How to Carry-On
Since summer of 2018, I’ve had opportunities to travel and explore so much that I’ve added more to the list this year. I even started a segment called Travel 101 on my youtube channel, where I'm going to share with you my personal experiences and tips when it comes to traveling.
With that said, I present to you my first video of the Travel 101 series: How to Carry-On. See for yourself how I managed to pack only a carry-on for most of my trips and tips on ways you can optimize your packing experience!
If you’d rather read, scroll down for the full blog post!
1. Carry-on size
On my one week or less vacations, I prefer to pack a small carry-on that fits standard international and domestic luggage sizes — varying around 21” tall, 14” wide, and 9” deep. My luggage usually weighs 35 pounds max, making it easier for me to manage, especially on road trips (via bus, car, or train).
If I had to bring any other sized luggage, I would use it for any additional items I may buy on my trips.
Most of my luggage is from Mark & Graham. Their suitcases are not only beautiful, but they also have a lifetime guarantee and are very durable.
2. create a list
If you are the type to:
Overpack
Leave the house and return 2 min. later because you forgot something
Stare at your closet for hours thinking of what to pack
then checkLISTS may be the solution for you.
After realizing that I had a packing problem, I exercised the solution of writing checklists and since then, I have never looked back.
I use the Notes app on my iPhone to accomplish these lists! Most smartphones have a Notes application. If for some reason your smartphone does not, I recommend downloading Google’s Docs app from the App Store (click here for Google Play Store link) or going to docs.google.com on a computer. :-) For other Notes app options for androids, click here.
2a. clothes
I started by listing out ALL of the items I can never leave home without. Things as simple as my phone, lip balm, wallet, headphones etc. I usually call this part of my checklist PERSONAL ITEM, since your purse is what usually holds such.
Consider these questions in mind as you’re searching through your closet for clothes:
How many days are you staying?
How many outfits will you need?
What types of activities will you be doing on your trip?
What will the weather be like?
For example, I travel frequently to Toronto to see friends and family. The trip is usually for a week and I’m mostly hanging with my relatives in the suburbs half of the time, or exploring downtown Toronto. If I visit during the fall/winter seasons, this means I’ll have to pack a sufficient amount of layers and boots. Which can also mean less space for everything else.
Think about the number of days you’re going to be staying and under another heading called OOTDs, write out each possible Outfit of the Day (OOTD) for each day you’ll be staying.
Add the following subheadings to each OOTD and fill it out accordingly.
EXAMPLE
OOTD 1
Outfit: Red Pants and Black T-Shirt
Shoes: White Sneakers
Accessories: Gold Necklace, Gold hoop earrings
Bag: Bucket Bag
For OOTDs, think Versatility
On most trips, I may go clubbing for a couple of nights, but that doesn’t mean bring mostly club clothing.
Think about versatility — you’ll want to pack clothes that you can mix and match to fit different occasions and weather conditions.
Start with taking out your favorites or items you have never worn — sweaters, jeans, skirts, jewelry, etc. Begin creating complete looks and write them out on the list from head to toe. Hang each complete outfit so you don’t forget.
if necessary, remember to include loungewear, swim and any other miscellaneous clothes you’d want to bring along. Create a heading for those as well.
TIP: Try the outfits on, take photos, and import them into your notes for a visual reference.
2b. toiletries & make-up
Once you’re finished planning your outfits, continue to Toiletries.
For toiletries, get a small or medium-sized toiletry bag and fill it with travel sized and compact containers only! This not only avoids delays at TSA screening, but it’ll also keep your luggage lightweight.
For some people, make-up and toiletries could be listed under the same heading however, since I use more than the average person, I need both a separate checklist and storage space for it.
Add as many checklists as you need.
For me, I’ve added hair, camera equipment and miscellaneous checklists to account for the rest of my necessities.
3. Pack!
Now that you have everything together, begin packing!
avoid the mess!
try out my favorite strategies below to ensure your packing experience is a success!
3a. Carry-On
USE PACKING CUBES to keep everything organized and compact, I love packing with cubes. A few sets I recommend is ____, as they fit one side of my carry-on perfectly.
USE A TRAVEL JEWELRY CASE to keep your necklaces, earrings, bracelets etc., organized and tangle-free. I’m using Mark & Graham’s Travel Jewelry Case in size Medium.
TO MAINTAIN THE SHAPE OF YOU STRUCTURED BRAS, be sure to stuff the curved side with clothes. I usually use socks or t-shirts.
USE TAPE AND/OR SARAN WRAP to wrap the covers of your toiletries to avoid spills. Place them in Ziploc bags for extra protection!
MAKE BULKY ITEMS APART OF YOUR AIRPORT OOTD — like tall boots or a heavy coat. Doing this will save you loads of space. When I went to Miami earlier this year I layered my Airport OOTD with two light jackets instead of packing them. Refer to example below.
ROLL BASICS AND STUFF THEM INTO YOUR SHOES OR BAGS. Whether it’s tights, t-shirts, socks, stockings, pj’s, etc., try stuffing them into your shoes or any other bag you plan on packing.
TO MAINTAIN THE SHAPE OF YOUR HATS, stuff the head section with clothes until it’s completely filled and lay it down upright in your suitcase. Then you can pack around it without it losing shape. If there is no space in your carry-on for your hat, you might want to consider TopTote (a suitcase attachment that holds your hat; as shown below).
3b. Personal Item/purse item
For your personal item, place all your documents, electronics, and other personal items you don’t want in your suitcase. The following is a list of items I like to store in my personal item.
If you found this helpful please comment below or under the video on my Youtube channel!
Also, be sure to rate, comment and/or subscribe to my youtube channel as well for more videos!
Until next time,
