Last Updated on April 9, 2020 by Tia
My carry on packing list is your one-stop guide to traveling light, smart and efficiently. Say goodbye to unnecessary items, oversized luggage, and baggage fees! The future is here, and it comes in the face of the almighty carry on luggage – otherwise known as a cabin bag. Sure, I would never travel for a month in a carry-on, but many trips are totally doable in a cabin bag! That is if you know how to pack smartly! So read on for the carry on packing list, that will change your packing game!
Table of Contents
Why do I choose to travel light?
The most obvious reason is to cut the costs down! On my last trip to Amsterdam, Brussels, and Paris, I had an airline try to charge me 160 euros for a 20-kilo bag! I swear airline regulations and extra fees are getting more ridiculous by the minute. Personally, I refuse to pay such high fees for a stupid bag. I work way too hard on my money to throw it out the window.
So when I can, I choose a carry on bag. I will admit, It took years of traveling to make me able to pack light. I am one of those girls that like to have an outfit for every occasion- but when I traveled to Bali I realized that half my clothes stayed untouched in my suitcase! So on my next flight, I made a carry on packing list and traveled with a cabin bag!
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General tips for packing a carry on that I follow
The No 1 rule is to find a way to minimize and reuse. Essential items only are a must, and planning your outfits ahead is crucial! Packing a carry on has also helped me minimize my use of plastic and travel responsibly and eco-friendly! Additionally, when you haven’t got the space, you tend to choose each item you pack carefully and only pack the things you will really need.
Keep reading for my tried and tested Carry on packing list
Clothes
The key is to pack clothes you can mix and match! I usually pack thin layers that i can take off and on, and they take up less space than bulky items! Of course, your list will vary greatly depending on the climate of your destination.
Carry on packing list – Summer
Your summer carry on packing list will also change depending on the destination. Are you traveling somewhere exotic or in Europe? And lastly, is the country Muslim? Being respectful to a countries customs is vital, and the clothes you will pack will be different for sure! My packing list for Jordan which is a Muslim country was entirely different from my Thailand packing list even though I traveled to both countries in July of different years.
In general though, for summer I always a pair of comfortable leggings that I travel with. Then I think of mix and match items I can combine. 3x pairs of shorts, 2x long maxi skirts, and some simple tops in colors of white, black, cream and grey are fab. As for going out outfits, I usually go with 1-2 summer dresses that I can dress up with heels or down with sandals! Pack a light cardigan you can wear on the plane (long-haul flights especially) and keep with you for those chillier summer evenings!
Summer Tip: A multiuse sarong or pashmina will be a lifesaver! Wear it at the beach, or to cover up for temple/church/mosque visits!
Beachwear. Then, of course, you have beachwear. I always pack mix and match bikinis, and 1 pair of flip flops. I also never pack towels. Good hotels actually provide beach towels, but if not, I buy one from a souvenir shop when I land!
Hair
I generally like to keep my hair simple, especially on holiday! I have naturally wavy hair, so I wear the beach hair look and let my hair air dry! If your hair is not as easy to manage, choose one piece of hair appliance you can do many things with like this one from Remington, that is infused with Moroccan oil or my personal favorite – the triple wave barrel! The barrel created the most mermaid style hair ever, I’m in love with it!
Hair Tip: Summer often means humidity, so I always pack a few headbands, elastic bands and hair grips for the times my hair is looking crazy. This is also an easy way to change and update any outfit!
Carry on packing list – Winter
Traveling during winter makes your carry on packing list a little more difficult. After all, jumpers and boots take up lots of space! For years, I couldn’t manage it without a large suitcase but I have finally found the secret recipe! For starters, winter means one thing – layers. But not just any old layers. Thermals! Amazon came to the rescue when I went snowboarding in Bansko, and needed to pack a suitcase for ski and snowboarding. All the gear I found in Cyprus, cost an arm and a leg, and I was in need of thermals!
So I bought these thermal tops online, and have been using them ever since! Thermal tops are brilliant – they don’t take up space, are inexpensive, and keep you super warm in the cold! Layer a jumper on top, a thick scarf, gloves and your coat and you are good to go! Packing wise, I would suggest packing a few thermals, 2-3 jeans and jumpers, and some leggings to travel with.
Winter packing Tip: Wear your bulkiest items at the airport, and keep your coat, scarf, and gloves outside of your carry on.
The best item to have when traveling and packing light
The best item is without a doubt a good quality backpack, which is a total lifesaver! A good backpack for starters will help you store a ridiculous amount of items outside of your carry on. It also the safest way to carry weight around (no more bad backs please!) Lastly, you can double it as a beach bag, city tour bag and everything in between. Winner!
Shoes
Shoes take up space, so here, you need to be frugal! For the summer, my carry on packing list consists of one pair of flip flops and one pair of nice flat sandals. Additionally, a pair of summer wedges in a nude/brown color will come in handy too, and you can combine them will all your outfits!
Carry on packing list – how will I fit all this in a cabin bag?
Its time I share with you my biggest secret….packing cubes! In all honesty, packing cubes are the best thing since sliced bread. I don’t know who came up with them, but I salute you! Packing cubes are the holy grail to anyone wishing to be neat and travel light. They keep your luggage organized, and protect your clothes and luggage from stains and wrinkles. They also help you fit more in your cabin bag so you can pack more in it! Lastly, say goodbye to living out of a messy suitcase on your travels! Just put the cubes inside the closet and drawers and avoid the clutter 🙂
These packing cubes are the best! They are made of durable High-Quality Nylon Fabric quality zippers and have a see-through mesh top. They come in a pack of 6 sizes and a variety of colors (i have the navy blue ones). I generally pack:
- 1 cube for toiletries
- A cube for underwear./socks/bikinis
- 1 cube for trousers, skirts dresses
- A cube for tops, shirts
- 1 cube for extras or electronics
- I carry the smallest one with me at the airport 🙂
Electronics
A good international travel adapter will be your saving grace and help minimize space. On this one adapter, you can charge any device, in any socket in the world, so there is no need for extras! Winner! Additionally, you will need your phone charger and possibly a power bank to charge on the go! You can carry a kindle or a camera with you in your backpack! Kindles are great and lightweight, and you can download lots of books without carrying a single one!
Carry on packing list – Toiletries
Girls (and boys) will understand my pain. We use so.much.stuff! It’s crazy! So if you are a girl that loves her skincare, lotions and potions keep reading! I will show you my secret tips about incorporating ALL your skincare and lotions in your carry on packing list!
Travel bottles. I have personally been raving about those to anyone who would listen for the past year! You can get these types of bottles everywhere, and I have tonnes of them! But many of them leak, and after a while, I have no recollection of what is inside each bottle! That’s why I am so in love with these ones! They come in a pack of 8 bottles in a clear PVC bag. They are made of soft silicone, are 100% leak-proof, waterproof and squeezable! The best thing about them though is that these travel containers have an ID window with 6 options to change the text that shows. Simply twist the movable label to find the right word; i.e shampoo – shower gel, conditioner, body lotion, etc and you will never mix up another product again. Honestly, genius!
Solid shampoo and conditioner (unisex) Unless you are comfortable using the shampoo and conditioner your hotel will provide (and I am really not), you will need a shampoo and conditioner. These solid bars are brilliant for many reasons. For starters, they are made from natural ingredients, and they smell amazing! Secondly, they last for months on end and the fact that they are solid means they won’t take up on your liquid allowance! Lastly, they are plastic-free…Yay!
Pack ONE cotton bud. Yeap, you heard me, ONE! The world’s first plastic-free and reusable cotton swab is here and I am beyond excited! Just ONE of these eco-friendly swabs replaces over 1000 cotton swabs that end up in our oceans! They come in gorgeous colors, are durable, and super easy to clean! Take the pledge today, and be part of the revolution of travel conscious, responsible travelers in the world! My link gives you 10% off your basket 🙂
bamboo toothbrush (unisex) Obviously, we all brush our teeth, and you will pack a toothbrush. But don’t just pack any toothbrush, you are better than that! Eco-friendly and Biodegradable Toothbrushes are a must in protecting our planet from pollution and are surprisingly cheap! Each toothbrush is made of high-quality natural bamboo, that is biodegradable and sustainable. Once you’ve finished with your toothbrush, you can recycle the bristles and reuse the handle in arts & crafts!
Travel jewelry box – (unisex ). Losing jewelry in my suitcase is my absolute nightmare! This tiny, elegant travel jewelry box has hidden compartments to fit all your favorite holiday pieces whilst occupying only a teeny tiny place in your cabin bag!
Mini perfume/aftershave bottle (unisex). As you know, your carry on packing list should have limited liquids of under 100ml with a total allowance of 1L. These inexpensive mini bottles can hold 6ml of your perfume and aftershave and are perfect on the go. They come in a pack of 3 so you can keep one in every bag and hold practically no weight at all!
So here we are folks! thank you for reading through my carry on packing list and I really hope I have helped you save some money today!
Let me know in the comments if you have any other packing light tips for me to try, and subscribe below for travel discounts and monthly newsletters!
Love, Tia
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6 comments
So many awesome tips in this blog! Ive always wanted to do carry-on only but I’ve never been game enough, this has inspired me to try!
Hey Emma! I am terrible at packing clothes for EVERY scenario imaginable – but pushing myself to travel with less has actually made me more environmentally cautious too – and eco friendly! My advice would be to start with a small mini-trip – 4-5 days. Plan outfits in advance and pick clothes that can be combined with other things too! A good backpack helps too – to sneak a few extra items with you at the airport haha!
Hey Tia, thanks for sharing this – I got some awesome ideas on how to improve my packing. For a couple ouf years now, I have been travelling only with hand luggage and it´s such a relief!
Thanks a lot Katja! At first, its such a worry – you cant help but think you will be missing something important. But travel so often takes your breath away, you realize you are too busy LIVING to worry about an extra top or two!
Great post! It took me YEARS of constant travel around the Globe to finally get to the point where I feel confident and comfortable packing a carry one, it is very possible!
Same here Paula! I was terrible for so many years – carrying 30+ kg of clothes on me on endless trips!A few years ago I visited Thailand for a few months with 3 (!) suitcases. Just the ferry rides alone and the fact i only wore half of what i packed made me realize how foolish i was! Carry-on for the win!