I’ve always fancied myself a bit of a packing aficionado but admittedly, today’s trip to Scotland had me a bit stumped. 11 days, in the dead of winter, to a country that’s notoriously damp and rainy, where we’ll be doing everything from exploring castle ruins to eating at Michelin starred restaurants. We’ll be moving around by car, ferry, train, and plane, so keeping bags to a minimum is a must – and we need space to carry back plenty of Scotch (C’s top priority). So, everything I needed for the trip had to fit in my carry-on.
It’s not the first time we’ve taken a long trip with just a carry-on bag. We went to Eastern Europe for two weeks and our three week honeymoon, both with only carry-on bags (that last one was a packing feat!). Through all that, we’ve found a few things that make the process easier.
1 // START WITH A GREAT SUITCASE
My new Fortis Pro by eBags will be getting quite the workout for this trip – and thankfully, trips like this are literally what a bag like this is made for! It has a built-in compression straps that help you pack more in a compact bag and an expansion zipper because we all know nothing packs as easily coming home as it does going there! It also has attached wet and dry bags that are great for packing smaller items that you need regular access to, like your toothbrush and underwear, and silent spinner wheels. The outside shell is super durable, too, so you can toss this around into overhead bins and in and out of cars without worrying about damage to the bag or your items inside.
For the size, price point, and features, there’s nothing else like it on the market.
2 // PICK VERSATILE ITEMS
When you’re packing for a long trip, think through items that can be worn in multiple ways, and ideally on multiple days. I pack a lot of neutrals (black and dark blue jeans, grey sweaters, black tanks) that mixed and matched for different looks. You can then pick bolder patterns for items that don’t take up much packing space, like camis and chiffon tops to mix up the look.
Shoes are another item that adds a lot of bulk. Opt for pairs you can get a lot of wear out of and are easy to pack (think tennis shoes instead of riding boots).
3 // FLY IN YOUR BULKIEST ITEMS
An easy way to get everything you need into a carry-on is to wear the items that take up a lot of space while you’re traveling, eliminating the need to pack them. We’re going in the winter, so I’ll be flying in my boots and wool coat. Traveling to a warmer climate? Wear layers on the plane to keep extra bulk out of your suitcase.
4 // BRING SOMETHING TO WASH CLOTHES
Items that can’t be reworn go straight into the reusable laundry bag that came with my eBags Fortis carry-on. One of our honeymoon resorts offered free laundry service, but when that’s not available, we plan to wash our own essentials like underwear, socks, and undershirts during the trip. We always bring a pack of laundry detergent in our wet bag and wash clothes in the sink in the afternoon, then hang dry until the morning (most hotels and resorts have a clothing line in the bathroom or can provide one upon request).
5 // “TEST PACK” YOUR SUITCASE
To avoid stress the night before the trip, we started “test packing” last week to ensure everything fit and make decisions about what had to stay home (like that fourth pair of shoes…). If it doesn’t fit, take a step back and reevaluate the two tips above – do you really need it, or could something else serve the same purpose? Can you wear it instead of packing it? After test packing my bag for Scotland, I decided to swap out my original plan to wear dresses at dinner because it required an additional pair of shoes that just wouldn’t fit. Instead, I’ve packed chiffon tops and a pair of black jeans that will work well even at nice restaurants and take up less space.
6 // ENSURE YOU HAVE EASY ACCESS TO ESSENTIALS
There’s nothing worse having to dig through your entire bag to find the few things you need while you’re waiting at your boarding gate or after hopping on a train. I use bright green padded pouches to wrangle cords and charging cables, which I pack last to ensure they’re on the top of my suitcase if I need them. The Fortis Pro has an external universal USB charging system which saves some of the hassle – it makes it so easy to charge your phone or other devices right from the top of the bag. No more phone dying while you wait to board your flight or for your ride share pickup!
Want to check out the Fortis Pro for yourself? eBags is offering an amazing discount if you purchase using this link.
For more packing tips, check out our posts on Traveling with Products.
NOTE: This post was sponsored by eBags, however all opinions are my own. All my travel gear was eBags long before this collaboration!