Are you ready to take a weeklong trip, but can’t decide what to pack? Don’t let the limited space of a carry-on put a damper on your plans. With a bit of careful planning and the right items, it’s definitely possible to pack a week’s worth of clothes in a carry on suitcase. Here are some ways to maximize your suitcase space so that you can fit everything you need for your journey.
Roll, don’t fold
Rolling clothes is an easy way to save space when packing your carry-on. Not only does it help reduce wrinkles, but it also allows you to fit more items into a small space. To roll clothes correctly, lay the garment flat on a surface and fold it in half lengthwise. Then, starting from the bottom, tightly roll up the clothing until you reach the top. The tighter you roll, the more items you can fit in the suitcase. I find that rolling my clothes helps me stay organized when traveling as I can easily see and look for items that I packed.
Utilize packing cubes
Packing cubes are a great way to maximize the space in your carry-on. These cubes are designed to make packing and unpacking easier while keeping all of your items organized. By using packing cubes to compartmentalize, you can quickly find and access your belongings with ease. Packing cubes can also help reduce wrinkles in clothes, since they force you to fold items tightly and in an organized manner. Additionally, they protect delicate items such as jewelry or electronics from damage. Utilizing packing cubes allows you to store more items in a smaller space in an organized fashion, saving you precious room in your carry-on.
Wear your heaviest items on the plane
When packing for a weeklong trip in a carry-on, it’s important to remember weight limits. The weight limit for a carry-on suitcase is usually around 22 lbs (or 10 kg), but make sure to check with your airline as each one sets their own limits. If you find yourself going over the weight limit for your airline, you can consider wearing your heaviest pieces on the plane. This will help keep you within the allotted weight restrictions and also provide you with more space in your suitcase.
Heavy items such as jackets, sweaters, or boots should be worn on the plane. By wearing these items, you can free up space in your suitcase and also avoid any overage fees from the airline due to excess weight.
Choose versatile clothes
When you’re packing for a week-long trip with only a carry-on, you have to be strategic about which items of clothing you bring. Choose items that are versatile, so you can create multiple different looks with just a few. Opt for neutrals and solid colors that you can mix and match, such as black, white, grays, and browns. Pack pieces that can easily be dressed up and transitioned into a night look.
Some ideas are: solid neutral tees, blue or black jeans, trench coat, jewelry. You’ll easily be able to pair these items with other single purpose clothes like graphic tees, a skirt or a dress to create lots of looks on your trip. These items will be the building blocks of your wardrobe and help you create many different outfits while you’re away.
You can learn more about a minimalistic capsule wardrobe here.
Limit your shoes
When packing for a weeklong trip in a carry-on suitcase, it is important to limit the number of shoes you bring. Shoes are bulky items that both take up a lot of space in your suitcase and are also heavy. I recommend traveling with one versatile pair of shoes that you’ll wear everyday (and flip flops to wear to the shower) if you can.
If you really have to, try to limit your shoe choice to two: one comfortable pair and one dressy pair. If you’re going to a beach destination, swap out the dressy pair for a sandal. If possible, wear your heaviest shoes on the plane so that they don’t take up room in your suitcase. By limiting your shoe selection, you can ensure that you have enough space to pack everything else you need.
Don’t forget the essentials
When packing for a weeklong trip in a carry-on suitcase, make sure you don’t forget the essentials. Here are some items that you should always pack:
- Toiletries: toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, facial cleanser, lotion, deodorant (make sure these are all travel-sized). If you are going to a city or a hotel, consider leaving out your shampoo, conditioner, and body wash as you can easily purchase them upon your arrival, or alternatively your hotel will provide them to you.
- Prescriptions: medications and vitamins
- Electronics: phone, laptop, chargers, headphones
- Documents: passport, driver’s license, travel documents
- Clothing: underwear, socks, t-shirts, pants
- Accessories: sunglasses, hat, scarf, jewelry
- Other: snacks, water bottle, books/magazines
Practice minimalism
Ok girls, I know it’s hard to hear. In today’s consumerist society everyone has so much stuff. I didn’t realize just how much stuff I had until I had to move 4 times in the span of 2 years. Packing and unpacking was just a pain, and now I try to keep my things minimal in fears of having to move yet another time.
Try to be thoughtful about the clothes and other items you decide to pack. As you pack, as yourself. Will I really be needing this? Is it something that I could easily live without for a week? Could I easily just buy a replacement at my destination? Make sure to go with your gut. If you feel like you’ll regret taking not bringing it, keep it in your suitcase. If not, leave it out. This will help you weed out unnecessary items that you won’t end up using.
Don’t forget that there are many destinations where you’ll wanna shop till you drop (think of big European cities) or bring souvenirs home (think of other cultural destinations). If you’re going somewhere where you’ll want to buy some new clothes, make sure to allocate empty space in your carry-on for the things you want to bring back. When I went to Paris I flew with a half-empty carry on because I knew I’d be doing hella shopping over there.
Conclusion
I hope these tips helped you save space and plan properly for your next week-long vacation! Let me know in the comments where you’re headed and any tips you had that helped you pack in a carry-on.
Until next time,
Take a shans!
