How to Travel With a Carry-On Only: 11 Tips for a Hassle-Free Trip

“170 dollars for checked baggage”. I stared furiously at my laptop screen. This can’t be real! Soon after, I swapped my big, beloved backpack for a smaller carry-on luggage, and I haven’t looked bag ever since.

In the past few years, checked luggage has become increasingly more expensive. Although some airlines still include checked baggage in the ticket price, many airlines charge (in my opinion) outrageously high fees to check in your baggage. 

Luckily, you can simply avoid this cost by traveling with carry-on luggage only. This way, you don’t have to pay for checked-in bags, you don’t have to wait for your baggage to arrive at your destination, and you never have to worry about your bags being lost or stolen at baggage claim. 

Sounds good? Then, let me show you how to travel with only a carry-on and enjoy a budget-friendly and hassle-free trip!

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Tips for Flying With Carry-on Luggage Only

1. Keep an Eye on Size and Weight Limits!

When traveling with hand luggage only, one of the main keys is to inform yourself about size and weight allowances. 

A carry-on bag has to fit into the overhead compartment on a plane. Therefore, the standard carry-on size for international travel is 22 x 14 x 9 inches. The exact size can vary depending on the airline you fly with, but in my experience, you will almost always be fine if your carry-on bag doesn’t exceed these dimensions. 

The weight allowance, on the other hand, is not quite as standardized. I’ve experienced weight limits as low as seven kilograms, but on international fares, you’re often allowed to bring ten to twelve kilograms on board. 

Keep in mind that most airlines also allow you to bring a personal item on top of your carry-on (as long as you don’t exceed the weight limit with both items combined). This can be a purse, a bag, or a small backpack. The shape doesn’t matter as long as it fits underneath the seat in front of you. 

2. Choose the Right Carry-On Luggage!

If it’s your first time traveling with carry-on only, you’re probably wondering what backpack or suitcase to get. I recommend buying a suitcase or backpack that’s as big as the maximum carry-on size. 

You can shop online or visit an outdoor store like REI to try out different products. I personally prefer backpacks to suitcases, as I think they are more versatile and easier to deal with on the road, but of course that’s a personal preference.

If you’re looking for a good carry-on backpack, I can highly recommend the Osprey Fairview 55, which I have been traveling with for the past year.

The Fairview 55 comes with a small day pack, which you can use as your personal item, and a large backpack as your carry-on. Bonus: When you’re not flying, you can strap both backpacks together so that they’re easier to handle.

If you don’t need the personal item, you could also opt for the Osprey Fairview 40, which comes without the attached day pack and instead includes a laptop pocket.

3. Bring a Personal Item!

To make the most out of your carry-on luggage allowance, be sure to bring a personal item! I usually bring the small backpack that comes with the Osprey Fairview 55 backpack I just mentioned, but it could be any bag or backpack as long as it fits underneath the airplane seat in front of you. 

Tip: Although the weight limit of your carry-on luggage usually includes the weight of the personal item, many airlines don’t weigh your personal item (if they weigh your luggage at all — oftentimes, they just check the size). So, if I’m over the official weight limit, I usually put heavy items in my personal item, and so far, I’ve always gotten away with it.

Also, if you’re taking national flights, you sometimes still have to pay for carry-on luggage. In this case, you could even travel with a personal item only (it’s possible — I’ve done it!). 😀

4. Utilize Small Travel Containers for Liquids!

Keep in mind that large amounts of liquids are not allowed on planes. The general rule that most airports seem to follow is that you’re allowed to bring containers that fit 100 ml (3.4 oz) of liquid, and the total amount has to fit into a one-liter bag (33 oz). 

To keep things organized and prepare for security, I recommend getting travel-sized liquid containers that you can fill up with shampoo, soaps, sunscreen, etc. 

I use these containers from Amazon, but you can also find travel-sized containers in most drug stores.

5. Switch to Non-Liquid Alternatives!

To be honest, it can be a little bit tough to limit your liquids when flying with a carry-on only. To make it easier, you can also switch to solid, non-liquid alternatives.

For example, I travel with a solid shampoo bar and a solid sunscreen stick so that I don’t have to deal with many liquids. 

If worse comes to worst, you can also buy most of these products in literally any destination, so don’t stress if you can’t bring your shampoo or conditioner.

6. Pack Practical Clothes!

Of course, you won’t be able to bring as many clothes if you travel with only carry-on luggage. Therefore, it’s best to stick to practical clothes and items that can be used in various combinations. 

I usually bring enough clothes for two weeks and then do laundry when everything is worn. 

It’s also best to bring as few shoes as possible, as they take up a lot of space. I usually stick to one pair of sneakers, one pair of sandals, and one pair of flip-flops.

7. Layer Up at the Airport!

To save space in your carry-on luggage, it’s best to wear your thickest clothes at the airport. Wear a pair of solid shoes, put on a hoodie, and wear your bulky sweatpants. You can even wrap some jackets around your waist to have more space in your luggage.

Plus, if your carry-on exceeds the weight limit, you can always stuff some heavy items in your pockets when visiting the check-in counter. 😉

8. Roll Your Clothes!

Don’t ask me about the science behind this, but it is true: Rolled clothes seem to take up less space than folded clothes. Plus, they’re easier to organize, as you can see all the items at a glance. 

Just take your clothes, roll them tightly, and place them next to each other in your backpack. It’s as easy as that!

9. Use Packing Cubes!

Another packing hack that makes a huge difference when traveling with carry-on luggage is packing cubes. I haven’t used these little helpers for the first few years of my travels, and today, it seems absolutely crazy to me that I’ve ever traveled without them.

Trust me, they are a GAME-CHANGER!

They help you organize your clothes and make them more compact so that you can fit more in your carry-on backpack or suitcase.

I got these ones from Amazon, but you can get packing cubes from literally any outdoor brand. Also nice: Some even have a compression feature so that you can fit even more!

10. Don’t Pack Unnecessary Things!

This should be a no-brainer, but if you’re limited on space, don’t bring any unnecessary items! I know, everyone thinks they will wear twenty outfits on a two-week vacation, but we all know that we usually don’t even wear half of our stuff. 

The same counts for long-term trips. Even if you travel for a few weeks or months at a time, you don’t usually need to bring more than for a two-week trip.

Also, think about what you’re actually gonna wear and use while traveling. If you go clubbing in Las Vegas, you might want to bring some heels, but if you’re backpacking in Southeast Asia, you can leave your party wardrobe at home. 

If you’re not sure you need it, you probably won’t!

11. Don’t Bring Prohibited Items!

Last but not least, inform yourself about any prohibited items that you’re not allowed to bring on planes. You probably already know this, but don’t bring any sharp items  (e.g., pocket knives), weapons, or e-cigarettes. 

For more information, you can check out this list of prohibited items on planes by the American TSA, but keep in mind that countries and airports might have slightly different regulations.

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There you have it: my best tips for traveling with carry-on luggage only. Are you looking for more travel hacks to save money abroad? Check out my low-budget travel guide and learn how to travel the world without breaking the bank!

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