#carry-on-travel

#carry-on-travel

The idea of living out of a single carry-on bag for an entire year sounds impossible to most people. We're taught from childhood to accumulate more clothes, more products, more backups "just in case." Yet, for thousands of digital nomads and minimalist travelers, fitting their entire life into one small suitcase is not only doable but liberating. It's a lifestyle shift that forces you to prioritize what truly matters and let go of the clutter that weighs you down.

After visiting more than 70 countries and learning to live out of a carry-on for weeks at a time, I've made every packing mistake in the book-literally. From cramming too many "just in case" outfits to forgetting something as simple as a charger adapter, I've found myself spending way over budget just to account for all the things I've forgotten.

Since finding it nearly two years ago, my mini weekender has become my go-to personal item, accompanying me on journeys across the world on two-week trips to India, Ireland, home to Rome, and more. Seriously, I might need to get it a passport of its own. Don't let the word "mini" fool you - it packs quite the punch when it comes to organizational capacity.

While this answer typically varies from person to person, one internet theory posits that you only need 15 minutes to make your flight-and travelers are now risking their seats to put it to the test. The premise of TikTok's now-viral Airport Theory is simple: You should be able to walk right up to your gate at boarding time within 15 minutes of your arrival at the airport.

As a parent to two young kids, traveling can be exhausting, and lugging around excess baggage is the last thing I want. So, this summer, my husband and I decided to try only packing carry-ons - three backpacks, two small suitcases, one weekender bag, and one laptop bag - for our family's monthlong vacation to the UK. We navigated rainstorms in London, cooler nights in Cambridge, heatwaves, and the occasional delayed train, but never once felt as though we underpacked.