How to Pack a Carry-On Like a Pro 🧳 5 Days in ONE Carry-On Bag 🤯, by Home Reimagined on YouTube. 8 min 34 s.
- Video length
- 8 min 34 s
- Time to do it
- 45 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 10
What you need
Steps
Plan a capsule wardrobe of pieces that all match each other in two or three colors. Pick about five days of outfits that mix and match so you can rewear items.
Lay out your packing cubes and sort clothes by type, such as tops in one cube and bottoms in another. Keep each cube to a single category so you can find things fast.
Match folded clothes to the width of each cube. Fold items to the cube's short side so they stack flat and fill the space without bulging.
Roll thin, wrinkle-prone items like t-shirts and fold stiffer items like jeans. Rolling saves space and keeps creases down.
Stuff socks and small items inside your shoes, then place the shoes at the bottom of the bag where they fit snugly.
Pack a small laundry bag for dirty clothes so clean and used items stay separate during the trip.
Load the compression cubes into the main compartment, pressing air out as you zip each one. Put the heaviest cube closest to the back of the bag.
Fill leftover gaps with small soft items like a scarf, belt or swimsuit. Tuck them around the cubes so nothing shifts in transit.
Slide your laptop into the padded pocket and put your water bottle in the side pocket. Keep cords, chargers and toiletries in their own small pouches.
Put keys, passport and valuables in an easy-to-reach pocket or a small crossbody you keep on you. Zip the bag and do a final weight check.
Tips and common mistakes
Wear your bulkiest shoes and jacket on travel days to save bag space.
Compression cubes work best when you press the air out before the final zip.
Keep toiletries in a clear pouch so security checks go faster.
Check your airline's personal-item size limit before you pack, since bags vary.
Questions
Do I really need packing cubes?
They are not required, but compression cubes make it much easier to fit five days of clothes into one small bag and keep everything organized.
How many outfits should I pack for five days?
Aim for about five tops and two or three bottoms that all match, plus one layer. You can rewear pieces and do a quick sink wash if needed.
Will this fit under the seat?
A soft-sided personal-item bag sized to your airline's limit usually fits under the seat. Measure your bag against the airline's stated dimensions first.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
