Why you should try carry-on only travel – and how to do it

When people heard we were planning to take a family gap year with our three children, many of them thought we were crazy. 

But they learned we were going to travel hand luggage only, I think it confirmed their suspicion!

Carry-on travel only requires extra effort before and during a trip but the benefits of travelling light far outweigh any negatives.

What travellers need to know about carry-on only travel

The benefits of travel with only carry on bags

Travel is cheaper

Travelling light avoids costly checked baggage fees which can add up if you are a frequent flyer or travelling long term.

Checked baggage costs add up for a family, even for just one trip.

The average fee for one checked bag on an internal US flight is $30. On European budget airlines checked bag fees starts at £25 each way if purchased at the time of booking; a bag will cost more if you check it at the airport after packing.

So for a family of four, this is £200 gone from your holiday budget.

Travelling hand luggage only is more environmentally friendly

Flying with a carry-on bag only is a more environmentally friendly method of flying. Lighter luggage means a lighter airplane so less fuel will be burned; the carbon footprint of one flight could be drastically reduced if every person on board reduced their luggage weight. 

Sustainabletravel.org states that ‘lightening luggage by 15 lbs (7.8kgs) would decrease emissions by about 80 lbs on a ten hour flight. If there were 200 passengers on a flight and they all packed light, it would eliminate 16,000 lbs (or 7,257 kgs) of CO2.’

Travel with carry on only is safer for your belongings

Your bag is with you at all times so it is less likely to get lost in transit.  You are in charge of your bag and how is is treated. 

A carry on bag does not need storing in a luggage hold under a bus or in a storage compartment on a train.

Travelling light is healthier

An outrageous claim? Not really when you think of the stress a full 70 litre backpack puts on your knees or how your body struggles to heave a bulging suitcase up a flight of steps. 

Plus, travel with only carry on is more minimalist and less stressful.

Travelling around is quick and easy

It is quicker and easier to travel with a lightweight bag, particularly on public transport.

You can avoid lugging heavy suitcases around cities, trying to squeeze your bag into small luggage racks on buses or waiting at the airport carousel or check in. 

And you can use public transport without aggravating your fellow passengers, especially during rush hour.

You can move accommodation quicker and easier

Unpacking and repacking a small bag is quick and easy. 

You can make it even easier by organising your belongings with packing cubes. 

You always have everything you need on you 

This is one benefit to travelling hand luggage only that we have experienced over and over again. 

Need a change of clothes after being puked on by your child during turbulence on a flight to Argentina? No problem, you have a change of clothes to hand.

Fancy an extra layer of warmth on a chilly flight? Grab extra clothes out of your carry on bag. 

Travel plans can be flexible

I don’t think we could have kept our family gap year plans flexible if we had travelled with multiple large backpacks and suitcases.

We could take road trips when we wanted to (such as Australia’s East Coast) and with minimal luggage, we were able to use vehicles of any size.

Travelling on the Trans Siberian with kids was much easier with small bags.

The negatives of carry-on only travel (and what we did to combat them)

Washing your clothes

It’s an unavoidable fact – if you travel with less clothes you will have to do more washing.

You will need to wash and dry your clothes frequently and may encounter problems doing both. 

Pack a universal sink plug, a portion of soap powder (labelled) and make a sink your friend.

We have also washed our clothes with soap leaves (and in desperation, shampoo) though occasionally we treat ourselves to laundry services or laundromats. 

I’d recommend a multi purpose bungee cord as a makeshift washing line.  

Extreme temperature changes

You may find your wardrobe inadequate if your trip includes countries with extreme temperature changes. 

Pack layers. We did not pack bulky, cold weather items but layered up under our waterproof coats and fleece. We wore vest tops under t shirts and leggings under trousers or a dress. 

Visit charity shops if you need to supplement your wardrobe. We flew from 32 degree Celsius Costa Rica to minus 8 in New York City so our first stop was a charity shop to stock up on hats, scarfs and gloves. We wore them for our month on the East Coast and then donated them to another charity shop when we departed. 

Plus the world is a small place these days and you can buy almost anything anywhere. 

Varying airline cabin bag restrictions

Different airlines have different cabin bag restrictions and even a variation of 1-2 cms can make the difference between a carry on needing to be checked baggage. Do your research before you travel to avoid unnecessary costly fees. 

For example, Ryanair cabin baggage dimensions are 40 x 20 x 25 cms whereas a British Airways cabin bag can be 56 x 45 x 25cms.

An Emirates cabin bag is classed as 55 x 38 x 20cms (7kg weight) whereas Aer Lingus cabin baggage dimensions are 55 x 40 x 24cms (10kg weight).

We got caught out by this on Spirit Airlines in the U.S so now pack for the smallest dimension we can find. 

For travel on budget airlines in Europe, check out this useful cabin bag dimension guide. 

You may not be able to pack everything you might want to bring

Knives, long scissors and other potential dangerous items cannot be packed in your hand luggage.

Another downside of travelling carry on only is that liquids, gels and pastes will be limited to one small bag with each item under 100mls.

The world is a smaller place these days – you will be able buy most items at your destination. 

To minimise liquids, pack solid shampoo and conditioner bars, toothpaste powder and solid sun cream. Divide out items between your party to avoid unnecessary doubling up. 

And if you are wondering can you take tweezers in hand luggage the answer is yes – though I would recommend checking with your individual airline.

How to succeed at carry-on only travel – planning tips

Buy a small bag  

It sounds obvious but if you purchase a big 70 litre backpack, you will automatically pack more stuff whereas if you only have a 30 litre bag, you will HAVE to pack less. 

Don’t aim to make your bag change shape to fit cabin bag dimensions, buy an appropriate bag to start off with. Carry on bags make a great gift for kids who travel.

When we decided to take a family gap year, I ditched my beloved backpack and bought a new bag specifically for carry on only travel.

We use Cabin Max bags – one of the best, and most affordable, carry on bags for travel on the market.

Read my detailed review of Cabin Max cabin baggage here.

Buy a soft sided bag

Soft sided bags weigh less than hard sided bag when empty and you can stuff them to bulging if needed.

Plus, some soft sided bags have useful extendable options so you can travel light for airline travel but pack more if travelling by land. 

Cabin Max soft sided bags are designed for cabin baggage use and have proven to be versatile and hardwearing on our family travels. I love my Cabin Max Metz, one of the best cabin bag backpack you can buy.

Check out the full Cabin Max range here.

Pack a coordinated capsule wardrobe

The secret of how to travel light is a capsule wardrobe made up of individual items that can be mixed and matched to make multiple outfits.

Choose a handful of key clothes opting for single, block colours with little or no pattern – navy, white, black, beige and red and good colours to choose.

Lay out your clothes and move them around to test them in different combinations; if one item of clothing can only be worn with one other item, ditch it. 

Pack a few lightweight items to jazz up repetitive outfits. A chiffon scarf or a necklace can transform a day dress into a smart evening outfit. 

Choose fabrics that will wash easily and dry quickly

Once you have chosen your mix and match wardrobe, take out any item made from heavy fabrics such as wool. 

Only pack easy to wash, lightweight fabrics such as cotton or linen and consider how quickly (or how wrinkly) each item will dry.

Cotton is the best fabric as it is easy to wash, quick to dry and cool to wear in hot climates.

Pack clothes that will wear well rather than cheaper, disposable brands

It can be tempting to purchase and pack cheap clothing knowing you can dispose of items along the way.

This is not only bad for the environment but is also rarely cost effective in the long run.

Cheaper clothes do not stand up to frequent washing.

I love the cut and feel of Boden clothes. They are not the cheapest brand on the market (and certainly not a brand one associated with backpacking!) but the Boden clothes I brought on our round the world trip were the only clothes I brought back a year later, some of which I still wear today. 

Read my clothes list for one year of carry – on only travel at the bottom of this post.

Be wary of splashing out on ‘travelling clothes’

Outdoor and activity clothing brands sell tried and tested durable travel items but at the end of the day a cotton shirt is a cotton shirt whether you buy it from a brand name or a supermarket. 

One exception is the Nosilife range from Craghoppers. We loved our lightweight, insect repelling hoodies and the kids’ zip off trousers were their favourite.  Nosilife clothing proved durable as well as quick and easy to wash and dry.

Check out the Nosilife range here. 

Always always always pack a sarong

A sarong is the one item I never leave home without and the first item I always pack.  

It can be a skirt, dress, beach cover up, blanket, pillowcase, shawl, headscarf, black out blind and rug.

Cotton sarongs are light to carry and easy to wash and dry.

Be ruthless with shoes

Shoes are heavy and bulky so only pack what you will wear A LOT. Don’t pack shoes for ‘best’ or ‘going out’ – you won’t use them enough.

Pack multipurpose shoes such as Teva sandals. Teva’s are comfortable enough to wear as sightseeing shoes, can get wet so are ideal for the beach (I regularly swam in mine to protect my feet) and are smart enough to wear in the evenings.

Check out the full Teva range here.

Think about what you cannot live without 

Do not be so ruthless that you create discomfort on your trip. A single use item may seem extravagant but if it makes life more comfortable then it may be worth packing it (as long as its only one item)! 

I took the ‘every item has to have multiple purposes’ a bit far when we packed for our round the world trip thinking we could use T shirts a pyjamas. The children missed the comfort – and routine – of their pyjamas so much that after a few weeks I bought pyjamas for everyone. 

And my luxury item? Yorkshire Tea bags. 

Consider buying or renting items at your destination

Do not pack seldom or rarely used items but instead, rent it at your destination or buy and re-donate when you leave.

There is not point lugging around something you will only use once or twice. 

This is a great option if you are wondering how to travel light with a baby or toddler. Look into renting baby equipment at your destination – it may be cheaper than checking multiple bags and equipment. Check out this useful list of companies who rent baby gear in Europe.

Note – I always recommend bringing your own car seat if possible. 

Lay out EVERYTHING you want to pack before finalising your wardrobe choice

Carry on hand luggage bags can fit a surprising amount in but before you pack your clothes check you have you left enough room for electronics, chargers, toiletries, first aid kit…

If you are travelling as a family, divide out items such a toothpaste, soap and chargers to avoid doubling up and wasting precious space.

How to succeed at carry-on only travel – packing tips

Wear your heaviest items travelling

Pack your smallest, lightest items and leave your heaviest pieces to one side to wear traveling. 

I usually travel ‘wearing’ a vest top or t shirt, shirt, jumper and coat plus my thickest socks and hiking boots though most of it is wrapped round my waist! Remember, you only have to wear them boarding…

Pack heavier items at the bottom of your pack

This is the basic rule of how to pack a backpack. Pack the heaviest, bulkiest items – such as shoes and boots – at the bottom of your back where it will sit on your hips. 

The weight on your lower back is then dispersed around your hips making the backpack more comfortable to wear. 

Roll every item

Rolling clothes saves space and prevents your clothes getting too crumpled.

Keep rolled items together and snugly packed by using packing cubes…

Use packing cubes

I resisted packing cubes for a long time but once I tried them I was immediately converted. 

We use a small packing cube each for underwear and socks and a larger cube each for clothes. 

Each family member uses a different coloured cube to make unpacking and repacking easier.

Use every available bit of space

Every tiny bit of space is valuable when travelling hand luggage only.

Fill shoes with rolled socks or toiletries and if you are wearing a coat onto the plane, stuff all your pockets. You can always pack them into your bag once you have passed bag size control. 

Keep liquids accessible

Pack any liquids, gels or paste together in a see through plastic bag and pack them at the top of your bag or in a side pocket for easy access.

Maximise your allowance by substituting liquids for solids where possible such as shampoo bars and deodorant.

Check out my list of must haves for carry-on only travel here.

I hope this post has convinced you to give travelling hand luggage only a try!

And in case you were wondering, this was my capsule wardrobe for one year of carry-on only travel around the world –

1 x blue and white cotton trousers

1 x cropped beige linen trousers

1 x black jersey leggings

1 navy cotton dress

2 cotton t shirts (one blue, one white)

1 white cotton shirt

1 blue Nosilife cardigan

1 swimsuit

1 cotton sarong

1 jersey neck buff

1 x Teva sandals

1 x flip flops

Underwear 

2 x socks

Cotton hat

Wear travelling –

1 cotton vest top

1 long sleeve navy t shirt

1 pair navy linen trousers

1 blue fleece cardigan

1 pair of hiking boots

1 pair hiking socks

1 waterproof coat