79 Secret Packing Hacks for Carry-On Travel

I've rounded up all of my best packing tips, hacks, tricks, and habits and crammed them into one video. I organized everything by category with timestamps if you want to jump around, but trust me there's some gold sprinkled throughout that you don't want to miss. If you're struggling to eliminate or pare down clothes or shoes, instead of thinking do I really need this, switch your thinking to what's the worst that can happen if I don't bring it. I find this mental process helps me work through scenarios to not only bring less, but to really get in the mindset of truly packing lighter instead of trying to find ways to squeeze in as much as possible into the bag. If you always feel like you've forgotten something, this exercise eliminates that second-guessing feeling. When you return home from a trip, do a packing audit and think about what you used, used the most, barely used, and didn't use at all. Then make a note in your phone to help you pack smarter and faster for your next trip. If you get sweaty or stinky and feel like you can't survive with just 3 or 4 shirts, stick thin panty liners inside your shirt armpits. You can even change them out more than once throughout the day. This will give you more days to wear your shirt before having to wash it. Think about your itinerary. If I know I'll have access to laundry at some point in my trip, I will build in laundry days or laundry moments. This can be something like having nothing scheduled one morning on day 5 or 6 so I can do some sink laundry. Or it could also be planning a buffer day where you don't have anything planned. Buffer days are always good to have anyways in case you need to shift things around due to weather. Don't play the I might wear this game because you absolutely will not end up wearing it. Follow the 3 second rule. When you pick something up, ask yourself if you would wear this right now or tomorrow. Decide within 3 seconds. If there's any hesitation, don't pack it. Use the 2 to 1 rule. For every 2 similar items, pack only 1. For example, if you want to bring a pair of dark wash denim and a pair of black jeans, those are both pretty similar. So choose just 1. Or you might have a white t-shirt and a white tank top. Pick one of those two. I like to pack my suitcase at least a day ahead so I can walk away from it. The next day, I come back and force myself to remove at least one item to reduce my bag that little bit extra. To pack less clothing overall, use the 3 by 3 by 3 method. This is 3 tops, 3 bottoms, and 3 layering pieces. The key is that all articles of clothing can be worn together to make as many outfits as possible out of only 9 pieces. This is what's called a capsule wardrobe and it can be adapted to most kinds of travel and climates and for anyone's style. The trick here is that in most standard carry-ons, you can certainly fit more than 9 articles of clothing plus undergarments, shoes, toiletries, and accessories. So challenge yourself to adhere to the 3 by 3 by 3 and then your reward is to throw in 2 or 3 more tops or as many as you can fit in. And at the very least, if you can't quite master the 3 by 3 by 3, always pack more tops than bottoms which will give you the most outfit variations. So you don't need an equal amount of tops to bottoms. Another method I use to pack less is to lay everything out that I potentially want to bring and then identify items that are similar. I'm guilty of bringing too many black shirts and jeans that basically look the same so anything that's similar, only bring one. This will help you eliminate a lot of bulk. You can also try the 5-4-3-2-1 method which is very customizable. It involves packing 5 tops, 4 bottoms, and then the 3-2-1 part is where you can customize it. So you can either do 3 pairs of shoes, 2 accessories, and 1 swimsuit. Or 3 swimsuits, 2 pairs of shoes, and 1 jacket. Just as examples. As long as you stick to the 5-4-3-2-1 item from each category, this can work surprisingly well. With every piece of clothing you're packing, see if it can perform at least 2 functions. So for example, a pair of black joggers can be worn on the plane and on travel days, but also act as loungewear in your hotel room at the end of the day when you want to relax. I usually aim to bring darker clothing like blacks and navy blues because they're more multi-use than brighter colors. They can be dressed up to look more formal, and they're also better at hiding imperfections like sweat marks. Clothing made from merino wool is another good option. The fabric is temperature regulating and ultra-breathable, so you can wear them a few times without needing to wash them. Merino wool is a good option if you don't have access to or much time to do laundry. Use all of the space that you're allowed. This tip is for all you overpackers out there. Don't forget that you can fully utilize your carry-on and personal item bags to maximize the amount of things you can bring. If you have a personal item bag that's actually designed well, it can almost double the amount of space that you have to work with. A perfect example of this is the bento bag from Nomad Lane, who I've partnered with for this video. You can pack an additional 2-3 outfits and even another pair of shoes in here. So if you're traveling somewhere for 10 days or even 2 weeks, using the bento bag and a standard carry-on and some strategic packing, you can get by without having to do any laundry. The reason this works is because you'll be using a carry-on that doesn't have any additional front pockets or zippers so that you can max out the interior space. Because the bento bag has all the extra pockets you need for things like your laptop, electronics, wallet, your phone, passport, keys, your power bank, and headphones, while still allowing you to pack additional pieces of clothing or shoes or whatever else you need room for. And an underrated feature I love about this bag is that it's got a light-colored interior, which is so much better when you're quickly looking to check to see if you packed something. Consider choosing or deciding on which shoes you're going to bring first before choosing your clothing. All trips are different, but chances are you're going to be walking and exploring, so think about the shoes you'll need to be not only comfortable, but also functional. And then plan your outfits around what works with the shoes that you're packing. If you need to pack hiking shoes, which are usually bulky and heavy, wear them to the airport and onto the plane, but pack a pair of slim, lightweight slides with you and change into those for the flight. Place your boots single-file under the seat in front of you or behind your knees. Stuff socks, underwear, and other small items inside shoes if they're getting packed inside your suitcase. You can also separate your shoes and sandals when you pack them. Start by finding a spot for each shoe to fit on the edges of your luggage. They don't have to be packed together. For example, sometimes I pack one wedge at the top of my bag and one on the bottom. If you don't have room for a second pair of shoes, pack a second pair of insoles. When your feet get tired and sore, you can swap out the old ones for some new cushy or memory foam or cooling gel insoles instead. It's almost as good as a second pair of shoes. I like Superfeet, they're a really good brand. If you're prone to blisters or didn't get the chance to completely break in a new pair of shoes, pack some blister patches. When packing underwear, pack them last. You can wedge them into nooks and crannies of your suitcase. And for both socks and underwear, consider not packing a pair for every single day of your trip. If I'm going away for 7 days, I'll probably bring enough to not have to do laundry. But anything more than that, I'll bring as many pairs as I can fit and then do sink laundry. Socks and undies are the easiest items to wash in the sink. A lot of people also just pack 5 pairs no matter how long the trip is. Don't roll your socks together, just lay them flat. That way they take up less room. There is also such thing as disposable underwear. You wear them once and then throw them away. And then by the end of the trip, you now have some more room for souvenirs. It's a little wasteful, but it's an option. To pack a sun hat, turn it upside down and then stuff it full of small soft items like socks, underwear, or swimsuits. And then pack the rest of your suitcase around it, underneath the brim so it holds its shape and doesn't get squished. Or you can use a magnetic clip for your sun hat and clip it to your bag. Speaking from real world travel experience, if you're hopping on a flight to a sunny tropical destination, this is a pretty common sight and you're not going to be forced to pack it away. Plus, a hat clip is useful when you're out and about, maybe going in and out of shops or restaurants and you don't want to forget your hat somewhere after you've set it down. Ask me how I know. Or ditch the bulky sun hat and pack a packable bucket hat that folds up into the size of a corn tortilla. To pack belts, wrap them around the perimeter of your fully packed luggage. There's usually space where you can tuck them into the sides. To pack a necklace tangle-free, lay it down on a layer of press and seal wrap, then press down, seal, and roll. If you're concerned about wrinkles, pack a travel-sized bottle of Downy Wrinkle Release Spray. I find it works best if you spray your clothes before bed and then hang them up in the bathroom. Then let the steam from your morning shower do the rest. It's not as effective as a travel steamer, but it does help. You can also try the tight brick method for packing clothes to avoid wrinkles and place them in a packing cube. Or try folding your clothes in stacks by placing the most wrinkle-prone pieces in the center of the stack. Sandwich them between heavier items so that the pressure is even on the edges and stays in place. For doing laundry on the go, pack laundry detergent sheets and do sink laundry. I do this on almost every trip. And like I mentioned, to save space, you don't need to pack more than five pairs of socks and underwear. You can also wash your underwear and t-shirts while you're in the shower. Just squish the clothing under your feet as you shower. If you're planning an extended trip, say two weeks or longer, it's helpful if you can build in laundry days into your itinerary. When planning a trip, think about at what point you'll need to do laundry and try to book a hotel that might have access to a washing machine. For example, on my last two-week trip to Europe, we specifically chose a hotel that would have laundry halfway through our trip. It's a little trickier than that because if you've traveled to Europe, you probably know that many places will have a washing machine, but not necessarily a dryer. So if you know that you'll probably want to do laundry on day five or six, make sure that day of your itinerary is a little more chill with nothing booked or pre-planned. Same with pajamas. I get this question a lot. I'm not sure how many sets of PJs you guys are bringing, but I just bring two sets tops so that way one can be washed and drying while I'm wearing the other. You can also pack a compact microfiber towel to dry clothes faster. Lay them flat in the towel, roll it up, and either wring it out or step on it to remove as much excess water as you can, and then hang your clothes to dry. Hotel towels work too, but if you do have a thin microfiber towel, that pulls out a lot more water and dries faster so you can do more laundry. You could also try the stuffable neck pillow trick. This is exactly what it sounds like. Use it to pack some extra shirts or sweaters or a light packable jacket. Basically, just those few extra items that won't quite fit in your carry-on, but would be handy to have on the plane. Now, some airlines are picky about neck pillows, so do check your specific airline's policy before flying with a neck pillow. I also have a full video showing you how this works. Packing cubes are essential for making the most use of the space in your carry-on, but look for ones made out of lightweight material like nylon instead of canvas, which is a lot heavier and thicker. Compression cubes are the way to go because you can definitely fit that little bit extra. To help you pack faster, lay your packing cubes inside of your carry-on first and then fill them. This will help you visualize how everything will fit together. To pack your cubes, fold your clothes to the width of the packing cube and then fold it accordingly. Or try the Jenga method for stacking, where you alternate heavy seams, but still fold to the size and shape of the cube. I like using a mix of folding and rolling inside the cube to use as much space as possible. Sometimes depending on what I'm packing, I find it works out better to not use the compression feature since the cubes are a little more malleable and you can squeeze a bunch of little things in between the cubes. Depending on your luggage, you can also place the cubes in different configurations to make the most room and play around with some laying flat and others stacked on their edges. Also, did you know that slim packing cubes exist? These are awesome for packing items in between the trolley handles of your suitcase. And if you've ever bought a set of packing cubes that comes with a smaller cube or you have a leftover one you're not sure what to do with, instead of just using it for your clothes, you could also use it to hold all of your essentials that you might need on the plane. If you're planning to buy souvenirs and need to figure out how to leave space in your luggage, you could travel with clothing like socks and underwears and some t-shirts that are on their last legs and plan to leave them behind. Some might say this is a little wasteful, so if that bothers you, just don't do that. You could also choose to pack and wear inexpensive clothing that you bought from a thrift store and then before coming home, donate those clothes which now leaves you room for souvenirs. For souvenirs, you can also try the dirty duffel strategy. This is where you pack or buy a simple duffel bag and then on your way home, you throw in all your dirty clothes and non-fragile items into this bag and check it if you need to. Then bring all of your souvenirs with you in your carry-on. That way, if your bag does get lost or damaged, you're just going home so it's not as big of a deal compared to starting your vacation. If you're flying on an airline with very strict rules about sizes or maybe you've got a really full flight and you're in the last boarding zone, always pack a smaller bag that has your essentials that you need with you on the plane and anything else you wouldn't want to lose. Put together a small bag that you can have separate or pull out quickly in case you do have to gate-check your carry-on. You can use a hanging toiletry bag as your in-flight kit so that you can hang it from the seat and have everything in front of you instead of having to bend over and reach down into your bag. Let's talk toiletries. Pack your toiletry bag a day or two before you leave and then only use items from that bag to make sure you're not forgetting something. Of course, you don't have to physically use the product, but for example, when you go to brush your teeth, reach to the bag and make sure your toothbrush is there and then go grab your full tube of toothpaste. Or when you go to put on your moisturizer, make sure it's in your travel bag and then use it from your full size. You can use contact lens cases for small amounts of creams and makeup. A simple way to pack fewer toiletries to save room is to simply not pack them and then buy them at your destination. Unless you're headed somewhere off-grid, chances are you'll be within proximity to a store. However, this isn't always possible. Sometimes your itinerary is packed or maybe you're getting in later in the evening when stores have closed or maybe you're on a group tour which doesn't have much time for shopping for provisions on your first day. If you do need to pack toiletries, here are some quick tips to help you bring less of them and save space. I have heard people order Amazon Prime toiletries or cosmetics to their hotel or Airbnb for when they get there, especially if you're traveling with a family or a group and you're short on time and you don't want to burn valuable vacation time by running to the drugstore. I haven't tried this myself, but it is entirely possible and not the worst idea. Use as many solids for toiletries as possible. Toothpaste tablets or powder, shampoo bar, powder dry shampoo, crystal deodorant and lotion sticks all exist for this purpose. Soak cotton pads in mistler water, toner or makeup remover so it doesn't count as a liquid and then just lightly moisten to use. I've also recently discovered small cleansing melts which are essentially the same idea. They're a small square where you just add water to activate and then you've got a facial cleanser and makeup remover which doesn't count as a liquid. The squares are also lightweight too. My holy grail product for bringing liquids is to use the pouches instead of silicone bottles especially for shorter trips. Using these allows me to bring a bigger variety of liquids. If you have serums or something that needs a dropper bottle, you can buy the one ounce And here's something not many people know about especially if you're struggling with a few extra liquids and you don't know how to eliminate them. If you have a liquid that's medically necessary, it doesn't need to be within the 100 ml or 3.4 oz size container. Contact lens solution is a good example of this. You can just ask the screening officer to hand check it for you. When travelling with friends or family or your spouse, check to see if there are items that you can share to lighten or minimize your toiletries. For example, this travel size of contact solution will last 2 people for about 2.5 weeks wearing contacts each day. So between my husband and I, only one of us needs to bring this so we don't each need to pack our own. And for packing toiletries since they always seem to be the last thing you think about when packing and putting them in your bag, get yourself a toiletry bag that can be packed flat. I like this one by Tripped. You can open it butterfly style to lay more flat in your bag or even a slim case like this one. Use a quart size Ziploc bag for packing liquids in your carry-on. If you don't already have one, you don't need to waste your money on a TSA approved liquids bag. Most of them are too big anyway. And Ziploc bags are watertight in case something does leak. For leak-proofing your bottles and containers, get yourself a pack of these toiletry skins to stretch over top of the bottle. They work great for bottles of shampoo, sunscreen, mistler water, makeup, and the like. I've tried placing a piece of saran wrap over top of the bottle, but I find that's only one-time use and these toiletry skins last a lot longer. If you use bars of soap or shampoo bars, you can cut them up into smaller pieces. Or just save the bars of soap when they become a little bit too small and pack those soap nubs with you. Thank you to a subscriber who shared that little tidbit. Always pack alcohol wipes. If you forgot deodorant or need a quick refresh, they also help deodorize your shoes and they can even help alleviate nausea by smelling them. If you have a packing method you swear by, please let us all know. Drop it in the comments below. And if you want more tips like this, don't forget to sign up for my email list. Thank you so much for watching, and we'll see you in the next one.