I never imagined that I could actually do it, but I did.
On two recent trips, not only did I bring just a carry-on bag (which is how I always travel), but I managed to pack an even smaller carry-on than usual. Instead of a 22″ roll-aboard, (22″ is the largest you can get away with on most airlines), I brought Eagle Creek’s Tarmac Plus One, which is a 19″ bag.
Those fewer three inches meant that I had a far smaller bag to maneuver through security, an easier time finding space in the overhead bin and, basically, less room to pack, so I had to narrow down my clothing choices – which is not a bad thing at all. I was able to squeeze my clothes into a compression sack, bring only one other pair of shoes (I never travel with more than two pairs anyway) and have enough space to bring souvenirs and other goodies back home with me.
Available on Amazon for about $150
The Plus One portion of the Tarmac is a zip-off backpack perfect for a laptop. This easily fits in the seat in front of you on the plane with extra room and pockets for all your essentials. I admit that if you’re traveling to a cool destination, you’ll be a bit more challenged to get your bulkier clothes all packed into the Tarmac Plus One, but then again, that’s what layering is all about. Right? And, with all the cold air blowing out of the airplane’s vents, why not layer-up on the flight and leave some space for all those souvenirs in your carry-on!?