Mastering the Art of Carry-On Only Travel

Why Travel Carry-On Only?

Checking a bag adds immense stress to travel. It costs money, requires you to arrive at the airport earlier, forces you to wait at the carousel, and introduces the risk of lost luggage. By mastering the one-bag approach, you unlock ultimate travel freedom.

The Rule of 3 (Clothing)

You only ever need three of any core clothing item:

1. One to wear
2. One to wash
3. One to dry

With sink-washing or occasional laundromat visits, you can travel indefinitely with just 3 shirts and 3 pairs of underwear. Choose merino wool for its odor-resistant and quick-drying properties.

Footwear Strategy

Shoes take up the most space and weight. The golden rule is: Wear your bulkiest shoes on the plane, and pack one pair of lightweight, versatile shoes or sandals in your bag. Never pack more than one extra pair of shoes.

Toiletries and the TSA 3-1-1 Rule

Ditch the full-size liquids. Use solid toiletries whenever possible: solid shampoo bars, solid deodorant, and toothpaste tablets. For the liquids you must bring, decant them into small, leak-proof 100ml bottles to comply with airport security rules.