For as long as I’ve been travelling, I’ve been overpacking. An overnight stay? I’ll need at least three different outfits. A week-long interstate trip? Don’t even get me started on how many pairs of socks that will require. So, you can imagine the faces of my friends and family when I said I was going on a month-long hot girl Euro trip with just my trusty July Carry-on Light Expandable. My reasoning behind this? One: I didn’t want to stress over lost luggage. Two: I wanted to avoid long bag-drop lines. Three: there was no way I’d be lugging a 20kg suitcase up stairs and across cobblestones, sorry, absolutely no way. And, it turns out travelling with just a cabin bag, while requiring a fair amount of culling, wasn’t that hard.
Here’s exactly how I managed to survive with only a carry-on bag, and how you can too.
1. Use packing cubes
Stacking smaller items into a neat little cube saved space and allowed me to remove the cube without disrupting the rest of my luggage. When choosing a packing cube for your carry-on, go for something lightweight like Nere’s Stori 3 Pack Packing Cube — anything made with thick material or an unremovable base will weigh you down.
Nere Stori 3 Packing Cube, $24.99 at STRAND
2. Roll instead of fold
I’m not sure if it was Marie Kondo or my mum who told me rolling clothes was the best way to pack, whoever it was, they were right. By tightly rolling what you pack you’re creating more room in your suitcase and keeping your items crease-free (super handy if your accommodation doesn’t have an iron).
3. The 5-4-3-2-1 method is your base
Originally coined by blogger Geneva Vanderzeil, the 5-4-3-2-1 packing method will keep you in line and force you to pack versatile pieces into your carry-on (sadly, you don’t need eight white tops that all look alarmingly similar). While there are a few variations of this method, Geneva suggests you pack five tops, four bottoms, three dresses and shoes, two swimsuits, one hat, a jacket, a bag and a pair of sunglasses. I added three extra tops, two extra bikinis and a bag, but this technique was the perfect starting point.
4. Pack versatile footwear
Realistically, you won’t have space for more than one or two pairs of shoes in a carry-on bag if you want to pack enough outfits. It’s best to pack a pair of casual sandals (I opted for Teva’s Original Universal, which were great for beach and sightseeing days), a lightweight dressy sandal or slide for any evening activities and a pair of sneakers that can also be worn on travelling days.
Teva Original Universal Sandal, $110 at THE ICONIC
5. Use the space inside shoes and bags
While I had a casual bag, I needed something for going out (obviously) and packed a small evening bag into my luggage. If you pack an evening bag or extra pair of sneakers, put smaller items such as socks and underwear inside to make the most of any extra room.
6. Swap your skincare and haircare
My daily skincare routine is quite *full on* but due to international liquid regulations, I had to swap my beloved standalone products for three 100mL all-rounders. I also transferred my go-to shampoo and conditioner into two 100mL bottles, however, shampoo and conditioner bars can be a great alternative to plastic-clad liquids. Sadly, I had to forgo heated hair tools, but thanks to that warm Euro sun and in-hotel hairdryers this wasn’t too much of a problem.
7. Have a small backpack as your personal item
As my main flight was about 24 hours with layovers, my personal item (which I stowed under the seat in front of me) was a lightweight Nere Seeker Backpack. Having a second, lighter bag meant I had easy access to medication, chargers, toiletries, and compression socks. I also had a casual crossbody bag with my passport, glasses and wallet which I put inside the backpack when flying,
Nere Seeker Backpack, $59 at THE ICONIC
8. Choose lightweight materials
Fortunately, most summer trips call for lots of lightweight materials, making packing a little easier. While I still needed some pants and shirts (just in case), opting for linen and cotton rather than denim and thicker materials helped ensure nothing weighed my carry-on bag down.
9. Wear your heaviest items
Although taking a jacket on holiday is always a good idea, it’s best to wear it rather than jam it into your bag. I wore my heaviest outfit (a knitted top and pants set, and a denim jacket) when I had flights to keep my luggage as light as possible. If you’re like me and tend to get cold on flights this shouldn’t be too much of a problem – even in summer.
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