How to pack a carry-on suitcase: women’s version

Posted October 22nd, 2009 by Sheila Scarborough

Everything I packed into a carry-on suitcase (photo by Sheila Scarborough)Two professional conferences, two different climates (Seattle WA and Tulsa OK) for six full days.

I’ve written here before about how my husband was a Suitcase Swami by getting everything into a carry-on for one of his conferences – could I do it myself?

You bet, because these days, it’s me versus the airlines.

No way will I pay American Airlines to check my luggage, only to have it possibly lost or abused when I really need to look well-dressed (and I was giving a keynote presentation and workshop at the second conference.)

The video below was filmed with my Flip camera as I unpacked the suitcase from the trip. Here’s what I took:

  • 3 pair of trousers
  • 2 skirts
  • 6 tops
  • 4 cardigan sweaters (rather than stiffer, hard-to-pack suit jackets)
  • 1 jersey knit blazer-style jacket
  • 3 pair of shoes
  • 1 lined windbreaker
  • 1 T-shirt to sleep in
  • scarves, jewelry, spare glasses, toiletries kit, quart-sized bag for liquids

Light, light, light. Pare down the shoes.  Pay for a light, well-constructed suitcase (I use a Travelpro Rollaboard.)

Here’s the URL of the how to pack video if you’re an RSS reader or can’t see the box below.

Related posts:

  1. How to be a Suitcase Swami: one week, one carry-on
  2. The Banishment of the What-If Corkscrew
  3. The Things We Carry
  4. The ExOfficio shirt off my back

7 Responses to “How to pack a carry-on suitcase: women’s version”

  1. Tweets that mention How to pack a carry-on suitcase: women’s version | Perceptive Travel Blog -- Topsy.com Says:

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  2. The ExOfficio shirt off my back | Perceptive Travel Blog Says:

    [...] not normally big on travel gadgets or special travel clothing (hey, the biggest problem with packers is simply too much crap and too many shoes) but I do like my new ExOfficio travel [...]

  3. Incredibly Helpful Business Packing Video - Road Warriorette Says:

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  4. 5 Things I Always Pack – Sheila Scarborough | Travel in the sky - itravelsky.com - Someone is not out of the woods yet. Says:

    [...] light on planes and heavy in her car. She generally refuses to check luggage because she knows how to pack a carry-on, but on family travel road trips the minivan is stuffed (sometimes even with a fold-up futon for [...]

  5. What do I always pack on a trip? | Family Travel Guide Says:

    [...] it’s time to get it all into a carryon suitcase, I travel light….but when it’s time for a road trip in our minivan, I pack everything [...]

  6. Janet Says:

    Sheila, what size is the carry-on you used? I need to pack for an eight day class and am expected to dress professionally each day. My carry-on is only 20″ X 13 1/2″ X 7 1/2″. I’ve already decided to wear black dress shoes on the plane and not pack any shoes besides a pair of flip flops for the hotel. Any other ideas besides getting a larger carry-on?

  7. sheila anderson Says:

    use the biggest carryon you can find but the airports have a limit. most airlines have the measurements on their site.

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