Perfect for digital nomads & slow travelers
If there’s one question we get all the time, it’s this:
“How on earth do you travel for weeks (or months) with just a carry-on?”
Short answer: intentionally, painfully, and after many packing mistakes.
Long answer: you’re about to read it.
After years of slow travel, digital nomad life, long-haul flights, budget airlines with aggressive baggage policies, and one traumatic overpacked backpack incident in Europe (Roman still hasn’t forgiven past-Roman), we finally cracked the code.
This is our carry on only travel gear setup for long trips — the exact minimalist system we use as full-time travelers. No fluff. No influencer-only gadgets. Just real gear that survives real travel.
If you’re a digital nomad, slow traveler, or someone who hates checking bags as much as we do… welcome home.
Why We Travel Carry On Only (and Will Never Go Back)
- 【40L Large Capacity:】This Travel backpack Has 4 extra large compartments, perfect for packing cubes, outfits, and tech g…
- 【3 Packing Cubes】Comes with 3 cubes for organized storage of sweaters, jackets, pants, shirts, shoes and toiletries. Cra…
- 【Personal Item Backpack】Meets airline carry-on requirements, perfect for weekend trips, college, or as a unique gift.
carry on only travel gear
Let’s be honest: checked luggage is a scam disguised as convenience.
We switched to carry on only travel gear for three reasons:
- Freedom – No waiting at baggage claim. Ever.
- Flexibility – Last-minute flights, buses, trains, scooters… no problem.
- Mental clarity – Less stuff = fewer decisions = more energy for actual travel.
When you’re moving slowly across countries, staying weeks at a time, and working online, your bag becomes your home. It needs to be light, efficient, and drama-free.
And yes, airlines hate us for it.
Our Carry-On Philosophy: Minimal but Not Miserable
Minimalism doesn’t mean suffering.
It means choosing the right things once, so you don’t miss anything later.
- 3 piece Luggage sets: This luggage set include a 28-inch large suitcase, 24-inch medium checked luggage, 16-inch/20-inch…
- Spacious and Versatile Duffel: With expandable external dimensions LWH: 16.54*9.45*(10.24+5.11) inches, our travel duffl…
- TSA Lock: luggage sets have premium features, including a mounted TSA-approved lock for enhanced security and a fully li…
carry on only travel gear
Our carry-on only travel gear follows three rules:
- Every item must earn its place
- Multi-use beats single-use
- Comfort > aesthetics (but we still try)
We’re not extreme minimalists. We’re practical minimalists. Big difference.
The Backpack: The Foundation of Carry-On Only Travel Gear
We’ve tested more backpacks than we’d like to admit. Some were too heavy. Some were “Instagram cute” but useless. Some tried to destroy our spines.
- Perfect Carry-On: The Eagle Creek Tour Travel Pack is sized to meet most airline carry-on requirements, this 40L pack is…
- Smart Organization: Features padded laptop sleeve, interior mesh compartments, and quick-access pockets to keep your gea…
- Comfort First: Adjustable, padded shoulder straps and hip belt with load lifters provide ergonomic support for all-day w…
carry on only travel gear
What We Use
- 40L carry-on compliant backpack
- Front-opening (clamshell) design
- Structured but not rigid
- Comfortable hip belt (non-negotiable)
This size hits the sweet spot for carry-on only travel gear: big enough for long trips, small enough to pass airline scrutiny (most of the time).
💡 Pro tip: Airlines don’t measure bags — they judge confidence. Walk like you belong.
Clothing: The Minimalist Capsule Wardrobe
This is where people panic.
“How can you survive with so few clothes?”
Easy: laundry exists everywhere.
Our carry-on only travel gear clothing setup works in hot, cold, cities, and nature.
Carry on only travel gear
Tops (5–6 total)
- Neutral t-shirts (quick-dry)
- One nicer top for “civilized” outings
- One long-sleeve layer for sun or cold
Bottoms (3–4 total)
Layers
Underwear & Socks
- Merino or quick-dry only
- Enough for one week
The secret sauce of carry-on only travel gear clothing?
Neutral colors + layers + repeat outfits unapologetically.
Nobody remembers what you wore yesterday. We promise.
Shoes: The Ultimate Carry-On Test
Shoes are emotional. Shoes are heavy. Shoes ruin everything.
Our rule: maximum two pairs.
Pair 1: Everyday All-Rounder
- Comfortable for walking all day
- Looks acceptable in cafés
- Breathable and light
Pair 2: Sandals or Flip-Flops
- Showers, beaches, hostel floors (yes)
- Warm climates lifesaver
That’s it. No “just in case” shoes.
Carry-on only travel gear does not tolerate shoe hoarding.
Toiletries: Small, Solid, and TSA-Friendly
We learned this the hard way.
Our carry-on only travel gear toiletry kit is:
- Under 1L
- Mostly solid
- Refillable
What We Carry
- Solid shampoo & soap
- Toothbrush + toothpaste
- Minimal skincare
- Travel-size sunscreen
- Razor
Anything else? Buy it locally.
Travel taught us this: every country sells shampoo. Even the remote ones.
- 【High Speed RAM And Enormous Space】40GB high-bandwidth RAM to smoothly run multiple applications and browser tabs all at…
- 【Processor】Intel Core i7-1355U (10 Cores, 12 Threads, 12MB L3 Cache, 1.20GHz base frequency, up to 5.0GHz max turbo freq…
- 【Display】16″ display, 86.5% screen-to-body ratio, 16:10 aspect ratio. WUXGA (1920 x 1200), 60Hz
Tech Gear: Digital Nomad Essentials (No Overkill)
This is where minimalism gets tested — especially for digital nomads.
Our carry on only travel gear tech setup:
- Lightweight laptop
- Universal adapter
- Compact power bank
- Noise-canceling headphones
- Phone tripod (content creators, you get it)
No drones. No backup laptops. No tangled cable graveyard.
If it doesn’t help us work, create, or stay sane — it stays home.
Packing Cubes: The Unsung Heroes
We resisted packing cubes for years.
We were wrong.
For carry-on only travel gear, they’re not optional.
They’re sanity insurance.
- Ultralight Nylon Ripstop / YKK Zippers
- MAXIMIZE YOUR SPACE — These packing cubes for travel compress clothes to fit way more than you’d expect. Pack for long t…
- EASY COMPRESSION — Corner gussets make zipping up travel packing cubes a breeze, even when packed to the brim. Premium Y…
Laundry Strategy: The Real Secret Weapon
Here’s the truth nobody tells you:
Carry-on travel only works if you embrace laundry.
We do:
- Sink washes
- Local laundromats
- Accommodation machines
We pack:
- Travel laundry soap
- Lightweight clothesline
This single habit makes carry on only travel gear viable for indefinite travel.
What We Stopped Packing (and Never Missed)
This might hurt, but it’s necessary.
Things we ditched:
- “Just in case” outfits
- Full-size toiletries
- Books (hello Kindle)
- Bulky towels
- Extra bags
Every long trip teaches you the same lesson:
You don’t miss what you don’t bring.
The Emotional Side of Minimalist Travel
Here’s the unexpected part.
Traveling with carry on only travel gear doesn’t just change your packing — it changes how you travel.
You move faster.
You stress less.
You adapt easier.
There’s something deeply freeing about knowing everything you need fits above your seat.
It’s not about owning less.
It’s about needing less to feel okay.
Is Carry-On Only Travel for Everyone?
Honestly? No.
If you:
- Hate doing laundry
- Need outfit variety
- Travel with specialized gear
It might feel restrictive.
But if you crave:
- Flexibility
- Simplicity
- Stress-free movement
Then carry on only travel gear might change everything.
Advice for Going Carry-On Only
Start small.
Don’t aim for perfection.
Aim for better than last time.
Your first minimalist packing attempt won’t be perfect. Ours definitely wasn’t. But every trip teaches you what you actually use — and what’s just dead weight.
And once you experience long-term travel without checked luggage… going back feels impossible.
Final Thoughts from Roman & Fizah
We didn’t become minimalist travelers overnight.
We earned every packing mistake.
But now?
Our carry on only travel gear lets us focus on what actually matters: experiences, people, places, and stories worth sharing.
If you’re thinking about traveling lighter — this is your sign.
And if you ever see us boarding with just one backpack… yes, it really is everything we own (for now).
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