Sometimes traveling light is much more convenient. Judge for yourself: there is no need to pay extra for luggage, wait for it at the airport upon arrival and worry that it will be lost. In addition, it is much more pleasant to get to your destination with hand luggage than with bulky suitcases. However, putting everything you need in one bag is an almost impossible task. But there are a few simple and useful life hacks.
What kind of clothes and shoes you choose for the flight depends on how much precious space you will free up in the bag. Some shoes, boots or sneakers take up a lot of space, despite the fact that they cannot be folded. Therefore, take one or two pairs with you, and put the largest one on the plane.
A reasonable way to ensure that everything you need fits in your carry—on luggage is to put in the bag only the clothes that you will definitely wear on the trip.
Take things in the same color scheme to freely combine them with each other. Imagine how each jacket or some trousers will be combined with other clothes and shoes, and choose neutral shades to make more sets. You can complement your wardrobe for travel with small universal accessories.
This will save more free space for everything else. In addition, twisted clothes crumple less. And to make the contents of the bag more organized, you can also fix things with elastic bands.
In this case, you will be able to take much less clothes with you. Of course, not everyone likes to do laundry during a vacation or business trip. But this small concession will allow you to fit everything you need in one bag, even for a long trip.
Alternatively, you can take with you or buy on-site cleaning wipes for stain removal or use the services of local laundries.
In addition to hand luggage, which is removed to the luggage rack, airlines often allow passengers to take personal items into the cabin, which are placed under the seat in front of them. Take advantage of this and take a compact handbag or backpack with you.
Put there a snack, small hygiene items, or even an extra pair of shoes. All this can also be packed in a laptop bag, if its design allows. This way you will free up some more space in the main hand luggage.
They will help maintain order inside the bag. In addition, when you pack things in such organizers, it is much easier for you to avoid the temptation to throw small things into the bag that are not really needed.
Many people store bulky winter clothes in them, so it is logical that the same technology can help to maximize the use of the limited space of hand luggage.
Put the softest and fluffy things in the bags, and then pump out the excess air with a hand pump. So the bag will fit twice as many clothes. The main thing is that you will be able to pack everything exactly the same when you return home.
There is nothing worse than spending hours collecting a suitcase and then finding out at the airport that it passes only as checked baggage. Carefully study the information on the website of the airline you are flying with and make sure that your bag meets all the stated requirements.
Think about how much more clothes you can fit if you take out a pair of sweaters or hoodies made of thick fabric from your bag. It is better to take lighter things with you that you can wear in several layers.
We already do this with toiletries like shampoo or shower gel. Use the same principle for other items as well. For example, take a compact tablet instead of a heavy laptop on a trip.
If you want to travel only with hand luggage, you will have to take only what you need with you. Make a list of everything you plan to put in your bag. And then think carefully about each item and ask yourself if you will use the thing on the trip so often that you definitely need to take it.
It will be a difficult choice. It is better to leave at least 30-40% of your list at home.
The key to putting everything in hand luggage is to use any empty space, including inside things. For example, an electric shaver, socks, deodorant — all this will fit into shoes, and there will be room in the bag for other items.
Of course, this is not a very budget life hack, so use it only in extreme cases. But if you can afford to buy shampoo, shower gel or toothpaste at your destination, you will save a significant amount of space in your bag.
Airlines have certain requirements not only for the size of hand luggage, but also for weight. Even if it seems to you that your bag will not be weighed, it is better to be safe. Check the requirements on the website and make sure that your hand luggage meets them.
