I've Been to 50+ Countries, and These Are My 18 Best Carry-on Hacks to Avoid Checking a Bag

Travel + Leisure

10-07-2025

I used to be that traveler: the one who packed for every hypothetical scenario, and then some. My overstuffed checked bag would be a running joke among my friends and family. 'Oh, here's Claire, with her 75-pound suitcase for a five-day trip.' That was until I lost a bag during a work trip to the Caribbean and was left with nothing but a swimsuit to hold me over for 3 days. And, after one too many baggage claim heart attacks after that—and a growing awareness of just how much airlines were charging to haul my overstuffed suitcase—I made a quiet vow: I'd become a carry-on-only traveler.
Fifty countries later, I've honed the art of packing into a science (without sacrificing style). These are my go-to genius packing hacks that keep my suitcase light, my outfits sharp, my wallet happier, and my sanity intact.
If you're not using packing cubes in 2025, what are you doing? All jokes aside, these Bagsmart compression cubes have saved my life over the past few years. Not only do they compress down super small (even when stuffed to the brim), but they also fit a surprising amount of clothes. In my experience, the large cube fits up to six knit shirts, the medium cube fits around 11 shirts, and the small cube fits about four sports bras and some matching leggings. I've also found that the shoe bag fits two pairs of shoes (and not just the soft foldable ones either).
I was never the kind of person who poured and packed their toiletries from home. However, in this economy, those travel-size bottles of shampoo and conditioner are creeping up in price and are sadly not as economical as they used to be. Instead, these reusable toiletry bottles are as practical as they are aesthetic, and fit enough shampoo, conditioner, lotion, shaving cream, and hair product to last up to a 10-day trip. Plus, the included carry case keeps any potential mess contained.
I'll be the first to admit (with my husband as a close second) that I am the least organized person on the planet. But when it comes to packing light (read: fitting two weeks' worth of stuff for two different climates in just one carry-on), you learn to figure out a way to be a little more type A. Enter this electronics organizer, which is less than $10 and actually works for my ADHD brain.
It has seven compartments, three that fit large computer cords or phone chargers, two that fit charging blocks (or a wireless Apple mouse), and smaller ones that fit everything from earbuds to phone blocks. I'm happy to report that since I've started using this, I've only lost one cord (which is a huge improvement from misplacing every cord I owned).
Matching sets are my entire personality these days. Whether I'm running to the gate or chasing my 6.5-year-old around the playground, I'm almost always donning this cute set from Amazon. You can't beat the price—on sale for just under $30 for a shirt and pants.
I'm not ashamed to admit that I have it in every color available, and mix each set to whatever mood I'm in. Grey for the grocery store, tan for the park, and black with a pair of white sneakers for the airport. The fabric is also super soft and stretchy (a real Skims dupe, in my opinion), so I feel confident and flattered in this even when I'm sprinting through terminals.
When you're living out of a suitcase and traveling to places without irons (think hostels, cruise ships, and many Airbnbs), you need an alternative. That's why I love this Downy Wrinkle-release Spray that gets rid of creases—meaning I can happily pack lightweight linen outfits on my travels without needing to carry a portable steamer.
All you do is spray it on the fabric, give it a quick tug, and many (if not all) of the wrinkles come out. Bonus? It adds a fresh scent and helps remove odors too—a game changer when you're wearing garments multiple times between washes (another key to packing carry-on-only).
I have over 15 suitcases in a wide range of sizes, styles, and materials. Now, as a travel writer, I've tested them all thoroughly, and my new favorite is this Quince Carry-on. It's simple without many frills, but it's held up with the least amount of scuffs, scratches, and visible wear and tear than any other I own (and I own some very expensive ones).
I have it in the evergreen hue, but am looking to add this soft blue to my repertoire, especially with some business trips coming up. It fits over a week's worth of clothes without issue, boasts 360-degree spinning wheels for easy maneuverability, and comes with Quince's famed 365-day return policy.
Because of my very type B personality, you can bet my devices are almost never fully charged before I leave for the airport. I've spent way too many hours at the airport stressing over finding an outlet, so it was time that I fully invested in a compact power bank. Anker makes some of the best in the game, and this magnetic charger is no exception.
I love its multi-use design: it props up and snaps to your phone for bedside-charging, or it folds down and attaches to the back of your phone for cord-free powering up while you're out exploring. You can also plug another device in via the USB-C port, so you get double the charge on one bank. It comes in a wide variety of colors, including lavender, sage green, and baby blue.
Similar to my suitcase collection, I have more water bottles than I could ever need. As a writer always on the go, I constantly found myself testing new designs and styles that fall short of doing what I need them to do—keep drinks cold and not leak. After some doom scrolling on TikTok, I found the BrüMate Era 40 oz Tumbler and fell in love with these aesthetic bottles that are more than just pretty—they're 100 percent leak-free. Plus, they keep drinks cold for over 24 hours, and come in so many cute colors. I have it in rose taupe and neon pink, and am looking to add the mist to my rotation too. Because water bottles take up space, it's important that the one I pack actually works well.
This one kind of goes without explanation, because sometimes…people stink, especially after 40+ hours of travel. Thankfully, to avoid any uncomfortable odors, I've added Yuni body wipes to my carry-on on long-haul trips because they take up little space and work extremely well. They're super easy to slip into a carry-on, backpack, or belt bag, and they're incredibly refreshing, thanks to soothing ingredients like neem leaf extract, peppermint leaf, and citrus essential oils. They're a little pricer than a standard wipe (these are on sale for about $15 for a pack of 12), but the all-natural ingredients and the company's passion for sustainability make it worth it.
Nobody has time (or space) to carry around a large, full-size razor. Instead, this adorable mini Schick razor is as useful as it is cute. As someone with extremely sensitive skin, I love that it comes with an easy-grip handle (for fewer cuts and nicks) and a moisturizing bar, so no shaving cream is required. Safe enough for even the most sensitive parts of your body (think face, private areas, and armpits), and durable enough for legs, it's something I truly never leave my house without.
In the words of Carrie Bradshaw, 'Give a girl the right shoes and she can conquer the world.' A truer statement has never been spoken, especially when it comes to travel shoes. As a girl who is pushing 40 and entering orthopedic shoes territory, I can no longer just shove my (often swelling) feet into cheap sneakers from Target. When I've got a long travel day ahead of me, I need my Rothy's lace-up sneakers.
Made from recycled bottles, these bendable, machine washable sneakers form to fit the mold of your feet, so each pair feels like it was made just for you. They come in black, white, and tan, making it super easy to mix and match with just about any kind of outfit, which will cut down on the number of shoes you need to pack and save you precious luggage space.
I am never without my comfort cardigan. When searching for the right one, I prioritized any that came in a bunch of colors (so I could stock up to mix and match with outfits), was long so it covered my booty when wearing leggings, and cost less than $100. This Old Navy long-line cardigan hit every box (and then some). On sale for less than $25, you can buy four of these for the same price a similar one would cost elsewhere. Made from viscose rayon, it's super stretchy and ultra-soft. Its versatile style means that you can pack it as your only top layer for chilly airplanes or evening dinners.
Quince comes in clutch again on this list with these versatile, soft, and super comfortable stretch crepe pants. I'll be the first to admit that I was hesitant about the style and fit of these, but once I put them on, I was sold instantly. They're lightweight and ultra-breathable and have a tie waist for added styling. Additionally, the fabric is wrinkle-resistant, a must for me when I'm spending hours on a plane or in a car. They're available in a range of neutral colors, so you can mix and match them with basically everything in your suitcase to save space.
I've written about these Bombas Compression Socks multiple times, and there's a reason they keep ending up on my travel must-have lists. They truly are the best compression socks on the market. Even though the price tag is high ($30 per pair), you'll find them well worth that after just one wear. I've had mine for multiple years, and they still look and feel brand new. Plus, Bombas donates an item to someone in need for every pair purchased, so you can feel even better wearing them.
I have the long socks for travel and the short socks for running, and both I would recommend again and again. You won't need to pack any other foot pain-saving items if you have these socks on hand—you'll land without swelling and ready to get going.
As someone who isn't very organized (see earlier), I need something compact and easy to pack that keeps as many of my things together as possible. With the Beis Travel Wallet, I can store everything I need inside it without needing any other organizer: it holds my passport, state ID, credit cards, cash, and more in an easy-to-throw-over-the-shoulder package. The light tan goes with everything, so you can even wear it as your crossbody if you're trying to travel even lighter. On sale for $35, this wallet is worth every penny in my opinion.
On a recent flight to Mexico, I saw a woman carrying this exact tote, and I thought, 'Wow, that looks really expensive.' So imagine my surprise when she told me it was from Amazon and cost $25. I used to stuff my cute beach hats in my carry-on or suitcase and was endlessly disappointed when they came out wrinkled and misshapen.
Not only does this bag have a separate outside holder for your hat (to keep its shape and easily carry), it also has a ton of space inside for everything else you may need on the flight or beach, like your Kindle, sunscreen, sunglasses, wallet, and more. Think of it as a personal item, hat carrier, and beach tote all in one, cutting down on the number of bags you need and keeping your hat in mint condition on the journey.
Although these Sony noise-canceling headphones are the most expensive item on the list by far, I've learned one thing about electronics from being married to a nerd: you never skimp on headphones. Sony's newest line, the WH-1000XM5, touts the best noise-cancelling technology on the market today.
In addition to excellent sound quality, they have intuitive touch control settings, hands-free calling, up to 30 hours of battery life, and a redesigned collapsible frame for easy storage. I have the smoky pink, and my husband has the navy blue. And it's safe to say we're both complete and utter Sony headphone converts after testing them on a recent family trip with our 6.5-year-old. Simply wear them around your neck when boarding the plane—it'll take up zero carry-on space and help you get some peace and quiet, blocking out the noise around you.
Even though I'm admittedly low-maintenance when it comes to my hair, I still like to have options to dress it up when I'm traveling for work (and need to hop from plane to drinks or dinner). Both my mom and I love this Dreame ultra-lightweight hair dryer because of how easy it folds and stores in tight carry-ons. Despite the tool's small size, it stands up to the far more expensive competitors, and even offers five styling options and temperature colors: cold, warm, hot, hot and cold cycle, and instant cold air. A bonus? The dryer is super quiet when in use, so you can style your hair in the morning without waking anyone in your hotel room or Airbnb.
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