15 tricks that will allow you to put everything you need in hand luggage

Sometimes traveling light is much more convenient. Judge for yourself: no need to pay extra for luggage, wait for it at the airport upon arrival and worry that it will get lost. In addition, getting to your destination with hand luggage is much more pleasant than with bulky suitcases. True, putting everything you need in one bag is an almost impossible task. But there are some simple and useful life hacks.

1. Wear your biggest pair of shoes on a plane

What clothes and shoes you choose for the flight will determine how much precious space you free up in your bag. Some shoes, boots or sneakers take up a lot of space and can't be folded. Therefore, take one or two pairs with you, and put on the largest pair in airplane.

2. Stick to one color scheme in clothes

A smart way to ensure that everything you need fits in your hand luggage is to put in your bag only the clothes that you will definitely wear on a trip.

Take things in the same color scheme to freely combine them with each other. Imagine how each sweater or some kind of pants will be combined with other clothes and shoes, and choose neutral shades to make more sets. Complete wardrobe for

trips can be small universal accessories.

3. Twist, not fold things

This will save more free space for everything else. In addition, twisted clothes wrinkle less. And to make the contents of the bag more organized, you can also fix things with elastic bands.

4. Book an accommodation with a washing machine

In this case, you can take much less clothes with you. Of course, not everyone likes to do laundry during a vacation or business trip. But this small concession will allow you to fit everything you need in one bag, even for a long trip.

Alternatively, you can bring your own cleaning wipes or buy them locally. stain removal or use the services of local laundries.

5. Use the space under the seat on the plane

In addition to carry-on baggage, which is stowed in the overhead bin, it is not uncommon for airlines to allow passengers to take personal items into the cabin that fit under the seat in front of them. Take advantage of this and take a compact handbag or backpack with you.

put it there snack, small hygiene items or even an extra pair of shoes. All this can also be packed in a laptop bag, if its design allows. This way you will free up some more space in the main hand luggage.

6. Use travel organizers

They will help keep order inside the bag. In addition, when you pack things in such organizers, it is much easier for you to avoid the temptation to throw little things in your bag that you don’t really need.

7. Use vacuum bags

Many people store bulky winter clothes in them, so it makes sense that this same technology could help make the most of the limited carry-on space.

Pack the softest and fluffy things, and then pump out excess air with a hand pump. So the bag will fit twice as much clothes. The main thing is that you manage to pack everything exactly the same when you return home.

8. Make sure your bag is considered hand luggage

There is nothing worse than spending hours packing your suitcase only to find out at the airport that it only goes through as checked baggage. Carefully study the information on the website of the airline you are flying with and make sure that your bag meets all the stated requirements.

9. Choose clothes made from lightweight materials

Think about how much more clothes you can fit if you take out a pair of sweaters or sweatshirts from a heavy fabric from your bag. It is better to take with you lighter things that you can wear in several layers.

10. Replace full-sized things with small ones

We already do this with toiletries like shampoo or gel For shower. Use the same principle for other items. For example, take on a trip not a heavy laptop, but a compact tablet.

11. Classify things by importance

If you want to travel with hand luggage only, you will need to take only what you need with you. Make a list of everything you plan to put in your bag. And then think carefully about each item and ask yourself if you will use the item on a trip so often that you definitely need to take it.

It will be a difficult choice. At least 30-40% of your list is best left at home.

12. Put small things in shoes

The key to fitting everything in your hand luggage is to use any empty space, including inside things. For example, an electric razor, socks, deodorant - all this will fit in shoes, and in the bag there will be room for other items.

13. Putting on a coat on the plane

Like shoes, outerwear takes up a lot of space in a bag, even if it's not a coat, but a jacket. Therefore, it is better to fly in outerwear, no matter what the temperature in the cabin. If you're lucky, you can put it in the top carry-on compartment along with your bag. Otherwise, just fold your coat, jacket or jacket and place it behind your back for the rest of the flight.

14. Buy hygiene products upon arrival

Of course, this is not a very budgetary life hack, so use it only in extreme cases. But if you can afford to buy shampoo, shower gel or toothpaste at your destination, you will save a significant amount of space in your bag.

15. Choose a lightweight carry-on bag

Airlines impose certain requirements not only on the size of hand luggage, but also on weight. Even if it seems to you that your bag will not be weighed, it is better to play it safe. Check the requirements on the site and make sure your carry-on baggage meets them.