Whether you don’t want to pay extra for a bag, or just prefer the freedom of travelling lighter, hand luggage only is the way forward.
But how to fit everything you need into one backpack or tiny suitcase? Follow my foolproof tips for bringing everything you need without the bulk.
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9 Packing Hacks to Make Hand Luggage Go Further
Squeeze the most out of your space with these savvy packing hacks – tried and tested by me!
1. Pack outfits not items
Even though I travel a lot, I always make a list of outfits when I go away. It means that I can be sure I’ve planned what goes with what – and don’t end up wasting precious luggage space.
I love colour so I don’t care about wearing different colourful items together, but if you prefer everything to match then bring more clothes in neutral colours like black or white so nothing clashes.
Plain colours are easier to co-ordinate than patterns, and if you’re going to be rewearing things a few times, then natural fibres like cotton won’t get as stinky as things like polyester.
2. Roll your clothes
Yes, it’s been tried and tested by me and James – rolling really works!
Not only do things take up less space, but they get fewer creases usually too.
I like to roll my things up and then put them into packing cubes, so I can lay my hands on everything easily.
3. Prioritise your shoes
Shoes are the worst for taking up luggage space! I’m a fan of wearing (comfy) ankle boots when I travel – I find they’re good for stomping around all day but dressy enough if I want to smarten up, say in the evening.
If you’re dead set on wearing trainers, but you need a smarter option too, then something like a ballet flat or loafer shouldn’t take up too much space. If there’s good weather at my destination I usually take black flip-flops or sandals that can work in the evenings too.
For blokes it’s a bit different – James usually just wears a newer pair of trainers because those tend to go with everything!
4. Decant everything
When I say my life changed the day I decided to go mini with all of my liquids. This was prompted by my Uniqlo bag challenge – but even when you have a lot more space, it still makes sense.
I now put all my body products and skincare into tiny containers – about 10-20ml. It’s enough for a few hairwashes, cleanses, make-up applications etc. It’s a game changer because it saves SO much space!
And remember, until the dreaded liquid limit gets ditched at all airports, solid alternatives can help you eek out more space in your liquids bag – things like shampoo bars and deodorant sticks.
5. Bring laundry detergent
Bring fewer clothes and just wash them whilst you’re away.
This might not work for a pair of jeans let’s say, but the kind of tops you wear next to your skin, and underwear, should wash and dry pretty quickly. Especially if you’re somewhere warm or your accommodation has air conditioning.
I bring a few laundry tabs (in a plastic tub so nothing leaks), or you could decant a bit of laundry liquid into a small bottle. You can even buy mini travel wash from places like Boots.
Wash small things in the sink in the evening, and leave them to dry overnight. You could even pop a roll of string in your luggage to fashion a makeshift washing line.
One of my top tips for packing light is to book accommodation with a washing machine. You can handwash smaller items like underwear and t-shirts in the sink, but if you can wash a proper load of laundry then it massively reduces how many clothes you need to bring. Chuck in a length of string and a few pegs as well, and you can even fashion a makeshift washing line!
6. Be strict
I don’t know about you, but I have certain clothes and accessories that I never wear at home, and yet when I am packing for a trip I inexplicably HAVE to take them.
Spoiler alert – you don’t. Specific items like beachwear aside, generally if you don’t love and wear it at home, you won’t abroad.
Also if you want to maximise luggage space, you have to sacrifice variety – it might be a bit less fun day-to-day to dress, but your focus is probably elsewhere anyway, on having a wonderful time away and making memories.
7. Layer up
I’ve mentioned this before re packing for winter trips, but layers are your friend. Jumpers can be SO bulky, but a few thermal long sleeves pack down to next to nothing, and keep you super warm.
Natural materials like pima cotton or merino wool take up very little room – as do things like Uniqlo Heattech garments. So that chunky jumper might look cute in a wintery photo, but unless you can wear it on the flight – leave it behind!
8. Use packing cubes
I don’t find packing cubes actually save a huge amount of space – even the compression ones that have the zip around to squish everything down inside. But, they do help me keep my things organised. And because everything is contained, it’s easier to fit everything in and so I find it makes my bag feel bigger.
9. Plan your travel outfit
As I touched on above, bulky items that take up space are the ones you need to wear when you travel. So if you have chunky boots, a big jumper or a hat, wear them on the journey. Try not to be too fussed about wearing an odd outfit on your journey, no one cares anyway and it means you can look fabulous whilst you’re there, which is much more important!
Hand-luggage only fares are here to stay, so if you can’t bear to pay any more than the price displayed for your flight, then these packing hacks are going to see you right.
Follow my tips above and you’ll still be able to look your best and pack light!
