c/carry-on-only-packing

TIL a $35 packing cube set can actually cost you more in the long run

I bought a cheap set for a week in Chicago, and the zipper broke on day two, forcing me to buy a new shirt at the hotel gift shop. Has anyone found a specific brand that holds up under actual travel stress?

Rant: Saw a guy in Frankfurt trying to force a huge toiletry bag into his overhead bin

He had a clear 1-liter bag, but it was stuffed so full it looked like a balloon, and he wasted five minutes trying to jam it in. I use a flat, slim Eagle Creek pouch and it slides right in with room to spare. Anyone else notice people just cramming things in instead of picking the right shape?

I packed a full-size hair dryer for a trip to Chicago and it was a disaster.

I used to think I needed it for my routine, but the airline made me gate-check my main bag because it was overstuffed, costing me $75 and 45 minutes waiting at baggage claim. Now I use a tiny travel dryer that fits in my packing cube and I never check a bag. What's the one bulky item you finally stopped bringing?

My sister said my packing cubes were a waste of space

She saw my bag before a trip to Denver and said I was using them wrong, just stuffing clothes in. She showed me how to roll everything tight first, then put the rolls in the cubes. I fit two extra shirts and a pair of jeans in the same bag. Has anyone else had a basic tip totally flip their system?

I thought those vacuum storage bags were a gimmick until my trip to Chicago

Honestly, I spent about $25 on a set of those travel vacuum bags with the hand pump. I was going to Chicago for a week in January and needed a big puffer coat. I rolled the coat into a medium bag, pumped the air out, and it shrank down flat. It fit right in my carry-on with everything else, and I had so much more room. Has anyone else tried these for bulky winter clothes?

Warning: I tried rolling all my clothes for a trip to Denver last week and it backfired

I ended up with a lumpy, uneven pack that wasted space and wrinkled everything. I learned that folding some stiff items and only rolling soft tees works better. Has anyone else found a good mix of folding and rolling?

I tried packing for a week in Denver with just a 28 liter backpack

I thought I could roll everything tight and fit it, but I forgot about my bulky hiking boots. I had to wear them on the plane and my feet were killing me. The lesson is to always pick shoes that you can pack flat or wear comfortably for a full travel day. Anyone have a good trick for dealing with heavy footwear on a trip?

PSA: I just realized my 'packing cube system' was making my bag heavier

For years, I used six different colored cubes for everything, thinking it was the ultimate carry-on method. The tipping point was in Chicago last month, when my bag weighed 22 pounds before I even put my laptop in. I pulled everything out and weighed the empty cubes alone. They added over three pounds. Now I just roll clothes and use a single lightweight bag for socks and underwear. Has anyone else ditched cubes after finding they were just extra weight?

I packed a full size towel for a weekend in Chicago and felt like a fool.

My bag was so bulky I had to check it, which cost $30. Should we just rely on hotel towels or is there a decent travel towel that actually works?

My packing cubes failed me on a rainy afternoon in Edinburgh

I was trying to repack my 40L backpack at the hostel before a flight, and the zipper on my main packing cube just gave out. Everything I'd rolled so neatly spilled into the bag. I ended up using two large plastic bags from a grocery store to separate my clean and dirty clothes for the trip home. Has anyone found a specific brand of packing cube that can really handle being overstuffed?

Tbh, the TSA agent in Denver changed my whole packing game

She pulled my bag aside and showed me how my rolled clothes were still too thick, then had me fold them flat and stack them like files. Honestly, I fit three extra shirts in the same space. Has anyone else had a TSA person give you a legit good tip?

Stuffed a 10-day trip into a 28L bag and a stranger at the airport made my day

Honestly, I was just sitting at the gate in Phoenix, trying to zip my overstuffed backpack. This older lady next to me leaned over and said, 'Honey, I've been watching you pack for 15 minutes. You're an artist.' Tbh, I laughed and told her it was my first try at a long trip with just one bag. She pointed at my rolled-up jeans and said that trick saved her on a month-long trip to Italy. Has anyone else had a random person give you a packing tip that just clicked?

Packed for a 5-day work trip to Dallas with just a 28L backpack

Always struggled with dress shirts getting wrecked. Rolled them around a cardboard tube from a paper towel roll. No iron needed, just hung them up at the hotel. Anyone have a better trick for keeping collars crisp?

Dropped $80 on a compression packing cube set that actually gave me less space than my old rolling method.

The cubes were so stiff they created dead air pockets in my bag, forcing me to leave a pair of shoes behind before a flight to Denver.

Showerthought: A flight attendant in Tokyo showed me the real power of packing cubes

She saw me struggling to close my bag at the gate and said, 'Rolling is good, but cubes make a system.' I switched to using three medium cubes for clothes, and it cut my packing time in half. Has anyone else found a specific tool that made carry-on way easier?

My sister told me my packing cubes were a waste of space on our trip to Savannah.

I switched to just rolling clothes tightly and using my shoes as organizers, and I actually fit in an extra pair of jeans. Has anyone else ditched the cubes after getting similar feedback?

I finally gave up on packing a separate pair of shoes for every outfit.

For years, I insisted on bringing a different pair to match each look, which ate up half my bag. A trip to Lisbon last fall forced me to try a single pair of versatile black sneakers, and I didn't miss the others once. Has anyone else made a similar swap and found a perfect 'one shoe' for travel?

That time I packed for a 10-day work trip in a 28L backpack

Got sent to Denver for a week with two extra days for site visits, and my boss said everything had to fit under the seat. I rolled every shirt, used packing cubes for socks and underwear, and wore my bulkiest boots on the plane. The real win was putting my dopp kit inside my spare sneakers to save space. Has anyone else pulled off a long trip with a bag that small?

Packed for a 10-day work trip using only a small backpack

My company sent me to a conference in Atlanta for a week, plus three extra days for site visits. I was sure I needed a roller bag, but I tried a new rule: pack only what fits in my 24L backpack. The key was picking one color for all my clothes, like black and gray. I rolled three shirts, two pants, and used packing cubes to keep things tight. I wore my bulkiest shoes and jacket on the plane. Doing this, I had room for my laptop and even a small toiletry kit. It made getting through the airport so much faster. Has anyone else tried a one-color wardrobe for a long trip? How did it work for you?

I thought rolling clothes was just for neat freaks until my trip to Denver

For years I just folded everything flat and stacked it. I could never fit more than four days of stuff in my carry-on without it looking like a mess. Then I went to Denver for a week in February and knew I needed a big coat plus layers. A friend told me to roll everything, even the jeans. I was sure it was a waste of time. But I tried it, and I fit the coat, two sweaters, four shirts, and my pants into my normal bag. The bag zipped easily and nothing was wrinkled when I got there. I felt like I cracked a secret code. Has anyone else had a simple tip completely change how much you can pack?

PSA: My carry-on bag hit 7.4 kilos and I didn't even notice

Just got back from a trip to Dublin and the airline made everyone weigh their bags at the gate. Mine was 7.4 kilos, which is way under the usual 10 kilo limit, but it felt so heavy to me. I realized I've been adding little things like extra chargers and a heavy book 'just in case' for years. The number shocked me because my bag was full, but it was all stuff I actually used. It made me think about how much dead weight we carry out of habit. Has anyone else had a moment where the scale showed you were packing smarter than you thought?

The week I packed for a 10 day trip and my bag weighed 22 pounds

It was a work trip to Denver with two different weather forecasts, so I panicked and packed everything. My rolling bag was so heavy I had to lift it sideways onto the train. The whole trip I was just mad at myself for hauling three jackets I never wore. What's your go-to move for cutting weight when you're packing for unpredictable weather?

I packed a full bottle of shampoo for a weekend trip to Seattle and felt so dumb at security

I was folding my jeans wrong for years until a flight attendant in Denver pointed it out

Just realized my old toiletry bag cost me $50 at the airport last month

I had to check my carry-on because the bag was too bulky and my liquids weren't in a clear pouch. Anyone have a good tip for a slim, TSA-friendly kit?