I used to be that person. The one dragging a 28-inch suitcase through cobblestone streets in Montevideo, cursing every pothole ( which is all of them ). Two weeks later I switched to carry-on only and never went back.

Here is the thing nobody tells you about carry-on travel: it is not a constraint, it is freedom. Less weight, less stress, no baggage claim, no lost luggage, no waiting.

Travel passport and essentials laid out on a table
Everything I need, laid out before it goes in. If it does not fit here, it does not come.

The Carry-On Only Rule Set

I have one rule: if I cannot carry it up three flights of stairs without reconsidering my life choices, it is too heavy. That rules out 90% of what people pack.

My bag is a 40L backpack. Not a rolling suitcase that barely fits overhead. A backpack. It fits under the seat if I need it to, and I never gate-check anything.

The actual rule set is simple:

  • 4 tops, 2 bottoms, 1 jacket
  • 1 pair of shoes ( the ones on my feet )
  • 3 days of underwear, wash as you go
  • All toiletries in a 1L zip bag, no full-size bottles
  • One charger, one cable, one adapter

That is it. I have done two-week trips with this and never once thought "I wish I brought more."

Vintage suitcase with travel stickers
A suitcase with stickers from places I actually went to. Not decoration, evidence.

What I Actually Pack

After years of traveling between Italy, the UK, and Uruguay, this is what stays in my bag every time:

  • Merino wool t-shirts ( 2 ). They do not smell, they dry fast, they work in 30 degree heat or under a jacket.
  • One pair of quick-dry pants that zip into shorts. Yes, they look dorky. No, I care more about luggage space than fashion.
  • A packable down jacket. Compresses to the size of a grapefruit, keeps you warm at 5 degrees.
  • Universal plug adapter with USB-C ports. One brick, no extra cables.
  • Noise-cancelling earbuds. Non-negotiable for flights, buses, and the occasional Uruguayan candombe practice next door.

The Laundry Hack Nobody Mentions

Everyone talks about packing. Nobody talks about washing. Here is the system:

  1. Bring a 50g packet of laundry detergent sheets. They are flat, they are light, they work in any sink.
  2. Wash clothes in the hotel sink at night. Hang them on the balcony or over the shower rod.
  3. Merino wool and quick-dry synthetics are dry by morning. Cotton is not. Stop bringing cotton.
  4. In Montevideo, lavaderos ( laundromats ) are cheap and everywhere in Pocitos and Ciudad Vieja. Use them.
Travel essentials organized and ready to pack
Roll, do not fold. Every crease is wasted space ( and wasted space is a philosophy I reject ).

What I Stopped Bringing

More important than what goes in the bag is what stays out. Things I used to pack and now never do:

  • A second pair of shoes. Wear the heaviest pair, pack none. Done.
  • Jeans. They weigh a ton, take forever to dry, and take up half the bag. Quick-dry pants or nothing.
  • "Just in case" items. The entire point is to remove the case. You will not need a tie. You will not need heels. You will not need a book ( you have a phone ).
  • Full-size toiletries. Every hotel has shampoo. Every pharmacy sells sunscreen. You are not going to the moon.

The Montevideo Factor

Living in Montevideo changed how I think about packing. The rambla is windy, summer hits 38 degrees, winter drops to 3. But the city is walkable and you are never far from a feria or a shopping center where you can buy whatever you forgot.

When I fly into Carrasco Airport, I walk out with my backpack and I am on the 701 bus in ten minutes. The guy next to me is still waiting at baggage claim. That is the whole argument for carry-on only, right there.

Try it once. Pack for a week in a carry-on. If you need something, buy it there. You will not need it. :)