How to pack a carry-on for a week

A week away with only a cabin bag sounds like a test of willpower. Mostly, it is a test of planning. The people who travel light are not packing less because they have fewer clothes; they are packing clothes that work with each other, and leaving behind the things they always take and never wear.

First, check your own limits

There is no single carry-on size. Airlines set their own limits for the dimensions and weight of a cabin bag, and they differ between carriers, between fare types on the same carrier and sometimes between routes. Some fares include a full-size cabin bag; some include only a small personal item that has to fit under the seat. Before you choose a suitcase, let alone pack it, check the rules for the exact ticket you have booked.

Do the same for liquids. Security rules for liquids in hand luggage vary between countries and airports, and have been changing as airports install new scanners. Check the rules for every airport you will pass through, including the one on the way home.

Choose one colour family

The single decision that makes a small wardrobe work is colour. Pick two or three neutrals that all go together, such as navy, cream and camel, or black, grey and white, and add one accent if you want it. When every top goes with every bottom, five tops and two bottoms make ten outfits, not five.

Then plan by days and occasions rather than by item. Write down roughly what you will be doing: walking, working, a dinner, a beach, a wedding. Most weeks away need fewer types of outfit than you think.

A week’s wardrobe that fits

For a typical week in a mild climate, something like this fits in most cabin cases:

• Two or three bottoms: one pair of jeans or trousers, one smarter pair or a skirt, and shorts if it is warm.
• Five or six tops: a mix of plain T-shirts and one or two smarter shirts or knits.
• One dress or one smarter outfit that works for an evening out.
• One warm layer: a knit or cardigan that goes with everything.
• Underwear and socks for most of the week, plus something to sleep in.
• Swimwear if you need it; it takes up almost no space.

Plan to wash a few small things halfway through. A sink, a little detergent or shampoo and a night on a towel rail does the job, and it is far lighter than a second week of underwear.

Choose fabrics that work hard. Knits, jersey and wool blends crease less and forgive being rolled; linen is light but creases easily; heavy denim takes up a lot of room. If something has to stay smart, choose pieces that look fine with a few soft creases. Clothes that fit you well also travel better, because you will actually wear them.

Wear the bulkiest things

Your heaviest shoes, your thickest knit and your coat travel on you, not in the bag. A coat with deep pockets is the most useful piece of luggage you own. If the weather where you are going is colder than at home, a good coat earns its place twice over.

Limit the shoes

Shoes are where most cabin bags fail. Take two pairs at most, and wear one of them: a comfortable pair for walking and one smarter or lighter pair. If you need sandals or trainers (sneakers) as well, choose ones that pack flat. Put shoes in a cloth bag, or an old pillowcase, to keep the soles off your clothes, and fill them with socks.

Roll, fold or both

There is no single right method, and the best packers usually combine them:

• Roll soft things such as T-shirts, knits, jersey and underwear. Rolled clothes fill the gaps neatly and crease less than you would expect.
• Fold structured things such as shirts, smart trousers and anything tailored, laying them flat across the bottom of the case.
• Fill the gaps: socks inside shoes, a belt around the edge, chargers in a small pouch.

Packing cubes help some people keep a small case in order; others find them a waste of space. Use them if you like opening a bag and finding things quickly.

Toiletries: smaller than you think

Decant what you use into small refillable bottles, within the liquid rules for your airports, and put them in a clear pouch that comes out easily at security. Solid versions of shampoo, conditioner, moisturiser and deodorant save both space and liquid allowance. Most hotels and many rentals supply the basics, and anything you have forgotten can usually be bought when you arrive.

Keep medication, chargers, travel documents and one change of underwear in the bag you keep with you at your seat, in case your main case has to be checked at the gate.

Pack, then take a few things out

Lay everything out before it goes in the case. Then remove two items: the outfit you are packing “just in case” and the third pair of shoes. You will almost certainly not miss them, and you will be glad of the space when you want to bring something home.

Travel light and you arrive without a heavy case to haul up stairs and through stations, and spend the week wearing things you actually like.