I Flew 53,000+ Miles With Just a Carry-on-Here Are the Packing Mistakes I'm Officially Retiring in 2026

"This year, I flew 53,000 miles all over the world-Turkey, Austria, Japan, Denmark, France, New York, across California, and much more-and made it my mission to pack everything that I need into a carry-on bag or suitcase. Why exactly? Well, I like having everything with me throughout my journey; it mitigates any stress around lost luggage, and also means that I can hop on a different flight at a moment's notice. But more importantly, traveling light makes my entire experience much more breezy-if"

"However, I have to admit that keeping all of my travel essentials in a compact bag can be challenging, especially for multi-week or multi-destination trips. And while I like to consider myself an expert packer, I certainly had some new best practice takeaways after all my travels this year. Here, I've pulled together a list of what not to pack and what to bring instead for a smoother, more enjoyable travel experience."

53,000 miles were flown to destinations including Turkey, Austria, Japan, Denmark, France, New York, and California while everything needed was packed into a carry-on. Keeping essentials in a carry-on reduces stress about lost luggage and enables quick flight changes. Traveling light also eases physical movement, especially on trains and cobblestone streets. Packing compactly for multi-week, multi-destination trips presents challenges that reveal new best practices. Recommendations include avoiding bulky packing cubes in favor of ultra-slim, lightweight organizers and zippered pouches that keep clothes organized, compact, and easily accessible during travel.

Read at Travel + Leisure