How to Pack in a Carry-on

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Atlantic Luggage. All opinions are 100% mine.

I love to travel! There is nothing quite as exciting as packing up your bags, checking off that last minute to-do list, and struggling to sleep the night before a fun vacation! I’m usually so excited the week before my trip, that I start packing right then and leave my luggage packed and ready to go!

The past few weeks, my husband has been flying to New York for work and I’m jealous every time he goes! He shares his pictures from exploring Sleepy Hollow, Grand Central, and everywhere in between. If you’ve never been to New York, you’ll want to read on for details on how to win a family vacation for 4 to New York or San Diego! Both destinations are among my top few favorite cities in the US!

How to Pack in a Carry-on Suitcase

I always laugh when I compare how my husband packs for a 5-day work trip compared to our friend and his co-worker. He’ll pack one neat carry-on and the co-worker just tosses what seems like everything in his house into a big huge suitcase, no order at all! If you pack smart, you’ll have plenty of room for a 5-day or longer trip in just a carry-on!

Plan Your Outfits – Nothing wastes more space than bringing along extra clothes you won’t end up wearing. Check the weather and plan ahead and pack just what you plan to wear. One extra outfit is acceptable, more just becomes a pain! Pack clothes that work with more than one outfit so you get double the use out of each item and plan to do laundry while you travel, if needed.

Fill Your Shoes – Use the space inside your shoes for storing extras! They are a perfect spot for stuffing socks, a hair brush, a small digital camera, or whatever you might need to stash. Plus, they double as protection if you store your sensitive items inside!

Put Socks & Underwear in Last – Get all your main clothing, then use the small cracks and crevices left around the edges to cram in smaller items like socks and underwear!

Use the Expandable Zipper – The expandable zipper makes it easier to load your suitcase while packing. Then, just zip down to the more compact size and it will do all the squishing for you with minimal effort!

Don’t forget the Pockets – If you have internal or external pockets on your luggage, use them. Just keeping some items corralled and from moving around helps keep the suitcase organized and you are able to fit more.

See How I Pack in a Carry-on

I got to check out a carry-on sized Atlantic Solstice Exp Hardside Spinner in a bright and fun purple color! I have often considered hard sided luggage, but figured it would be heavy and bulky compared to a softer fabric suitcase. That didn’t seem to be the case at all! I could fit SO much inside this suitcase and the luggage empty was very light my concern about extra weight was lifted.

The suitcase has two seperate compartments so you can easily get organized while you pack without burying items at the bottom of your bag. This makes the luggage easy to pack, easy to unpack when you arrive, and even easier to find something when you’re navigating through the airport if needed.

The spinner wheels are smooth, quiet, and drive like a dream! I also really like the built-in lock that is so easy to use and holds the zippers closed to the side of the luggage so only security can get into my luggage, if needed. It gives me a sense of privacy and security knowing my personal belonging are locked.

Check out the whole Atlantic Solstice Collection to get ready for your next trip!

What are your best packing tips?