When you’re able to pack lightly in the fewest number of bags, you can move more freely and efficiently. Carry-on only travel means no waiting to check your bags, no waiting to claim your bags at the end, and, thus, no opportunity for them to lose your bags.
You’d be surprised how much you can cram into a smaller bag with a little finesse. You just need the right kinds of bags and accoutrement, plus a few techniques to get you there.
When traveling with kids, smaller and lighter bags are great for reducing the amount of STUFF you need to keep up with while you’re also corralling the kids. Smaller and lighter bags are essential for international travel because of the higher restrictions. When you’re acquiring some new gear, get something that can accommodate both. One day, you may even be able to sneak away without the kids, and you’ll be ready to roll.
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Essential #1: the suitcase
When we are trying to maximize how much we can fit into one piece we prefer a lightweight hard sided roller carry-on. The boxiness means no lost square footage and the cubes fit in perfectly to its dimensions. These types of cases are lightweight and slip easily into your trunk and the overhead compartment as dont have pockets or extra compartments to add weight or bulk.
When considering international travel, having a low weight case is important when you’re planning to fill every nook and cranny to maximize the space. You’re gonna want all the weight to be coming from your stuff, not your case.
To be international compliant, most airline require bags <22 inches tall including wheels and many bags which we get away with in the US will be checked there due to size so just get used to this size and use it all the time.
When we want to be hands-free or headed to places that wheels aren’t preferred such as cobblestone paved Europe we like a backpack that functions like a suitcase. We use these bags because they don’t feel like a deep cavern to dig through but open like a book. The main compartment holds two medium cubes so you can pack similarly to the hard-side but with a little less space. The MotherLode Jr, which I prefer for the smaller size fits under the seat so it’s small enough to be considered your “personal item” meaning you can carry both this and your roller carry-on for your domestic flight.
Essential #2: The Packing Cube
There are a variety of brands, shapes, and sizes, but, after much trial and error, our clear favorite is the medium sized cube. Both Amazon basics and eBags offer this essential packing device. At 13.75” x 9.75” x 3” it is perfect for the simple fact that you can fit four of them in a hard-side roller carry-on suitcase or MotherLode backpack.
One cube is spacious enough to fit an entire week’s worth clothes for a kid, and adults can certainly get by with two cubes each—that’s how much you can cram in these little suckers. That means for a Florida getaway with a family of 4-6 you can take just two carry-on rollers. IT CAN BE DONE!
My favorite cubes: eBags Medium and the Amazon Basics version
Inside: outfits for 2 days/nights in Paris, 4 days in Santorini and 1 in Athens
How it’s done! More videos to come!