What is Carry-On Luggage?
A carry-on is luggage that you are allowed to bring onto the aircraft, and store in the overhead compartment or under the seat in front of you. This is the ideal way to travel for shorter trips – or longer ones if you master the art of traveling light. With carry-ons, comes flexibility throughout your adventure.
Choose the Right Carry-On.
The first step to skipping the check-in line is to choose the right luggage. Look for a carry-on that balances lightweight materials with durable protection. Whether you need flexibility to maximize packing-space, or more protection for fragile gear you can choose between a rugged hard shell or a flexible soft-sided option, make sure you choose one that fits your travel style, and your priorities.
Read more: Deciding between a hard shell and soft shell luggage
How to Pack a Carry-On.
The packing stage is by far the most important step of your preparation when wanting to travel light. We have a natural tendency to overpack, but freedom in transit requires a lot of discipline while packing. Keep reading for tips on what to pack in your carry-on.
What to Pack in a Carry-On Bag for the Flight?
When packing your carry-on for the flight, you should focus on securing the essentials before packing anything else. We have gathered a packing list with the most essential items:
- Passport: Keep your passport close by, preferably in your personal item-bag.
- The 100ml rule: Liquid toiletries go in a transparent ziplock bag and have to stay under 100ml.
- Tech kit: Remember to pack your necessary chargers and cables.
- Fragile gear: Equipment, tech, and powdered makeup should be packed in between softer items.
- Medicine: Remember to bring your necessary prescriptions, and keep them in their original packaging.
- Capsule wardrobe: Choose clothes that complement each other to minimize weight.
For more packing tips, explore our guide: How to stop overpacking.
Travel Hacks: Carry-On Only.
Other than what you pack, how you pack is just as essential. When traveling with only a carry-on you need to use your imagination for finding the best solutions. We have gathered our tips and tricks on how to optimize your space and capacity:
1. Stay Digital, Skip the Documents.
We all love to go off grid on vacation. To truly enjoy the journey, many choose to go analog. But during travel, digital tools have huge advantages to safety and practicality. Physical tickets and paper insurance forms are easy to lose and can add unnecessary clutter to your pack. By keeping your essential documents on your phone, you save space and ensure your most important info is always just a swipe away. With charging stations now standard in almost every terminal, your digital wallet is the safest, most practical way to keep your journey on track.
2. Wear the Weight.
The heaviest items shouldn’t be in your bag, but on your body. Wear your boots, your heaviest jacket, and your layers on the plane. This keeps your carry-on light and under the weight limit while keeping you prepared for changing climates.
3. Get Toiletries at Your Destination.
Most of the time, your destination will have everything you need, allowing you to save precious luggage space for the gear that actually matters. While travel-sized liquids are a common go-to, they are often expensive compared to their full-sized options. To keep your journey seamless, we recommend buying essentials like shampoo and sunscreen at your destination.
Explore our packing guide: How to pack your luggage for travel.
Stay Organized With Packing Cubes.
If you haven't tried packing cubes, you are missing out. This will change how you view packing, as each cube compresses your clothes so you can fit more. Assign a specific cube for every category: tech in one, underwear in another, and so on. When your gear is organized, it is easier to stay in control of what you need and where it is.
Do Laundry on the Road.
If you are traveling for more than a week, you don't have to pack more clothes, but plan a laundry day. A quick sink wash for essentials or a local laundromat visit mid-trip allows you to travel for longer periods with only your carry-on.
Make sure to bring a dry bag to separate the dirty laundry from your fresh clothes. It is also great for transporting damp clothes if you don't have time to dry them before moving on.
Keep Your Carry-On Within Airline Limits.
Every airline has its own rules. Before you leave, check the weight and size restrictions for your specific flight. The general carry-on airline restrictions for international and domestic flights are often:
- 22 x 14 x 9 inches (55 cm x 36 cm x 23 cm)
- 11-22 lbs (5-10 kg)
Get more knowledge on weight and measurement restrictions in our guide on how to choose luggage.
Maximize Capacity With a Personal Item.
Most of the time, you are allowed to bring a free personal item in addition to your carry-on. Use a backpack or a tote to store things you need during the flight, like snacks, phone and an extra sweater. Just remember that the personal item has to be small enough to fit under the seat in front of you. With our luggage, you can use the Hook-Up System™to attach your backpack to your carry-on for seamless transit through the terminal.
Explore: Is a backpack a carry-on?
Your Questions Answered.
How to travel internationally with only a carry-on?
When traveling internationally with a carry-on follow these tips:
- Maximize space: Choose the largest carry-on within the standard 21 x 14 x 9 inch limit to ensure it fits international overhead bins.
- The 5-4-3-2-1 rule: Build a capsule wardrobe with 5 sets of socks and underwear, 4 tops, 3 bottoms, 2 pairs of shoes (wear the heaviest), and 1 accessory.
- One-week limit: Pack for only seven days of travel regardless of the length of your trip, and plan to do laundry on the road.
- Modular organization: Use packing cubes to compress your clothing and keep your gear organized within the bag.
- Skip the liquids: Save space and avoid issues at security by purchasing your toiletries at your destination.
How to pack carry-on only in winter?
When packing your carry-on in the winter, it is harder to stay lightweight, but there are some efficient ways to optimize your packing, even when bulky layers make it more difficult:
- Wear your bulk: Always wear your heaviest boots, thickest sweater, and largest coat onto the plane.
- Focus on merino wool: Choose thin, high-performance base layers. They provide maximum warmth with minimum volume, and you can air them out instead of washing.
- Layer your clothes: Instead of one giant parka, pack three thin layers (base, mid-layer, wind/rain shell) that take up less space and offer more versatility.
- Limit footwear: Wear one pair of waterproof boots, and pack one pair of lightweight sneakers or another shoe of choice.
