Become a Carry-on Connoisseur: how to pack light for carry on only
“He [She] who would travel happily must travel light. ”
I know a LOT of people HATE travel packing and trying to pack light can cause extreme pre-trip anxiety….packing overwhelm, decision fatigue, paralysis by analysis. If this resonates, you are not alone. In 2019 Nordstroms conducted a survey about this topic and while the raw data doesn’t seem to be available anymore, the final result seems very plausible! 62% of people admitted to having real difficulty when it comes to packing for a trip.
Conversely, packing contributes to my travel bliss. I know it might sound strange but the act of thoughtfully refining what I’m putting in my luggage helps me ‘plug in’ and connect to my upcoming trip. Not sure if I’m a minimalist or a maximizer when it comes to travel packing, but I choose to pack light - preferably with just a carry on bag - and it becomes a wonderful mental game to piece together a multi-functional travel wardrobe.
Why do I bother to pack light?
If you adore your big suitcase and love the options that come with bringing lots of stuff - DO IT. If it makes sense or is a necessity for you to check-in a suitcase, embrace that choice and don’t let us light packers shame you! Just remember that heavy luggage, check-in baggage fees, and the workout that comes with wheeling your luggage across Rome’s cobblestone streets or up Amsterdam’s steep stairs might come with it too. For ME - I love the challenge to:
take only what I need,
keep the weight manageable to carry and lift myself,
lessen the struggles when my accommodation is a walk from the station or terminal,
breeze through airports,
save money by avoiding baggage fees,
not worry about lost luggage, and
reduce my fashion decisions and stress while travelling.
In my research I came across a fun article about the different kinds of travel packers out there. Which are you? Which do you aspire to?
The Minimalist
The Overpacker
The Carry-On Connoisseur
The Lack-of-Packer
The Last-Minute Packer
The Planner
The Overthinker
The Not-the-Packer
Learning how to pack light
In 2016 I watched a video of Sarah Murdoch when she worked with Rick Steves. It was pretty transformational for me and in 2017 I became a carry-on only convert. Sarah (now @adventureswithsarahmurdoch) has since released other, updated videos about how to pack light but this is the one from which I initially learned so much. The quality is meh - but the content is phenomenal.
Five years along and fueled by fellow travel bloggers and pinterest posts (follow my board!), my intention is to become a Carry-on Connoisseur!
So what better time to practice and elevate the art and science of packing light than with a ten week trip to Europe: carry-on only. I’ve scoured the internet to find the best tips and tricks and tested them against my own experiences being a carry-on only traveller for the past six years.
Start planning your packing early.
Pack for just 5-7 days even if you are going for more.
Plan on doing laundry while traveling - I’m taking TruEarth detergent sheets which are super slim and light! Katherine -@the5kilotraveller wisely suggests giving hand washing a go at home first. On the road she usually handwashes a few things every second night so it's not a huge chore.
Get and use packing cubes - they are incredible. Fellow blogger @pearl_b_r reminded me that plastic cases that sheet sets come in make good packing cubes.
Weigh EVERYTHING (use a luggage scale) and let the numbers make your decisions.
Take out 25-50% of what you think and/or make a weight target and stick to it!
“Just in case” is the curse of packing.
– Alexandra Potter
The Destination: Spain and Portugal in the Fall
My upcoming adventure (2022) is ten weeks in Spain and Portugal. I’ll be in Spain in October/early November and Portugal in November/early Dec. Typical to shoulder season travel, the weather may be variable including October average daytime highs of 23.0°C (73.4°F) in Barcelona to average evening lows of 7.0°C (44.6°F) in Porto, Portugal in December.
November and December is also the rainy season with over 100mm of precipitation expected on average. And while the term “rainy season” can be off putting, when compared to my hometown of Port Alberni (nestled in a beautiful but wet rainforest) we experience an average of over 400mm of rain in November. (read why I love to travel off-season)
Things to think about no matter your destination:
What activities are you planning (urban walking, hiking, camping, fine dining…)?
What transportation is included in your itinerary (rental car, train, budget airlines, bus, tours, walking…)? This will influence how much you have to carry and lift your bags but also may introduce restrictions.
What are the temperature ranges and precipitation levels and what are you used to?
Are there cultural expectations around clothing?
10 weeks in a Carry-on: Pack Light Trial Run
My fellow travel blogger and a true Carry-on Connoisseur is Katherine of @the5kilotraveller who offers helpful rules on how to pack light including take less, wash more, buy light, and reduce amounts. With her advice in mind, I began by gathering every possible item of clothing I thought about taking on my trip and dumped it on my bed.
Backpack or Roller for Carry-on only?
I pulled out my Rick Steves Convertible backpack which was purchased in 2017 and has since visited 7 countries as a carry on only.
While there are many backpack options, I’m sticking with the bag I have. For reference, my pack weighs 1.36 kg (empty) and has ~ 40 litres capacity (with an expansion option).
Pros: good quality, expandable, thoughtful design, clamshell opening, fairly lightweight, and hip belts that support and stow away.
Cons - not the most comfortable for long carries, and when it’s not full it can be sort of ‘slumpy’ even when using the internal straps to hold my packing cubes.
Some people swear by rolling carry-ons. But I like to hoist my bag on my back and have my hands free to navigate, to hold on to the railing, to eat, take a photo…and not let go of my bag. Cobblestone streets aren’t great for wheels and steep streets seem daunting and I envision both of those in Spain and Portugal! Despite my commitment to a backpack, I distinctly remember walking up a very steep hill in Cochem, Germany - covered in sweat, in search of my Airbnb and wishing I could pull (rather than carry) my stuff. Like anything - there are pros and cons…
“The very same fact about a thing can be both the good and the bad thing about it.”
― Mokokoma Mokhonoana
Pack Light with Capsule Wardrobe Wisdom
I was first introduced to the capsule wardrobe concept through Outfit Formulas and Alison Lumbatis. It was COVID, I was sick and tired of wearing workout wear and pajamas. Even though I didn’t leave my house much, I decided that for my mental well-being, I needed to pay attention to how I looked, therefore how I felt. I am no fashionista - far from it - but I do feel better when I pay attention to my appearance.
What I liked most about the Outfit Formulas was Alison’s philosophy of “shopping your closet” FIRST before buying. She creates a seasonal capsule and hosts an amazingly positive private Facebook group where people share their outfits each day. I became an annual member and learned so much from the group. I also became much more comfortable and confident with a smaller wardrobe and finding multiple ways to put together outfits with the same clothes!
🤔 While I wasn’t travelling at the time, I knew that these skills would come in handy when I once again packed my carry on!
A capsule wardrobe is essentially a small collection of clothes you love that work in combination with each other resulting in many outfits from only 10-20 pieces. Along with seasonal capsules, Outfit Formulas come in fun, specific ones like the French Minimalist, SAHM, or the Closet Staples. There isn’t one for travel per se… hey Alison, maybe some travel bloggers could help you with a travel capsule collaboration!!
If you google or pinterest search travel capsules, you’ll find a ton of variations. There is no one right answer, so you need to find the one that works for you. I sifted through them ALL (well, many of them) and found something that felt good to me.
Here were a few of my shortlisted ones:
And this is where I have ended up.
(today anyway!)
Key Aspects of the Travel Light Capsule Wardrobe
Choose a COLOUR SCHEME of neutrals for base pieces
One packing planning tip I gleaned in my research is that packing complete outfits can lead to overpacking. Instead, focus on packing individual items (X number of tops, X number of bottoms, X number of layers, etc). When you use a neutral colour scheme, it helps to maximize the number of outfit possibilities because then they will ALL coordinate!
I’m choosing mostly navy and gray…but am also throwing in basic black leggings and a little black dress. A couple of tops and scarves introduce some colour. Scarves and jewelry are light, so I’ll bring a small selection. I don’t tend to purchase many souvenirs during my trips because of space, but can always be convinced to buy a small, light memento/accessory to jazz up my outfit! 😉.
Choose LIGHT LAYERING pieces
Silk, linen, cashmere and merino wool have the best reputation for layering. While I don’t have any silk, linen or cashmere in my bag, I do have and LOVE my Merino Wool dress and am contemplating a merino wool shirt and tights. By layering a merino wool shirt under other clothes, you can avoid them getting stinky because the wool stays odor free!
What’s the big deal with Merino wool?
I was completely intrigued when the daughter of a friend began posting about a 100 day dress challenge on instagram. Wool& merino wool dresses, made in Portland, Oregon are touted to be so versatile that they just needed airing out (versus frequent washing) and that the wool is so breathable they can be worn in summer and winter. The challenge is to wear the SAME dress everyday for 100 days, wash it infrequently and post photos everyday. It’s good for the environment, strengthens habits to reduce consumerism and, if complete, gets you a gift certificate.
I’ve now followed along with many women who have taken up the #100daydresschallenge and recently bought myself the Maggie Swing dress. I have worn it comfortably on super hot days and cool days with a cardigan. I have not yet washed it, yet it still looks fresh out of the package.
I am toying around with doing the 100 day challenge for this trip. Imagine how light my bag would be if I just took the one dress and some layers and accessories!! Just leggings, toppers, scarves and shoes. The trip is 70 days so it is close, but I’m hesitant. What do you think??
Pack light with dresses but consider ‘Chub Rub’
I like dresses but I hate the thigh chafing that will happen with all the walking we have planned. Enter my absolutely favourite item - the Thigh Society Anti-chafing Slip Shorts. I have a couple of pairs of their lightest silkiest pairs that are moisture-wicking and dry overnight. I tried another brand first but these ones reign supreme and are Canadian! If you have any idea what I’m talking about, check them out, they are a game changer. If you don’t - count your skinny thigh blessings!
Pack light with clothes that are multi-purpose
A scarf as an evening wrap…
A shirt that doubles as a light jacket…
Leggings that work instead of tights…
A hooded rain jacket so I can skip the umbrella…
How about reversible clothing?
I was over the moon after discovering Ashly Ryan, a fellow travel lover and owner of Splice Clothing. She has a great story of building her business influenced by her personal travel experiences. Her clothing company specializes in reversible designs and has a mission to help you pack light and adventure easy, so you can focus on the experience instead of the baggage. I have a number of her pieces and think that the Dubai Snap-up Shirt and Bay Knit Sweater will be making it to Spain and Portugal!
Pack Light Dilemmas
Less than a month away and I do not yet have it all figured out. I am still stuck on a few decisions so I reached out to Katherine of @the5kilotraveller and asked her to help me get unstuck on a few items! Here are her thoughts:
SHOES
I know that footwear is critical. In previous trips, my feet appreciated a minimum of two pairs of shoes to give my feet a break. This time, dresses figure into my capsule for the first time, so I’m after shoes that look good with a dress as well as can transition from warm to cool & wet.
Katherine also suggests limiting things to just two or three pairs of shoes. The climate, weather, activities, and the clothes packed will help the decision about the right shoes. Will they cover most occasions? Do they match your clothes? Will they be warm enough, cool enough, weather proof? Are they comfortable?
Her personal favorites are white sneakers. They go with everything for a stylish look. She wears them all the time at home, so knows exactly how they work with outfits.
More tips such as wearing your heaviest or bulkiest shoes on the flight are in her blog specifically about travel shoes.
JEANS or NO JEANS
Denim is heavy and certainly doesn’t drip dry overnight. But jeans are so incredibly versatile and comfortable. Another go-to travel blogger is @travelfashiongirl and her post on jeans makes me feel a little more confident about putting them in my pack.
Katherine confirmed my hunch. She lives in jeans and they are her number one wardrobe staple item. BUT, jeans are heavy, take forever to dry, and are bulky. She works around these issues by packing jeggings. They're less bulky and often made of lighter denim. On the road she only spot cleans her jeggings as it takes less time to dry. Good tip!
TOILETRIES & COSMETICS
Packing light is more than just about clothes. Check out Katherine’s blog post on travel with toiletries and cosmetics. She told me that the trick is just to take what you need.
Calculate how much you need and only bring that amount
Decant into smaller, lighter travel bottles
You don't need to pack that full sized shampoo bottle. If you use 100ml (3 fl.oz) of shampoo a month, then pack just that. Or you could switch to a shampoo bar, that doesn't then get added to your liquid allowance in carry-on. Or use shampoo provided at your accommodation.
Collect small bottles or containers to titrate your toiletries into. Contact lens containers are great for eye creams, lip gloss, blush and other creams where you only need s small amount. If you use 30ml (1 fl. oz) of facial moisturizer a month - then find a 30ml sized container to put that amount in.
Sunscreen is something Katherine doesn't scrimp on and takes the full 100ml bottle and buys more at the destination if needed.
Time will tell if my research, purchases, planning and packing light pan out. I’ll do a final weigh-in before I leave. As I wrote at the beginning, however, packing light is part of my travel bliss and I’m having FUN with it!
Let me know in the comments your packing light triumphs and challenges!
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