How I’ve travelled carry-on only for the last ten years

Packing tips for the minimalist traveller

Hello you!

I’m writing to you from South Africa this morning. It’s just my mum and I for two weeks of adventures and all I’ve brought luggage wise is my carry-on case.

I blame Pinterest for my tiny suitcase obsession - or should I say, thank it.

For the last ten years I’ve enjoyed a love affair with travelling carry-on only. It’s just what I do now, who I am. It doesn’t matter if I’m wandering a city for a weekend, skiing for a week or going on a two week long haul adventure; one piece of carry-on luggage is all I ever take with me. I love the freedom and simplicity of it as well as how much time it saves so I can focus on the experience. It’s cheaper, less stressful, reduces the risk of losing anything and in general encourages mindful living. The most surprising but pleasant twist is that I’ve never felt better dressed on travels.

Here’s what I’ve learned over the years for anyone else who would like to travel a little lighter.

Own a lightweight suitcase - I love my samsonite shell and it’s done me proud for the last ten years though it’s out of warranty now and in desperate need of maintenance or perhaps replacing. The lighter your case the more you can put in it. Simple.

Size matters - Perhaps even more important that the weight of your case is the size. Not all airlines are created equal and their are different rules around what counts as carry on sized luggage. You can always check your bag worst case scenario of course but if you’re like me and travel with a laptop as well as camera gear you may prefer not to let it out of your sight. Research the size of the case you like by looking up different airline size restrictions before purchasing it as your golden all round travel companion.

Rolling over folding - This is hands down the most effective way to pack. It not only prevents creases but allows you to pack more into your tiny case. I’m so used to travelling light now that I don’t always need to roll my clothes but whenever my case feels full to the brim, say for a ski trip or a long trip like this one then rolling is the way to go.

Plan outfits - This is a great tip whether you’re travelling or not. Don’t just throw in your favourite clothes and hope for the best. Taking some time to plan what you’ll wear will pay back in dividends. If you want to be super organised you can use a planning tool like canva or photoshop to create visuals. All you have to do is remove the background of the photo and then you can piece your outfits together editorial style.

Check the weather - This seems so obvious I almost feel silly for putting it in but it’s a mistake I used to make time and time again. It’s easy to assume we’re going to the beach so it will be hot or pack for all weather possibilities but this will result in overpacking. When you know what kind of temperature and conditions to expect you can take what you’re sure you’ll need and leave the unnecessary items at home.

Make a list of activities - Think about what you’ll actually be doing when you get there and go one step further if you can by making a list. Will you be laying around the hotel for 5 days out of 7? Climbing a mountain? Going to brunch? When you know what to pack for it makes planning outfits much easier and you’ll be less inclined to pack just in case items that I guarantee will not get worn.

Stay loyal to your colour palette - a simple colour pallette of 3-4 colours makes it so much easier to mix and match outfits which in turn creates a lot of versatility for each item. This means you’ll be able to curate more outfits from less pieces so you can travel with less overall.

Travel size toiletries - Travel tubes like these are my go to for taking just enough shampoo and conditioner but beyond that I’ll either purchase travel size items at the airport or just use what they have at the hotel / airbnb where I’m staying. If I need anything else I’ve always managed to buy it when I get there.

Packing cubes - These are great for organising clothes and fitting more into your case. Roll don’t fold remember. The compression kind are great for when you need to fit a lot into your case. If you’re an aesthetic kind of person you’ll appreciate how satisfying a case looks when you use them to pack too.

Know your wardrobe habits - For some reason we expect to be someone completely different when we travel. Perhaps we get swept up in the romance of the idea, but the reality is we don’t change. You will still want to lounge around in what you find comfortable at home, wear the shoes you feel your most stylish in and wear the clothes that flatter your body most. Embrace what you know you love and take these pieces with you so you can wear your favourite clothes everyday

It’s ok to bend the rules - Sometimes you need to ask a friend to stuff your ski helmet in their case, share someone’s toothpaste or take another bag with your boots in. It happens. Still, in the last ten years I’ve never felt the need to upsize my case and I’ve no plan to change in the near future.

Are you a carry-on only travel lover too? Let us know your tips if yes.

Lots of love

Jessica xxx

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