How to Travel With Less: The Ultimate Carry-On & Underseat Packing Guide

You probably need less luggage than you think

More often than not, you can travel with far less luggage than you think. Most of us have a tendency to pack for every possible situation: extra clothes in case we need them, shoes we might wear once, toiletries we could easily buy at our destination, and all kinds of “just in case” items.

The result? A bag that is unnecessarily heavy, difficult to organise and expensive to take with you.

Learning to pack efficiently doesn’t mean travelling without the things you actually need. It means being more intentional about what you bring and making the most of the limited space you have.

And travelling with less comes with some pretty big advantages.

Why travel with less luggage?

Lower travel costs

One of the biggest benefits is simply saving money. Checked luggage can add a significant amount to the price of a flight, and most airlines also charge extra for larger cabin bags. If everything you need fits into an underseat bag or a standard carry-on, you can often avoid these costs altogether.

Save time at the airport

Travelling without checked luggage means you don’t have to queue at the check-in desk just to drop off a bag. Even better, when you arrive, you can simply leave the airport instead of waiting at the baggage carousel and wondering when your bag will finally appear.

Easier to travel

A lighter bag is simply easier to carry. Whether you’re changing trains, walking through a city, taking a bus to your accommodation or hiking to a guesthouse, having less weight on your back makes travelling much more comfortable.

More flexibility

When everything you own for the trip is with you, you don’t have to worry about checking luggage, losing bags or keeping track of multiple pieces of luggage. You can move around more freely and change your plans more easily.

And, honestly, you probably won’t miss most of the things you leave at home.

Two Ways to Travel Light

There are two main ways we recommend approaching minimalist packing: travelling with only an underseat bag or travelling with no more than a carry-on.

You might think while reading this, how is it even possible to travel with just an underseat bag? But we can tell you that this has become the norm for us, and we have done it many times already. Only in situations where we know we simply can’t bring all our essentials in just our underseat bags, do we actually bring an additional carry-on (or a checked bag, whichever is cheaper).

Neither is necessarily better. The right option depends on your destination, activities and how much you’re willing to compromise on what you bring.

Underseat only, approximately 15–30L

This is the ultimate minimalist option.

Your bag needs to fit under the seat in front of you, meaning you don’t get access to the overhead luggage compartment. The exact dimensions vary between airlines, so always check the requirements of the airline you’re flying with.

Most bags between roughly 15 and 30 litres can work for this style of travel, although getting close to 30L may exceed the personal-item allowance on some airlines. But talking from experience, we often travel with bags that ‘technically’ exceed the airlines guidelines, and we have never gotten in trouble (yet).

The biggest advantage is that your luggage can often be included in the cheapest flight fare, meaning no checked bag and potentially no cabin-bag fee either.

The trade-off is space. You’ll need to be much more selective about what you bring, and you’ll probably need to do laundry regularly.

For a warm-weather trip with lightweight clothing and good access to laundry, however, you can fit a surprising amount into an underseat bag. For example, during our Albania trip this summer we managed to travel from north to south during 10 days, while only bringing an underseat backpack on our flight. And we even managed to fit our drone and camera gear in there!

Carry-on only, approximately 30–45L

Carry-on-only travel gives you considerably more room while still allowing you to avoid checked luggage.

A backpack or cabin bag of around 30–45L can give you enough space for more clothing, an extra pair of shoes, electronics and potentially some hiking gear, depending on what you’re bringing.

You’ll usually be able to take this bag into the aircraft cabin and store it in the overhead compartment, but airline size and weight restrictions vary, so always check the specific airline you’re flying with.

For longer trips, colder destinations or trips involving activities such as hiking, a carry-on is often the more practical choice.

How Long Can You Actually Travel With so Little?

The length of your trip is only one part of the equation.

What matters just as much, and often more, is where you’re going and what you’re doing there.

If you’re travelling somewhere warm, you can get away with lightweight clothing that takes up very little space. Add regular access to laundry and you could potentially travel for a month with just an underseat bag if you’re willing to pack very minimally.

On the other hand, a two-week trip doesn’t necessarily mean you can travel light. If you’re heading somewhere cold and need thick jackets, warm layers, hiking boots and specialised equipment, you’ll need considerably more space.

A useful general guideline is:

1 week

Underseat is easily achievable for most warm-weather trips.

2–4 weeks

Underseat is still generally doable, but it depends heavily on your destination, activities and access to laundry. Carry-on gives you considerably more flexibility.

Remember: you don’t need a different amount of clothing for a month-long trip than for a one-week trip. You just need to wash it more often.

Several months

Carry-on only is still completely possible, but you’ll almost always want more space than an underseat bag. Regular laundry becomes essential, and you’ll need to be selective about what you bring.

The Ultimate Underseat Packing List, up to 30L

Now we get to the practical part: what do you actually put in the bag?

This is a minimal packing list to help you travel as light as possible. If you are planning to go backpacking anytime soon, you might want to check out our Backpacking Essentials Guide as well!

For a warm-weather trip, a realistic minimalist setup could look something like:

Clothing

• 4–5 T-shirts/tops
• 2 pairs of shorts
• 1 lightweight long trousers
• 1 lightweight sweater/shirt
• 5–7 pairs of underwear
• 5-6 pairs of socks
• 1 set of sleepwear
• 1-2 swimsuits
• 1 lightweight rain jacket (optional)

Shoes

• 1 pair of versatile everyday sneakers
• Flip-flops/sandals

Tip: Always wear your larger shoes while travelling.

Toiletries

• Toothbrush + small toothpaste
• Deodorant (travel size)
• Small shampoo/body wash
• Sunscreen (travel size, you can buy a bigger one at your destination)
• Razor
• Any essential medication
• Small first-aid essentials

Keep liquids within the airline’s requirements.

Electronics

• Phone
• Charging cable
• Compact charger
• Power bank
• Universal travel adapter
• Headphones

Travel essentials

• Passport
• Wallet
• Travel cards
• Water bottle
• Sunglasses (+cap)
• Small day bag, if it can be packed flat
• Microfiber towel
• Packing cubes

Optional

Depending on the trip:

• Camera gear
• Drone
• E-reader

The exact list should obviously change depending on your destination. This is a framework, not a checklist where you need to bring every item.

The Ultimate Carry-On Packing List, up to 45L

With a larger carry-on, you can keep the same philosophy while giving yourself considerably more flexibility.

Clothing

• 5–7 T-shirts/tops
• 2–3 pairs of shorts/trousers
• 1 pair of long trousers
• 1–2 sweaters/fleeces
• 7–10 pairs of underwear
• 5–7 pairs of socks
• 1–2 sets of sleepwear
• Swimwear
• Lightweight rain jacket
• Additional layers depending on climate

Shoes

• Everyday shoes
• Sandals/flip-flops
• Hiking shoes if actually needed

Toiletries

Same essentials as above, but you have more room for larger or additional items.

Electronics

• Phone
• Charger
• Power bank
• Travel adapter
• Headphones
• Camera equipment, if needed
• Laptop/tablet, if needed

Travel & activity gear

• Daypack
• Reusable bottle
• Microfiber towel
• Small first-aid kit
• Laundry bag
• Packing cubes

The extra space shouldn’t be an excuse to simply fill the bag. A half-full carry-on is much nicer to travel with than a completely stuffed one.

Things You Probably Don’t Need

One of the easiest ways to pack lighter is to stop packing things you think you might need.

Too many clothes

You don’t need a fresh outfit for every day of your trip. Pack your clothes with clear outfits in mind so you don’t pack items you won’t end up wearing. Laundry service exists almost everywhere and sometimes you can even do it for free at your accommodation.

Multiple pairs of shoes

Unless your trip genuinely requires them, one versatile pair + sandals is often enough. Even hiking shoes you don’t need to bring if you are not doing at least several hikes or the track is not too tricky.

Full-size toiletries

You can buy most toiletries almost anywhere, and travel-size versions take up far less space. And in our case, you also cant bring them anyways. Since you can only bring full sized toiletries in checked luggage.

“Just in case” clothes

That jacket you might need? Those three extra shirts? The fancy outfit you’ll maybe wear?

Leave them behind unless you actually have a plan for using them.

Huge towels

Most accommodation provides one for showering. A compact microfiber towel takes up much less space if you do need one, and provides a great beach towel if you need it.

Things you can easily buy at your destination

Don’t carry half a pharmacy or supermarket with you. If what you think you want to bring can be found at your destination, get it there instead.

Too many electronics

Do you really need your laptop, tablet, e-reader, camera, three chargers and five cables?

Bring what you’ll actually use.

Specialised gear you don’t actually need

If you’re not planning to hike, don’t pack hiking equipment just because you might go on one hike.

The best packing list is the one that is specific to your trip.

How to Pack Efficiently

Having the right items is only half the battle. How you pack them can make a surprisingly big difference.

Use packing cubes

Packing cubes make it much easier to organise your bag and prevent everything from turning into one giant pile of clothes.

They’re especially useful when travelling with a backpack because you can take out one category without unpacking everything.

They help you pack efficiently and to not let any space go to waste.

But remember: packing cubes don’t magically create extra space. They mainly help you organise and compress what you already have.

Roll or fold?

For most lightweight clothing, rolling works really well.

It makes individual items easy to see and can reduce wasted space between clothes.

For thicker or structured clothing, folding can sometimes work better.

Don’t obsess over one method, use whichever makes the contents of your bag fit best.

Consider compression or vacuum packing cubes

Compression cubes can be particularly useful for bulky clothing.

They remove some of the air between clothes and can significantly reduce their volume.

They’re especially useful when travelling somewhere cold.

But there’s a catch:

They reduce volume, not weight.

So don’t use them as an excuse to pack more than your bag’s weight allowance.

Use every bit of space

Put smaller items inside larger ones:

🧦 Socks → inside shoes
🔌 Cables → inside gaps
🩲 Underwear → between clothing
👟 Shoes → around the edges of your bag or strapped to the outside

Those little gaps add up.

Wear your heaviest items

If you’re close to your bag’s weight or space limit:

Wear it instead of packing it.

Your heaviest shoes, jacket or trousers can be worn during your flight.

You can always take layers off once you’re on the plane.

Choosing the Right Bag

And finally, don’t start by buying a bag and then figuring out what to put inside it.

Start with how you travel.

Underseat backpack ~15–30L

Best for:

• Warm destinations
• Short trips
• Minimalist travellers
• Avoiding baggage fees
• Travelling light between destinations

Look for:

Airline-compatible dimensions, comfortable straps, good organisation and a shape that makes the most of the available space.

Carry-on backpack ~30–45L

Best for:

• Longer trips
• Backpacking
• Cooler climates
• Hiking trips
• Travelling with more electronics/camera gear

Look for:

Good weight distribution, comfortable suspension, easy access and airline-compatible dimensions.

Carry-on suitcase

Great if you’re mainly moving between airports, hotels and cities.

But if you’re backpacking, taking buses and trains or doing hikes, a backpack is usually much more practical.

The Most Important Rule

Don’t choose the biggest bag you’re allowed to take.

Choose the smallest bag that comfortably fits everything you actually need.

That’s the difference between travelling light and simply travelling with a smaller suitcase.

Are you getting ready for your next trip? Then check out our Travel Guides, like our Backpacking Essentials Guide to help you prepare for your trip.

FAQ: How to Travel Light

How long can you travel with only a carry-on?

There is no fixed limit. With regular laundry and an appropriate wardrobe for the climate, you can travel for weeks or even months with only a carry-on.

Can you travel for a month with an underseat bag?

Yes, particularly in warm climates where clothes are small and easy to wash. The destination, climate and willingness to do laundry matter more than the number of days you’re travelling.

What size backpack is best for underseat travel?

An underseat backpack is generally around 15–30 litres, but airline dimensions vary considerably. Always check the specific airline’s personal-item allowance before travelling.

Is 40L enough for long-term travel?

For many travellers, yes. A 40–45L backpack can provide enough space for clothing, toiletries, electronics and travel essentials for extended trips, especially if you do laundry regularly.

How do you pack light for a long trip?

Pack versatile clothing, limit yourself to a small number of shoes, use packing cubes, avoid duplicate items and plan around laundry rather than packing clothes for the entire trip.

Is it cheaper to travel with only a carry-on?

Often, yes. Travelling without checked luggage can help you avoid baggage fees and also saves time at the airport because you don’t need to check a bag or wait for luggage at baggage claim.