The carry-on-only packing list we have refined over 40 trips
Everything we take, what we stopped taking, and the four pieces of gear worth paying more for.
Carry-on only is not about minimalism, it is about never waiting at a belt and never losing a bag. Here is the list, honed over several years, with the reasoning.
The bag
A 35 to 40 litre backpack that opens like a suitcase. Side handle, laptop sleeve near your back, no wheels. We have broken two wheeled cases and zero backpacks.
Electronics
One universal adapter with two USB‑C ports. Not three gadgets.
A 65 W GaN charger that powers the laptop and phone.
One cable per connector type. Label them.
Clothes
Five days of clothes for any trip length. Laundry exists everywhere. Merino tops dry overnight and survive a week without smelling.
What we stopped carrying
A second pair of 'nice' shoes.
Travel-size toiletries bought at home. Buy them there.
Paper guidebooks. This site works offline if you save the page.
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Editorial team
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