Fred Perrotta

I Traveled for a Month with Just a Carry On (Here's How You Can Too)

Fred Perrotta -

I just spent a month traveling around Italy with just a carry on bag, no checked luggage. In this article, I'll tell you how my wife and I both packed light for such a long trip.

A month is a long time. But if I can pack for a month in a carry on, you can do it for a week or two. If you're traveling for a week or less, you'll have it easy because you won't even have to do laundry.

But, But, But

Because of the destination and length of the trip, we weren't even packing on "easy mode." Here are some common excuses people give for why they can't pack light and how we did it anyway.

  • "But it's easier for men." That's probably true, but my wife also packed carry-on-only in a 35-liter backpack (smaller than mine!) plus a tote for her personal item.
  • "But I need multiple pairs of shoes." Traveling with just the shoes on your feet is the closest thing to "one weird trick" for packing light. For this trip, I needed two pairs—one for walking all day, one for dressing up a bit—so I had to pack a pair in my bag.
  • "But the weather." Because we went to Italy from late September to early October, we had to pack for summer and fall temperatures as well as rain.
  • "But I need nice clothes." Me too. I also had to bring more clothes to wear for some of our nicer dinners and activities.
  • "But I have to bring a computer." Same. I brought my laptop in case of work emergencies because I was out of the office for so long.

You can do it. No excuses. Let's get started.

How You Can Pack Carry-On-Only (For Any Trip)

Below are our packing lists so that you can see exactly what we brought. But first, let's talk about the basics.

If you're new to carry-on-only travel or just want to pack less, here's how to get started.

  1. Buy a carry on bag. Constraints are good. Now you know exactly how much you can pack. I recommend 55 x 35 x 20 cm (about 21.7 x 13.8 x 7.9 in) or just under 40 liters, which is the maximum carry on size that still fits on most airlines.
  2. Read The 7 Secrets of Packing Light to learn the principles of packing less. Then you can figure out how to apply them to your needs.
  3. Regardless of the length of your trip, pack for one week. If you're traveling for longer than that, bring laundry detergent sheets. Then book accommodations with a washing machine, like an Airbnb. We booked a few apartments like this on Booking.com. Or you can just find a local laundromat or 'wash and fold' service. In Asia, I always used 'wash and folds' near my guesthouses because laundry only cost a few dollars and was ready the next day.

Keep reading for two example packing lists that you can follow.

Fred's Carry On Packing List

Luggage

As always, I packed my bag the night before. Everything fit, even a few extras. And I had some room to spare. I nailed it.

Then I remembered to check ITA Airways' carry on weight limits: 17 pounds. I weighed my bag: 20 pounds.

Knowing I'd have to weigh my bag the next day, I caved. I moved my computer and the stuff I'd use during the flight from my carry on to a personal item. I did pack everything in my carry on but had to separate it into two bags for ITA.

When we traveled by train, bus, or ferry within Italy, I packed everything—including my personal item—back into my carry on. Everything fit but was packed much tighter than before. Thanks, ITA.

My list is built around my travel capsule wardrobe.

Tops

  • 7 t-shirts
  • 2 short-sleeved, button up shirts
  • 1 long-sleeved, button down shirt
  • 1 shirt jacket (worn as a jacket)

Bottoms

Other Clothes

Everything Else

  • 2 toiletry bags
  • Beard trimmer
  • Laptop
  • Kindle
  • Charger bag
  • EarPods
  • Notebook and pen
  • Wallet
  • Passport
  • Phone
  • Water bottle

Linda's Carry On Packing List

Luggage

Tops

  • 3 cute tops (her words, not mine), short-sleeved or sleeveless
  • 2 t-shirts (for the plane and sleeping)
  • 1 long-sleeved shirt
  • 1 jacket
  • 1 sports bra

Bottoms

  • 1 long skirt
  • 2 pairs of leggings (for the plane, sleeping, and layering)
  • 7 pairs of underwear
  • 1 pair of "sporty" shorts

Other Clothes

  • 2 dresses
  • 2 swimsuits
  • 2 pairs of shoes
    • 1 pair of sneakers
    • 1 pair of flat sandals for nicer occasions
  • 3 pairs of socks
  • Sunglasses
  • Sun hat

Everything Else

  • 1 toiletry bag with essential liquids only, others bought in destination
  • Tablet
  • Headphones
  • Chargers and cables
  • Purse (packed in personal item)
    • Wallet
    • Passport
    • Phone
  • Glasses and contacts
  • Travel pillow (not a neck pillow, a half-sized bed pillow)
  • Umbrella
  • Laundry sheets
  • Water bottle

Conclusion

If you're willing to do laundry, you can pack everything you need (within reason) in just a carry on for infinitely easier travel.

No baggage fees, no waiting to check or collect your bag, and no dragging a giant piece of luggage around.

You'll remember your trip for what you did, not what you brought. Act accordingly.

Still need help? Email me.