How To Pack In ONLY a CARRY ON (Packing Tips & Best Travel Gear)

After traveling the world full-time for 3 years, we’re sharing how we pack in only a carry-on suitcase, what’s in our bags, and our favorite travel essentials!

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Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:17 Away Luggage
1:29 What’s in our suitcase?
6:46 What’s in our backpack?
15:13 What’s in our toiletry bag?
18:55 How to pack a carry-on suitcase
25:47 Final thoughts
26:07 Subscribe

[KeepGoingPlaces]

We’ve received a TON of questions about how/if we can carry-on each of our suitcases given (1) the large liquids in our toiletry bag and (2) their seemingly higher than allowed weight. To clarify, we do NOT carry our suitcases on our flights. We check them, which is generally included in the international and domestic flights we book. We use and prefer traveling with a carry-on suitcase because they are way easier to travel with long term across destinations. Whether we’re lugging them on and off trains across Europe or on and off a longtail boat in Thailand, they’re much better than a big checked suitcase. Also, our carry-ons always fit into the trunk of cars when we road trip around countries. So, we pack our carry-ons to maximize space and get around countries easier for 2-3 month trips. Hope this makes sense! Let us know if you have any other questions.

[auntlynnie]

My suggestion is to keep photocopies of your passports, immunization documentation, and drivers licenses in your other bag. That way, if you lose your originals, you have the numbers to request replacement documents.

[coziii.]

I was in military
Packing cubes are fine but I still roll and compact all my clothes.

In a carry on I can get 3 weeks of clothes.


But I don’t travel to hike etc I do walk in the cities and towns .


If I need something I buy it and give it away when I leave

[hannastocksick]

Packing your shoes together takes more space and you don’t need to buy one bag for them: a grocery bag or even a shower cap works.

[maryjeant]

I'm really curious since you're traveling the world with a carry-on that is already that heavy how do you stay under the 7 kg / 15 lb that most international Airlines have as their carry on limit? Are they just not weighing the bags? They look pretty packed and heavy to me.

[sageduff]

I always pack a full ‘pharmacy’ in my carry-on when I travel, internationally especially. While yes, you can find meds wherever you travel, my experience is that they probably won’t be exactly the same as what you’re used to. Plus, I’ve seen/experienced what happens when you don’t feel well on the flight and have nothing with you to help. So I always always have anti-nausea, upset stomach, cold meds, cough drops, Tylenol, anti-diarrheal, and some bandaids with me.

[DonTravelsTheWorld]

Me and my friends agree with your con #3 big time! They are from Japan, Algeria, Canada and Brazil and the food is really difficult to get used to because of the lack of flavor. 😮‍💨

[janellr]

Question on the liquids. Some in the carryon and some in the backpack. Are you generally checking your luggage?

[KahanisGoldenBytes]

As crazy as it sounds, I travel with a 'Power extension board'...it has 6 power sockets and 2 USB sockets...there are plenty of variations of these now....and I really liked what you travel with....it helps me when I want the TV and Table lamp on but still want to charge my gadgets (power bank, camera batteries, mobiles, ....) and there is only 1 power socket left for use in the hotel room ...when sharing the room with someone travelling with gadgets, never an issue on the charging of gadgets part...

[eljover]

Excellent way to pack. The question is: how much does each of those carry on (and hand carry) weigh?

[Dianeinjax]

Seems like you pack a lot in the carry-ons, thanks for the tips! Do you ever have a problem with the weight of each carryon?

[Timetravel]

Nice to have a guy that does this and gets organized. Also good tip on the little grocery bag! 🛒
it’s obvious that he has OCD? Metal element!

[Roxiegee]

How do you get through tsa with all the over size liquids?

[sdophoto]

Good video but isn't a lot of your toiletry items suppose to go in a 3-1-1 bag? Also that camera backpack looks awfully big to be your personal item bag? Or am I missing something? I roll clothes but I might try your method to see how it works

[luvzdogz]

As far as rolling or folding, I think I've landed on a hybrid model. 😋 if it's a garment I don't want fold marks on (i.e. linen pants, a dress) I roll it. Shorts, leggings, tanktops, fold those.

[konnie]

I was glad to see a headline for "not" rolling clothing. Your video is unique in that regard. Rolling might work for some people, but rolling all clothing items is way too much work for me. I like just talking out my cubes with everything folded flat (except for small items like socks). For me, it's more about weight than space, so I try to use the lightest weight, within reason, clothing items. I also look for the least bulky clothing. A bulky sweater can take up a lot of luggage real estate. For shoes, I found individual shoe bags. This increases the options of where to fit the shoes.

[That_Tatiana]

How to you guys manage to keep your carry on bags under the standard 7kg weight limit on most international flights?

[buffybowman]

I have watched dozens of packing videos for an upcoming 3-6 month trip to Europe. That was by far the BEST! Finally a good one!

[ElroySerrao]

How does all this actually fit within carryon weight limits ? I wonder ... 😲

[delchen]

You guys must be awesome at Tetris. So many great tips and travel essentials. Thank you so much!