My Top 3 Tips for Packing in a Carry-On
It doesn’t matter if you are hauling your suitcase through the cobble streets of Germany or the paved roads of Disneyworld you do NOT want to be lugging around an overstuffed suitcase, only to realize that half of your outfits never even left your bag and you didn’t need all those shoes.
I wish I could say I spent many international vacations schlepping luggage around and that’s how I learned to only do carry on but it was worse than that I’m afraid. My senior year of High School I went on Spring Break to Cozumel and they lost (read, STOLE) my luggage and I never got it. I wore the same underwear and bra for 7 days straight, washing it in the bathroom sink every day. I wore all my friends clothes, a bandana as a shirt and called my mom crying about it, where she definitely thought I was calling because I was in trouble I’m sure. At 17 it was the most traumatic thing that happen to me (so vein, I know, but all my prized possessions were in that suitcases that I spent my hard earned money on.) I had just gone to Germany the year prior and checked a bag no problem so this event changed how I would travel from there on out.
I became an avid carry on luggage traveler since then and I think we have only checked our bags twice (once to Mexico for our wedding & once to Europe when the boys were little.) I’ve never checked a bag by myself since then, I’ve convinced myself that my bags would get lost or never make it again since that Spring Break trip! I know, so dramatic but also, you don’t really need all that stuff. I tell myself if I need something that I didn’t pack I can buy it, it’s truly that simple!
Whether you're heading off for a quick weekend trip or 2 weeks in Europe, these are the tips that helped me master the art of carry-on packing, and I’m talking as a MOM OF 3 KIDS that does it! Are you ready to travel smarter, lighter, and with less baggage!
Plan Your Outfits
If you are someone that is thinking “But Chelsea, I like to have options!” I’m here to tell you, you can still have options and pack smart, promise!
First you need to check the weather, that sounds ridiculous to even mention but so many people still don’t understand how to pack based on weather and activities you have planned. So after you check the weather, list out your your planned activities and start there. I have a notes app template I use for this and while I’m a type B person in most things in my life, when it comes to packing and traveling I’m very type A!
We are going to the Netherlands for a week at the end of April, beginning of May, with certain days we have planned and other days we will pull from our “want to do/see list.” ( This is a note on my phone tied to a Google Map of all things I’ve researched of places we would want to go/see/eat at but don’t have to have planned out to the day specific.)
We’ve learned over the years we like to have one major thing planned for the day/night and then have loose plans the other part of the day. We’ve had trips where we woke up and we’re like so what should we do today and we’re on our phones Googling “What to do in London with little kids?” and it’s NOT THE VIBE! Have plans and also leave room to explore, wonder and deviate from plans when you want.
By looking at the weather and knowing you have 3 days with a lot of walking on tours/exploring, 1 day where you will be on the beach and 1 day you will be on a boat with your kids there is no need for fancy dresses and dinners out.
Trying ON your outfits before you go is huge as well. You want to make sure you feel good in the clothes you are wearing as well so that you want to wear them.
Packing Cubes
Some people will tell you it doesn’t matter if you have packing cubes or not and those people don’t carry on, they check their bags, I promise you! Especially when it comes to compression packing cubes! The amount of items you can fit and then slim down is amazing, then you have more room for other things you need or room to bring things home! I started with regular packing cubes years ago and then upgraded to compression ones and they really help for bigger trips or squeezing two kids into one suitcase.
Last year we did a road trip where we stayed in a hotel one night, then drove to North Carolina for 4 days, stayed in a hotel to see family, then drove to the West side of Michigan for a wedding. I packed different packing cubes for each part of the trip and didn’t bring them out until we were at the hotel, seeing family or wedding, that way I didn’t have unnecessary wedding stuff crowding our already small hotel room. Packing cubes aren’t just for flying, they are for road trips too, organization is key when traveling anywhere really.
Outside of packing cubes, I’m just real big on bags in general to keep things organized (tech, makeup, supplements, etc) they make life just so easy!
Capsule Color Coordinated Clothes
Sorry for the mouthful of words but it’s true, clothes that are capsule like and can mix and match will be best for maximizing space in your carry on luggage. This goes hand in hand with planning your outfits. Before you say “but Chelsea, I can’t do this because I LOVE color and don’t want to dress in all neutrals!”
Say less!
I love color too and have been able to still bring color and keep my style while traveling.
A capsule wardrobe provides numerous benefits that can enhance your travel experiences. It helps streamline the packing process, focusing on a limited number of versatile pieces that you can mix and match and create multiple outfits. It reduces time spent deciding what should I wear and allows you to pack lighter and more efficiently.
Since you are packing less, you will save valuable space in your suitcase, leaving more room for other travel essentials or souvenirs! This also means your luggage will be lighter, and you won’t be cursing yourself when you’re lugging it up 100 steps in Greece with no elevator.
A well-curated travel capsule wardrobe offers versatility, allowing you to create different outfits suitable for different activities or weather conditions. This helps to ensure that you’re prepared for any adventure and are never left with “nothing to wear!”
Same thing goes with your accessories, choose pieces that complements your capsule colors. Do not bring your orange sandals if you only plan to wear them with one outfit, that’s a waste of space! By coordinating your wardrobe this way, you’ll be able to pack less and still have plenty of stylish options you feel good in.
I hope this helped if you are struggling with how to not overpack or if you are sick of checking bags and waiting at the luggage carousel for your bag when you could be off to your destination already. Pack smarter, not larger! Don’t forget, you CAN do laundry while traveling, re-wearing clothing is cool!