One Bag Travel: How to Travel With Just a Carry-On

We’ve all heard horror stories about airlines losing luggage. I can’t imagine a more deflating feeling than when you wait patiently by the conveyor belt, and your bag never shows up. I travel with just a carry-on, and I think everyone should give one-bag travel a chance. Don’t worry, you can still bring along a few creature comforts—you just don’t need to bring your entire closet. 

I’ve traveled all over the world as a solo female traveler, and I feel like I’ve got my packing technique down to a science. There won’t be any gatekeeping here: I’m going to share all of my tips and tricks so you can travel with just a carry-on, too. 

Step 1: Lay out everything you want to pack

Once you lay everyone out (and realize you’ll never fit it all) you’re going to make some edits. I know— it’s hard. But one of the biggest life lessons I’ve learned in my travels is this:

Who you think you are when you’re packing and who you actually are when you’re traveling are two different people. 

Once you accept that nugget of self-discovery, packing will become much easier. 

And since I can’t be there with you while you pack, let me help you.

• No, you don’t need four pairs of shoes. 
• No, you don’t need three different jackets.
• No, you don’t need that fancy dress “just in case.”

We both know you’re going to be wearing the same two outfits and the same pair of shoes on rotation. Speaking of shoes, go with a pair you can walk for miles in without discomfort. 

Step 2: Make those edits

Start going through your options and making those tough decisions. Are you really going to wear that top that you haven’t worn in three years? Probably not. 

As far as shoes are concerned, I only bring two pairs. I wear my sneakers/boots on the plane, and I also have a pair of sandals that come with me everywhere. 

Pick two pairs of pants/shorts and 2-4 shirts that you can mix and match. One jacket. Call it a day!

Styling tools can be edited, too. For instance, 99% of hotels and Airbnbs have a hairdryer. Pick either a straightener or a curling iron, not both. Or, learn how to curl your hair with a straightener! That skill has always escaped me despite multiple attempts. If you’ve mastered it, you have my utmost respect. 

Step 3: Packing

At this point, you should have a much smaller packing sample than what you began with. Most one-baggers will recommend packing cubes at this step. I’m honestly on the fence about packing cubes, y’all. I have a set of packing cubes, and I know there are tons of travelers who swear by them, I just am not sure they’re the right fit for me. I do agree that they keep you more organized, but I’m a fairly organized person in general. 

Compression packing cubes can be helpful if you’re on the brink of overpacking and you need to squeeze out every last bit of air to make space. I’d argue that if you find yourself in that position, return to step two and make another pass of edits. 

Learning how to fold your clothes to maximize space will be more valuable. Rolling your clothes saves a ton of space, and if you do it correctly, they won’t wrinkle. There are plenty of tutorials on how to roll your clothes efficiently, just head over to YouTube. 

Some fabrics (cotton, linen, silk) are going to wrinkle regardless, but I’ve always just hung them in the hotel bathroom while I shower and let the steam unwrinkle them. 

One Bag Travel Tips:

There are plenty of travel products that make one-bag travel easier. We mentioned packing cubes already, but there are some things you can bring to make the most of your limited wardrobe.

Here are two of my favorite travel products to help me on my minimalistic travels:

• Laundry detergent sheets: These sheets take up virtually no space in your bag, and they’re great for washing my clothes on the go. 
• Antibacterial fabric spray: This is my all-time favorite travel product. I use this around my home, but I felt like I unlocked a new travel level when I transferred it to a 3oz spray bottle to take with me on adventures. It’s great for jackets/fabrics you can’t wash on the go, and you can also use it to spruce up your hotel, rental car, etc. I've even converted many of my travel buds to use this spray!

Both of these products come with me on every adventure. I understand that not everyone wants to do laundry on their vacation, but I’d much rather spend an hour doing laundry than lugging around multiple suitcases. 

Getting travel-sized products will also free up a ton of space. Hairbrushes, in particular. If you wear make-up, keep it to the essentials. 

The key to one-bag travel is being ok with the idea of going without. We all have our creature comforts and overpacking tends to distract us from the anxiety of traveling. I can promise you that in my 10 years of global travel there has never been a moment when I look back and think, “Man, I wish I had brought my [clothing item].” Unless it’s a temperature situation and I’m hot/cold, of course.

Challenge yourself to commit to one bag for your next vacation! Traveling with just a carry-on is a game-changer, and even though you may not get it right on the first pass, I have faith you'll be inspired to travel with just a carry-on for all your future adventures. Share this article with the over-packer in your life and see if you can convince them to embrace minimalism.

Need some travel inspiration? Check out some of our favorite National Parks in America that will blow you away.