Minimalist Carry On Luggage: How To Pack For 3 Weeks In A Carry On

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Travelling with a minimalist carry on luggage only may be one of the most liberating feelings in the world, but it’s also a real challenge. It’s difficult at first, but possible.

Just imagine having an ultimate flexibility to travel as you please and not being confined by heavy suitcases – it’s amazing! It’s safe to say that I love an extreme minimalist travel lifestyle. It took me some time to figure out how to pack for 2-3 weeks in a carry, and today, I want to share with you all the tricks I learned along the way. So, without a further ado, let’s dive in!

Benefits Of Travelling With A Minimalist Carry On Luggage

It’s Cost Effective

Why spend on checked luggage when you can carry-on for the ride? For starters, it’s more cost effective. Whether it’s included in the price of your ticket or not, travelling with a minimalist carry on luggage only is cheaper than with a checked-in luggage.

It’s Time Effective

Travelling with a carry-on doesn’t just save you money — it also ensures that you can get to your destination faster. As soon as you step into the airport, you can go straight to security and then onto your flight, without having to wait in a queue to check your baggage or wait for it to appear on the carousel at your destination.

It’s Safer

Ditching checked luggage reduces your risk of the airline losing your things or someone stealing them off the carousel. With a small carry-on, you can pack all of your essential items in one place and not worry about the security of your bag.

It’s Easier

Having a minimalist carry on luggage only allows you to get from the airport to the hotel or around your destination without a hassle. A few years ago, while I was travelling abroad, I had to drag my huge, heavy suitcase up and down the road. I ended up with a broken suitcase and aversion to this type of travel.

It’s More Flexible

Usually you have to check out of the hotel early in the morning and take your belongings with you. When you travel with a backpack or small suitcase, you can still enjoy your last day of vacations and do something fun instead of going home prematurely and miss out on some attractions.

It’s More Convenient

When you travel with a minimalist carry on luggage only, you reduce the amount of things you bring with you on your holiday. This means that you don’t have to worry about forgetting something or having it stolen from you while you’re away. Pretty awesome, isn’t it?

I think you can agree with me that extreme minimalist travel lifestyle reduces the amount of stress that goes into planning and packing for your trip. And think of all the time you gain by ditching your checked luggage!

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How To Pack For 3 Weeks In A Carry On

Use Packing Cubes

Packing cubes are a must — they help you reduce the amount of space taken up by your clothes and keep clothes sorted into functional, easy-to-access storage compartments. Compression cubes can be very helpful, especially if you’re travelling with a backpack.

They allow you to reduce the amount of space taken up by clothes even further and keep everything organised so that you don’t need to repack everything every time you want to take something out of your minimalist carry on luggage luggage.

TIP: You can also use them to schedule your outfits.

Roll Your Clothes

When I first heard about rolling up clothes, it seemed like overkill — how is it supposed to help? It won’t make clothes smaller, after all!

That was until I tried it and found out just how much of a difference it can make. It turned out that rolling your clothes really saves room and even wrinkles them less.

TIP: To roll a shirt or sweater, fold it lengthwise so the front and back halves are touching each other. Then, roll up from bottom to top. If you’re packing jeans or slacks, lay them flat and fold in a half before rolling tightly from the bottom hem up towards the waistband. Remember, roll them loosely!

Focus On Capsule Wardrobe

It doesn’t matter whether you’re packing a carry-on for three weeks or five days, your goal is to pick functional and versatile pieces that can be mixed and matched with each other. The easiest way to achieve that is by choosing neutral colours. This will allow you to create at least two different outfits out of every piece of clothing.

TIP: The rule of thumb is to leave ⅓ of the clothes you want to pack at home.

Before you pack, take out the clothes you want to wear on your trip, lay them on your bed, and try to build enough outfits to last you the entire trip. You will need a jacket or sweater which can double as a top for those cooler days. Leave heavy party dresses — especially if you don’t plan to party. They are not especially useful and will only add to your luggage weight.

It doesn’t mean that your holiday wardrobe has to be boring – take one or two colourful pieces that you can match with other clothes if you want to. Scarves and jewellery are also easy ways to spice up an outfit and bring out the best in plain or dull-coloured clothes, while taking little space in your suitcase.

Only Comfortable Clothes Allowed

There’s no point in packing clothes you don’t normally wear — it will only weigh down your bag and take up space. Always travel with your favourite pieces that are both versatile and comfortable. This will ensure you look and feel at your best no matter what situation you’ll find yourself in.

Two Pairs Of Shoes Are More Than Enough

Think about your destination when choosing shoes to pack. I usually go for two pairs max to reduce the amount of storage space I need to dedicate to them. I usually pack my everyday trainers and flip-flops, which I wear under the shower and to the beach. Pack some warm shoes instead, if you’re travelling somewhere cold.

Wear Your Heaviest Shoes And Jacket At The Airport

It seems like an inconvenience, but you should wear your heaviest shoes and the bulkiest sweater and/or jacket at the airport. It allows you to put more things into your minimalist carry on luggage as well as eliminates the risk of exceeding the weight limit.

Take a Kindle or tablet

I love reading books and can’t imagine life without them. Before Kindle was even a thing, I always took books with me on every trip. I remember one time when they took more than half of my suitcase!

Leave unnecessary gadgets at home and settle for a Kindle and a tablet. Or just a tablet, if you don’t read too often. It can also double up as a laptop, if you need to do something immediately on a bigger screen than your phone.

Leave your laptop at home too if you can. It will make your minimalist carry on luggage lighter, as well as allow you to be more present and spend more quality time with your friends or family.

My favourite Kindle is Kindle Oasis, but check out the latest Kindle Paperwhite if you’re looking for a cheaper option. They’re both amazing!

Use The Personal Item Bag To Its Fullest

Your personal item bag should have a lot of compartments to organise all your belongings efficiently. Pack only the items you need to have easily accessible throughout your travel, from the moment you leave your home until you reach your destination.

If you’re planning on taking a small cross-body bag or a fanny pack to use daily, you can put it inside the personal item bag and fill it with items you’ll need to take out during security check. It will make the whole procedure smoother, as your documents, tickets and a liquid bag will be easily accessible.

TIP: If you’re taking a cross-body bag on your trip, choose one with a chain instead of a strap for maximum security.

Reduce The Amount Of Beauty Products

Bringing only essentials is crucial when packing minimalist carry on luggage for 3 weeks. It used to be a big deal for me because I felt like I needed to take a full make-up bag on every trip, just in case. It didn’t matter that I rarely used anything from it!

Remember that there is still a limit on how much liquid you can take with you on a plane. Make sure that all your essentials are in small, 100ml bottles and fit into the plastic bag, otherwise you might need to throw something out during the security check.

Ask yourself if you can wear less make-up during your holiday or if you really need to bring a hair straightener with you. Take only necessities and leave the rest behind. Check with the hotel what they can provide.

Usually you have shower gel, shampoo and a hair dryer available, so you might want to leave yours at home. Remember that most times, you don’t travel to a completely remote place, so you can always buy things you need.

How To Pack For 3 Weeks In A Carry On: Minimalist Travelling Life Hacks

Check If Your Accommodation Has Washing Facilities

You can limit the amount of clothes even further, if you’ll be able to wash your clothes in the middle of your holiday. I believe it’s a must when you pack for 3 weeks in a carry on only!

Check if your desired hotel has washing facilities, otherwise try to find a laundromat nearby. You can also get laundry soap and wash your clothes in a sink, if necessary.

Leave Some Room In Your Suitcase

Don’t pack your suitcase to its fullest in case you’d like to bring souvenirs or presents for your family. You also want to make sure that your minimalist carry on luggage stays within the weight limit so that you can avoid a hefty fine from an airline.

Check Your Airline’s Requirements

Before packing for your flight, check your airline’s requirements. Some airlines have different carry-on weight limits or size restrictions, so knowing these details beforehand can save you time and money. I forgot to check them and bought a smaller carry-on suitcase than I could have. Lesson learnt.

Don’t Pack Things “Just In Case”

Unless you’re going on a retreat in the middle of nowhere, there’s really no reason to bring everything from your home with you. If it’s workable for you to buy what you need at your destination, don’t pack it at all.

Don’t Leave Packing Until The Last Moment

I’m not the best person to talk about this since I always leave everything until the very last moment. Anyway, it’s best to pack a few days before your trip, especially if you’ve never tried to pack a minimalist carry on luggage for 3 weeks ever before. This should give you enough time to plan all your outfits, and check if everything you want to pack fits into the suitcase and doesn’t exceed the weight limit.

Once you get a hang of it, packing will take you 30 minutes to hour, max, and you’ll be able to do it a day before your trip easily.

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Not Sure How Much You Should Pack For 3 Weeks?

I got you! I prepared an extreme minimalist travel packing list to help you get started.

Until the next time,
M.