How I pack a carry on for week-long trips

When I fly these days, I rarely check a bag. It’s partly to avoid paying a baggage fee, and it’s partly to make a quick exit as soon as I land. I’ve fine-tuned my packing process so that I can now pack a carry on for up to a week at a time. You can check out what I pack in my purse when I travel here.

The bag

I prefer a board bag with wheels and a handle. I recently upgraded to a matched set (#adulting) with two pieces of luggage and a boarding bag. As everything on planes seems to be shrinking, I would recommend buying a 19″ – 21″ bag to fit in the overhead compartments. I really love bags that have four wheels because they allow you to more easily navigate airports and quick connections.

Packing cubes

My mom bought me a set of packing cubes for Christmas a few years ago, and I loved them so much I bought a second set. Now, Mac and I each have cubes available for when we travel together. Not to be too dramatic, but packing cubes have honestly revolutionized how I pack. I prefer to pack all like items in each cube (all shirts together, all pants, etc.). Some people pack outfits together. Using packing cubes allows me to maximize the space in my luggage.

Maximize the outfits

I recycle outfits when traveling. It’s environmentally friendly, right? I designate one outfit for the plane because I try to keep airplane and airport germs as contained as possible. If I’m traveling for work, I either pack one pair of pants for every two days or dresses to save space. When I’m traveling for fun, I bring a pair of pants for every two – three days.

Minimize the shoes

Shoes are the bane of every efficient packer. Lots of travel sites recommend wearing your largest shoes, and I generally agree with that advice. I would also add to wear shoes that are easy to remove and put on to deal with security. If you maximize your outfits, you can reduce the number of shoes you need.

Don’t overpack

This may seem obvious, but it’s important to remember when trying to keep it to one bag. I’m totally guilty of packing running shoes to work out when 99% of the time, I don’t work out. Also, be conscientious of how many days you are traveling compared to how much you are packing. My dear, darling husband has a tendency of packing about five outfits for a weekend trip (this is not an exaggeration).

How do you pack a carry on for long trips?