Over the past couple of years, I’ve lived in 4 different countries and visited well over 10 more. I consider myself a slow nomadic traveler, but still very active – often picking up my luggage and traveling every 2 months. No matter how many trips I take a month, I never look forward to packing my suitcase. Yes, even as a frequent flyer.
Living out of carry-on luggage for these past few years is very different from travelling for two weeks or even six months, and I’m certainly not an ultralight traveller. Over the years, I’ve come up with a game plan to pack as lightly as possible, ensuring that every item has a purpose, every inch of luggage real estate is maximized, and you should always start with at least a rough packing list.
Every trip is different, and honestly, every traveler packs differently too — but after years of trial and error, I’ve landed on a few non-negotiables that have made the whole process so much less stressful. These are the things that keep me from overpacking, underpacking, and standing in front of my suitcase at midnight, wondering how it all went wrong. Here’s what actually works.
First, the Luggage
From carry-ons to checked bags to day bags, I’ve spent years — and way too much money — trying to find the right luggage for the way I actually travel.
As someone who can be packed and out the door in under an hour, you bet I’ve tried every luggage brand under the sun. For years, I traveled with Rimowa, but broken wheels and a lifestyle that takes me far off the beaten path made their repair process (read: ship your bag to another country and wait) completely impractical. So I switched to Samsonite — my dad’s 30-year-old bag is still going strong, so I figured it was a safe bet. It wasn’t. The zipper blew out on my third international trip. On a $450 bag. And yes, their warranty conveniently doesn’t cover zippers.
I’d basically given up until I came across LEVEL8 in Condé Nast’s best luggage brands of 2025 roundup. I ordered the Voyageur set on a whim, and I genuinely feel like I’ve finally found a bag that can keep up with me.
Why the Voyageur set by level 8?
Okay, so here’s the thing — the Voyageur carry-on looks incredible, and I won’t pretend that didn’t factor into my decision. But it’s the functionality and interior space that actually sold me. The shell is made from Makrolon® polycarbonate, which somehow manages to be both lightweight and genuinely tough. The material it’s made from is not just “plastic”—it’s aerospace-grade material that “pops back” if dented. The 360° spinner wheels are so quiet and smooth that it just glides over every surface. There’s a TSA-approved lock built in, an ergonomic handle that doesn’t make your wrist ache after ten minutes of dragging it through an airport, and the storage space is generous — which, as someone who literally lives out of a suitcase, is non-negotiable. You can bundle the Voyageur Luggage Carry-on and save up to $80, making this the best luxury luggage set under $300
My bags have been everywhere with me, so these photos are courtesy of LEVEL8. Mine look exactly like this, just with a few more passport stamps’ worth of wear.)
If you don’t wear it at home, don’t pack it for your trip, unless it’s new.
When you’re out of your element, you’re going to reach for your reliable favorites every single morning, I promise you that. Prioritize comfort. Yes, plan for the IG photo dump, but also choose clothes you can actually walk 10k+ steps in without feeling squeezed or self-conscious. A trip somewhere new is genuinely not the time to debut that cute-but-tiny dress you’ve been too nervous to wear at home, or those chic loafers that gave you blisters the one time you actually put them on.
The shoe problem (& how to solve it)
The first rule of packing footwear: narrow it down ruthlessly. Shoes eat suitcase real estate faster than anything else. I travel with three pairs — my Asics Gel Cumulus sneakers (non-negotiable, do not come for me), a cute pair of heels, and one versatile sandal. I mostly travel to warmer climates, but if you’re dealing with bulkier boots, wear them to the airport. Your future self will thank you.
Put heavier items near the wheels.
Heavier things go closest to the wheels. Period. They won’t crush or crack anything else in your bag, and your suitcase stays balanced. I learned this the hard way when my makeup bag flattened an entire bag of liquids. Not doing that again.
Put small items inside your shoes.
The inside of your sneakers is prime real estate. I stuff jewelry pouches, small gifts, and rolled socks in mine. The padding actually protects delicate items, and it frees up more space than you’d expect.
Wear your bulkiest pieces on the plane
This one sounds obvious, but it’s genuinely a game-changer. Planes are cold, your bulky jacket takes up a disproportionate amount of suitcase space, so just wear it. The same goes for chunky boots or an oversized sweater. Anything that would take up serious real estate in your bag should be on your body at the gate.
If it can spill, keep it contained
I have opened my suitcase to a shampoo explosion exactly once. Never again. Everything liquid goes into a leakproof bag. I prefer a dedicated toiletry bag with a waterproof lining, but even a Ziploc or grocery bag works. Don’t forget this applies to anything that could leak, not just things that have leaked before. Dry shampoo, perfume, face oil, nail polish — all of it. Your clothes will thank you.
Plan full outfits ahead of time
Packing a full wardrobe sounds great in theory until you’re standing in front of your suitcase every morning, completely paralyzed by choices. Before every trip, I lay out every look head to toe, take a photo for easy reference, and only then does it go in the bag. It sounds extra, but it completely removes the morning decision fatigue when you’re trying to get out and actually enjoy wherever you are. I also lean heavily toward pieces that work together interchangeably: a pair of shorts that works with three different tops is worth way more suitcase space than something that only does one job.
Leave room for souvenirs
Let’s be honest… You will always come home with more than you left with. That’s just the law of traveling. So build that into your packing strategy from the start. Don’t max out your bag on the way there. Leave breathing room, pack a foldable tote if you know you’re hitting markets, and resist the urge to fill every inch just because you can. It’s genuinely one of those things that sounds small until you’re trying to fit a ceramic dish from a market in Lisbon into your bag at midnight before your flight in the morning.
Know that packing cubes are your best friends
I don’t care if you roll or fold — I personally do both — but I will die on the hill that packing cubes are non-negotiable. I use this Packing cube travel set from Level8 to compress my clothes and maximize every inch of space. For longer trips (four to seven days), I organize by category: tops in one, bottoms in another, undergarments in a smaller one. For shorter trips, I pack full outfits together, which makes getting ready and out the door incredibly fast when you’re not doing a full unpack. And when I get home, the whole cube goes straight into the washing machine. Easy peasy
How to Pack Toiletries
Toiletries are my least favorite thing to pack and simultaneously the most satisfying to get right. I travel with a full skincare and beauty routine, so I actually have a system: I start by taking inventory of travel-sized products I already have on hand (Sephora samples are genuinely clutch for this), then figure out what needs to be decanted into smaller bottles. Knowing exactly what you’re working with before you start packing saves so much time.
How to Pack Electronics
Sixteen years of solo travel, one rule that has never changed: electronics travel with me in my carry-on, always. No exceptions. Because I run my business from my laptop, I actually plan my packing around my tech first and fill in everything else around it. All the smaller accessories (phone charger, laptop charger, headphones, mic) go into a dedicated electronics accessories bag, so nothing is ever tangled or lost at the bottom of a bag. Before you can decide which type of electronics organizer works best for you, jot down which items you travel with regularly and think about how and where they’ll be packed. It makes the whole system much more intentional.
How to Pack Dirty or Wet Clothes
One of my favorite things about the Voyageur carry-on is the dry-wet separation pockets in each luggage compartment. Perfect for anything still damp after a beach day or a sweaty workout. Nothing touches the clean clothes, nothing smells weird when you get home. It sounds like a small thing until you’ve stuffed a wet swimsuit into a plastic grocery bag and hoped for the best.
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