A note on …

For over 10 years I've only travelled with carry on luggage. Whether it’s a family weekend away or weeks/months overseas, travelling light is not only possible, but I believe a better way to travel.

Many people around the world now travel with just carry-on luggage, but many people I speak to don’t know how to get started. I’ll share my approach to travelling light – it won’t necessarily work for you, but hopefully give you a few ideas to get started.

There's also plenty of great advice on the onebag subreddit – it's likely your question has already been asked.

Why Travel Light?

• Airfares can be cheaper, particularly on low-cost airlines.

• Air travel even quicker – no dropping off or waiting to collect bags, making it easier + faster to make connecting flights. I’ve definitely had at least 2 flights I haven’t missed as I didn’t need to collect any bags.

• Take a bus, train or whatever! With no large bags it’s easy to travel between the airport and your accomodation.

• It just feels great to travel with just a single backpack!

Why Wouldn’t You Travel Light?

• It can be tricky if you’re packing for multiple occasions – such as camping & wedding in the same trip.

• Your wardrobe is likely going to have less variety than your regular day to day.

• You have to regularly do your own washing or use a laundromat.

• There's barely any space or weight to bring back souvenirs or purchases – I view this as a positive!

• Some items you can't bring onto the plane such as trekking poles, large liquids, etc.

The Bag

This is one of the most important decisions you’ll be making! It doesn’t really matter if you go backpack or suitcase (I’m firmly in camp backpack), but you do need to consider a few things.

Personally, I use the Patagonia Mini MLC 30L backpack – it’s versatile enough that I can use it for all my travel as well as day-to-day.

• Size – Don’t risk going over your airline’s carry-on sizing restrictions (especially with a hard case) – look them up and ensure it fits! If you regularly fly budget airlines such as Ryanair or EasyJet, their carry-on dimensions are often smaller than regular airlines. You'll be looking for a bag that's 30-40L and I’d recommend starting closer to 40L when you’re starting out.

• Weight – Every gram matters so pay important attention to the bag’s weight – ideally under 1.5kg.

• Opening – Look for bags that have a large 'clamshell' opening or similar – this will allow you to easily pack, organise and see everything in your bag.

• Water Resistance – Consider if you really need a waterproof bag – often this comes at the expense of weight and other features.

• Laptop Compartment – Any bag should have a space to store a laptop so it can be used for business travel or as a work bag. Whatever you decide, ensure the laptop does not 'hit the ground' and has a false bottom.

• Water Bottle Pocket – Maybe you won't use it, but you'll be thankful when you do!

• Hip Straps – These are useful if you plan on carrying your bag for extended periods of time.

Alongside my main backpack, I carry a cross-body sling (Bellroy Lite Sling 7L) that carries most of my technology items + passport + travel documents. It carries everything I need for the flight, so I can put my backpack in the overhead cabin space and not need to get anything from it during a flight.

Clothing

If you're committed to travelling carry-on only, it's best to not look for 'travel clothing', but rather ensure the clothing you purchase moving forward is both versatile and light – ready for travel!

• Tops – there's a lot of talk online about merino for travel clothing – it's great, but it's also a bit expensive and can have a weird drape. For t-shirts, buy whatever works best for you and consider merino for a button-up or long-sleeve shirt / base layer. Choose colours that can be layered with anything else you have.

• Jackets / Warmth – Avoid heavy & chunky parkas and look for lightweight layers. Down or similar synthetic options are great for warmth as they are compressible and light.

• Bottoms – Jeans are heavy and take forever to dry – so might not be the best option for travel! Look for fast-drying and breathable pants that are multi-purpose – e.g. pants you can wear around town, but also ready for an outdoor hike. If you're taking shorts, look for shorts that can double as board shorts if you're going to have a swim!

• Socks / Underwear – This is a personal choice – but again consider the weight and time-to-dry! Darn Tough merino socks are the real deal and amazing for travel!

• Rainwear – Assume it will rain at some point! There are some great lightweight rain jackets (~350grams) around as well as lightweight rain umbrellas (such as the range by Montbell).

For a recent six week trip to the US & Guatemala, I took the following clothing. I was expecting temperatures between 0°C and 40°C, so I was able to layer up and down easily.

• 3 x cotton T-shirts (various)

• 1 x long sleeve T-shirt (Patagonia Capilene)

• 1 x long sleeve hooded wind shirt (these are great for hiking when it’s sunny!)

• 1 x merino long sleeve button up shirt (Icebreaker)

• 1 x shorts (also act as board-shorts, Patagonia Terrebonne)

• 1 x long khaki pants (Patagonia Quandary)

• 1 x long black pants (Uniqlo Commission)

• 1 x grid fleece jacket (Montane Protium XT)

• 1 x down hoodie (Patagonia Down Sweater Hoody)

• 1 x rain pants (Macpac Nazomi)

• 1 x rain jacket (REI w/ GORE-TEX Active)

The total weight of the above is just over 3kg – and of course I’d try to wear the heaviest items on the plane.

Footwear

Footwear is heavy, takes up heaps of space in bags and is one of the hardest items to pack! – so do your very best to take as few pairs of shoes as possible!

• One Pair of Shoes – I did a LOT of research into finding the best shoes and for me it was the Lems Primal Pursuit in Black. They're black (versatile), look like normal sneakers, but also have a hiking tread so I can also hike in them! Of course, there's plenty of other options – start with looking at black trail runners, they are a good option!

• Thongs / Flip Flops – great for wandering around the hotel / pool / camp-site + work as a backup pair of footwear! Some other great options are the Birkenstock Arizona EVAs (versatile + stylish) or lightweight hiking sandals for trips with a lot of hiking.

Toiletries

Most international flights will require all liquids to be in a single zip-lock bag and under 100mL.

• Travel Sized – Generally large supermarkets have a wide range of 'travel-sized' toiletries + in most cases you can top up overseas if you need! There's lots of great options in refillable containers that you can use to create your own travel-sized toiletry items.

• Consider Weight – Toiletries can quickly add up in weight! I use just the head of an electric toothbrush for my toothbrush – it's small and light!

Technology

Technology is one area that can quickly add weight to your overall carry-on weight.

• Charging – USB-C is the future – ensure as many of your devices as possible can be charged using USB-C. I use a small multi-port GaN USB-C charger (100W) with international adapters so I can charge my laptop, phone, eReader + anything else! I carry a long 2-3m USB-C cable (great for when the hotel power outlet is in a less than ideal location) and 2 very short 10cm cables. Wireless charging is fine, but I prefer the benefits of fast charging via cable on trips.

• Headphones – Over-Ear Headphones are too big and heavy for me. AirPods (or similar), combined with a Bluetooth Transmitter for the plane (such as the Airfly Pro) is the perfect combination for me. Sure – the battery doesn’t last the whole flight, but I just do a quick charge and watch with subtitles only when eating.

• Camera – It can be tempting to take your camera & photography equipment – but be warned, this takes up a lot of space and weight! Personally, I just take my iPhone 15 Pro Max (5x zoom is great!) and if I really need an extended zoom, I take a small point and shoot with a 30x lens.

• iPad / Laptop / eReader – For personal trips, I just take my iPad Mini and leave the laptop at home. It's great for watching movies/TV on the plane, storing some travel documents and a backup device if your phone is stolen or lost. I also travel with a Kobo eReader (built-in light) which is great for passing time in airports or in the evening.

Security

It's important to think about the security of your items and what would happen if some of your gear gets stolen or lost.

• Split Payment Methods – It's best to split your payment methods (cash, cards) across your bags and person. Generally, I'd have one card + cash in my wallet, backup cards and/or cash in both bags and an emergency card or cash in the bottom of my shoe or a pocket.

• Identification – Bring photocopies of your passport and backup passport photos with you and ensure each bag has one!

• Passwords & Devices – REALLY think through the scenario if your phone / all of your devices were stolen – do you know the password to your email account? Do you need any 2FA or OTP codes? Another smart option is to bring a spare phone and keep it separated from your regular phone whenever possible.

• Printed Itinerary – This is worth doing for two reasons. Firstly, it’s going to be a lifesaver if you lose your devices / digital access to your itinerary & bookings. Secondly, it’s a lot easier when you’re getting quizzed at immigration where and when you’re going.

• AirTags – Put an AirTag (or similar device) in every bag – especially wherever your passport is.

Other Tips & Tricks

• ABC – Always Be Charging – This is a good rule as you'll never know when you'll next have power – if you have an opportunity to charge your device – on the plane, in the airport, at the hotel – charge it!

• ABW – Always Be Washing – Laundry is a fact of onebag life! I take small laundry soap leaves and do my washing in the sink each night and hang it up to dry (this is why you should be looking for clothing that's quick-dry!). Obviously if a laundromat is an option, that's a great option.

• Towels – Generally I book hotels / hostels that provide towels, but if you really need a towel, these Lightload towels are the real deal! Just 17g for regular size!

• Stuff-able Shopping Bag – Tiny, stuffable shopping bags or mini day packs are a great idea to pack into your bag. Good for supermarket shopping whilst you're away, or a quick and easy way to bring a few extra things back on the way home.

• Rolling & Packing Cells – Packing cells are a great way of organising your bag so you can quickly pack and unpack your bag. There's lots of ways to store your clothes, but I've found rolling your clothing is fast and takes up very little space. Remember the weight creep – even packing cells can contribute to your bag’s weight.

• Point-It – This is a fantastic little book for when you're travelling to another country and you don't know the language. Yes I know we have Google Translate and what not now, but pictures are timeless and might just get you out of trouble one day.

That’s all there is! I’ve refined my approach to travelling light a lot over the past ten years, so I’d encourage you to just give it a go and see how it works or doesn’t work for you. Enjoy your travels.