Introduction
In this blog we share some tips on packing for a trip that just may change the way you travel.
Are you a guy who hates to check luggage? If so, you’re not alone. Millions of travelers prefer to avoid the hassle and expense of checked bags. But packing for a trip with only carry-on luggage can be a challenge. That’s why we’ve asked four experienced travel writers to share their top tips for packing light and traveling stress-free.
In this blog post, you’ll learn how to:
- Choose the right carry-on luggage
- Pack efficiently for any length of trip
- Avoid packing common mistakes
Whether you’re planning a weekend getaway or a month-long adventure, our tips will help you pack like a pro. So read on and start planning your next carry-on-only trip!
James – 5 million+ miles flown, 20+ trips per year
Choose the right carry-on luggage:
I have a trusted Tumi 19 Degree aluminum continental carry-on that has traveled over two million miles with me. It’s black, battered and full of memories. It’s sold as a “continental carry-on” implying that it should only be used for US domestic but I have traveled with this across the globe on many airlines (mostly Star Alliance) and only once in the past three years have I been asked to check it (other than on the small regional aircraft where everyone has to check their luggage) and that was on a Lufthansa flight from Frankfurt to Split where I was traveling business class and the overhead bins in business class were smaller than in economy to offer more headroom to passengers. First time I had ever come across that one and still trying to figure out how the geniuses at Lufthansa thought that would be a good thing to do. Anyway, I love this luggage and what makes it so great, other than its indestructibility, is that it is rigid. I can cram it full, stand on it (I am 205lb) and it always closes, never bulges, never have to struggle to get a zipper closed, just snaps shut and off I go. My other go-to travel bag is my “hand-luggage”. A five year old Troubadour leather tote. It has a huge capacity but still meets any airline hand-luggage regulations. Along with my tech stuff I usually carry my running shoes, toiletries and outerwear in this bag. I also love that the handles on this tote slip perfectly over the handle of the Tumi roll-aboard and keep it securely on top of the bag, they make a great pair. Unfortunately. I don’t think that Troubadour makes the leather tote any more but the recycled fabric Carrier tote looks like the best alternative they have.
Pack efficiently for any length of trip:
I frequently make two or three week trips that often cross multiple continents and climate zones, but I can always do it with just my carry-on luggage. My secret is AsWeMove underwear. I get through at least two pairs of underwear a day, one for my workout and one for daily wear, maybe another pair if I change to go out in the evening. I pack 20 pairs of underwear, with laundry, that will last me any length of time and with AsWeMove underwear, 20 pairs literally takes up less space than a couple of pairs of regular boxers. It’s also very easy to launder in a sink if you have to and dries super fast. This brand of underwear changed my packing game and something I highly recommend. The other secret, as I already mentioned, is to carry your running shoes and lightweight packable outerwear in your tote, that frees up a ton of space in your roll-aboard.
Avoid common packing mistakes:
It’s always tempting to overpack toiletries but that can take up so much space. The only two things I am always certain to pack enough of are my deodorant, I swear by Mitchum Clinical and have never found a great alternative. And my Hims shampoo/conditioner, thats because I have a real phobia of losing my hair and since I have been using this product (5 years now) I have seen a dramatic reduction in hair thinning. I decant the Hims products in to 4ml bottles and that will last me at least 2 weeks, three if I use it sparingly. Other than that, I buy the products I need on the road, buying travel sizes that can be discarded and not hauled around the globe.
Tom – 2 million+ flight miles and many ocean crossings. 20+ trips a year.
Choose the right carry-on luggage:
I am a long time Away luggage user. I know its kind of boring, and I know that the brand feels a little overdone when so many people on the flight all wheel on the same luggage. But its so practical. The flexible clam-shell design allows me to overstuff it and still get it closed. The zipper is strong, and has never failed me even when the bag has been so stuffed that I think it is about to burst. I tend to change my luggage every year, making birthday gift suggestions really easy. And I pass down last year’s model to family and friends. I know my mum travels with an Away bag I gave her 5 years ago and it’s still going strong. I use the “Bigger carry-on”, not the expandable version, just the regular one and this serves well for any length of trip. One year I did try the expandable but in a full year of travel never used the expanding function. For hand-luggage I prefer a backpack and Patagonia is my go-to. I find the Rufugio backpack works great for travel and also for excursions and sightseeing while you are traveling. It’s smart, comfortable to wear, very practical with plenty of interior and exterior storage and it’s super lightweight. The only thing I don’t like is that it does not have a good way to slip over the handles of the roll-aboard and it can be quite tricky to get it to rest/stay on top when you are traversing an airport or train station. I guess it’s designed as a backpack and the designers assume you will be wearing it as such, but sometimes it’s more practical to stack it on the roll-aboard and I wish it was better at that. But overall, I love it and you won’t find me traveling without it.
Pack efficiently for any length of trip:
Only wear black! I’m serious when I travel I only pack black clothing, well OK occasionally a white T-shirt or a gray T-shirt but mostly black. That makes everything so easy for a long trip. I will pack 10 black T-shirts in a variety of weights – some dressy heavyweight for more formal wear, some lightweight for excursions and everyday wear. Then I pack a pair of black jeans, a pair of black pants (usually AG Everett SUD) and three pairs of Lululemon Pace Breaker joggers, sometimes I break my rule and take a black pair, an olive pair and a gray pair!. I never travel without my beloved black Belstaff Walkham jacket, I usually wear that to travel, but it does fold up incredibly small. And in colder months or climates, I will take a black Patagonia Nano Puff vest which I can wear on its own or under the Belstaff. I will take three sets of workout clothes all in very lightweight fabric that can be laundered in a hotel room sink and dry very quickly. Again, Lululemon is my go to. If I am traveling in hot climates or to beach destinations I will lose a couple pairs of pants and add more workout gear. The workout gear works for excursions and as swimwear. I have a pair of black Lanvin DBB1 sneakers that I take everywhere – these will dress up any outfit and are super comfortable. My workout shoes are Brooks, which are also great for hikes and sightseeing, and I will take a pair of Birkenstock and that’s about it. Oh and because James mentioned underwear, my choice is Todd Sandfield briefs, not quite as packable as The AsWeMove brand that James takes, but very efficient to pack and to launder.
Avoid common packing mistakes:
The old ones are the good ones! Roll, do not fold your clothes. It’s amazing how much more space you will create if you neatly roll your clothes. For example 10 T-shirts rolled will take up less than 10% of an Away roll-aboard. And by rolling your clothes when they are compacted in the case, you will avoid creasing and having to iron or steam when you get to your destination.
Shawn – 2 million + miles flown. Numerous trans – continental road trips
Choose the right carry-on luggage:
This is a tough subject for me. I have been traveling with an eBags roll-aboard for the past seven years. It has served me so well. Soft sided with a top opening. Its really flexible for packing for a week or for a month. But it’s finally reaching the end of its life, looking tired and well worn. But eBags does not exist anymore and I cannot replace it. So I’ve been looking for alternatives starting with Samsonite who purchased the brand eBags. I just bought the Samsonite Andante 2 22″ Wheeled Duffel, which I selected because it looked similar in style to the eBags bag I have been using. I have not made a trip with the new bag yet but first impressions are pretty good. I love that it has an exterior compartment for my running shoes, and the interior volume looks pretty similar to my eBags. I have a trip to Africa coming up and that will be a good test of the new bag. As far as hand luggage goes, I use a Troubadour Ridge backpack. James introduced me to this brand a few years ago and this bag goes everywhere with me. It stands up very well to the rigors of travel, being stuffed under airline seats, bounced around in the trunks of taxis, and exposed to the elements on bike trips – handles all this well. It also has great organization for all of my tech stuff, gadgets, drinks and snacks that I take with me.
Pack efficiently for any length of trip:
I like to have an organized and cohesive wardrobe, especially for travel. And my go-to brand is L’Estrange, a British brand that I discovered on a trip to London. I buy most of my clothes from them online with easy shipping to the US but also like to visit the stores when in London. They sell a kind of modular system of clothing that makes it easy to pack – everything works with everything, you don’t have to think too hard and you can dress up or down with ease. Their heavyweight tee is a favorite and also their 24 Blazer which is an absolute staple for me. Their clothes can be expensive but if you travel frequently they are well worth the money, it makes packing for a trip so easy.
Avoid common packing mistakes:
You don’t need to pack two pairs of jeans – ever. In fact, I don’t think that you need to pack jeans at all. They are bulky, difficult to launder on the road (I once had a pair of jeans laundered in a hotel in Hong Kong and they came back with starched creases ironed in the legs. I felt like my grandad and it took forever to get the crease out). Pack lightweight, crease resistant materials and I would go with a pair of L’Estrange 360 Trousers in navy over jeans anytime.
Rhagu – Lost count of the miles, 6+ trips to India a year.
Choose the right carry-on luggage:
I use a 40L Patagonia Black Hole wheeled duffel. The name “Black Hole” describes this bag so well. It has the ability to hold a huge capacity of shoes and clothes, you can really compress the content if needed and the zippered top opening is really strong. Some taller people comment that the extended handle is too short for them but I am 6’1” and I have no issues at all. I also like that this bag is easy to store, it has a rigid base and soft sides/top that can be compressed into the base so it takes up very little storage room – in my house it gets stored under a bed. I pair this with a Patagonia Black Hole Mini MLC which is such a versatile bag. It can be used as a backpack or a shoulder bag. It has a massive 30L capacity and as long as you don’t overstuff it you will not have any problem getting it under an aircraft seat. It also has great tech organization and protection for your laptop and tablet. It has a strap that slides over the handle of the roll-aboard making them the perfect pair. It also looks great, with a rugged yet polished aesthetic.
Pack efficiently for any length of trip:
I tend to pack one smart set of clothes, 10 sets of shorts and tee-shirts that can be used for workout of everyday wear, 3 long sleeve athletic tops, 2 pairs of joggers in lightweight tech fabric, a lightweight windbreaker, 2 pairs of swim shorts, lightweight socks and underwear and that’s about it. I could survive for months with this setup as long as I get to a laundry facility at least once a week – which is not usually a problem for me as I prefer a rental over a hotel anywhere I travel. I only use hotels if I am staying for 3 nights or less.
Avoid common packing mistakes:
I lay out everything on a bed before I start to pack. If it looks like a lot of stuff, you are probably over packing and have to make some edits. I usually end up editing at least 20% of what I set out to pack, removing the “nice to have” or “I may need that” items and focusing on the things that I really need. Bring only the things you need, be aware of cultural norms in the destinations you are traveling to (less of a problem for men than women) and get a great universal/global power adapter, it’s a lifesaver.
Conclusion
In conclusion, whether you’re a seasoned traveler or just starting out, following these tips and recommendations can help you pack efficiently, avoid common packing mistakes, and choose the right luggage for your needs. Remember, it’s all about finding a system that works for you and your travel style. So, pack smart, travel light, and enjoy your adventures! You can also read our guide to men’s toiletry bags and dopp kits. Oh, and don’t forget to pack your favorite travel gadgets!
