Before we go any further, let us tell you about the benefits of leaving with the minimum just to make sure you are convinced from the start.

Avoid the check-in counter & save money

Honestly, that would already be enough to convince us! If you’ve ever traveled, you know how long the lines in airports can be and how stressful it is. Traveling with a backpack that you don’t have to check-in saves you this step and allows you to go to security immediately. You can even arrive at the airport a little later.

In addition, you will obviously not have to pay any fees for your checked-in luggage, and God knows those can be high, especially if your bag is overweight.

No chance that your luggage get lost

You always have all your stuff with you. Plus, it can save you a lot of trouble if one of your flights is delayed, you miss a connection, or you have to transfer.

Believe me, it has happened to us and the only reason we were able to arrive at our destination as planned was that we were traveling with a carry-on. This allowed us to get an emergency transfer to a plane that was leaving in 10 minutes!

You don’t have to wait for your luggage

When you arrive at your destination, you can leave the airport right away. After hours of flying, avoiding the long wait next to the conveyor belt to collect your luggage is tempting, don’t you think?

It’s less weight to carry on your shoulders

This is by far the most important advantage. You are less likely to hurt your back and your many trips will be much less tiring.

Less is more

Finally, less stuff means less clutter, more freedom, more time. We are a fan of a minimalist lifestyle in life in general, and just as much when traveling. We need so much less than we think to live (or travel) happily! Also, less cumbersome and as you can always keep your luggage with you, it’s easier to keep an eye on it.

It’s one thing to go backpacking, but you have to have the right bag. This is absolutely essential. Not only does it have to be well-designed and durable, it also has to fit your size and shape. Here is was you should do:

First of all, make sure that the backpack you’re considering is carry-on size. Each airline usually defines its own dimensions, but some bags like the one we have been using for the past three years are certified as carry-on (we both have the same one!). In fact, we left the label on our bags to make sure we wouldn’t have any problems at the airport.

Then, you need to try it on! The bag should be the right length for you and the hip-belt must rest on your hip bones. (A hip-belt is an ABSOLUTE necessity). Your hips should be supporting the majority of the weight. Since there are several other things to consider when purchasing, I highly recommend asking a a specialist on site and trying it out with him.

A waterproof bag is also a must, and if you can’t find one we highly suggest to buy a rain cover.

Once you’ve found the right bag, it’s time to start PLANNING. That’s your golden rule when traveling with a carry-on. Nothing goes into your bag that hasn’t been carefully selected.

This means that every piece of clothing must be versatile. Here are 2 tips that change everything:
1- Opt for neutral, natural colors that easily match each other.
2- Don’t take any piece that only matches one other piece.

In fact, your mission is to create as many different outfits as possible with the few pieces you bring. This is a pretty cool challenge!

Take a look at our checklist to see how much we manage to take with us, I bet you’ll be impressed.

Also, in our experience, the length of your trip is of little importance when you travel light! The reality is that once you have enough for a week, you have enough to do as many months as you want! You just have to take into account the temperature changes you expect to experience and keep space for extra warm clothes if needed.

Now that you know what you’re taking with you, it’s important to take the time to think about how you’re going to organize the inside. No matter how long your trip is, your bag is like your new temporary home. All of your things go into it, and you don’t want chaos to set in!  

The more time you take to think about this step, the more enjoyable your trip will be. 

Just like in your own home, every item you take with you should have its place. To help you get organized, packing cubes are a good option.

Personally, I use them for my underwear and personal belongings so they don’t get spilled everywhere, but Claudia doesn’t. I know a lot of people like to use them for their clothes too, but in my experience, it makes my things more complicated and time-consuming to find.

It’s a matter of preference. If you’re really short of space, this can be a good option.

We’ve also written an entire post in which we give you all our best tips for packing. Make sure to check it out!

We know that folding clothes may not seem like a big deal at first, but if you don’t know Marie Kondo yet, now is the time! She’s an expert on tidying…and folding!

We highly recommend you check out her videos to learn more about her method. It’s amazing how much space you will save by folding properly. We are telling you, you’ll never fold your clothes the same way again, even at home!

Want to know the good news? On planes, you’re also allowed to carry a handbag. It doesn’t have to be a purse. Ours is a tiny backpack. As long as it’s small, you usually won’t have a problem bringing both bags on board.

This bag is perfect for carrying around excess items such as your travel documents, charger, camera, headphones, warm sweater, etc. Again, if you take the time to choose well, even a small bag can hold a lot.

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