7 Carry-On Hacks for Lightweight Travel

7 Carry-On Hacks for Lightweight Travel

By Korrin Bishop

Imagine this: You step off the plane with just one bag in hand—no waiting at baggage claim, no struggling to dislodge a roller bag from an overhead bin. Within minutes, you’re on your way to your connecting flight or out of the terminal headed to whatever adventure awaits. You have perfected the power of one lightweight carry-on bag.

The magic of ultralight travel isn’t just for thru-hikers and backcountry minimalists. Whether you’re navigating cobblestone streets or sprinting to catch a train, traveling light makes every journey smoother, faster, and more enjoyable. And a big part of this comes down to how you manage your carry-on luggage.

In this post, we’re bringing trail-tested wisdom to the terminal with seven smart, simple carry-on hacks for lightweight travel—using gear like Gossamer Gear’s Travel Collection that’s designed to do more with less. Ready to ditch the bulk and embrace the freedom? Let’s go.

1. Swap Your Roller Bag for a Lightweight Pack or Duffle

Traditional luggage can be five to ten pounds empty—weighing down your carry-on before you even start packing. Swapping a bulky roller for a minimalist backpack or duffle means you’re traveling smarter from the start. The Aero Jet backpack is ultralight, sleek, and designed for all-day comfort and organization, while the Vanish 38L Duffle offers a roomy interior in a featherweight package. Both options easily fit under most seats and breeze through tight spaces, from subway turnstiles to overhead bins. Ditching the wheels gives you more flexibility and less stress.

2. Use Packing Cubes for Lightweight Compression

Just because you’re packing light doesn’t mean that you can’t stay organized. The right lightweight packing cubes can help add compression to your luggage to fit more key gear in your carry-on while helping you find the items you need quickly. Our ultralight, flexible Packing Cube Bundle helps with many common packing needs: 

  • 2 compression cubes (1 full size + 1 half size) to keep what you pack secure and within space constraints
  • 1 shoe cube to keep your dirty trail runners separate from your other clean items
  • 1 clear cube for your carry-on liquids through TSA or other items you want to be able to see without having to open your bag
  • 1 dirty/clean cube for easy separation of your dirty and clean clothes while you travel

3. Limit Liquids With a “Dry Kit” Strategy

Ditch the tiny bottles and streamline your toiletries with a dry kit. Swapping liquid products for solid alternatives—like shampoo bars, toothpaste tabs, and solid lotion—can limit messy spills and quicken the TSA shuffle. These items are often more concentrated, last longer, and are less likely to leak in your bag. Pair them with a quick-dry travel towel to complete a lightweight, low-maintenance hygiene setup that’s perfect for airports, hostels, or trailheads.

4. Follow the One-Shoe Rule

Shoes are one of the bulkiest items in any bag—so stick to just one pair in your carry-on bag. The key is choosing versatile footwear that can handle long walks, light hikes, and casual outings. Think minimalist trail runners or hybrid sandals that dry quickly and pair well with any outfit. To make the most of the space they do take up, tuck socks or other small essentials inside your shoes when packing. Cutting down to one pair simplifies your load and saves serious space—even better if you can wear your one pair rather than packing another!

5. Think Like a Backpacker With Your Outfits

Backpackers typically don’t bring multiple outfits when on trail. They wear what they need and maybe have one or two other items that they can rotate in when washing and line-drying their clothing. Apply the same logic to travel. Prioritize quick-drying synthetics or merino wool, which resist odor and dry fast after a sink wash. With the right fabrics and a little routine, you can travel light without feeling like you’re wearing the same thing every day.

6. Bring a Packable Daypack

When you’re out exploring for the day, the last thing you want is to lug all your gear around. A lightweight, packable daypack like the RikSak gives you just enough space for essentials. It’s perfect for city strolls, hikes, or museum days, and it folds down small enough to stash inside your main pack when not in use. Think of it as your grab-and-go bag: ultralight, ultra-convenient, and always ready for a side quest.

7. Ditch the “Just in Case” Gear

Overpacking often starts with “just in case” thinking. Extra books, shoes, clothes, and other items add up fast in weight and space and rarely get used. Instead, focus on multi-use essentials for your carry-on bag just like you would when backpacking, such as a cozy sweatshirt that can double as a blanket on the plane. Leave the “what-if” travel scenarios behind and travel with confidence—and rest assured that if you forget something important, you can likely find a place to pick it up while traveling.

Remember to Take Less, Do More for Easier Carry-On Travel

With the mindset of a backpacker, you can make all of your travel experiences more enjoyable, especially if you can adopt the art of packing a single carry-on bag for airport journeys. Make sure to check out our new Travel Collection for all of the packs and other essentials that can help lighten and organize your load when expanding your adventure radius.

Know another great carry-on hack for lightweight travel? We’d love to hear about it! Tag Gossamer Gear on social media (@gossamergear) and use the hashtag #takelessdomore to share your wisdom with our community.

Hungry for more lightweight travel inspiration and planning knowledge? Check out some of our other articles on the Light Feet blog:

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Korrin Bishop is a freelance writer and editor with work published in Sierra, U.S. News & World Report, Southern Living, and Fodor's Travel, among others. Her writing focuses on outdoor adventure, environmental issues, travel, and nonprofits. Learn more about her writing and editing services at korrinbishop.com.

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