the entire trip! Unless you are truly backpacking/roughing it, you can always buy more locally with ease.

Take as many hotel toiletries as you can! They are tiny, easy to pack and FREE! I always take the toothbrushes because they are perfect for long travel days. I reuse the tiny shampoo and mouthwash bottles. These are the perfect size for transporting liquid foundation and other skin creams.

Another great way to pack creams/liquid makeup is a contact lens case! I put my day cream in one side and night cream in the other side.

For hair goop, I bring a tiny bottle of hair oil. Moroccanoil is my fave. It’s really the only hair product you will need. It moisturizes and helps combat frizz. You can also use this oil on your body, face and cuticles.

I bring solid deodorant so that it doesn’t count as one of my liquids. I always bring a disposable razor, although technically I’m not sure these are allowed in carry-ons. You can skip this altogether by waxing right before your trip.

Remember that you can restock these items in your destination. It’s also fun to visit the local stores and sample new brands.

Pack your liquids into a clear Ziploc bag and place it into an easy-to-reach compartment. This will make going through security a breeze. You can always rearrange things once you have gotten through security.

18- Bring all things travel size

Leave your full size hair brush at home. I love the compact detangling brushes for traveling. Think travel sized lotion, bottles for your skin care products…the smaller the better!

19- If you MUST, get a travel perfume

Try to skip perfume altogether, but if you absolutely can’t skip the perfume, this is a great time to try a new fragrance! I pack sample perfume on trips all the time because they are so tiny and disposable. If you have a fav scent, I recommend getting one of these Travalo atomisers.

20- Ditch the curling iron, flat iron and hair dryer

Chances are, your hotel will have a hair dryer. If you aren’t staying at a hotel with a hair dryer, you are most likely roughing it and don’t need to worry about perfectly groomed hair anyways. Instead, bring a claw hair clip. I twist my hair up into a clip when it’s nearly dry and it leaves my hair effortlessly wavy.

21- Bring medicine

The last thing you want to do is hunt for headache/migraine meds when you need them. I ALWAYS pack- bandages, Ibuprofen, vitamin C tablets or Emergen-C. I pack the basics that I would need in a pinch. Do your research about what is available in the country you are visiting and remember that many drugs have different brands/names in other countries. Of course, bring any medications that you take on the regular. If it is a controlled substance, be sure to have a copy of the prescription!

22- Skip the tampons/pads if you can

Tampons/pads take up a lot of space, so I try to manipulate my oral contraceptives so that I won’t have a period while on holiday. If there is no way around having a period when on holiday, you MUST pack tampons. I’ve never had trouble finding pads, but tampons are hard to come by in many places.

23- Power bank

Have you ever been on a long haul flight and the in seat power doesn’t work? I have, and it’s a major bummer. Try to stick with brand name power banks and do your research on the batteries. In order for the power bank to fully charge your devices, it must have the same or more battery capacity. For example, my iPhone 6 has a 1,810mAh battery. So I would need a power bank with AT LEAST that capacity for one full charge. Some power banks are heavy, but this is an item you will need. Jackery has a good selection of power banks in various sizes and colours.

24- Skip bringing plug convertors

These typically can be purchased pretty easily at your final destination airport. If you can’t find a converter, simply buy any local plug that has a USB input and you’ll be able to charge all of your small electronics! Just be sure to bring your power cord.

25- Leave your tablet/computer at home

Use your smartphone instead! Yes, the screen is much smaller, but you can accomplish most things on your smartphone. In a pinch, you can use the hotel’s computer or go to an internet café.

26- Entertainment/movies/music/games downloads

These take up no physical space. If you are flying a budget airline, you probably won’t have a personal TV screen. Even if your seat does have a personal TV, it isn’t unheard of that it may be broken.

27- Go paperless

Put all confirmation numbers/reservations in your phone calendar. I even put the addresses and phone numbers of destinations. You never know when you’ll need these things. If you are in a country where the national language isn’t English, be sure to have copies of these things in the local language. This will make it easier for locals to assist!

Take screen shots of all confirmations and store in a folder on your phone. Even take pictures of your drivers license and passport. True story- I have used a picture of my license as ID for bar entry before.

For easy backup, email all confirmations to yourself and store in a separate folder. In this folder, also put scanned copies of your passport and other documents you may need access to. You can also put any important documents like prescriptions or vaccinations here. In a pinch, you can print documents as needed at a hotel or internet café. This way, you don’t have to carry an external hard drive with important files!