Ask any frequent traveler their rules for traveling, and you'll likely hear the same advice: never check a bag. Carry-on baggage only. But packing everything you need, especially for a longer stay, into a small suitcase and a handbag or backpack requires some ingenuity: the maximum dimensions of luggage fitting into most overhead bins are 22 x 14 x 9 inches, and although the majority of domestic flights do not have – or at least do not enforce – weight limits, unlike some international and transpacific flights (some Delta flights to Asia, for example example, have a limit of 22 pounds, while Hawaiian Airlines' maximum is 25 pounds). The reward, if you succeed: faster airport experiences that don't involve the risk of lost luggage and, upon arrival, fewer decisions about what to wear. Here, proven advice from a few experts.
Choose the right luggage
Although some frequent travelers swear by soft bags, New York designer Ian Bradley, 38, favors the large extra-large format LL Bean Adventure Travel Bag – most carry rigid and rolling suitcases. “They’re lighter,” says Hitha Palepu, 39, a New York-based author and entrepreneur who wrote what may be the definitive book on the subject, in 2017.How to Pack: Travel Smart for Any Trip.” The polycarbonate material used for hard-shell suitcases, she explains, “is about half the weight of the heavy-duty nylon used in soft-shell suitcases.” Here are the roller bags recommended by our experts:
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A roll of German brand Rimowa is often considered the gold standard for products, and many people we spoke with vouched for the durability of its products. “It’s more expensive but it’s a worthwhile investment,” says New York artist Laila Gohar, 35. (Like Antwerp architect Vincent Van Duysen, 62, she flies with aluminum Cabin model.) For those worried about weight limits: The brand's lightest full-size carry-on is the Essential Cabin Liteat 4.9 lbs.
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Palepu is a fan of the American brand's rigid suitcases Béiswhich are considerably cheaper than those of Rimowa. “They have the best compression in a suitcase, really sturdy construction, and a padded handle for carrying them to the airport,” she says.
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The New York-based chef and author Andy Baraghani34, who went on a multi-city book tour last year, loves the Larger carry-on luggage: aluminum edition because it seems indestructible, he said. “And its shiny finish stands out from the rest of the luggage at the airport.” (Just pay attention to check that its larger-than-average dimensions are compatible with your airline's carry-on size limit.)
Ruthlessly Edit Your Packing List
“You can't have a 'just in case' mentality,” says Gohar. “If something is not absolutely essential, it is not considered. » Below are some strategies for identifying the bare essentials.
Clothes
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“Look for clothes with blends of viscose or Lyocell, or silk and wool – these fabrics are more wrinkle-resistant than most,” advises Palepu. She prioritizes “pants that can be worn several times before they become too baggy, patterned shirtdresses (prints help hide wrinkles), and matching sets that can be mixed and matched with others pieces “. But its real beasts of burden are non-iron button-down shirts for men from Uniqlo – they rarely wrinkle and work with a wide range of outfits.
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Suits are also a great option because of their versatility. “They can be dressed up with heels for a night out, or casual for the day with a tank top and trainers,” says London-based creative director Alex Eagle, 40. Gallerist Mariane Ibrahim, who lives between Mexico and Paris. and Chicago, has a similar philosophy: “My bag always includes an evening suit and a day suit, plus a few basic black and white pieces (jeans, t-shirts).”
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For Gohar, the key is building an adaptable uniform. “If you have a solid basic look, you can get away with bringing a coat, a pair of pants or two, and just changing your shirt every day,” she says. “And I'm not afraid to wash my clothes, or my the children, in the hotel sink. I simply ask housekeeping for an unscented soap and then hang it to dry.
Toiletries
It's easier to buy travel sizes of your favorite products and refill them at home from larger bottles, eliminating excess waste, says Palepu (you can also find small empty containers in stores like Muji). She also suggests streamlining by finding versatile products: “My EltaMD tinted sunscreen is hydrating enough to be my daytime moisturizer; I use my The Plum Tree oil as a hydrating serum and finishing oil and to smooth flyaway hair.
Flight essentials
Palepu likes to carry a simple shoulder bag with the items she will need between takeoff and landing (lip balm, disinfectant wipes, e-reader), taking it on board into a larger tote, then keeps it on her lap when seated. Hotelier Philomena Schurer-Merckoll, 40, who divides her time between Marrakech and London, recommends the British brand Métier's Perriand weekend bag instead of a handbag; its hidden exterior pockets make it easy to access items on the plane, she says, and “the clip pouch means I have an evening bag for my trip.” And fashion designer Phillip Lim, 51, recommends bringing a Bluetooth transmitter from Airfly, which allows wireless headphones to connect to the in-flight entertainment system.
Pack like every inch counts (because it does)
Work from heavy to light
Typically, Palepu packs the largest items first, to maximize space. She recommends rolling most, but not all, clothes to prevent wrinkles, and always packing them. this very compact steam cooker to eliminate the few creases that inevitably appear (she also uses the device to steam her face after flights before applying a hydrating mask). Here's how she recommends filling a bag, from bottom to top:
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Start by laying bulky sweaters flat in the bottom half of your suitcase, with the sleeves and any extra fabric running down the sides.
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If you need a coat when you arrive, choose a versatile one and wear it on the plane. If you really need another piece of outerwear, make a thin one and pack it with your big sweaters.
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Fold the suit pants lengthwise to preserve the crease, then roll them up. For packaging suit jackets, Palepu approves this method, which involves folding the garment into a square along the seams. Place these pieces on your sweaters.
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Roll all other pants as well as skirts, dresses, pajamas and workout clothes and then pack them.
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Fold shirts and tops along the seams to reduce wrinkles and lay them on top of the rolled pieces.
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Place underwear and socks in the remaining spaces.
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Once all your clothes are in your kit, fold the sleeves of your sweater over your other items.
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In the other half of your bag, place your shoes, stored in shoe bags, around the edge. (To save space, wear the bulkiest pair you plan to bring on the flight.)
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Place all other accessories and your toiletries in the center of your shoes.
Consider packing cubes
Packing cubes, which are zippered pouches designed to compress clothing and save space, are especially useful for multi-stop travel, providing a smoother way to pack and unpack quickly. Bradley likes the ones made by Smart bags and also reuses the dust bags that come with some of its accessories. “I put underwear, shoes and shirts in one and pants in the other,” he says. Packing cubes are also particularly useful for young families, says Palepu: Her children each have a set in their favorite color, meaning their clothes are easily recognizable if they share a suitcase. Joeonna Bellardo-Samuels, 44, one senior director of the Jack Shainman Gallery in New York, says one of her secret pleasures is “scavenging good hotel laundry bags” to use in place of cubes. “Each one is adorned with a beautiful monogram that reminds me of my adventures.”
Home Boat Souvenirs
If you're going on a shopping-focused trip, Palepu suggests packing a collapsible duffel bag in your carry-on that you can fill and then check in for the flight home or send home en route to the airport . “Dirty laundry is the best padding for wrapping fragile items,” she says. Likewise, Eagle offers a LL Bean Boat and Tote for the return overflow, including gifts and her children's laundry (packing it separately means it's easier to throw it in the wash once home). “The zipper on the top makes it secure,” she says. “So you can check it, if you really need to.”
