How To: Packing Minimally in a Carry-on (+Free Packing List!)

Raise your hand if you like waiting at the conveyor belt in baggage claim, endlessly watching as every bag except for yours passes by. Don’t you just love it when that happens?!

Well, what if I told you there’s one for sure way to avoid standing around in the overcrowded swarm of travelers (who otherwise think they must stand within 6 inches of the belt otherwise they might miss their bag) and avoid the hassle altogether?

There is! Packing minimally in a carry-on is (in my opinion) the best way to travel to avoid the extra wait time at your destinations, ensure your luggage gets to where it needs to be, and makes getting around so much easier.

In this blog post I’m going to walk you through what packing minimally actually looks like, how you can easily do it, and give you a (free!) minimal packing list that you can use on future trips.

So What Does Packing Minimally Actually Mean?

As a chronic over-packer myself, it took me a little bit of time to perfect the process, but it’s really not that difficult once you know how to approach your packing strategy.

Packing minimally doesn’t just mean packing light or randomly pulling things out of your suitcase that you think you won’t need. It’s an entirely different way to strategize what to pack, what you’ll actually use, and how many times you can realistically use each item.

For example, if you’re packing for a weekend away and plan on bringing an individual outfit for each day, in addition to pajamas, and maybe even a nighttime outfit to go out in, that’s a lot of clothing to pack for just a couple of days. Not to mention the additional items like socks, underwear, bras, etc. that you’ll need to bring as well.

So now let’s think about this realistically for a sec. Do you really need two completely different outfits for both days, or can you pack one pair of bottoms and bring two tops to mix and match with? This also applies to shoes, jewelry, accessories, jackets, and so on. The more that you can re-wear, the better!

Think about your pajamas now, do you actually need two separate pairs, one for each night? Or, will one pair for the weekend suffice? The only items I would say are appropriate to pack for each individual day are socks and underwear (I know you re-wear that bra!) with the exception of extreme weather or planned activities that would require additional clean clothing.

At the end of the day, packing minimally is all about getting creative and doing the most you can with the least amount of items.

Now That You Know What It Means, How Can You Do It?

Start by making a list of your basic everyday needs, AKA things you use on a daily basis. Things like shower essentials (body wash, shampoo, conditioner, etc.), skincare (face wash, moisturizer, sunscreen, etc.), body care (deodorant, perfume, etc.), hair care (brush, oil, dry shampoo, etc.), and oral care (toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, etc.)

Next, add to this portion of your packing list all health-related items (medications, supplements, etc.) and any other important documents or items you will need (wallet, keys, passport, cash, ID, etc.), so basically anything you wouldn’t leave the house without on a regular basis.

Click here to download my FREE minimalist packing list!

Once you have all the basics squared away, it’s time to start thinking about your outfits. And don’t stress! If you enjoy getting creative and planning outfits, you’ll have a lot of fun here.

So first think about how many outfits you need minimum depending on the number of days you’ll be gone. And I’m talking basic daytime outfits, excluding any type of special events or activities planned (we’ll get to that later). For example, if you’re only traveling over the weekend, you’ll need two outfits.

The general rule of thumb I like to follow is for every 2-3 days, pack 1 pair of bottoms and 2-3 tops to mix and match with. You can also swap accessories (jewelry, purses, belts, etc.) to make each day’s outfit feel more exciting or different. Packing smaller accessories is much easier to manage than packing multiple separate outfits into a small carry-on.

Lastly, you’re going to make a list of any other clothing items you need to bring. This could be an outfit for a special occasion (birthdays, anniversaries, other parties, etc.), a going out outfit (clubbing, dinner date, etc.), or any other essentials (pajamas, socks, underwear, etc.)

Packing Tips & Things to Keep in Mind

• Plan all of your outfits ahead of time and know exactly which day(s) you’ll wear them. It helps to create an “outfit calendar” in your notes app, that way you can add images of each outfit and make a note of which day you plan to wear it. This way you aren’t packing random items and just hoping for the best.
• Do not pack items simply because “you think you might need them.” Unless you are 99.99% sure you’re going to need it, don’t pack it. Each item should earn its place. If you go into the packing process with the mindset of “let me bring it just in case,” you’re going to end up with a bag full of things you probably could’ve left at home. (This obviously doesn’t apply to health or safety related essentials, like extra medication or things like that.)
• Wash everything before you pack it!! I don’t know about you, but one of my favorite little things is putting on a freshly clean outfit. Even if what you’re packing is “clean” (AKA been sitting in your closet for weeks) still give them a quick wash first to freshen them up, you’ll be glad you did!
• Wear your bulkiest items while traveling. This applies to jackets, hoodies, sweatpants, and basically anything else that takes up a lot of space in your luggage. You might get warm (sorry!) but it’s genuinely helpful for maximizing space in your bag while still being able to bring these extra items with.
• Check the forecast before you pack and then again 1-2 hours before you need to leave. This helps you plan ahead of time, and also gives you enough time to rethink any outfits or accessories due to weather changes if you need to.
• Leave some empty space. If you plan on shopping or picking up any souvenirs, you’re going to need space in your bag to bring those items home with you. Which can be difficult if you’re bag is already bursting at the seams before you even leave your house.
• Before you leave, do one final elimination round. Double check your packing list, your outfit choices, and make sure there isn’t anything that doesn’t need to be there. This makes sure that every item truly has a purpose and isn’t just there for emotional support.

If you found this post helpful, let me know in the comments!! I post all types of solo travel content every Tuesday and Saturday, so if you want to stick around and become part of the travel fam, we’d love to have you here!! 🙂