41 Tips For Perfecting The Art Of Traveling With *Just* A Carry-On Bag

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25-05-2025

Figure out what carry-on suitcase size works for the airline you're going on, because of COURSE there's no standard measurement across them all. Luckily for us, Amazon has an easy guide to make shopping for your suitcase a lot easier — just select by airline!
Navigate by the airline(s) you regularly fly, and Amazon will weed out the options that won't fit into the overhead bins. Now you can really *maximize* your size based on the airlines you fly most often.
And pack your purse, and choose your "personal item" carefully — aka the biggest one possible, like a spacious travel-friendly backpack that'll fit under the seat in front of you.
This one checks all the boxes: super roomy, zips completely open (like a suitcase — so it's easy to find what you need), has plenty of pockets (including one for shoes and a separate wet bag!), and a strap that slides down over your luggage handle for easy transport. And reviewers say it meets even Spirit and JetBlue's personal item rules and fits under airplane seats!Get it from Amazon for $27.99+ (available in three sizes and 22 colors).Promising review: "I bought this backpack for work. It's the BEST backpack I've ever used. I needed one with several pockets and not too big or heavy. I found that with this backpack, I can fill it and still have room! There's even a shoe and clothing compartment for traveling! The straps are just wide enough to stay on your shoulders, especially with the snap straps in front. I also love the color, and it's true to the picture color. If you're looking for lightweight with tons of pockets, this is what you need!" —Kelly MillerPromising review: "This is a perfect size backpack for traveling on a plane as your personal item, especially to international destinations. You could fit rolled-up clothes in here for another week, and it has a very handy shoe bag and tons of places for your electronics. This will be an excellent addition to my carry-on suitcase. Best purchase all year. I consider myself an expert on travel bags. I have way too many. It's smaller than it looks but so roomy." —AP
Psst: keep your in-flight essentials separately in a compact but surprisingly spacious belt bag for a bit of extra convenience and space-saving in your carry-on and personal item — and so you don't have to dig through your backpack for your AirPods halfway through the flight. The strap is adjustable, so you can wear it crossbody *or* around your waist, and you'll be surprised how much it holds, too! And....it's quite similar to Lululemon's belt bag and less than half the price!
Create a packing list even before you take a single item out. Whether it's on a handy prefilled notepad or just on the Notes app of your phone, spend some time really thinking about everything you need so you don't panic and try to shove in 25 pairs of extra undies and three sweatshirts at the last minute.
The amount of extra undies I bring on trips...why?!Get this handy notepad from Amazon for $7 (available in two colors, plus a road trip–specific list).Promising review: "I just used this for a recent trip to Florida from California. It made it easier to remember things. I used to have a list, that I made, on my computer to remind me, my husband, and child what to pack. My daughter is out on her own now and my husband passed away recently. So, I just need a list for me. This helped me think of things I NEVER thought to put on my list. It has extra lines for you to add anything extra like crochet project, handicapped parking plaque, etc. It's not too big, but can easily be read. There are boxes to check off as you go and room to add quantity to clothing items. I hope these are ALWAYS available!" —Connie Woods
Check average weather in the area you're traveling to ahead of time, so you can decide what to pack. Will you need a light jacket? Just a heavy sweater? Is it usually rainy this time of year? Now you'll be in the know.
Many sites will give you the seasonal average weather for that date and location so you can plan your outfits (or what you might need to buy) before the actual forecast is available closer to your trip. You can also look at *past* years for the same info! I always use this to plan the kind of things I need to bring when I travel...far in advance!
If rain is on the meteorological menu, squeeze in a packable raincoat so you can stay securely dry without having to leave your favorite, more fashionable pieces at home. This packs down into a teensy drawstring bag. You can even keep it in your purse while actually on the trip if it might stay dry.
Get this one from Amazon for $23.99 (available in women's sizes S–3XL and 25 colors).Promising review: "Lightweight, water resistant, perfect for traveling! I bought this to wear in Iceland. It rolls up and goes into a little pouch, which makes it easier to carry. It kept me nice and dry when I was walking the rainy, misty streets of Iceland as well as the many waterfalls I visited. I highly recommend." —Karin M. Dixey
Or stash a mini travel umbrella that not only is perfectly compact for the minimal space in your carry-on but also comes with a handy carrying case, so you can pop it right in your purse when the showers are (finally!) over without getting the rest of your stuff wet.
Listen to your parents and roll your clothes to save space. It's a tried-and-true method that actually works AND also makes it easier to find individual items — without messing up the whole rest of the suitcase.
Or try one of these techniques — depending on what you're packing, you might want to switch it up. The "clown car" style helps with reducing wrinkles!
The military-style roll is basically like the regular roll, but taken to ~the next level~. "Clown car" is all about ~stacking~ before folding and tucking.And if you like a classic fold but have a hard time seeing everything in your suitcase, the front-to-back style is a good option. It's also *great* for storing tees in your drawers at home so you can see what's what.
Maximize your vacation hours (and suitcase space) by packing your outfits PER DAY! No more rummaging around your suitcase, messing everything up. And if you want to wear something more than once, just keep it separate for now.
You can use zip-top bags, as pictured above, packing cubes, or whatever else you have around the house.
Make your clothes more *compact* bit by bit in a set of packing cubes — organize them by day (like pictured above), clothing type, ~segment of your trip~ (like city/beach/weather), etc.! Harness your inner Virgo and get packing.
It comes with a laundry bag to separate your dirty clothes on your way back, and the cubes have mesh tops so you can see what's inside!Get the set of six pictured above from Amazon for $22.79+ (available in 31 colors and patterns).Promising review: "These packing cubes exceeded my expectations!!!! I was able to pack for a seven-day cruise: seven day outfits, seven evening dresses, six swimsuits and six swim cover-ups. Along with 10 pairs of undergarments, four PJ sets, and three bras. It was wild. I highly recommend! I used a Vera Bradley weekend tote to fit my packing cubes and then a separate bag for shoes, toiletries, etc. worked perfectly! Very happy with my purchase." —Elias Zuloaga
Or if you're less worried about organization and more worried about having enough space, compress everything into a set of space-saver bags specifically designed for travel. Over-packers? These are for you. No vacuum required; just pop in your stuff and roll to release the pesky extra air through the valves.
::Cough, me studying abroad, cough::Get a pack of 12 from Amazon for $13.99.Promising review: "My husband wanted me to take just a carry-on when we went to Paris and Switzerland last year. We were gone for 10 days and I had to pack dressy clothes, hiking clothes, clothes for the cold snowy mountains, and clothes for the warm May spring days touring Paris. I could NEVER have done it without these compression bags. I will always use these when I travel now. ALWAYS!!" —rmac
Make the most out of lightweight, compact clothes that are ideal for layering. This slip dress, for example, is a reviewer fave and can be dressed up for your Fanciest Dinner, but also can be layered under a sweater, button-down, or tee and look like a whole new outfit!
Promising review: "Great for a capsule wardrobe. I bought this for a summer trip to Italy. It paired beautifully with a cotton blouse. It's especially good for evening." —theofGet it from Amazon for $44.24 (available in women's sizes XXS–5XL and in 26 colors).
Fill otherwise hard-to-utilize space (looking at you, space between the metal bars!) with rolled up undies, bathing suits, or other small pieces of clothing to maximize capacity.
Check out more carry-on tips at One Good Thing By Jillee.
Things can get a bit...crushed...in a small carry-on easily, so maintain the collar shape of dress shirts by looping your belt just inside. Your next work trip is officially saved from creased collars.
Stuff small, foldable items inside your hat, then place items carefully around the brim inside your suitcase to keep it from getting crushed or bent. Because carrying a sun hat on the plane is just annoying.
I did this on a trip to Greece, and my wide-brim sun hat got there and back without a single crease!
Or try a *genius* magnetic hat clip that hooks right around your bag strap, luggage tag, zipper loop, or wherever to easily let your sun hat dangle from the side of your bag as you stroll your way through the airport. Way better than taking up space in your bag — or carrying it because your hands are full ENOUGH, thankyouverymuch.
The magnetic clip securely attaches to your hat brim (damage-free) — just attach around the strap/handle of your choosing!Promising review: "Not sure why I hesitated to buy this for so long but I'm glad I finally did! The magnet has a very strong grip and perfect for straw hats and caps. It even grips my wool flatcaps as well. I can't speak for thicker hats, but this fits my needs perfectly. Bring on the sunny days! Update: my hat survived its first Europe summer thanks to this hat clip. Through airports and heavy crowds and even at the Olympics, it never fell off. I got a lot of compliments and was asked where I bought the clip. Don't hesitate! It's worth the cost." –VFGet it from Amazon for $25.99 (available in three colors).
Stop wasting a single inch of space — fill your shoes with teensy packables like socks and undies. Off to somewhere chilly? Pack leggings or even your straightener/curling iron in boots to save space and help maintain your boots' shape.
Then you can pack your shoes inside shoe bags (like I do) to keep the dirty soles away from your clothes, or just pop on a shower cap ($4.99 for a set of three), like pictured here!Get a pack of four drawstring shoe bags (they're clear tops so you can see which pair is which) for $15.99 at Amazon.
Fold one bra cup inside out into the other, then stuff the straps and band inside *that* cup for a compact packing method that won't ruin your favorite bras.
Create a mini capsule wardrobe when packing; stick to just one palette, plus a few accent colors, so you can make the most from mixing and matching juuuust a few key pieces.
Get more inspiration at Extra Petite.Another tip? Pull out all the clothes you want to bring, then put one third of them away — you probably won't need 'em!
If you're traveling for a while, bring along a handy set of compact laundry detergent packets so you can easily wash clothes you're going to repeat wear right in the hotel bathroom (or a cruise's washing machine, of course).
Get a pack of eight packets from Amazon for $7.91.Promising review: "I bought a pack to take along on our UK and Ireland Christmas vacation. We were going to be gone for two weeks and I knew that there would be times where we needed to hand wash items and have them ready the next day. We were able to, throw some essential items into the hotel room sink and hand wash them and hang them to dry. It did pull out dirt and grime and left our clothes with a fresh scent. It's a smart purchase and I will be sending a pack along with my daughter for her study abroad trip to Peru next month." —Jill Foster
Remember all the dirty laundry you're going to accumulate *in advance* so all of your careful rolling isn't for nought. Separate your stinky socks into a space-saving laundry bag designed to help you *compress* those dirty clothes into a compact bag so they're out of sight, out of mind until you're home...and fiiiiiinally unpack.
Just stuff them in and squeeze to release the extra air!Get this cute map-print one from Amazon for $13.86 (also available in an airplane print).Promising review: "As a frequent traveler, this bag has been great for packing dirty laundry on the return trip home. It will hold much more than I usually put in it and compresses nicely in the suitcase. I toss it in the washer along with the clothes and it has held up for well over a year now." —CC
Roll up a compact and collapsible water bottle, because it's incredibly easy to get dehydrated on a long-haul flight, and airport water is expensive! You can keep it handy in an outer pocket of your carry-on bag or backpack so you can fill it with ease, without losing on precious space.
Reviewers love the one pictured above: it folds up truly tiny, has no weird plastic taste, and has an easy-to-clean wide mouth. Get it from Amazon for $14.79 (available in 10 colors).Promising review: "I took this water bottle on a recent trip to Iceland. In Iceland, water from any tap is glacier water and is absolutely delicious. This bottle made it easy to fill up whenever I wanted, even in I stream near a waterfall! It rolls up so it takes up little space. I never dribbled any while drinking, so I would say it's easy to drink from. It has a clip that would fit on a belt or belt loop, but I wear neither so I carried it easily with one finger in the clip. I found it easy to rinse. I'm 100% happy with the quality of this bottle." —nanykin
Decant your daily meds and vitamins, plus your just-in-case Advil and Tums, into compact travel pill organizers, each with eight compartments (six small, two large) so you can bring all of your pills with you — without wasting space on a bunch of bulky bottles.
Select your most key pieces of jewelry and keep them safely stored in a truly mini (and gorge) jewelry case like this pretty velvet one. You'll feel fully accessorized without wasting space or weighing your bag down with heavy pieces.
Get it from Amazon for $22.99 (available in eight colors).Promising review: "Really amazing value – it looks pretty luxe but I can't believe the price I bought it for — especially considering how expensive jewelry boxes can be. I use this one for travel and it's perfect (I have a larger one for all my jewelry as well. I really like that you can move the little dividers in the bottom compartment around too that's been very helpful" —Dee
Every ounce of space is precious, which means you don't have room for a bulky neck pillow. But don't worry, that's what the Trtl pillow is for. It folds up thin and compact, and when you're ready to use, just wrap it around your neck — underneath the soft fleece is an internal support structure designed to keep your head in a comfy position for sleeping upright.
Get it from Amazon for $59.99 (available in four colors).Promising review: "The trtl pillow is much better than a standard travel pillow due to the neck support it offers. It is difficult for me to sleep on planes but with the trtl I can sleep even in tiny cramped budget airline seats. It also folds pretty flat which makes it easy to pack in a carry on item. Most comfortable travel pillow." —Sofia Allison
Traveling with a carry-on and a (cough cough giant backpack) personal item (and a jacket) can get unwieldy, especially at security. Store your cash, boarding pass, passport, credit cards, etc. in a travel wallet that makes it super easy to see everything at a glance. And then just toss it in your carry-on when you're through security!
No more holding up the security line triple-checking to see if you still have your passport. Just a touch of first-class style, at an economy price. It's made of RFID-blocking material, too.Get the one pictured above from Amazon for $13.99 (available in 30 colors).Promising review: "I absolutely love this wallet. I needed a new travel wallet, and this holds everything I need all in one place, and it still closes nicely and stays flat! Boarding pass, passport, ID and credit cards, money, checked baggage tickets, receipts, etc.! Yet it doesn't bulk up or look like an overstuffed mess. Just amazing. The description says it only holds US money, but I just used the boarding pass flap to hold all my Japanese yen (¥), which are larger. I didn't use the zippered pocket for coins as I much prefer a separate coin purse for that sort of thing. I definitely recommend to anyone who travels a lot!" —Anthony Luu
Opt for a perfectly sized set of TSA-friendly travel bottles you can fill (and refill) with your favorite products when they don't make travel size — without taking up tons of room. Can't skip your fave skin and hair products when you're away, even when packing light!
Get the set of four containers, plus the clear case pictured above from Amazon for $9.99 (available in 16 color sets).Promising review: "I love these bottles. The suction in the cap is one way, so air does not filter back into the container. This means it will be so much easier to get the product out — you won't have to squeeze the air out first and then the product. They are such high quality and feel amazing. I love that they come with a carrying case to keep them all together!" —Katherine MilesusnichPromising review: "I bought these for a ten day trip. No leaks!! Plenty of product capacity for the entire time." —wendy smith
And add an easy, leakproof layer to your toiletries to avoid any big-time oopsies at your destination; just wrap a small square of cling wrap over the opening and pop the cap on top.
Learn more at The Beauty Department.
And btw, your favorite skincare brand might make a travel-friendly skincare set you can keep in your suitcase for trips and weekends away — then you'll NEVER forget it (or waste space).
Get the E.l.f. Holy Hydration! set (which includes face cream, eye cream, melting cleansing balm, cleanser, and booster drops) from Amazon for $20.Promising review: "Perfect for travel or perfect for samples. I ordered the moisturizer and thought I would order this entire sample/travel set to give it a try. I've been using this for a few weeks now as a primary face cleanser set and I love it. The under-eye cream and serum do a great job for overnight repair. The moisturizer helps my dry skin so much and leaves it soft each time. The makeup removal balm IS AMAZING. I'm definitely buying this as a full product. The face wash is gentle and smells heavenly. The entire set is great. It has helped with my dry skin and this Arizona summer "dry heat"" —Heather MataYou can also get similar kits from Cosrx, CeraVe, Peach & Lily, Belif, Tatcha, Innisfree, and more.
Swap your jumbo-sized signature scent bottle for a pocket-sized, refillable travel perfume atomizer, so you can save space AND don't have to risk that perfume leaking allllll over your suitcase (an expensive nightmare). This one is so easy to refill, you'll end up popping it in your purse to get a fresh whiff in your everyday life at home, too!
If you have a hard time traveling light when it comes to beauty products, you can't do better than this hanging toiletry bag to make traveling with all the beauty products you can't bear to leave behind *so* much easier — and compact. Plus, there's no need to unpack on the hotel bathroom counter — just unroll and hang, and you can see everything at a glance!
Swap your regular hot tool for a 2-in-1 straightener and curling iron so you only have to bring *one* tool, no matter how you want to wear your hair. It has dual voltage for international trips, too.
It has a swiveling, tangle-free cord, too.Get it from Amazon for $39.99 (also available in white).Promising review: "I bought this for a trip to Italy, as I didn't have a dual-voltage iron (and you can't just use a converter-adapter combination with things that heat up). I liked that it was a flat iron and curling iron combo, so I could change things up as I desired. It worked beautifully on our trip — I look nice in all my selfies ;) — and continues to work beautifully at home. In fact, I've replaced my old flat iron with this because of the versatility and now use this one every day. BTW, in case you are wondering, it automatically switches to the appropriate voltage, no looking for a switch or anything. You don't need to do anything but plug it in! Great product!" —Diane Field
Mini sizes of travel musts don't stop with skincare — if you have trouble sleeping when in hotels or unfamiliar places, a *truly teensy* mini white noise machine can help. And this palm-sized one is very carry-on (or even purse-/backpack-) friendly, too! It has 15 different nonlooping sounds (including white noise, fan, rain, and more), the charge lasts for days at a time, and it can — quite literally — fit in your pocket.
Put shoes by the wheels and lighter items toward the handle so that when your suitcase is upright & rolling, the shoes won't crush or wrinkle your clothes.
Shop Delsey luggage like the one pictured here on Amazon.
Wear your bulkiest shoes on the plane, whether that's a pair of chunky sneakers, booties, etc. — you'll save suitcase space, but stay comfy on the long flight — especially if you wear some nice compression socks.
Hot take: As long as you have SOCKS ON and you don't usually have a super-aggressive foot odor (I'm sorry!), it's 100% OK to take your shoes off on a long international flight.BTW, you can get the chunky sneakers pictured above from Amazon for $42.99 (available in women's sizes 6–11 and 21 colors and styles). One reviewer traveled in them, and *20* reviewers said they feel like you're "walking on clouds"!
Don't forget an AirFly Pro wireless transmitter so you don't need to pack (or, ew pay for) bulky old corded headphones on your next flight that don't even work with your phone — wouldn't you rather use your AirPods or fancy Bluetooth noise-canceling headphones anyway? And the bonus is it's way easier to get up to pee or let your neighbor by without dealing with unplugging headphones or tangled cords!
Stow a 3-in-1 foldable magnetic wireless charging station perfect for traveling, so you can charge your iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods all at once, without wasting space on three separate bulky chargers or dealing with tons of cords. One reviewer compares this under-$40 wonder to the almost-$150(!) Mophie charger and say it's just as good *and* more attractive!
Big vacation reader? Leave the heavy, bulky books at home and bring HUNDREDS (or even THOUSANDS) of books with you in one little device — a Kindle!
I never thought I'd be an e-reader person, but living in a New York apartment with limited bookshelves changed my ways. I love love (love love love) my Kindle — especially for easily borrowing library books, squeezing in a few chapters on a subway ride, and, of course, traveling. I lit'rally read 10 times as much with a Kindle in my life.Get the newest 2024 version of the basic Kindle (with faster page turns and a huger contrast ratio) from Amazon for $109.99 (available in black and matcha). Or shop the newest version of the Kindle Paperwhite ($159.99) for poolside or beach reading — it's WATERPROOF *and* has an adjustable warm backlight!Promising review: "This is my first Kindle, and I have to say how disappointed I am in myself for not buying one sooner. The size and weight of this is so easy to travel with, the color is absolutely stunning, and the battery life! I cannot stress enough how long this battery goes. When I first got it, I did a full charge, and that was almost 2 weeks ago — I have not charged it since, and I am still at 86% battery life, and I read almost every night. I'm so impressed with this" —Veronica Lima
Include a fold-up duffel on trips when you KNOW you'll be bringing back more than you came with. Just pack your purse on the way back and count this as your "personal item" — I won't tell.
This one folds into a teensy pouch when not in use, is tear and water resistant, and even has a separate side pocket for shoes. Aaaaand it has a strap on the side that slides easily over your roller luggage handle.Just keep it in your regular suitcase between trips, and you'll never forget it. Fold-up duffels like these are my GO-TO when going on a vacation I know will be shopping heavy. And then you can bring your new finds on the plane to ensure they don't get lost (it's 20 inches, making it perfect for the overhead compartment).Get it from Amazon for $17.99 (available in 12 colors and patterns).Promising review: "We bought this to take with us when we visited our daughter who is studying abroad for four months. We figured she would not have enough room in her luggage when it was time to come home. Folded up, this bag was so compact and lightweight it took up almost no room in our own luggage for the trip over. Then, sure enough, she had a ton of clothes and shoes to send home with us and packed this bag full. We checked the bag and it made it through two international flights without a scratch. The BEST feature is the side strap that allows you to slide it over the handle of a rolling suitcase so you don't have to carry it. This is probably the most practical and the best-value item I have purchased in years." —Tosa Mom
If you're traveling with kids, switch to a super-compact stroller that weighs less than 12 pounds and can fit in an overhead bin or even under a seat, because every penny counts when it comes to family vacations.
The stroller is supposed to fit kids from 6 months up to 55 pounds (approx. 5 years).Get it from Amazon for $179.99.Promising review: "This stroller is great! So cool looking, too. I constantly have moms coming up to me asking where I got this! So easy to fold, so light, and barely takes any space in my trunk. We took it on a flight, and the flight attendants recognized the stroller and told me that I can just wheel the baby on and put the stroller in the overhead bin. I wish I had gotten this stroller with my oldest, but I was being cheap. This stroller is so worth the money. I regret not getting it sooner! But at least my youngest can enjoy it." —Nai Len