9 essential rules for packing a carry-on
United Airlines pilot Carole Hopson spent years honing her craft while taking countless trips around the globe. Eventually, she realized she’d mastered it. Not flying the 747 (she does that, too), but packing.
Before a recent flight to the Caribbean, Hopson dropped her bag on a luggage scale. “My suitcase was 13 pounds,” she said.
Years of discipline and sacrifice had brought her to this point: no throwing in another outfit at the last minute, no bulky hardcover beach reads.
“I’m so proud of myself. I didn’t start out that way,” Hopson said. “I’ve evolved to smaller — I find that the less I carry, the better.”
Over nearly a decade of travel writing, I’ve learned the same. Less stuff means less time wasted checking a suitcase at the airport and picking it up at baggage claim (or tracking down lost luggage). There’s also less money to spend on checked bag fees and less weight to heave into the overhead compartment.
We don’t have to match Hopson’s 13-pound achievement. But we can learn from her and other experts to become happier, more nimble travelers.
Be ruthless about nonessentials
The easiest way to go overboard is to start packing without a plan. How long is the trip? What’s the climate? Are you going to Michelin 3-star restaurants or sticking to street food? How many pairs of underwear is reasonable?
The world’s most frequent flier is Tom Stuker, a New Jersey car dealership consultant who has clocked more than 23 million miles. He has a simple method: Instead of packing for the millions of “what if” scenarios, pack only what you absolutely need plus one backup, and make sure it’s easy to clean.
As you calculate those needs, be straight with yourself, says Yolanda Edwards, founder of the luxury travel magazine Yolo Journal. If you don’t actually like working out on vacation, skip the exercise clothes. While you’re doing that soul-searching, reflect on your past trips; what were items you definitely needed, and what could you have left behind?
“You’re going to be the one who, when you get home, you’re like, ‘I didn’t wear eight of those things, but I swore I needed them,’” Edwards said. “Try and remember all of those packing mistakes and try not to repeat them.”
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