Ah, yes, packing. The dreaded process of figuring out how to fit as much of your closet into a 22x14x9 roller suitcase. Even the most avid travelers struggle with overpacking and most of us pack 17 pairs of “in case” underwear. It can take a while to figure out how to pack a suitcase—specifically a carry-on—effectively, but it is very doable. And, I think that once you learn to pack a carry-on perfectly, you’ll never want to pack a checked suitcase again.
So, here are some tips on how to pack a carry-on like a pro:
Get the perfect carry-on
First things first, make sure you get the perfect carry-on for your travels. With so many options out there, it can be overwhelming to pick out the right one, but you should consider a few key features:
- Get the sizing right: Make sure you get a standard carry-on size. Some brands make a size between a full size and a carry-on and, unfortunately, it means that an airline might charge you to check it at the gate. A standard carry-on is 22x14x9.
- Consider the wheels: I always recommend going for the luggage with four, 360-degree wheels. It’s easier to maneuver and you don’t have to put so much effort dragging it around.
- Weigh your material options: When it comes to material you usually have only two options: hard or soft. Now, one is not necessarily better than the other but you should consider what’s most important for you. If you want to protect your belongings, go for a hard-shell suitcase. If you want a super light option you can roll or carry, perhaps you want a duffel bag with wheels.
- Pick a color, any color: Though you might be inclined to choose black luggage, you might want to pick a different color. This makes it less likely that someone will accidentally grab your bag from the overhead.
- Don’t get too fancy: Smart suitcases with built-in batteries, hotspots, smart locks, etc. could be prohibited on certain airlines. The issue is that a lot of those smart features require batteries or other tech that might not be allowed on every airline. Get the full scoop here, but keep in mind that most airlines only allow bags with removable lithium batteries. What do we recommend? Keep it simple and just pack a separate portable charger so you don’t run into any trouble.
Our favorite carry-ons
- You’ve likely heard of Samsonite, as the brand has been a leader in the travel space for many years. The brand’s luggage quality is top-notch and this Freeform Carry-On Spinner has rave reviews.
- Béis is one of those brands you may have stumbled upon on social media and thought it looked overhyped, but their suitcases and other carry-on options are popular with travelers for a good reason—they’re high quality, sleek, and luxurious. Try out their top-rated roller bag and then get a matching weekender bag to use as your personal item.
- Calpak might be known for its fresh color designs and hefty social media presence but it’s beloved by travelers for its quality and reliability. I personally have Calpak items I can’t live without including the carry-on with the hardshell electronics pouch and at least six Dollar Flight Club team members use the Luka Duffel as their personal item.
- Away specializes in simple and sleek luggage designs perfect for any of you travel minimalists out there. As the Away team says, it’s designed by travelers for travelers and their classic carry-on is a perfect first purchase from the brand.
- Solgaard makes award-winning travel luggage and as soon as you lay your eyes on their carry-on closet you’ll understand why.
Stay organized with these space-saving tips
If we’re being honest, most of us are not looking to actually pack fewer items when learning how to pack a suitcase. What we really want is to pack as much as we can while taking up the least amount of space. If you’re one of those people, you’d do wise to use these tips for how to pack a suitcase:
- Roll your clothes. Generally, rolling clothes compresses them and ensures there’s no dead air taking up space. The real advantage, in my opinion, however, is that rolling clothes also reduces wrinkles so you don’t have to spend time tirelessly ironing clothes in your hotel room.
- Use compression bags for bulky items. This is especially helpful if you’re off on a winter adventure and have to pack chunky knits, puffy jackets, or thick pants.
- Try packing cubes. Some people swear by them for saving space, but even if you don’t believe that they do, they can help you stay organized by dividing your clothes up by type. So, for example, you’d have a cube for your shirts, one for your pants, one for your undergarments, etc. I also like to use the cubes for other things like jewelry or other specialty things I want to be compartmentalized.
Separate your personal items
When it comes to learning how to pack a suitcase like a pro, one of the biggest tips is not to put anything in your carry-on that you’ll need to pull out in security or on the plane. Items like your passport, liquids, snacks, prescriptions, jewelry, electronics, and other valuables should go in your personal bag and not your carry-on. It’s a hassle to try to wrangle them out of a carry-on, so just keep them conveniently on hand.
Don’t overpack these items
Shoes and jeans. I don’t know who needs to hear this but you don’t need seven pairs of shoes for a four-day trip. (It’s me, I needed to hear it.) Shoes are bulky and can take up a lot of space, so pack versatile shoes that fit the climate of your destination.
Bonus tip: Wear your bulkiest shoes to the airport so they don’t take up room in your bag. As for the shoes in your suitcase, take full advantage of the space they take up. I never let my shoes sit empty in my bag. Instead, I roll up my socks and stuff them inside of my sneakers so there is no dead space.
The same rule applies to bottoms—you certainly don’t need five different (but probably very similar) pairs of jeans. We’ll share more on that in the next section, though.
Try the 1-2-3-4-5-6 rule
Essentially, the rule is that you pack:
- 1 hat or accessory set
- 2 pairs of shoes
- 3 bottoms
- 4 tops
- 5 pairs of socks
- 6 pairs of underwear (plus a bra if needed)
This is the basic amount of clothing you need for a weeklong trip. The numbers are meant to prevent you from overpacking because it’s just the right amount. In fact, this amount of clothing might stretch into more than seven outfits if you take advantage of layering and mixing and matching your items. If you want to perfect that, we recommend packing lots of neutrals and basics so you can mix them up.
If you’re going on a longer trip, you can still use this same method for how to pack a suitcase but don’t be afraid to do your laundry while traveling. That way you can still pack light and simply mix your pieces up to get a new week’s worth of outfits.
Now, if you’re like me, you’re already thinking about those, I-should-pack-this-just-in-case scenarios. Some things may never change and I will probably always be that person who packs way too much underwear, but I’ve found that most of the time I don’t often end up wearing every item in my suitcase anyhow or I’ve ended up buying a shirt or some accessory while traveling, so I have more outfits on deck than I even need. Most of the time, if you really need something or forget an item, you can find it anywhere around the world.
Pack twice
No, I don’t mean pack double the amount of clothes you really need. What I mean is that you should pack and then repack. By packing once, and then repacking, you can figure out what items you can leave behind.
When I am preparing for a trip, I tend to overpack because I live in this dream world where I will be a fashionista while I’m abroad even though I wear the same three shirts every week. I did it just last week when I was preparing for a four-day trip to Chicago and for some reason, on my first attempt of packing for the trip, I thought I needed nine shirts. So, when I repacked, I ended up taking out most of those shirts and packing one sweater and three shirts, saving me at least half my luggage space.
Pack for the weather and your activities
As you’re packing and repacking, make sure you check the weather and consult your itinerary. I like to make a loose itinerary of the activities I’ll be doing and the weather for those days to help me master how to pack a suitcase. This way, I make sure I don’t accidentally pack shorts if it’s going to rain all weekend.
For instance, I’ll write something like:
Monday: Museum day
Tuesday: High tea
Wednesday: Outdoor walking tour (70 percent chance of rain)
By using a list like this, I know that I need comfy shoes and a light jacket for the museum day, a classy outfit for high tea, and rain gear for the walking tour. From there, I’ll mix and match my pieces so I can double up and use each piece in my luggage more than once.
When I’m picking out the clothes, I like to lay out each day’s outfit and get a full visual look at what I’m packing. I’ll snap a pic, not because I have to stick to the outfits, but just to remember what I’ve packed. I can also then see if I need to get rid of anything or if I packed four black T-shirts as I did once on a trip to New York.
A few more packing dos and don’ts
Here are a few more quick dos and don’ts to keep in mind while packing:
- Do pack undergarments, your PJs, and an extra change of clothes in your carry-on just in case your checked bag gets lost or you get stuck somewhere overnight.
- Don’t pack prohibited items: Make sure there are no prohibited items in your carry-on so you don’t get stopped by TSA. This handy dandy tool even allows you to search by item so you can see if it can get past TSA.
- Do put a sheet of paper with your contact information in your carry-on in case it gets lost or accidentally scooped up by another passenger.
- Don’t place your valuables at the top of the bag. Instead, place them at the bottom, away from the opening so they don’t accidentally fall out, get crushed, or get rifled through.
Read also: Tips for a Stress-Free Airport Experience
