Have you ever thought of ditching your bulky suitcase and travel light with carry-on only? You have come to the right place. During my recent backpacking trip to Portugal, I travelled with a 40-litre backpack weighing only just over 12 kilograms. The backpack held all my belongings for the four-week trip and it was January, the middle of winter. I had one bag, that was it!
Travelling light is not as big of a deal during the summer months, but it gets challenging once you have to pack warm clothes for cooler temperatures. Still, minimalist travel is absolutely doable and has tons of benefits.
The positive aspect of travelling light with carry-on only is huge. It gives me the freedom and flexibility I wouldn’t have with heavy luggage in tow.
Travelling light is knowing what and how to pack. It’s important to use a suitable backpack or bag and the right gear for the trip, and decide what you absolutely can’t be without.
Table of Contents
Check and compare the weights of suitcases and bags when you’re shopping for new luggage. There is no one type of bag that fits all.
I decided to look for a bag with a maximum size of 56 cm x 45 cm x25 cm to fit into an airplane’s overhead bin. Although some airlines allow larger dimensions, I wanted to be sure that the size of my bag was accepted by any airline I chose.
First I was interested in a soft bag with wheels and straps but thought that it might be unpractical travelling in cobblestone paved towns with lots of steps. Wheeling around on these types of pavement could be a real pain and hard on the wheels. Wheeled bags also seem to be heavier and therefore I decided, not to buy one. Still, those bags suit many travellers and are worth checking out.
Wheels or no wheels, I don’t think that I will ever buy a bag without straps. Straps are practical features to have in a bag to transfer it into a backpack, to get you up those long stairways or through other crazy situations easily.
I did a fair bit of research before I decided to buy the Osprey Woman’s Fairview 40. This bag has many special features and was what I was looking for. Osprey bags are also available for men and in different sizes.
Only take the basics and decide what you can do without. If in doubt, don’t take it. Remember that you can buy any essentials in most places you go to. Whether you’re off travelling for a week or a month or a year, in Mexico, Canada or Europe, you will need the basics. The only thing that you have to adjust, is your clothes. Remember, whatever you take, you will have to carry around.
Your ideal travel clothing is durable and takes up minimal space and weight. An ultralight down-jacket packs up into a tiny bag and keeps you warm and cozy. Make sure to choose one with a hood!
Look out for clothes made out of merino wool which is super lightweight and keeps you warm in cold weather and cool when it’s hot. Alternatives are garments made out of wool. Choose synthetic materials for undergarments instead of cotton. They are lighter, take less space and dry much quicker. Take layers instead of bulky pullovers.
Don’t pack your large and heavy items, wear them instead. Airports are usually cold, regardless of your destination.
Packing cubes are a great invention. I didn’t have any when I left for the trip but purchased two of them at my first destination. My cubes are made out of nylon with a mesh top, saving lots of space and helping me to be more organized. The larger cube comes with two zipped compartments. The two cubes were ideal for me and left enough extra space in my pack to store odds and ends outside of them.
The large cube held my spare pair of light jeans, a couple of t-shirts and long sleeve tops. The smaller cube I used for underwear and too many pairs of socks, a long-sleeved thermal shirt, and my leggings.
To maximize bag space, there are airless baggies on the market that save you even more space.
I roll up all of my clothes individually, making them more compact. You also can use rubber bands and tie up each piece of clothing to further save space. This won’t make your bag lighter but you’ll able to fit more into your bag.
Especially us women seem to need many different beauty products. Unfortunately, all we can take is a one-litre sealed plastic bag full of liquids and creams to go through airport security, and that’s not a lot at all. You may decide not to take anything and buy it all at your destination. This works, if you travel to one place and stay put. The problem with this is, that you have to fit all the stuff you buy into your pack when you move on and have to get rid of it before taking your next flight unless you buy all small quantities.
Myself, I don’t like to search for a store as soon as I arrive at a new place. Instead, I fill up small bottles and containers at home.
Through Airport security I keep it all in the required plastic bag and transfer it into my toiletry case at my destination. This always has worked best for me.
Most toiletries are available as solid products, which tend to be smaller and might be a better option for you.
My tips on travelling with a carry-on backpack are meant for city destinations and urban travel. To venture into backcountry Canada or any sparsely inhabited rural area, my suggestions and lists mentioned in this article are not suitable. Backcountry travel needs much more gear.
Backpacking is a special way of travelling and is ideal for minimalists. If you were a suitcase traveller until now, it is time to give backpacking a try. Travelling with a backpack on your back gives you lots of freedom and opportunities to meet open-minded, interesting people on the way. With only a backpack you’re mobile and in control, something which is great for people of all ages.
Sign up for my Newsletter, follow me on Facebook and get notified of new posts.
Join our new Facebook Group Backcountry Canada Discussions
Yrene lives in the Okanagan, British Columbia, Canada, and is the founder of BackcountryCanadaTravel.com. She was born in Switzerland, lived and worked on different continents and has travelled the world. Yes, that's me, an Entrepreneur, wilderness nut and animal lover who prefers off-the-beaten-track places. I write about things I love. Mostely.
2 Comments
Dawn Casey
Great article Yrene! Good for you! Traveling light……and having fun. Thanks for sharing your travels and tips <3
Yrene Dee
Thank you, Dawn. I appreciate your opinion!