How to Pack a Carry-On Bag

Steps

1. 1

   Pack carry-on only

   Going carry-on only saves the fee for a checked bag. It also skips the check-in desk and the baggage claim, and your luggage cannot get lost.

2. 2

   Pick multi-purpose clothes

   To fit everything in one bag, start with the clothes themselves. Favour lightweight, versatile pieces that do more than one job and can be dressed up or down.

3. 3

   Stick to one color palette

   Versatile pieces work best when they share a color. Choose a coordinated or neutral palette so the clothes mix and match, and you get more outfits from fewer items.

4. 4

   Try the 3x3 method

   One way to do this is the 3x3 method, also called the Sudoku method. Pack 3 tops, 3 bottoms and 3 layering pieces. Those 9 garments give you up to 27 outfit combinations.

5. 5

   Count what a week needs

   You can also work from a straight count. A common rule for a week away is 1 hat, 2 pairs of shoes and 3 bottoms. Add 4 tops, 5 pairs of socks and 6 pairs of underwear.

6. 6

   Limit your shoes

   Shoes eat more space than anything else in the bag. Keep to about two or three pairs at most, and make sure each pair is versatile.

7. 7

   Add small accessories

   Accessories are the cheap way to add variety. Scarves, jewellery and sunglasses change the look of a basic wardrobe and take up almost no space.

8. 8

   Shrink your toiletries

   Now do the same paring down with toiletries and makeup. Keep only multi-purpose essentials, and decant them into small travel containers instead of packing full sizes.

9. 9

   Meet the liquids rule

   Small containers are also the rule. Liquids, gels and aerosols must each hold 3.4 ounces, which is 100 ml, or less. They all have to fit in one clear quart-sized zip-top bag, and each passenger gets one bag.

10. One bag per passenger, no exceptions: the quart-sized bag is a hard limit, not a guideline. The size of your containers decides what you can bring. This is the real reason to decant. A full-size bottle of shampoo fails the 3.4 ounce limit even if the bottle is nearly empty.
11. 10

    Wear your bulkiest items

    Your heaviest things do not need to go in the bag at all. Wear your coat, jacket or sweater on the plane, along with your biggest shoes, and free up that space.

12. 11

    Roll instead of fold

    With what is left, roll each garment rather than folding it. Rolling saves space in the bag and leaves fewer wrinkles.

13. 12

    Load packing cubes

    Put the rolls into packing cubes to keep the bag organised. Compression cubes are better still, because they press the clothing down as you close them.

14. Cubes and bags do different jobs: a packing cube keeps the carry-on organised. A compression cube also presses the clothes down a little. A compression or vacuum bag does not organise anything. It simply forces the air out, and that is where the big volume saving comes from.
15. 13

    Squeeze air out with compression bags

    For the tightest pack, use compression or vacuum bags. Pushing the air out of packed clothing cuts its volume dramatically.

16. 14

    Keep essentials in the cabin

    Some things should never leave your side. Keep medication, valuables and electronics in your carry-on, because checked bags can go missing or arrive late.

17. Why this matters even with a carry-on: travelling carry-on only is what removes the risk of lost luggage in the first place. The moment something goes into the hold, it can be lost or delayed. Medication, valuables and electronics are exactly the items you cannot replace on arrival.