how to travel light

This post contains affiliate links. This means I may make a small commission if you make a purchase after clicking on a link in this post.

5 Carry On Essentials

Real question, raise your hand if you like to wait? Waiting in line, waiting for people, waiting for God to move on your behalf. Is that something you find pleasure in? If you are anything like me, your answers are, No, No and please come on Jesus! Waiting is just not my thing. This is why whenever possible, I refuse to check a bag when traveling. Listen, I want to maximize all my time and save a coin while doing that. Waiting at a carousel for a bag that I had to pay to check is a hindrance to that. In this post, I will be sharing some tips on how you can pack a carry on to ensure you never have to check a bag ever again.

Roll’em Tight

The tighter you roll your clothes, the more you can fit in the bag. I learned this from my aunt who is a retired flight attendant. I used to stand in amaze at how she could legitimately fit her ENTIRE life in one roller bag.

Additionally, when you are rolling your clothes you MUST be neat. The only way you are going to fit everything in one bag is if you are neat with the way you pack.

Packing Cubes

Now, this is something new to me. I hear they are the bomb, I just haven’t jumped on the bandwagon. @bykriskeys, the creator of a luxury brand that specializes in providing illustrations and travel wear to businesses and people across the world, put us on these. It definitely makes sense that these would work because that same aunt that I mentioned earlier used to pack things in gallon size storage bags. The packing cubes of the 90s. Click here to grab your own packing cubes.

*Update* While scrolling through Youtube, I came across thsese super dope compression packing cubes that allows you to pack even more in your carry on!

All Shoes Don’t Matter

Listen, Sis… and Bro, you don’t need all of them! Pick a couple of pairs and make them work. The maximum number of shoes I will pack for a weekend trip is 3. For a week-long trip, it’s usually 2. Reason being, week-long trips typically require you to pack more than if you were only going for a couple of days. Hear me, if it is a necessity for you to have a different pair of shoes for every outfit, this carry-on ministry is not for you, continue checking, sis. 

Repeat Article of Clothing

Additionally, along those same lines, if you must have a different outfit for every day of travel, once again, you’re not about that carry on life. (Totally not judging, do you. I mean that just means more overhead bin space for me!) Utilizing a carry-on only, means having one pair of pants that work with two separate tops. And those tops, they should be lightweight and easy to roll up. You can be about that carry on life you just gotta leave some stuff behind. Everything can’t go with you. THAT WILL PREACH!

Pack Things in Things 

Since traveling with a carry-on only, I have discontinued my toiletry bag. Instead, I put things in things. Skincare and toothpaste are typically stored in a shoe. Chill out, they’re my shoes and my feet are clean so I don’t have any problems. If it’s that much of a problem for you, you can always put the items in a storage bag before putting it in your shoes.

Bonus

Because I care about you and want to help to improve your quality of life I have a bonus for you! I limit the number of toiletries I pack when I am operating out of a carry-on only. Depending on how long I’ll be gone, I use the same product for body soap, toothpaste, face wash, and laundry detergent. Yes, I try to do laundry especially if I will be gone for more than a week. You can grab that product here. 

And there you have it. I’m confident that if you incorporate these tips in your travel plan, you should never have to check another bag ever again. Do you have any carry-on secrets that are not mentioned above? I want to hear about them. Drop your comments below. And as always, pray fervently, travel often!