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Packing for a trip always feels like a dance between art and science – and attempting to pack light complicates things even further. As a travel journalist, I often find myself on the road several times a month – sometimes for weeks at a time navigating various modes of transportation. This means being self-sufficient with my luggage is key. I also don’t want to be concerned about lost luggage when I travel, so I opt to bring only a carry-on whenever I can. My mantra while packing for any trip, whether it's a domestic weekend getaway or a weeklong international adventure, is that every piece of gear has to be multi-functional to maximise space. Below, my tried-and-true tips for packing light with only a carry-on.
Our best tips for packing light:
- Choose the right luggage
- Don't skip the packing cubes
- Opt for multi-functional fabrics
- Pick versatile pairs of shoes
- Adjust your body care routine
- Travel hacks are a game-changer
Choose the right luggage
A key consideration for any trip is choosing the right luggage to fit all your essentials without weighing you down. If you're travelling with just a carry-on-sized bag, you want it to be lightweight yet roomy – expandable options are always helpful. My go-to is the Monos Carry-On Plus, a 3.5kg hard-shell suitcase sized to fit in overhead bins. The wheels have a 360-spin, making it a breeze to manoeuvre in tight spaces, and the side handle makes it easy to lift into the locker and in a rental car. The padded front compartment fits my 15-inch laptop, a scarf, and a book easily. The suitcase comes with an antimicrobial laundry bag and two shoe bags that further help with packing and organisation.
Another smart carry-on option is the Cotopaxi Allpa Roller Bag. The hybrid look of a hardcover back and adjustable softcover front brings the right amount of support and expandability of a traditional carry-on suitcase. It only has two wheels but when I saw how easily the bag moved on different surfaces, I was hooked. Cotopaxi’s fun and vibrant colours also make these suitcases easily identifiable among a sea of like-looking bags at the airport.
Next up: choosing a functional personal item. I paired my suitcase with the Chelsea Backpack from Antler (read our full review). As a professional photographer, I always travel with my gear and I find the Chelsea is spacious enough to pack my camera, an extra lens, and in-flight essentials: snacks, my portable phone charger, and my insulated water bottle. It even has a zipped, padded laptop area with a separate slip pocket for a tablet. The backpack’s trolley sleeve is a lifesaver, slipping onto my rolling suitcase and allowing me to keep one hand free. And I always pack my Patagonia Ultralight Black Hole tote as an extra bag (for souvenirs or as a daypack for a quick hike). It folds down into a small pouch, making it both packable and functional.
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Don't skip the packing cubes
Anyone who struggles with optimising space when travelling knows that packing cubes are the ultimate solution. Not only are they perfect for organisation, but compression ones like these from Monos and Béis save space in your bag. I routinely use about three to five cubes and organise my essentials by category. The bigger cube is for bulky items like jeans, trousers, and sweatshirts, the medium is for shirts, and the smaller one is for underwear and socks. The clear-view window on the Monos packing cubes allows me to see what's inside at a glance, making it easier to get ready. I also carry an extra one to separate dirty laundry on my return trip home.
Opt for lightweight, multi-functional fabrics
I will admit that choosing the right clothes for a multi-week trip is the most challenging part of packing, especially when dealing with different climates. My Duer jeans are my favourite denim. With the right amount of stretch, softness, comfort, and a water-repellent fabric, I wear them on planes, around town, and even hiking. My top picks are these fleece-lined relaxed Girlfriend fit for flights, and the mid-rise performance slim straight for backup.
For daily wear, I pack a few classic, mix-and-match pieces in neutral colours. Foundation rib tanks and simple short-sleeve tees are versatile, comfortable, and perfect for layering. I recently discovered hemp fabric, a natural fibre that is breathable, antibacterial, and seems to get softer with every wash. Adding a couple of hemp tees to my travel wardrobe was a no-brainer because it wicks moisture away from the skin, keeping clothes odour free longer so you can get more wear from them. A few moisture-wicking sports bras and some compression socks complete my essentials.
As a runner from the American Midwest, I can never pass up the opportunity to tackle trails wherever I go. My Hoka short-sleeved tee and leggings with pockets from Vuori are ideal because of their quick-drying fabric, which means I don’t need sweatshirts to keep me warm while running outside.
Keeping up with the theme of packing multi-purpose clothing, I chose between two outerwear pieces depending on the season – the Stretchdown light vest from Mountain Hardwear or a Silent Down Jacket from Patagonia. The vest is a lightweight layering piece that packs down to a pouch for convenience. The jacket, which I wear on the plane (another tip: don't pack your bulkiest pieces; wear them in transit), is incredibly soft, warm enough for -1 to 4-degree Celsius weather, thanks to the down insulation, and not too technical – the perfect outerwear for a nice dinner.
Pick versatile pairs of shoes
Deciding on what shoes to bring on any trip is always a bit tricky, but generally, you want to go classic and neutral. Because of space restrictions, I opted for a white walking shoe that would go with any outfit (worn on the plane) and packed my lightweight gym trainers as a backup. Veja's white vegan leather sneakers have travelled with me across continents and continues to hold form even after hours of walking everywhere. For my running and training routines, I lean on my Agility Peak 5 running shoe from Merrell. It performs flawlessly on gravel and concrete and after getting caught unprepared in a sudden downpour one too many times, I always choose the Gore-Tex waterproof style. A cute pair of lightweight Tevas sandals that are also waterproof and breathable round out my footwear choices.
Don’t sacrifice your body care routine—just adjust it
After a lot of trial and error over years of extensive travel, I finally curated just the right selection of products for my wash bag. The key is to trim down your routine (and packing list) with multi-purpose products that still get the job done and leave you feeling refreshed. Shower Blocks waterless shower travel essentials are a game changer. I also recently switched to waterless moisturisers and lotion bars for travel after having to ditch many creams and bottles at security because of liquid restrictions. And all this packs away in my carry-on-friendly Monos Metro toiletry case.
Travel hacks are a game-changer
After travelling thousands of miles with just a carry-on, there are a few hacks I always rely on that make a huge difference to my overall outlook on travelling as lightly as possible. I always clip a few carabiners to my backpack or suitcase (if possible). In a pinch, these hold nicknacks like an extra jacket, a water bottle, or my sandals if I am running out of space. A buff is a must and an easy way to protect your face, neck, and head from the elements. It also acts as a neck warmer and mask on planes. And my inflatable camping pillow has been a lifesaver during many unscheduled airport overnights thanks to cancellations and delays – I never leave home without it.
