While I've spent tens of thousands of dollars on travel, I’ve learned that there's one expense I can’t quite justify. 🧳
From being drenched in foam and water during the Black and Whites’ Carnival in Colombia to serving as a seat on a packed train in Italy, this bag has been through a lot. And over the years, while I've spent tens of thousands of dollars on travel, I’ve learned that there's one expense I can’t quite justify: checked baggage.
At first, my choice to travel with carry-on only was purely a financial one. But now, the thought of paying an extra $50 (at least!) just to lug more stuff around causes an irrational rage to bubble up inside me. This is because, apart from the budgetary benefits, I find that traveling light on longer trips allows me to do things like catch public transport or browse a second-hand bookstore on my way to my hotel without the hassle of a giant suitcase.
This flexibility gets at the heart of what I love about traveling. To me, a carry-on represents embracing the unexpected. Of course, I always have an itinerary, but I like to be able to change my plans at the last minute if something more interesting comes up and I don’t want my baggage to get in the way of that. Keeping a carry-on with you during a day of sightseeing is inconvenient, sure, but not impossible! It’s also easier to stash a small bag behind a counter or in a locker than a big one.
On long trips, a carry-on can cut down transit time, too. If your flight has online check-in, you can often avoid the airline counter altogether and go straight through security with a digital boarding pass. Keeping your baggage with you also means it can never get lost or delayed. Plus, you don’t have to hang around waiting for your baggage to come off the carousel when all you really want is a nap.
Unsurprisingly, the primary drawback of traveling with just a carry-on bag is the limited space. I love wearing colorful and impractical outfits as much as the next person, but when I’m on the road my wardrobe becomes neutral, comfortable and boring. Plain t-shirts, denim and athleisure are where it’s at when it comes to living out of a backpack.
I know lots of travelers who swear by the ‘rolling’ method or using packing cubes, but I tend to revert to stuffing everything in my backpack without much of a system. It can be chaotic, but I can usually find what I need quickly because there isn’t all that much to sort through anyway. On top of not packing much to begin with, I rarely buy large souvenirs or presents to take home with me because they just wouldn’t fit in my bag. My friends and family get postcards, or jewelry if I’m feeling fancy.
If I’ve convinced you to give the carry-on life a try, there are a couple of key items I’d recommend squeezing into your bag. Shoes take up a lot of space, so I try to travel with a maximum of three pairs that are all versatile and comfortable. Sweaters and jackets are also bulky, so I tend to go with one of each (depending on the climate of my destination).
If you’re going away for more than two weeks you’ll need to wash your clothes at some point, so don’t bring anything that you wouldn’t feel comfortable putting through a commercial washer and dryer. A light scarf or sarong can double as a towel or blanket, and dark-colored fabrics are best to hide any stains you might accumulate along the way.
Due to security restrictions, your toiletries will need to be decanted into 100-millilitre bottles but nail clippers, razors and tweezers are usually fine in your carry-on. If you’re traveling with a laptop, make sure it's easily accessible just in case you have to remove it during the security screening. Usually I can get away with 10 kilograms of baggage, but some airlines have brought the limit down to seven. In extreme cases, I have been known to chuck my laptop, book, shoes and toiletries in a tote bag (aka ‘personal item’) to get my main backpack down to the weight limit.
When it comes to the bag itself, I prefer a backpack but a small rolling suitcase may be the better choice if you experience back or shoulder pain. I like my current backpack because it has a lid with straps that can be adjusted to fit into almost any airline’s overhead locker (similar to this one). The straps on the front are also handy if you need to wear a bulky jacket through security and then tuck it under the straps once you’re at the boarding gate. For size and weight purposes, you want to avoid anything too structured or with a frame.
Although I might have to rewear (more than) a few outfits in my holiday snaps or occasionally buy a giant bottle of sunscreen, traveling with carry-on only has allowed me to experience a more spontaneous approach to new places. Whenever I encounter cobblestones, stairs or a crowded bus, I’m grateful for my trusty backpack. Unfortunately, the exact pack I bought all those years ago has been discontinued, so I’m desperately hoping mine will survive another decade of journeys intact.
