‘Team carry on’: How to travel with only one small bag, according to Reddit experts

Airline luggage allowances seem to shrink further every year, forcing passengers to choose between travelling with a tiny backpack or forking out astronomical baggage fees.

Budget savvy travellers are meeting this challenge head on with innovative ways to avoid additional charges – skipping queues and becoming more nimble in the process.

If you’re considering living out of hand luggage on your next trip, don’t pack before reading these tips for travelling with one small bag – compiled from Reddit’s Travel community.

Plan a capsule wardrobe for your travels

Careful planning is the key to packing light, according to many seasoned travellers. 

“I started having ‘uniforms’,” explains one Reddit user. “If you look at my photos from hiking trips the last two years, it would look like one long trip – I have no shame in my game.”

If you’re likely to experience different climates on your travels, versatile, layerable clothing is your friend.

“I have a VERY well thought out wardrobe with pieces that layer for climate control and for varied looks… The same wardrobe can take me from over 100F [38C] all the way down to freezing,” says another Reddit user. 

The same applies to diverse dress codes.

“I manage to travel this light by curating multi-use items, designing a capsule wardrobe where all items mix and match and can take me from the office to the beach on a single trip,” says another member of Reddit’s Travel community. 

“I also do not expect everything to be perfect. I have scaled the rigging of an old sail boat in dress pants, I have worn a plain t-shirt and ‘yoga pants’ to a Michelin star restaurant dressed up with statement jewellery,” they caveat.

And sometimes, it’s just a matter of sacrifice.

“I’m team carry on only… I used to travel with way too much,” says one Reddit user. “I’ve become ok with just going without. I’ve never once looked back at a vacation and thought ‘man I wish I had brought that shirt with me’.”

Use your bag volume effectively

As important as careful selection of clothing is the way you pack it.

We’ve all heard of rolling items to ensure they take up less space, but some travellers take it one step further.

“I use compression packing cubes, tuck socks and underwear into shoes or gaps created by shoes, use workout clothes and undershirts to fill larger gaps and the bottom where things don’t fit flush, and generally pack only what I’ll actually wear in a trip,” says one Reddit user.

Wearing your bulkiest items on the flight can help save space in your bag – as does making use of deep jacket pockets for carrying bulkier items like toiletries.

Another sneaky trick is to pick up a duty-free bag at the airport to store extra items. Most airlines will allow one duty-free bag on top of your set luggage allowance, but some may check that it is sealed with duty-free goods inside – so it is a risk.

Do laundry on your travels

Laundry might be the last thing you want to think about when you’re trying to take a break, but many travellers say it’s the key to packing light.

“Do laundry at least once a week. Wear the same thing over because who will know but you,” advises one Reddit user.

“We travel weeks at a time internationally with carry-ons only and every week we do laundry… to completely refresh our clothes supply,” adds another.

It’s not always necessary to stay in accommodation that has its own washing machine, either.

“Sink washing is fast, easy, and convenient in most situations,” says one Reddit user.

For some travellers, heading to the local laundrette can even become part of the fun.

“I have really enjoyed doing a load of laundry during the middle of our trip,” says one Reddit user. “The [laundrette] is usually in an old part of town, where a bar is next door, and I hang out for a bit with the locals. As crazy as it sounds, I really enjoy those couple of hours.”

What’s the best way to pack shoes?

As one of the bulkiest – yet most essential – travel items, shoes are a conundrum when travelling light.

The answer, according to packing experts, is again versatility.

“I have a nice looking pair of very comfortable/supportive canvas Cole Haan’s that serve multiple purposes as I can wear them out all day walking around cities but with a nice pant can also go to restaurants, shows, etc,” says one Reddit user.

“I most often travel with one pair of sneakers that are comfortable to walk in all day and can serve in the gym and/or on light hikes as well as a pair of sandals for lounging, in the shower, or for warm locations,” adds another.

Wearing your bulkiest pair of shoes – whether they’re hiking boots or trainers – on the flight is a must. More compact footwear can then find space in your bag – flip flops, sneakers or ballet flats can fit in a side pocket, for example.

Why pack light?

Apart from the cost-saving benefits of travelling with hand luggage only, there are plenty of reasons to cut down on your next trip.

“Carrying on saves me hours each time I travel (don’t ever have to stand in a check-in line an hour plus before my flight, and particularly with Global Entry I practically walk straight out of the airport after arriving home),” says one Reddit user.

“Travelling with a tiny bag and very few things has actually put the fun and freedom back into travel for me,” adds another. 

“Imagine checking out of your hotel at 10am, tossing a small backpack on, and being able to wear it all day without thinking about it, until you check into your next hotel, or catch that train, or go to the airport. 

“No stashing luggage, no going back to pick up your bag anywhere, no fighting for stowage space on a train or plane, no losing sight of your bag. Heck, I can even get on a train or bus and take a seat without even removing my bag!”

Despite it landing them in some “less than ideal situations” due to lacking the appropriate clothing, one Reddit user says they wouldn’t change tack.

“I will continue to choose packing light because of the freedom of stepping off the plane and walking out the airport doors and being able to go anywhere without having to drop my stuff off at the accommodation, and being able to easily navigate all forms of transportation,” they say.

“Being able to unpack or re-pack in under five minutes meaning more time out having fun is too valuable for me to give up for another pair of shoes or a few extra pieces of clothing or more toiletries.”