How to pack for a trip without checked luggage

Traveling with carry-on only can be a challenge, but with some strategic packing, it is definitely doable. As someone who took 59 flights last year with carry-on only, I have learned a few tricks along the way. Here's my packing strategy for a 10-day trip to four different countries in Europe, where the weather varied from 0 to 15 degrees Celsius.

Creating a Capsule Wardrobe

When packing for a trip with changing weather conditions, it's important to pack a variety of layers and create some sort of capsule wardrobe. To start, I take out everything from my closet that I think might work for the trip. I arrange the items by category on my bed and then pick my must-haves.

Next, I start putting outfits together, making sure that I can easily mix and match the items I brought with me. This way, I can maximize the number of outfits I can create with a limited number of clothing items.

Outerwear Challenges

One of the more challenging aspects of packing is choosing the right outerwear. For this particular trip, I found it helpful to try on different outerwear options to see how they would match with the rest of my outfits. This way, I could ensure that I had versatile pieces that would work well with multiple outfits.

Packing Techniques

When it comes to actually packing my clothes, I prefer to roll them instead of folding them. Rolling helps to save space and prevent wrinkles. In this case, I decided not to use packing cubes because I needed to be mindful of both the amount of items I could fit in my carry-on and the weight of my luggage.

While packing cubes can help compress clothing and allow for more items to fit, they will also add weight because you will pack more stuff. I wanted to avoid being asked to check my luggage, so I opted not to use packing cubes this time.

What I Packed

For this 10-day trip, I was able to pack in my carry-on:

• 1 puffer jacket

• 1 leather jacket

• 2 sweaters

• 1 sweater vest

• 3 pairs of pants

• 1 skirt

• 7 long-sleeve tops

• 1 short-sleeve top

• 3 tank tops

• 1 belt

• A packing cube with underwear, bras, and socks

• Pyjama shorts, t-shirt, and leggings

I also packed an extra pair of jeans and a sweater in my personal item for a quick change at the airport.

Additional Items

In addition to my clothing, I also packed some small items to fill the space.

• Chargers and adapters

• Hairbrush

• A gift for my friend

• A laundry bag

• A tripod

Traveling with a carry-on only requires careful planning and strategic packing, but it's totally doable even during the colder months.