Packing a 7kg Carry-On for 4 Weeks
If we can, we usually try to travel carry-on only, especially when we have multiple connecting flights and train travel. It’s much easier on the trains if you only have a small amount of luggage. Going carry-on also means that your bags won’t get lost on the way. Lots of connections means more opportunities for the bags to go missing. We once had our flight into Hong Kong delayed, we ran to our connection and got on but our bags did not. A friend recently went to Berlin for the Berlin marathon and his luggage finally caught up with him back in Melbourne.
This holiday proved a challenge to pack for. We needed clothes for four weeks with temperatures between 2C to 27C and my baggage allowance was 1 carry-on case weighing up to 7kg and a small personal item … and with QANTAS the personal item has to be small. That means that the limiting factor for my packing was not volume but weight.
General tips for travelling light for four weeks:
Plan to do washing. We try to stay places that have washing facilities.
Pack in a very light bag. I’ve got a soft roller that’s 1.9kg. If you can deal with it, backpacks weigh even less.
Pack lighter clothes made of quick drying fabrics or ones that don’t need to be washed. Jeans are good, although they’re heavy, they could easily last a whole holiday without washing if you don’t have a big spill. Plan to layer for cold weather.
For the flight wear your heaviest clothes and shoes as long as they are comfortable.
If weight is going to be the limiting factor get a bag scale and weigh your packed bag.
Take a maximum of two pairs of shoes. I wore my Chelsea boots that are comfortable to walk in but also OK for wearing with my dress. I packed my running shoes, but I can wear these for walking too.
Have clothes that can do double duty. In this case I chose some of my nicer running T-shirts that I can use for running, sight seeing and pyjama top. My Lululemon luxtreme pull-on pants feel like pyjamas for on the plane but work with a dressy top for going out. Warm tights and running compression tights work under jeans to keep warm.
Toiletries need to be a maximum size of 100ml each, that fit in a clear plastic bag 20cm x 20cm. I used a smaller clear toilet bag. 20cm x 20 cm is fairly large.
Pack a foldable day pack so if you do buy something while you’re away you can take the daypack on the plane and check the case. I like to pack this with anything I might need for the first day so if I do have to check the case I can pull out the back pack and have some of the essentials with me.
Here’s my list:
Clothing
- 3 running T-shits (navy, black, mid blue)
- 2 black merino long sleeve T-shirts
- 2 long sleeve Lululemon tops (black and light blue)
- 1 merino blend grey wind heater
- 1 teal fleece windcheater
- 1 dressy top (black with flowers)
- Blue jeans
- Black Lululemon pants
- 2XU running tights
- Running shorts
- Dress
- Thick black tights
- Ultralight puffer jacket
- Wind and waterproof rain jacket
- 3 bras (nude and black and black sports bra)
- 4 lightweight quick drying undies
- 6 socks (2 lightweight bamboo. 1 lightweight merino, 1 warm merino, 1 running socks. I would have taken less than this if not for some expected cold temps in Germany)
- Gloves
- Sun cap
- Warm beanie
- Pyjama shorts
Toiletries
- Toothpaste
- Toothbrush
- Face moisturiser with sunscreen
- General moisturiser
- Cleanser
- Deodorant
- Cup
- Tweezers
- Floss
- Lipstick
- Bandaids
- Cotton buds
- Tissues
Tech and Other
- iPad
- iPhone
- AirPods
- Headphone jack adaptor and Airfly for plane
- Garmin
- Charging cables
- Reading glasses
- Power adapters (US and Europe)
- Double USB adaptor
- Notebooks and pens
- Passport
- Credit card
- Licence
- Reading glasses
- Medications
- Laundry sheets, Scrubba and clothesline
- Collapsible drink bottle
- Foldable back pack
- Neck pillow
- Face masks
Two days before we left I packed my bag and weighed it. It weighed 7.7kg. I ended up ditching a scarf. The liquid toiletries fit in my personal item and I wore my waterproof jacket onto the plane. If you are wondering, they did weigh our carryons at checkin. Mine weighed 6.9kg.
Do you travel with just a carry on? Has your luggage ever gone missing?
14 Comments
NGS
You don’t pack shampoo and conditioner? I feel like that would be a very big problem for me – even worse than forgetting deodrant!!
I don’t travel much, so when I do, I just check luggage. I’ve never had lost luggage, although it has been delayed when I have not been delayed a time or two. I have done a couple of weekend trips with just a backpack, but it’s a rare occasion.
Melissa
I do wash my hair, I just use the shampoo and conditioner provided at the accomodation. The only issue will be if one of the apartments we’re staying at in Europe doesn’t provide it, but then I’ll just go and buy some.
Meike
I think I am going to take this post as inspiration for my next trip. We will visit family in Germany for Christmas and I am thinking about getting away with carry on but we will see. I usually check luggage and it helps that I mostly fly for visiting family – so if luggage was delayed there would always be someone to help out. So far it only happened ones and it was only one day late.
Melissa
You might be surprised what you can get away with.
Jenny
Yes, I’ve traveled with just a carry-on, but not for a four week trip! It seems like this was especially challenging with the temperature varation, and the fact that you had to pack running clothes. I’m impressed!
Melissa
This is the strictest weight limit I’ve had. Luckily I have a few long and short sleeve running tops that can easily be worn for everyday wear.
San
Wow, Melissa. That’s superimpressive. I always contemplate flying to Germany (where I stay at my parents house and have access to my sister’s closet) just with carry-on and never manage. Mostly because I want to bring gifts and stuff with me… but also because I just cannot pair down my packing list. You really have this down!
Melissa
Yes, the gifts would be a problem. I don’t have a massive wardrobe anyway so that probably helps. We’ve been washing most days too, so we haven’t had any issues so far.
Elisabeth
We are a carry-on-only family. It’s tough! I’ve never had any weight restrictions, though – just size. Because of my husband’s status we get one free checked bag each, but he is LOATHE to check bags and I’ll admit it does make leaving the airport so much easier and you don’t have to worry about losing luggage…BUT I always feel a pang of envy when I see someone walking onto the plane without a jacket and only carrying a purse while I’m schlepping EVERYTHING for a 10-day trip with my down the aisle.
YES for doing laundry and layering and also remembering that there are stores where we will be travelling – if I forget something, I can buy it. For example, when we went to Denmark when we had a toddler, I didn’t take many diapers. THEY SELL DIAPERS IN DENMARK (and diapers take a lot of space).
Melissa
This is the first time I’ve had such a strict weight restriction. I had a fair bit of room left in my case. When we got to the US where there was no weight restriction I moved my toiletries, jacket and a pair of my husbands sneakers he’d been carrying in a wet bag in my case and it still wasn’t bulging.
Yes to remembering most places you can buy what you need.
Tobia | craftaliciousme
Very impressive. I am surprised at the small number of undies though.
I don’t think I could manage today but I was able to pull this off once (almost).
We were 3,5 weeks travling Canada and the US including a wedding (that took up a lot of space with extra shoes) and I had the smallest suitcase only slightly larger than carry on.
I often travel with clothes that I wont take back home. Like shoes hanging on by their last thread. I ditch those before going home and can always buy new ones if necessary or if I have some souvenir I want to bring back home.
Where in Germany will you be?
Melissa
I make sure I wash before I run out of undies.
We are going to Berlin, Hamburg, Stuttgart and Munich and seeing lots of factories with our son.
Kyria @ Travel Spot
I am impressed! I hate checking bags and almost never check them. My one issue is that I often travel for backpacking trips, and in the US you are technically not supposed to have tent poles, knives (even small ones, this went back and forth for a while and in Europe, I believe 6cm is allowed) and things like crampons/microspikes. So the last time I flew, I did check my bag because of that. However, the last time I went to Europe, I flew home with all of the above in my backpack and I carried it on!
I find a backpack is not only lighter but I actually prefer it, especially if I am going to be going up and down stairs or on cobblestoned streets. Also if my connection is short, I can run! My pack only weighs less than a pound, so I can easily keep it under 7 kg, and use a lot of your tricks to do so.
Melissa
A backpack would certainly be lighter. Our son is using a duffel bag that can be worn as a backpack it weighs hardly anything. It is difficult if you need to take special equipment.