We’ve done entire winters in Europe and months wandering through Asia with nothing but hand luggage – it saves money and makes travel so much smoother. No dragging heavy suitcases over cobblestones and no wrestling luggage into tiny third‑class train compartments where personal space is more of a suggestion than a guarantee, trust us, we have tried!
With a few smart habits, travelling carry‑on only becomes second nature — and way less intimidating than it sounds.
Pack with intention
- Choose the right bag – over the years we have tried and tested so many options but learnt that a soft-side carry or a 40lt backpack is the sweet spot. They squish into overhead bins more easy and somehow always fit more than we expect.
- Use packing cubes – this is a total game changer! They keep everything in its place so your not elbow deep in your bag mid-flight. Also makes it easy to unpack if airport security need to check your bags. We use these cubes from Amazon and they do the job just fine.
- Pick a colour palette – We try and stick to neutrals that mix and match without thinking. Fewer pieces, more outfits, and way less “what do I even wear?” stress.
Be ruthless about clothing, seriously!
- Limit shoes to two pairs – We’ve learnt the hard way that anything more just eats space. We wear the bulkier pair and toss the lighter one in our bag. High heels stay home… every time. Lindsay and both live in our Teva or Keen sandals and boots 80% of the time.
- Choose quick dry fabrics – They’re the real MVPs. We can wash them in a sink, hang them up, and they’re ready by morning. They keep us warm and cool, and we are generally less stressed about laundry.
- Layer instead of packing heavy – A light jacket and a comfy sweater beats lugging around a giant coat. Plus, that bundle becomes the perfect makeshift pillow on those long, slightly questionable third‑class train or bus rides.
- Think multi-use – a scarf becomes a blanket, i can’t count how many times mine has saved me on a chilly flight or airconditioned cafe. A sarong does everything: towel, beach coverup or a makeshift privacy curtain.
Know the airline rules
Some carriers are strict about weight; others only care about size. Checking this ahead of time saves stress at the gate. We ONLY travel hand luggage which for most budget airlines is 7kg.
Laundry is your friend
- A tiny bag of detergent or a laundry sheet means you can pack for 5 days and travel for 5 weeks – trust us, we have done this for years! We just head to the local supermarket and buy a few sheets or pouches and wash our clothes in the basin or shower, you don’t need access to a washine machine.
Go Mini with Tolietries
Swap full-size bottles for:
Solid shampoo and conditioner bars
Travel-sized toothpaste
A small refillable bottle for liquid essentials
Bonus: solids don’t count toward your liquid allowance.
And there you have it! Travelling with just hand luggage really does change the whole vibe of a trip. Once you get into the rhythm of it, everything feels lighter—literally and mentally. No waiting around, no lost bags, no dragging a suitcase over cobblestones while questioning your life choices. Just you, your little bag, and the freedom to get going.
If you end up trying these tips on your next trip, we’d love to hear how it goes for you. Check out our blog on ways to stretch your travel budget further here.
