{"id":8505,"date":"2016-06-07T10:34:26","date_gmt":"2016-06-07T17:34:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/?p=8505"},"modified":"2020-08-07T13:05:41","modified_gmt":"2020-08-07T20:05:41","slug":"7-travel-packing-tips-to-master-your-carry-on-bag","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/travel\/7-travel-packing-tips-to-master-your-carry-on-bag","title":{"rendered":"7 Travel Packing Tips to Master Your Carry-On Bag"},"content":{"rendered":"<span class=\"cb-itemprop\" itemprop=\"reviewBody\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It only takes one overpacking experience to realize that lugging heavy, cumbersome bags up steep steps, onto public transit and along cobblestone streets isn\u2019t worth the effort. A few days in, you\u2019ll dream of hurling your bags off the side of a train and vow never to overpack again.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Follow these seven packing tips to help you lighten your load and enjoy the journey.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>1. Think Differently<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s only natural that the further from home you\u2019re traveling, the stronger the urge becomes to pack more stuff. The first step to becoming a master packer is to change the way you think about the process:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>It\u2019s okay <em>not<\/em>\u00a0to prepare for every potential situation<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. If you forget an item, you\u2019ll be able to find something comparable at your destination. If something gets dirty, you can wash it. If something breaks, you can fix it. Pack the least amount of stuff you\u2019ll need to enjoy your trip. When in doubt, just leave it out.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>It\u2019s okay to wear your clothes more than once.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u00a0Back home, your friends and coworkers may notice if you wear the same outfit twice in one week. When you\u2019re traveling, who cares? More often than not, you\u2019ll be surrounded by strangers who won\u2019t know whether your outfit is a repeat.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Packing less won\u2019t cramp your style. <\/b>You don\u2019t have to sacrifice fashion when packing less. Even the most fashion-forward person can craft a stylish travel wardrobe out of a few pieces. It may take a little planning and some great accessories, but it\u2019s definitely doable.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>2. In Warm Weather, Go Lighter<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Traveling to a warm destination? Take advantage of the lightweight nature of clothing and gear suited to summery climes and consider these techniques:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Take advantage of <strong>thin, lightweight fabrics<\/strong>. Semi-sheer pieces, lightweight jersey knits and rayon all pack down exceptionally well. Bring a few items made in these materials, and you\u2019ll save significant space. If warmth is a consideration, layer these lightweight pieces together.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Shorts, capris and skirts have less material<\/strong> than their long-length counterparts, guaranteeing space savings. As long as you\u2019ll be adhering to cultural expectations in the destinations you\u2019re visiting, consider packing shorter-length items. Or, bring a pair of zip-off pants instead of pants plus shorts.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span style=\"font-size: 20px; font-weight: bold;\">3. Go Multifunctional<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A critical part of traveling light is packing pieces that can serve double or triple duty. Wardrobe staples like dark jeans and a casual blazer can be dressed up for an evening on the town or dressed down for a day of sightseeing. Maxi skirts can sometimes be worn as a midi or knee-length dress, and with a little creativity, infinity scarves can be worn several ways. And, if you go the capsule wardrobe route, picking only pieces that work well together, you can carry even less.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The multifunctional rule also applies to your shoes. Choose sandals that are comfortable enough for walking and dressy enough to wear to dinner. When in doubt, consider European-style sneakers. Due to their slim profile, these sneakers tend to work well in a wide range of settings.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Before you place an item in your suitcase, ask yourself how many times and ways you can wear it. If the answer is \u201cone,\u201d don\u2019t pack it.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>4. Go Technical<\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"\/learn\/expert-advice\/travel-clothing.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Technical clothing<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is typically made of lightweight, stain-resistant, wrinkle-free, quick-drying materials\u2014the perfect addition to your suitcase. Whether pants, shirts or underwear, you can wear these pieces all day long, handwash them before bed and wear them again in the morning\u2014day after day.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>5. Practice Rolling &amp; Using Packing Cubes<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are hundreds of articles and videos devoted to <\/span><a href=\"\/learn\/expert-advice\/traveling-light.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">packing wisely<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, from rolling to vacuum packing, bundling and using packing cubes. Why choose just one? After rolling your clothes, you can stuff them into <a href=\"\/b\/patagonia\/c\/packing-organizers\">packing cubes<\/a> for tighter compression and better organization.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>6. Pack For The Short Haul<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Never pack more than you need for seven or eight days. If your trip is longer than that, you can wash your clothes and wear the items again. In most cities, laundromats are easy to find, paid laundry services may be affordable, or you can handwash your clothes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>7. Wear Your Bulkiest Items On Travel Days<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In any travel wardrobe, jeans, jackets and sneakers will most likely be your bulkiest and heaviest items. If you wear these items on your travel days, you\u2019ll save space and weight in your luggage.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Need help on what piece of luggage you&#8217;ll need? Check out this <\/span><a href=\"\/learn\/expert-advice\/luggage-packs.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">how to choose luggage guide<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for more information.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Challenge yourself to travel with as little as possible. It might feel uncomfortable at first, but the freedom that comes with a small, light carry-on bag will be your reward.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"cb-button cb-white cb-normal cb-none\"><a href=\"\/blog\/travel\/adventure-travel-gear\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"follow\">Learn More: How to Pack for Adventure Travel<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" role=\"presentation\"><path d=\"M16 12a.997.997 0 0 0-.288-.702l-5.005-5.005a1 1 0 0 0-1.414 1.414L13.585 12 9.29 16.295a1 1 0 0 0 1.417 1.412l4.98-4.98A.997.997 0 0 0 16 12z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/span>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>It only takes one overpacking experience to realize that lugging heavy, cumbersome bags up steep steps, onto public transit and along cobblestone streets isn\u2019t worth the effort. A few days in, you\u2019ll dream of hurling your bags off the side of a train and vow never to overpack again. Follow these seven packing tips to [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":8507,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[388],"tags":[12,613],"internal-tag":[523,1684],"class_list":["post-8505","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-travel","tag-travel","tag-travel-tips","internal-tag-chelle-roberts","internal-tag-pre-redirect-travel"],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","canonical_url":"https:\/\/rei.com\/blog\/travel\/7-travel-packing-tips-to-master-your-carry-on-bag","smart_links":{"inbound":0,"outbound":0},"traffic_boost_suggestions_count":0,"meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"7 Travel Packing Tips to Master Your Carry-On Bag","url":"http:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/travel\/7-travel-packing-tips-to-master-your-carry-on-bag","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"http:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/travel\/7-travel-packing-tips-to-master-your-carry-on-bag"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2016\/06\/Content-052516-0076.jpg?resize=150%2C150","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2016\/06\/Content-052516-0076.jpg?fit=1500%2C1000"},"articleSection":"Travel","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Angela Crampton"}],"creator":["Angela Crampton"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Uncommon Path \u2013 An REI Co-op Publication","logo":""},"keywords":["travel","travel tips"],"dateCreated":"2016-06-07T17:34:26Z","datePublished":"2016-06-07T17:34:26Z","dateModified":"2020-08-07T20:05:41Z"},"rendered":"<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"wp-parsely-metadata\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"NewsArticle\",\"headline\":\"7 Travel Packing Tips to Master Your Carry-On Bag\",\"url\":\"http:\\\/\\\/www.rei.com\\\/blog\\\/travel\\\/7-travel-packing-tips-to-master-your-carry-on-bag\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"http:\\\/\\\/www.rei.com\\\/blog\\\/travel\\\/7-travel-packing-tips-to-master-your-carry-on-bag\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rei.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/4\\\/2016\\\/06\\\/Content-052516-0076.jpg?resize=150%2C150\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rei.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/4\\\/2016\\\/06\\\/Content-052516-0076.jpg?fit=1500%2C1000\"},\"articleSection\":\"Travel\",\"author\":[{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Angela Crampton\"}],\"creator\":[\"Angela Crampton\"],\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"Uncommon Path \\u2013 An REI Co-op Publication\",\"logo\":\"\"},\"keywords\":[\"travel\",\"travel tips\"],\"dateCreated\":\"2016-06-07T17:34:26Z\",\"datePublished\":\"2016-06-07T17:34:26Z\",\"dateModified\":\"2020-08-07T20:05:41Z\"}<\/script>","tracker_url":"https:\/\/cdn.parsely.com\/keys\/rei.com\/p.js"},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2016\/06\/Content-052516-0076.jpg?fit=1500%2C1000","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8505","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8505"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8505\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":161847,"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8505\/revisions\/161847"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8507"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8505"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8505"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8505"},{"taxonomy":"internal-tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/internal-tag?post=8505"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}