We've Perfected Packing A Carry-On--Here's How We Do It
Has anyone else ever experienced the airport sweats when it comes to their carry-on luggage? You know, when you pack way too much and you’re lugging around the wrong size carry-on that somehow weighs more than your checked bag; you’re sweating with anxiety and uncertainty that it’s not going to fit on the plane; you’re giving puppy eyes to airline attendants that say: “Please don’t make me check my carry-on, too?”
Or, before you even arrive at the airport, you’re wondering how the simple task of packing a suitcase–after all you’ve accomplished in life–is something that is stumping you? Next thing you know, clothes are strewn across the room, you’re scratching your head wondering how you’re going to fit everything you want while also wondering if you even need it.
What a way to start a trip! There has to be a better way, right?
Packing a carryon for a trip can be quite a hassle, but it is a necessary pre-travel checklist item. Here we have some packing tips to alleviate the stress and turn you into a packing pro!
Important questions to ask yourself when packing
Packing a carry-on calls on those buried decision-making skills where you are forced to choose what is important and what is not. Being backed into that corner is most likely what turns packing into an existential crisis, fighting your materialistic streak while contemplating what is most important to you in life and what you can (or can’t) live without.
Here are some questions to ask yourself when packing a carry-on to help you narrow down what to take!
Do I really need that? Overpacking is more always common than underpacking.
What is the destination’s temperature and climate?
What kind of activities will I be doing? Outdoors adventures or nights out? Both?
Do I really need two of one item? You can also wear the same travel-day outfit going to and from the destination.
Is each item selected intentionally with a purpose or is it a just-in-case item? If so, pack it after your essentials.
Is this something I can buy at my destination? Disposables like toothpaste and shampoo are cheap to buy anywhere, and take up unnecessary space.
Do I want to leave space for souvenirs? If shopping is part of your travel itinerary, think ahead.
What can I put in my personal item? Most airlines also allow one personal item, where you can put your most-desired items that you want accessible on your flight. Think: book, phone charger, AirPods, Kindle, snacks. You don't want to rifle through your carry-on from the overhead bin while standing in a tiny airplane aisle with 100 pairs of eyes on you. Set aside those belongings for your personal item.
Carry-on chart and specifications for TSA and specific airlines
Carry-on size limit: Carry-on and personal item size limit and weight limitations vary by airline. While we definitely encourage you to check with your specific airline before flying, here is a helpful chart of carry-on size limit for each. If you want to make sure that your carry-on will be universally accepted, choose one no longer than 21” in length.
The standard size limits:
Domestic Airline Carry-on Size: 22 x 14 x 9 inches
International Airline Carry-on Size: 21.5 x 15.5 x 9 inches
Forbidden items: Knives (including swiss army), fireworks, firearms
Aerosols: (think dry shampoo) Smaller than 3.4 oz.
Liquids: You are allowed to bring a quart-sized bag of liquids, aerosols, gels, and creams in your carry-on bag, and these travel-sized containers must be 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) or less per item.
Here are the TSA’s official guidelines on what you can bring in your carry-on or personal item. The TSA’s complete list covers all the bases, including artificial skeleton bones. (And if you’re wondering–yes, you can bring artificial skeleton bones in your carry-on. Thank goodness.)
Here are also a few more resources:
What to pack in your carry-on
Okay, now that we know what’s not allowed, here’s how to go about packing that carry-on!
Invest In Good Luggage
Invest in a good carry-on that is TSA-friendly and will serve you for years to come. This doesn’t have to be super expensive. (To make it easy for you, we made a list of the 30 best carry-on luggage under $200!)
Pack The Essentials
Essentials first and foremost. Make a pile of the essentials with a separate “Maybe, if I have room” pile next to it. See how much space remains in the carry-on after your essentials are packed for the “fun” options.
Versatile Clothing
Versatile clothing: layers and simple colors. To consolidate your travel wardrobe, bring clothing items that are versatile and can be used for both casual and nicer occasions; layers can come on and off with any weather or temperature changes. Simple block colors can be worn for different occasions, mixed and matched with different pants or skirts, and dressed up or down.
Focus On Comfort
Comfort. While you may want to shine in your new travel outfits, being the most fashionable (and the most uncomfortable one) is inevitably never worth it. When you’re traveling, the last kind of distraction you want is one that takes you away from the present.
Keep Your Valuables Close
If you’re traveling with a checked bag: Your most important valuables should go into your carry-on, not your checked luggage! Anything that is expensive, hard to replace, or greatly sentimental, such as your wallet, passport, keys, laptop, or grandmother’s ashes, should always be within reach for security reasons when traveling. Even carry-ons get checked for various reasons, so putting those in your personal item could be an even safer move.
Imagine having to do without your checked bag for a day or more upon arrival. (Or possibly forever, because sometimes it feels like a dice roll when flying).
Limit The Non-Essentials
If you’re traveling without a checked bag: With just a carry-on and a personal item, you are basically committing to bringing just the bare essentials and a few “for-fun” items.
Essentials for Your Carry-on
Toiletries
Valuables
Fragile items (Have you seen the way checked baggage is thrown around? Yikes!)
Prescriptions and medications
Sentimental items (journal, etc)
Jewelry
Keys
Laptop
Camera
Wallet
Passport
Bag for dirty laundry
Printed flight, hotel, and other travel tickets and confirmations (if international)
Pro Tips for Packing the Carry-On
Here’s how you can pack most efficiently:
Least-used items at the bottom. You don’t want to dig through your perfectly-packed carry-on in the airplane for the book that is stuck at the bottom of everything else.
Fold and tightly roll your clothing neatly (like a little taco roll-up), so they are snug and compact. Roll or fold? Rolling maximizes space while folding better prevents wrinkling. Nicer items like suits or dresses should be folded and the rest rolled.
Shoes at the bottom. Place socks inside shoes to maintain their shape and maximize space.
Next layer: your heaviest and bulkiest items like pants, jeans, sweaters, jackets.
Fragile items should be in the center of your carry-on–not at the edges–so that they are padded and protected on all sides.
Toiletries on top. This is for ease of access, for usage, and for taking out at TSA.
Light items (like underclothing and belts) can go at the edge of the suitcase to fill up the unused crevices.
Packing with packing cubes: You can usually only fit about three packing cubes in a standard carry-on. Here is a helpful breakdown of exactly how much you can fit into a cube! It also depends on whether you prefer a soft-case or hard-case carry-on. Some people swear by packing cubes; others wonder why you would want a little suitcase inside a bigger suitcase.