The biggest challenge I face when packing carry-on luggage is getting all of my plus-size clothing to fit inside a 55 x 35 x 25 cm suitcase. All that extra material doesn’t help! So I have to go minimalist in order to bring everything I need for travelling, and I’m now an expert in packing a plus-size travel wardrobe and other essentials into compact luggage, with efficient packing tips for travel.
The most important thing I do is pack for comfort. Take the time to research your destination and what the weather will be like, how hot or cold the temperature will be, and how much walking and exploring you’re likely to do, and pack accordingly. At the end of the day, if you’re enjoying yourself, you won’t care what you’re wearing, and you won’t care what anyone else thinks either!
Why travel carry-on only?
You might wonder why I limit myself to carry-on only. Well, there’s a number of reasons:
- You don’t need to check your bag in at the airport, saving time
- You also don’t need to wait for your bag at the other end
- There’s much less risk of your luggage getting lost
- You don’t have to drag around loads of big heavy suitcases when navigating the airport/public transport/unfamiliar streets
- It’s cheaper, especially for budget airlines, which tend to charge extra for checking in luggage
There are a few cons, like not being able to pack liquids over 100ml, having to think about fitting in souvenirs for the trip home, and obviously having less room for stuff, but I find this a very small price to pay for the convenience.
The perfect plus-size capsule wardrobe for travelling carry-on luggage only
For a 3-day trip
I take a lot of long weekend trips around Europe, since it’s right on my doorstep, so I now know exactly how little I can get away for packing for a 3-day trip.
| Wear on the plane | Pack | Additional |
|---|---|---|
| Coat/Jacket | 3 x tops | 1 x dressy top & 1 x pair nice trousers, OR 1 x dress |
| Hoodie/Jumper/Cardigan | 3 x sets underwear | 1 x pair dressy shoes |
| Jeans | 1 x set nightwear | 1 x swimsuit |
| Comfortable walking shoes i.e. sneakers |
For a 10-day trip
My advice for a 10-day journey would be to only pack for half of the trip, and take advantage of laundry services or clean the clothes yourself in the bathroom while you’re there to reduce the amount you have to take with you.
| Wear on the plane | Pack | Additional |
|---|---|---|
| Coat/Jacket | 5 x tops | 1 x dressy top & 1 x pair nice trousers, OR 1 x dress |
| Hoodie/Jumper/Cardigan | 5 x sets underwear | 1 x pair dressy shoes |
| Comfortable joggers or leggings | 2 x sets nightwear | 1 x swimsuit |
| Comfortable walking shoes i.e. sneakers | 1 x pair jeans |
For cold weather
Colder weather means layering up, which means more clothes, which means less space in your carry-on! But if you wear a jumper and a coat when boarding the plane, you leave more space in your luggage for other clothing. You can then remove your coat just before you sit down and store it in the overhead locker with your suitcase.
Add a scarf, pair of gloves and hat into your suitcase, and if it’s really cold, add a pair of leggings to wear underneath your jeans. If it’s a long flight, wear flat pumps on the plane so you can slip them off easily, and pack a pair of boots for slippery sidewalks. If it’s a short flight, consider wearing the boots and packing the pumps so you have more space in your carry-on.
For hot weather
Take advantage of warmer weather by packing skimpier clothing that takes up less space. Wear sneakers and a tunic with joggers/leggings on the plane, which can then be used for leisurewear/nightwear, and pack tank tops, shorts and skirts instead of heavier tops, trousers and jeans. Slip in a pair of flip-flops and a light scarf to double up as a sarong for the beach and a shawl for cooler evenings.
One product I highly recommend for the inevitable thigh chafing in hot weather is the Megababe Thigh Rescue chafing stick. It glides on really easily, isn’t greasy, and lasts for ages! A real God-send for a plus-size chick.
What else should I pack in my carry-on luggage?
Toiletries
Try to avoid bringing your whole bathroom counter with you – do you really need to take that many toiletries? I skip the skin routine on holiday, and just take the basic necessities to cover the few days I’m away.
Always check to see what the hotel or guest accommodation you’re staying at provides as well, as you might find you don’t have to bring very much at all:
| Essential | If not provided | For a Summer holiday | For a Winter holiday |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deodorant (100ml)* | Solid Shampoo* | Sun Protection (100ml)* | Lip Balm |
| Toothbrush | Solid Soap | Chafing stick | Face moisturiser (100ml)* |
| Toothpaste (100ml) | |||
| Hairbrush | |||
| *I always take my own deodorant with me regardless of where I travel, as some countries don’t sell strong deodorant, like Japan. | *I use Lush’s Soak & Float Shampoo Bar for my hair, as my scalp is easily irritated and this bar is really soothing. You can also buy a handy travel tin with it. | *I personally swear by Calypso, their Once A Day Sun Protection range works really well and it smells amazing. | *My face gets really dry in cold weather, so I definitely need this with me when I travel to colder places. I love Soap & Glorys’ Speed Plump day lotion. |
This is all I ever find I need when I go away, but I’ve never been accused of being high-maintenance! You may also want to take things like face wash or scrub, body butter or moisturiser, dry shampoo, and make-up with remover. Just make sure to keep everything to 100ml and under, or you might find your carefully packed toiletries stolen by the TSA.
| Other accessories | And most importantly … |
|---|---|
| Chargers | Passport & ID |
| Travel Adaptors | Phone |
| Camera | Cash & Credit/Debit cards |
| Headphones | Keys |
| Sunglasses | |
| Facemasks | |
| Travel pillow/blanket/eye mask | |
| Medication | |
| Book/Kindle |
Should I roll or fold my clothes?
Some people swear by rolling their clothes when packing, while others are avid folder fans. But there’s pros and cons for both methods, and the best way to get the most out of your small suitcase space is to use a mix of techniques.
Technically, whether you roll or fold, you’re still leaving the same space in your bag. But by rolling your clothes, you’re maximising that space by filling the bag from edge to edge, and also increasing visibility as the clothes lie side by side, rather than on top of each other. If you roll the items properly, you can also avoid wrinkles, so I recommend rolling smaller items like shirts, shorts, skirts and dresses.
Bulkier items like jeans and jumpers can be folded and tucked in over the top of the layer of rolled items. If you’re packing shoes, take advantage of the space inside the shoe as well, and stuff the cavity with rolled socks and oddly shaped items like travel adaptors and chargers.
What clothes should I wear on a plane?
When planning your plane outfit, you should concentrate on one thing only: COMFORT.
Whether you’re stuck on a flight for 2 or 20 hours, you’re going to be hot, squeezed in, and probably miserable. So the last thing you should need to worry about is what you’re wearing being uncomfortable.
You want loose-fit clothing, which will also help with circulation and reduce the risk of blood-clots, paired with shoes that can be easily slipped off and back on again, and if it’s a longer flight, consider compression socks to help reduce swelling around the ankles.
Wear your bulkiest clothes to avoid taking up space in your bag, like jumpers and coats, and then put your coat in the overhead locker or under the seat when you board.
How to avoid blood clots while flying
- Wear loose-fitting, breathable clothing
- Get up and walk around every hour or so, if you can
- Make sure you leave your footwell clear of belongings so you have room to stretch your legs
- Stay hydrated, and avoid alcohol and salty foods
- Wear compression socks to help reduce swelling and improve circulation in your legs
Doing your laundry while travelling
Depending on where you’re going and for how long, you might be able to take advantage of laundry services, and only pack half a holiday’s worth of clothes. This is the most convenient option, as you don’t have to fit 10 different outfits into a small case. Pre-plan and book a hotel or other place to stay that advertises laundry services, or has a laundry room you can help yourself to.
But even if the place you’re staying in doesn’t offer laundry, it’s easy enough to wash your own clothes in the bathroom.
How to wash your own clothes on holiday
It’s easiest to wash your clothes with a bar of soap when you’re travelling, as it’s convenient to bring along in your luggage, or it’s often provided by the place you’re staying at. Bring along a travel washing line or travel hangers in order to hang your drying clothing.
Soak your garment for a moment, then give it a good scrub with the soap. Rinse it out to get rid of most of the soap, then let it soak before rinsing again to make sure you get all of the soap out.
Squeeze as much water as possible out of the clothing, then roll it up in a towel and squeeze again to draw out excess water.
Hang the clothing up to dry somewhere that has good air circulation.
What should I do if my luggage gets lost?
Annoyingly, most of the time us plus-sized girls can’t just go to a shop and pick up new clothes if our luggage gets lost, as there’s a severe lack of plus-size clothes stores that you can go to in person.
While you should be able to keep your suitcase with you the whole time when travelling carry-on only, sometimes, like when the plane is full, you’ll find your luggage taken from you to be put in the hold for free. So there’s always the (rare) possibly that your carry-on suitcase can be lost.
So what should you do? Well, before your suitcase is taken off of you, pack your handbag with a few essentials – a spare pair of underwear, a rolled up top, a couple of essential toiletries like deodorant, hairbrush, and toothbrush and paste, and of course your purse, passport, phone and charger, and keys. If you find yourself without your suitcase on the other end, then at the very least you have enough to keep you going for a few days until it’s sorted.
You can wash the underwear and your top with soap while you’re wearing the other set, and swap out each day. Your jeans or trousers should last you a few days.
