For years, I’ve navigated the globe, living out of a suitcase since 2008. My biggest travel revelation? Switching to carry-on only. Looking back, I truly regret not embracing minimalist travel sooner. This shift has been a game-changer, saving me significant time, money, and stress, while unlocking a new level of travel freedom. Many believe traveling with just carry-on luggage is a compromise, difficult, or even impossible. I’m here to debunk that myth. Through years of personal experience and fine-tuning, I’ve mastered the art of carry-on travel. Let me guide you on how to travel carry-on only, ditch checked baggage, and truly travel like a seasoned pro. This guide, updated for 2024, reflects my experiences from a full year of continuous travel using only carry-on luggage. I’ll share my insights, essential gear, items I left behind, and the overall impact of this travel style.
In my early travel days, I committed the classic rookie mistake: overpacking. Embarrassingly, on my first trip to Thailand in 2008, I hauled a massive rolling suitcase and a backpack, each maxing out at the 23kg (50 lbs) limit – a staggering 100 lbs of luggage! In my defense, I was downsizing from a fully furnished three-bedroom house in Los Angeles. Living out of two bags felt like a significant reduction at the time. Now, years into minimalist travel with just a single carry-on suitcase, I realize how unnecessarily burdened I was. This article unveils everything I’ve learned about carry-on travel, from the advantages and disadvantages to insider tips and tricks accumulated along the way.
Carry-on travel essentials laid out on a wooden floor
Getting Started with Carry-On Only Travel
The most effective way to test the waters of carry-on travel is a trial run. On your next short trip, whether it’s a weekend getaway or a week-long adventure, leave the bulk of your belongings at home. Consider storing them with a friend, in a hostel, or even at your home base. Give traveling with only a carry-on a shot. Currently, I travel with just a 60L duffle backpack!
I’ve employed this strategy several times before fully committing to carry-on only travel, and it’s consistently proven successful. In Dublin, Ireland, I even secured a hotel that allowed me to store my larger luggage for free while I embarked on a week-long trek along the Wicklow Way. Interestingly, I became so accustomed to living out of my backpack that upon retrieving my main luggage, I didn’t even open it for days – everything I needed was already with me. A similar situation occurred in Nepal. I left my rolling luggage at a Kathmandu hostel while trekking in the Himalayas. After two weeks of minimalist living, reintegrating my larger bag felt like unnecessary baggage.
This experience isn’t unique to me. My friend Sam Marks had a comparable experience when his luggage was lost during our Eastern European trip through Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova, and Ukraine. Initially distraught, he adapted quickly. After nearly a week of traveling with just a few newly purchased t-shirts and personal essentials, he considered telling the airline to keep the lost luggage – he realized he didn’t actually need its contents.
So, take the plunge. For your next trip, experience the liberating feeling of traveling light. Leave your extra belongings behind and discover the freedom of a small bag. Once you embrace carry-on only travel, you’ll likely never revert to checked luggage. The videos below, from my treks in Ireland and Nepal, illustrate my initial foray into lightweight travel and the sense of freedom it provided. Later in this guide, I’ll detail how I maintain a lightweight approach even while carrying professional gear like a suit jacket, coffee maker, podcast setup, and a complete digital nomad workstation.
Carry-On Travel as a Digital Nomad Lifestyle
Having experienced the ease of carry-on travel on shorter trips, you might wonder about its feasibility for full-time digital nomads. Surely, a location-independent professional requires more gear and can’t truly embrace ultra-lightweight travel, right? While there’s a degree of compromise, it’s absolutely achievable. As someone who lives out of my luggage for approximately 11 months annually, I appreciate certain comforts and conveniences. I enjoy brewing fresh coffee in my accommodations, even if a coffee maker isn’t provided. I also value the ability to dress presentably for nicer occasions without looking like a stereotypical backpacker.
My digital nomad toolkit includes a professional camera, a comfortable laptop setup with an ergonomic stand, mouse, and wireless keyboard. I also prefer having a varied wardrobe to avoid constant laundry cycles and wearing the same clothes repeatedly. Being a digital nomad is about blending work with slow, immersive travel. It’s a lifestyle, not just a vacation. This necessitates a balance of comfort and practicality, including more than one pair of shoes.
Despite these considerations, the advantages of carry-on travel are amplified for digital nomads. While repacking every month isn’t an option, the freedom and flexibility to travel full-time and explore the world at your own pace are invaluable. Traveling carry-on only has enabled me to see more of the world, save money on checked baggage fees, utilize budget-friendly airlines, and eliminate the time and stress associated with lost luggage and airport waits. This translates to greater freedom and more funds for enriching experiences, unburdened by weight limits, baggage fees, or cumbersome luggage.
Selecting the Best Carry-On Luggage: The 60L Backpack Advantage
Over years and countless dollars, I’ve experimented extensively to pinpoint the ideal travel luggage. I’ve concluded that starting with luggage selection is key. This establishes your packing parameters and prevents overpacking driven by excitement. Human nature tends to fill available space. An 85L bag will likely be filled to capacity just as easily as a 65L bag.
The smart approach is to first determine the carry-on size restrictions of the most stringent airlines you anticipate flying with in your travel region. Plan your luggage and packing strategy around these limits. Here’s a summary of carry-on size and weight allowances for several low-cost carrier (LCC) airlines:
| Airline | Dimensions (inches) | Dimensions (cm) |
|---|---|---|
| JetBlue Airways | 22 x 14 x 9 | 55.9 x 35.6 x 22.9 |
| Frontier Airlines | 24 x 16 x 10 | 61 x 40.6 x 25.4 |
| Southwest Airlines | 24 x 16 x 10 | 61 x 40.6 x 25.4 |
| Spirit Airlines | 22 x 18 x 10 | 55.9 x 45.7 x 25.4 |
| easyJet | 22 x 17.7 x 9.8 | 56 x 45 x 25 |
| Norwegian | 21.5 x 15.9 x 9 | 55 x 40 x 23 |
| Ryanair | 15.7 x 9.8 x 7.8 | 40 x 25 x 20 |
| Vueling | 21.5 x 15.5 x 8 | 55 x 40 x 20 |
| Wizz Air | 21.6 x 15.7 x 9 | 55 x 40 x 23 |
| Air Asia | – | 56 x 36 x 23 |
| Jetstar | – | 56 x 36 x 23 |
| NokAir | – | 56 x 36 x 23 |
| Scoot Airlines | – | 54 x 38 x 23 |
Airlines not listed typically have at least these dimensions, if not larger. These are predominantly LCC airlines, which often have stricter limits. Weight restrictions generally range from 7kg (15.43lbs) to 10kg (22.05lbs) in Europe and Asia. However, many airlines don’t consistently weigh carry-on luggage, and some have no weight limit at all. Considering these factors, my top recommendation and favorite carry-on luggage is a 60L duffle backpack. While slightly larger than strict maximum dimensions, its soft construction allows for compression to fit within test bins, offering a bit more packing flexibility. Watch the video below for a detailed explanation and review.
The advantage of a 60L duffle backpack lies in its soft, flexible nature. It conforms to varying airline carry-on regulations, even with rule changes. The key is to avoid overpacking and keep it compressible.
The Essential Carry-On Packing List for Minimalist Travel
Years of experimentation have refined my carry-on packing list to precisely what’s needed for comfortable, full-time online work and global travel. Everything I own fits into this single carry-on luggage! Below is my comprehensive packing list, with links for purchasing the exact items I recommend. Using these links supports my content creation efforts.
Here is the detailed carry-on packing list:
Luggage –
- 60L Duffel Backpack – https://amzn.to/4e8hOTh
- 25L Packable Daypack – https://amzn.to/2HR1SrX
Organizers –
- Amazon Basics 4 pack Medium Packing Cubes – https://amzn.to/2YkEgBo
- or
- Shacke Pak – 5 Set Packing Cubes – https://amzn.to/2Vjmo8o
Toiletries –
- Pantheon Toiletry Bag – https://amzn.to/2YiPPsP
- Wahl Battery Beard Trimmer – https://amzn.to/2YieMoj
Puff Jacket –
- Lightweight Puff Jacket with Hood – https://amzn.to/2LBNU12
- or
- Lightweight Puff Jacket without Hood – https://amzn.to/2Lve5Gz
Sweaters –
- Meriwool Lightweight Merino Wool Sweater – https://amzn.to/2HaKqhU
- or
- Amazon Merino Wool Sweater – https://amzn.to/2YifX7d
Rain Jacket –
- Marmot PreCip Rain Jacket – https://amzn.to/2JBV9DP
- or
- Eddie Bauer Rainfoil Packable Jacket – https://amzn.to/2Ypf5hl
Pants –
- Columbia Travel Pants – https://amzn.to/2E1hhDJ
- or
- Unionbay Tech Chino pants – https://amzn.to/2HcpwPu
Layering for Cold –
- Minus33 Merino Wool Long Underwear – https://amzn.to/2HcbKMD
Shorts –
- Hurley Dri-Fit Hybird Shorts – https://amzn.to/2HdtVSb
- or
- Billbong Submersible Shorts – https://amzn.to/30bcnxl
T-Shirts –
- Northface Reaxion T-Shirts – https://amzn.to/2Ym1abw
- Woolx Merino Wool T-Shirts – https://amzn.to/2vN9PHW
- Jolt Gear Stretch Polo Shirt – https://amzn.to/2VV4BIK
Sandals –
- Luna Mono Barefoot Sandals – https://amzn.to/2JxkT4e
Other –
- Microfiber Travel Towel – https://amzn.to/2LAtoy5
- Zealwood No Show Merino Wool Socks – https://amzn.to/2JCalR0
- ExOfficio Give-N-Go Boxers – https://amzn.to/2DV5w1N
- Nike Dri-Fit Cap – https://amzn.to/2Jy2owu
- Buff Merino Wool – https://amzn.to/2Jy4dJQ
Accessories –
- Nalgene Water bottle – https://amzn.to/2DXsLrW
- Amazon Kindle – https://amzn.to/2E0r5hx
- Audible Audiobooks – http://InvestLikeaBoss.com/audio
Tech –
- Audio Technica ATR USB Mic – https://amzn.to/2LB7wm9
- Samson Go Mic – https://amzn.to/2E0oG6a
- Anker Powerbank Small – https://amzn.to/2LAyLgJ
- Logitech USB Clicker – https://amzn.to/2VvkN44
- Sony Mirrorless Camera + 135 Lens – https://amzn.to/2YjRmik
- Rode VideoMicro Mic – https://amzn.to/2VerN0q
- Mac to HDMI Cable – https://amzn.to/2DWx8mX
- Amazon Fire Stick – https://amzn.to/2vS48sq
- Sandisk 64gb USB Drive – https://amzn.to/2VujWRi
- Roost Laptop Stand – https://amzn.to/2E0vuRB
- Bose Noise Canceling Headphones – https://amzn.to/2YeUgoy
 Passport, camera and cards for travel |
|---|
| Remember essential travel documents and devices. |
Lessons from Left Behind Luggage
While in Chiang Mai, I made a practical decision. Instead of discarding items I no longer wanted to carry for a full year of travel, I stored a large suitcase with a friend. This is a viable option – storing items at a friend’s or family’s home, or even with a long-term expat contact. However, a year later, upon revisiting this stored bag, I realized a key lesson. I had completely forgotten its contents and clearly hadn’t needed any of it. In hindsight, selling, donating, or even discarding these items would have been a more efficient approach.
The video below documents my “unpacking of regrets.” Some items were things I had used sufficiently and didn’t regret purchasing. Others were impulsive buys I should have avoided entirely. My goal for 2024 is to declutter this bag entirely, selling or giving away its contents (and even the luggage itself), eliminating the need to burden my friend or anyone else with it again.
One-Year Carry-On Travel Update: Success and Refinement
My year of carry-on only travel exceeded expectations. It was characterized by low-stress, seamless travel, and I never once missed items I had left behind or wished I’d packed more. I did purchase a few tank tops and a beach towel in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico, and rented a dive computer for $50 during a 10-day liveaboard trip in Socorro. Overall, I felt no lack and no desire for more belongings. My initial idea to further downsize and fit my laptop daypack inside the duffle bag didn’t materialize, primarily because it wasn’t necessary. I encountered a few budget airlines in Europe with strict single carry-on limits of 7kg (15lbs). Paying $20-$30 extra to carry my bag was still more cost-effective and convenient than checking luggage.
Conversations with fellow carry-on travelers revealed that weight limits are often disregarded, with size being the primary concern. While I appreciate the lightweight portability of my duffle backpack for navigating stairs and various terrains, rolling carry-on luggage offers convenience in airports. Ultimately, minimizing your possessions simplifies and enhances travel. I wholeheartedly encourage everyone to embrace carry-on only travel.
Stay updated on my ongoing travel experiments and lifestyle upgrades by subscribing to my email list and YouTube channel. After years of travel and my recent journeys from Thailand, through island destinations, Kuala Lumpur, Sri Lanka, the Canary Islands, Nomad Cruise, Portugal, and now Ukraine – all with just the carry-on luggage and gear outlined above – I’m confident this setup represents the optimal balance for most travelers. Share your current travel setup, what you appreciate about it, desired changes, and any travel tips you’ve discovered in the comments below. Share this guide with friends considering carry-on only travel, minimalist living, and the freedom of lightweight digital nomadism!
Carry-on luggage in Sri Lanka
Two carry-on bags for a year of travel
Warm Regards,
Johnny FD
