Rule number 1 for convenient travel: Always pack carry-on, never check your luggage.
We’ve all seen them. The family groups at airports, waiting for an hour in the check in line, surrounded by about 6 large rolling suitcases containing hairdryers, a small kitchen sink, and 5 pairs of shoes (“but what if we go to a nice dinner?”). Maybe you are one of these people. If you follow this rule, you won’t be burdened with that label (or that luggage) anymore.
Now I’m sure people reading that are having reactions like “yeah right, that’s impossible” or “sure that’s easy for a 2 day trip.” I’ve received all types of reactions of a similar nature when I explain to friends how I pack and travel, and I’m pretty used to the tone of disbelief. However, the truth of the matter is that traveling carry-on for extended journeys is in fact possible and it really isn’t that difficult. Living out of 1 bag is easy if you know what to put in it and how to put it there. This article will explain as thoroughly as possible how you can pack one carry-on size bag for a long journey, be comfortable and clean the whole time, and get in and out of airports a whole lot quicker than everybody else (plus you’ll save a small fortune not paying baggage fees).
I carry a maximum of 2 bags when I travel, but since 1 of those is a camera bag that many people won’t have to contend with, this article will be written to describe how to travel carrying only 1 bag. If you’re a fellow shooter (photographer not terrorist) then you may already have your camera bag situation in hand, there will be additional articles covering that stuff down the road.
First things first, you’ll need a bag. Choosing the right suitcase or bag is a matter of personal choice, whatever you’re comfortable with. 9 times out of 10 you’ll be fine with a good sturdy rolling bag that’s carry-on approved (my partner uses one of these like a boss, I’m constantly impressed by what she fits in her rolling bag when we travel together). I personally prefer a large hiking backpack. I bought mine from Eastern Mountain Sports years ago and it has never let me down. When I say hiking backpack I am referring to the larger frame bags, usually with some sort of rigid back support, a waist and chest strap (all those straps really help to distribute the weight evenly across your shoulders, hips, and back). Technically my backpack is too large for “carry-on standards” but I’ve never once had a problem bringing it on a plane because it can fit lengthwise into overhead compartments very easily. (For the record, you should NEVER try to fit your bag into one of those “bag sizing” racks at the check in counters, you’re just asking for an airline employee to declare it too large and force you to check it. Rookie mistake, it’s a trap!) I shy away from the rolling bags because they get caught behind me in crowds and I never quite feel 100% in control of them; like I said, it’s a personal choice. Whatever bag you choose, one thing that is always important is pockets. You can never have enough pockets for things like phone chargers, spare batteries, headphones, books, etc.
Alright, now that you have your bag it’s time to think about your trip and from there you’ll know what to pack. Thinking ahead and making sure you have the proper gear with you is important. You’ll often be able to purchase an item or two that you forgot to pack at your destination but let’s face it, you really don’t want to have to do that because you’ve got to pack it to bring home, plus there’s the off chance you won’t be able to get what you need. Plan accordingly, research your destination. What is the climate like? Do you need warm or cold weather gear? Will it rain? Snow? Check the weather reports for your destination a few times in the days leading up to your trip, look at the hourly forecasts, it might be warm in the day but cool at night, pack a sweater. Get a handle on where you’re going and what to expect and you’re ready to move on to the next step.
Now let’s address the elephant in the room, the nagging question I’m sure most people have: how can I pack enough clothes for a week or more into one bag? Simple. You don’t. As with many things in life, you want quality over quantity (that doesn’t mean pack an Armani t-shirt). The key to doing this and not being filthy after 3 days is to pack clothes that DRY FAST. I usually only pack 2 t-shirts and 2 pairs of underwear when I travel. Both items can be easily hand washed in a sink using any soap you have access to and they all dry overnight if left to hang on a towel rack or over a shower curtain. Boom. Clean shirt and skivvies every day. The key to finding the right clothing is to avoid cotton, cotton is heavy and absorbent and won’t dry overnight. My personal preference in this area is merino wool. It’s lightweight, very breathable, moisture wicking, odor resistant (!!!), and dries super fast. Ibex is a great company for this type of gear and they make quite a few options (I like their t-shirts and long sleeve tees). The downside to this is that merino wool clothing can be pretty expensive (I think I spent $80/shirt from Ibex) but if you choose to go for it you won’t regret it. YOU DON’T HAVE TO SPEND THAT MUCH THOUGH, this isn’t a website for the rich and famous, it’s for everybody. You can find great quick dry shirts at any department store, just avoid 100% cotton, look for synthetic blends and lightweight fabrics. Check out gear from Under Armor or similar athletic companies, they know their stuff. As for underwear, there are a few companies out there who have started to make quick dry travel underwear, my favorite is ExOfficio. They make several style options for both men and women, they’re comfortable, and they hold up well to lots of use. Quick drying socks and pants continue to be a challenge for me, despite a few years of experimentation. The best socks I’ve found have been synthetic wool hiking socks, they don’t dry overnight but they usually dry in two nights, if I wash them and am on the road again the next day I stick them in a mesh outside pocket on my backpack to keep them separate and ventilated. Pants that dry overnight probably do exist, lots of companies make lightweight hiking pants but the ones I’ve tried have always felt and sounded like I’m wearing a 90s track suit (swish swish swish) and pants are a larger item, you may need a tub to wash them in without making a huge mess. Therefore when it comes to pants I usually just pack 2 pairs, alternate them as needed, clean the underwear daily and usually I’m good to go. There’s no shame in finding a laundromat in an emergency.
As for other clothing items such as sweaters, jackets, rain gear, etc. all you need to do is remember to find something that will do its job (keep you warm, dry, etc) while still being lightweight and able to be condensed to a reasonable size when packed. There are numerous companies out there that make easy-stow rain jackets that fold right into their own pockets, these can usually get so small you can fit them almost anywhere in your bag. Sweaters can be tough, since they’re thicker they can be harder to pack. Do the best you can, it may take some trial and error, practice rolling/folding them up before you commit to packing one; and if you go shopping for a travel sweater, practice in the store. Another concern people may have in this efficient packing scenario is what if you have to look nice for an evening out. Not as difficult as you may think. I usually pack at least 1 button up, collared shirt when I travel; I make sure I buy a shirt that’s designed for rugged travel/hiking because they work as a top layer if it gets cool, they look good enough to wear to a decent restaurant (trust me guys, it can give you a sort of Indiana Jones look), and while they may not dry overnight they will dry faster than a cotton dress shirt. My favorite brand for these shirts as well as pants (and shorts) is Kuhl, they make incredibly durable clothing, it’s very comfortable and looks better and better as it wears. For women I must admit I don’t have much experience packing something for a nice evening out, but it is my experience that it seems to take women less effort to look nice than it does men, so keep it simple and you should be fine.
Footwear is another important factor to consider. I find that selecting one good all around hiking shoe or sneaker is usually the best way to go. Try to be sure it’s something that’s broken in before you travel, there’s nothing worse than standing in a security line or hoofing it through airline terminals when you’ve got sore feet. Of course if you know you’ll be doing a lot of walking or hiking then obviously a more rugged and supportive hiking boot may be needed and you may want to pack a lighter pair of sneakers in your bag for backups. Nothing wrong with that, just be sure to wear your heavier shoes while you’re traveling and pack the lighter ones, your back will thank you. If you’re going to the beach you can throw a pair of sandals into your bag. The situation you want to avoid is having sneakers, boots, AND sandals; that is completely unnecessary and you’ll kick yourself for it later. As with everything else, think lightweight.
The rest of the things you’ll need are pretty straightforward. Toiletries are easy, you can buy travel sized/TSA approved toothpastes, shampoos, etc at any pharmacy. A travel toothbrush is helpful, they are usually compact in some way making them convenient, or you can buy a travel case for a normal sized toothbrush. There is no need to buy a travel sized deodorant stick as the TSA does not consider deodorant a liquid, but if you want to save room in your bag it’s an option. I always pack Tylenol and Imodium, they usually cover the bases of the common medical emergencies you can encounter while traveling. A toiletry kit is helpful but not necessary, you can just grab a gallon ziplock bag for the sake of convenience, if you do buy a special toiletry kit make sure it compresses well. Some of them are just large sacks that take up more room in a bag than is needed. Other essential items are a travel outlet adapter if you’re leaving the country, they make some great “all in one” options that are fantastic and you don’t need to worry about figuring out which outlet configuration they’ll have at the destination. (Side note here, try to find a round adapter; it sounds silly but I traveled to Ukraine once and the outlets were inset into the walls a bit with a round indentation. The people I was traveling with had a square adapter that wouldn’t fit; my round, all in one unit fit perfectly.)
Now the actual process of packing your bag will take some trial and error. I usually pack, unpack, and repack at least once before every trip to try and get the best fit for all my items. It takes practice. As you familiarize yourself with your bag and your clothing you’ll learn what can fit where, how full you can stuff certain pockets, weight limits, etc. One important tip is to roll, don’t fold, your clothing. Rolling compresses the items more than folding does and allows for a tighter pack. Shoes and other potentially heavy or bulky items should go on the bottom of the pack. Underwear and socks are small enough to be stuffed into almost any available crevice. Lastly, keep anything you may need to access quickly (like a passport or boarding pass) in an outside pocket or packed at the top of your bag. That applies to toiletries too in case the TSA wants to check them. Remember at the beginning when I said pockets were important? Those extra pockets are good for chargers, headphones, iPods, book, etc, basically the little odds and ends that you’ll need for the journey that you don’t want floating away into the abyss of the main bag compartment.
It may sound like a lot of work to put all that planning and strategy into something as simple as packing a bag, and it can be; but it pays off. Two years ago I loaded up my backpack and lived out of it for 3 weeks on a trip to Australia traveling by air, sea, car, and train. I probably could have kept going longer using the system I described above (with a quick stop to reload on toothpaste). It’s always a good feeling when you encounter a baggage handler who sees your one bag and reacts with the classic “that’s it?” Incorporating camera gear into the 1 bag system can be tricky but it’s possible, I brought my old Canon DSLR and 1 lens stuffed inside my larger pack on that trip to Australia and it sufficed. If you’re a professional shooter you’re going to want a proper bag with your gear in it though. Overall adopting the system I described can save you a lot of time and hassle and you’ll be able to rest comfortably knowing your bag will never get lost by the airline because everything you need is safe and secure in the overhead bin. This system is one I adapted from my father, I added and subtracted some techniques to get what worked for me and I expect you will do the same. So that’s it, that’s the end of the inaugural article for Carry-On Photography. I hope it was helpful. Please feel free to post any comments or contact me with questions. Safe Travels!
To recap some companies that make the gear I mentioned:
*Note: I don’t receive any sort of kickback from any of these companies, they just make good products that I’ve field tested and trust thoroughly.
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