I NEVER CHECK A BAG — HERE’S WHAT I BRING IN MY CARRY-ON TO MAXIMIZE SPACE

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There are so many benefits to traveling with just a carry-on, aside from the fact that you’ll have one less suitcase to lug to your destination. You're saving money on baggage fees (which means that you'll have more to spend on other aspects of your trip), you get to skip the long baggage check-in lines and you can breeze right out of the airport after your flight without waiting forever at the carousel for your bag to appear.

Simply put, it makes traveling so much easier. That's why, with the exception of a few rare occasions, I have pretty much been traveling with just a carry-on suitcase and personal item for the last five years. And I'm not just talking about quick trips, I've gone on weeks-long vacations, bringing just a backpack and my Away carry-on suitcase.

That being said, traveling minimally definitely takes practice. With less space to work with, you have to be thoughtful about each and every item you pack. So that means thinking ahead and planning out your outfits. I try to stick to a neutral color palette so I know that everything will go together, and I pack pieces that can be worn in multiple ways.

So in case you need a little inspiration, I'm sharing the basic formula that I follow whenever I'm packing for a trip, including some of the basics that I brought along on an 11-day trip through Europe.

Clothing | Shoes | Toiletries | Luggage and accessories | How we chose

Carry-on packing essentials: Clothing

Old Navy Seamless Ribbed Tank Top

Ribbed Tank Top

Ribbed Tank Top $13.99 at Old Navy

No matter the time of year or where I'm going, I always pack at least a few tank tops for every trip. Not only do they take up minimal space, but they're also easy to style. If it's warm out, I can wear one on its own with any of the bottoms I brought. Or, for chillier nights, I can throw a jacket or button-down on top.

This tank from Old Navy paired perfectly with both the shorts and skirt I brought and was stretchy and breathable, which was important since the temperatures in Munich and Paris reached over 90 degrees some days.

Gap Organic Organic Cotton Vintage T-Shirt

Organic Cotton Vintage T-Shirt

Organic Cotton Vintage T-Shirt $23.00 at Gap

I couldn't go to Paris without bringing at least one striped tee! I picked this one up from Gap right before I left. Given the hot weather, I appreciated how lightweight and breathable it was.

Gap Organic Cotton Big Shirt

Gap Organic Cotton Big Shirt

Gap Organic Cotton Big Shirt $34.00 at Gap

Button-downs are perfect because they can work for practically any occasion. Need a beach cover-up? Throw on a button-down. Want to dress up a pair of jeans? It can do that. Need a light jacket? This will suffice. For my trip, I brought a similar one along (the exact shirt I have is no longer available) and paired it with the above tank and a pair of shorts for a day of walking and exploring.

Bombas Women’s Pima Cotton Crew Neck T-Shirt

Women's Pima T-Shirt

Women's Pima T-Shirt $40.00 at Bombas

Finding the perfect white tee can be a struggle, but in my opinion, this shirt from Bombas comes pretty close. The fit is relaxed with a bit of structure and it's super soft and comfortable — even after multiple washes.

Uniqlo Linen Blend Open Collar Short-Sleeve Shirt

Uniqlo Short-Sleeve Shirt

Uniqlo Short-Sleeve Shirt $19.90 at Uniqlo

My love for button-downs runs deep. That’s why I always bring a few on trips. Since the weather forecast said that it would be in the high 80s and even 90s at times for most of my time in Munich and Paris, I added a couple of short-sleeved options into the mix to pair with my shorts or jeans. I packed an orange-yellow version of this shirt (which is no longer available) and a similar black one. The fabric is light, so it was good for the warmer days of the trip.

Lululemon Everywhere Belt Bag 1L

Everywhere Belt Bag 1L

Everywhere Belt Bag 1L $38.00 at Lululemon

I always bring a backpack as my personal item, which is great for maximizing space, but it's usually too bulky to bring while walking around exploring a new city. That's why I like to stick this belt bag in my suitcase. It's the perfect size to hold my phone, keys, cards, sunglasses and a few other essentials for the day and I carried it with me almost every day of the trip.

Abercrombie & Fitch Ultra High Rise 90s Straight Jean

Ultra High Rise 90s Straight Jean

Ultra High Rise 90s Straight Jean $90.00 at Abercrombie

Jeans take up a lot of space in your carry-on, so I typically try to only bring one pair when I'm traveling. I loved having these as an option to pull on for a couple of the cooler days during my trip. They have a flattering fit and look super stylish when paired with a basic tee or tank.

Everlane The Easy Pant

The Easy Pant

The Easy Pant $88.00 at Everlane

The name of these pants really says it all: They're easy! Easy to wear, style and move around in. They have a soft, stretchy waistband, which I really appreciated after multiple days of eating endless servings of pretzels, bread and cheese.

Old Extra High-Waisted Taylor Linen-Blend Trouser Shorts

Taylor Trouser Shorts

Taylor Trouser Shorts $15.00 at Old Navy

I knew it was going to be hot, so I made sure to pack a few pairs of shorts. I brought these ones from Old Navy and and a denim pair, but I ended up wearing these most of the time. For shorts, they actually look pretty elevated, so I felt comfortable wearing them to nicer lunches on the trip.

AE The Everything Pocket High-Waisted Legging

The Everything Pocket High-Waisted Legging

The Everything Pocket High-Waisted Legging $39.95 at American Eagle

I typically bring at least two pairs of leggings — one for the plane rides and another for walking around or lounging — and these are always one of the options I bring. They're stretchy, comfortable and hold you in in all the right places.

Abercrombie & Fitch Curve Love High Rise 90s Cutoff Short

Curve Love High Rise 90s Cutoff Short

Curve Love High Rise 90s Cutoff Short $60.00 at Abercrombie Kids

While the jean shorts that I brought were actually a pair of jeans that I had thrifted and then cut, I've had Abercrombie's shorts on my wish list all summer and plan to purchase them before my next trip. These are from the brand's Curve Love line, which features additional room in the hip and thigh areas for a more comfortable fit without the waist gap.

Aritzia Sunday Best Martine Poplin Skirt

Sunday Best Martine Poplin Skirt

Sunday Best Martine Poplin Skirt $98.00 at Aritzia

While I knew that for most of the trip, I'd be able to get away with wearing casual outfits, I wanted to bring something dressier in case we ended up at a nicer dinner so I threw this skirt in my bag. And I'm so glad I did! It ended up being one of my most worn pieces on the trip. I wore it to a number of dinners and out to the bars and loved the airy feel and how easily it elevated the tees and sneakers that I paired with it.

Madewell The Jean Jacket 

The Jean Jacket

The Jean Jacket $128.00 at Madewell

One stylist who I previously spoke to said that a jean jacket is a travel essential — and I agree! It can be pretty bulky though, so instead of packing it, she suggests wearing it to the airport (bonus: it doubles as a pillow on the plane).

Carry-on packing essentials: Shoes

Reebok Classic Leather Shoes

Classic Leather Shoes

  • Classic Leather Shoes $59.98 at Amazon
  • Classic Leather Shoes $62.99 at DSW
  • Classic Leather Shoes $84.99 at Zappos

Shoes take up the most space, so when trying to pack light, figuring out which shoes to bring is probably the hardest part. I always wear my bulkiest pair on the plane. I was planning on bringing an athletic pair of sneakers for workouts, but also wanted a more stylish pair that I could wear with a dress or skirt that would still be comfortable — and these checked that box.

New Balance 9060

9060 Sneaker

On the days that I knew we'd be walking a lot (which was a majority of the time), I reached for these shoes. During the trip, they carried me through a three-plus hour concert and multiple days where I was walking 15,000-plus steps (including one where I walked over 28,000). They held up well through endless miles and a couple of rain storms and even earned me a few compliments. Plus, for the most part, they kept my feet feeling surprisingly pain-free. They were a little sore by the end of the heaviest walking days, but I think that's to be expected.

Carry-on packing essentials: toiletries

Up & Up Travel Cosmetic Jar 

Travel Cosmetic Jar

Travel Cosmetic Jar $0.95 at Target

For face wash, moisturizer, shampoo, conditioner and more, I use these little travel jars. They're easy to fill with product (you don't have to struggle to fit it into the small opening of a squeeze container) and are simple to wash once you're back home.

Downy Wrinkle Release Spray

Wrinkle Release Spray

Wrinkle Release Spray $7.99 at Amazon

It's inevitable that some things will get wrinkled in your suitcase when traveling, and you can't always count on the hotel having an iron. That's why I brought this wrinkle release spray with me. It's super easy to use — you just spray it on, smooth and tug the fabric, let it hang for a few minutes and it's good to go. It won't remove all of the wrinkles but it definitely makes your clothes look far more presentable. It also doubles as an odor remover, which is great if you don't have access to a washing machine.

Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint

ILIA Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40

  • ILIA Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40 $48.00 at Amazon
  • ILIA Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40 $48.00 at Sephora
  • ILIA Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40 $48.00 at ILIA

I don't typically wear a lot of makeup, but when I know that I'll be taking a lot of photos — like when I'm on vacation — I like to put something on my skin to help even out texture and lightly cover any impurities. And Ilia's skin tint does that. Plus, it has SPF for sun protection. It can be easily rubbed into skin with your fingers so you don't have to bring any additional brushes.

Stoney Clover Lane Classic Small Pouch

Classic Small Pouch

Organization is key for packing light — and once you figure out how to fit everything perfectly in your bag, you don't want to mess it up by having to dig for that one item you desperately need at the airport. That's why I like to keep all my most important items, like my medications, passport, ponytail holders, etc. in this pouch, which I place at the top of my backpack, so it's easily accessible.

Carry-on luggage and accessories

Away The Carry-On

The Carry-On

The Carry-On $275.00 at Away

Smart packing strategies are helpful (I roll my clothing, in case you were wondering) but they can only take you so far. An important factor to traveling with just a carry-on is making sure that you're getting as much packing space as possible from your suitcase. And Away's classic carry-on has so many features that help you maximize the number of items you can bring.

Seriously, each time I pack for a trip, I'm astounded by how much I can fit in this roller bag. It has an interior compression system, comes with a laundry bag and has a zippered pocket to help you stay organized.

Open Story 35-Liter Travel Backpack

Story 35L Travel Backpack

Story 35L Travel Backpack $34.99 at Target

My biggest tip for anyone who wants to skip checking bags is to opt for a.personal item that can do more for you. This trip was the only time in recent memory when I didn't bring this backpack, I brought a much smaller one, since I was flying on a budget airline with strict baggage restrictions and I didn't want to have to risk checking a bag. But every other time I've flown, both internationally and more locally, I’ve never had any issues bringing this backpack as my personal item.

The interior is super roomy, and it opens up like a suitcase — and has internal pockets. I’ve found I can fit at least a day’s worth of clothes (if not more), a pair of sneakers and all my toiletries and tech accessories inside. It also has tons of different compartments, which helps keep everything organized.

Amazon Kindle Paperwhite

Kindle Paperwhite (8 GB)

  • Kindle Paperwhite (8 GB) $132.99 at Target
  • Kindle Paperwhite (8 GB) $139.99 at Amazon
  • Kindle Paperwhite (8 GB) $149.99 at Best Buy

I'm a big vacation reader, so I never go anywhere without at least one book to read on the plane, during train rides or while lying on the beach. But books can take up a lot of space, so last year I finally invested in a Kindle and it has been a game-changer for travel. The sleek device takes up minimal space in my bag. Plus, before I leave, I download a library book onto my Kindle, and then, if I finish, I can download another while I'm on my trip!

How we chose

All of the products featured in the above list were items that I brought for a recent trip in which I brought only a carry-on and a personal item (or in cases where things were no longer available, they were similar). These are items that I found to be versatile and effective in helping me save space and avoid baggage fees, while still having everything needed for a fun vacation.

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This article was originally published on TODAY.com

2023-09-25T20:47:14Z dg43tfdfdgfd